Strings and Chains (The Frey, #1)

19. Answers I Need

"If you're going to investigate, for example, mayroon kang nawawalang kaibigan. Saan ka magsisimula?" tanong ko sa dalawa kong kaibigan.

"Bakit, Maru Holmes, ano naman ang iimbestigahan mo?" tanong ni Ginger na may pag-alala sa mukha.

The last time I was like this was when we found out who was the killer of Marian and Ana Liverton. We only have a lead na mayroong pulang sasakyan ang lalaking 'yon at apparently he's targeting pretty ladies. That's what Ura and Ginger knows. But I know the suspect is an incubus. At 'yon ang lalaking kumidnap sa akin. These two did not even know that I was kidnapped. Pero wala na akong plano na ipaalam pa iyon sa kanila. Ayokong madamay sa gulong 'to ang dalawang kaibigan ko.

"Wala. Nagtatanong lang." I shrugged. Okay, I lied. But it is for their safety. Minsan hindi gumagana ng maayos ang utak ko kaya kailangan kong magtanong ng ganito. Questions na hindi halata.

"Kung nawawala ka, tatanungin ko muna 'yong huling taong nakasama mo. Anong ginawa niyo last or kung saan kayo huling nagpunta," sagot ni Ginger.

Tumango naman si Ura. "I will also ask your family if you have enemies or if you're acting suspicious."

Tumahimik ako at nag-isip. Joseph was in the hospital last time. Pinuntahan ko siya pero pagdating ko doon ay wala na siya. According sa huling nakita namin ni Rai, nakabukas ang bintana. Ang hula ay tumalon sa bintana si Joseph at tumakas. Tumakas sa kung ano mang humahabol sa kanya. And for sure ang mga incubi 'yon.

If I am going to ask his relatives, where I am going to start?

"Saan nakatira ang mga Liverton?" tanong ko.

Hindi sumagot ang dalawa at tumingin ng nagtataka sa akin.

"So this is all about them, isn't it?" tanong ni Ginger. Magsasalita pa sana ako ng sumagot naman si Ura.

"You know this is dangerous, aren't you? We're dealing with a psychopath here who already killed two girls," dugtong pa nito.

First, mali ako sa mga tanong dahil sobrang halata na ang mga tanong na ko ay tungkol sa mga Liverton. Second, paano ko maiiba ang usapan?

"I know. Hindi lang talaga ako tinatantanan ng konsensya ko. Maybe kung nasabi ko o natawag ko 'yong nakita ko, baka sana buhay pa si Ana ngayon," sagot ko. This is not the truth but this is not also a lie. It's true that I am somehow guilty. Maybe If I'd informed someone, maybe the Livertons or the police, about what I saw maybe Ana is still alive. Maybe.

"We did not even know na psycho pala 'yong lalaking kasama niya. It's not your fault," sabi ni Ura.

Tumango ako. "I know. Pero kung mapuntahan ko 'yong bahay nila or may makausap akong kamag-anak nila, baka mawala rin 'tong mabigat na feeling sa dibdib ko."

"Will that really help you?" tanong ni Ginger. Tumango ako agad.

"Liverton... Hmm... I know they are living at Sunshine Village," wika ni Ura.

"They? The whole Liverton family?" tanong ko.

Tumango si Ginger. "They are a big family. Halos lahat ata sila ay nakatira doon. They owned like seven to eight houses?"

"Ganoon kadami?" Hindi ako makapaniwala. Seven to eight houses?

"Livertons has a long long list of their generations and some, miraculously, are still alive. Like their grand grandparents. Alam ko buhay pa ang nanay ng lola nina Marian. She's like 100 years of age. Or more than that," paliwanag ni Ginger.

I am amazed. Is this should what I expect of the family of witches? That they really lived for a long time?

"So where is this Sunshine Village?" tanong ko.