Serial Codes

The Butcher Code: Floating Sail of Voyage

"Ang hindi ko talaga malilimutan sa sulat na 'yon ay mapapasa-akin ang lahat ng income ng restaurant pati ang restaurant mismo. Prior pa doon ang sampung milyong piso na ipinabigay sa akin ng isang estranghero gamit ang tseke. Kung sino man ang nagpadala no'n, ay sinuswelduhan ako ng bukod pang limang libo kada araw. Bukod pa ang ipinapadala niya sa aking tseke na naglalaman ng ipapasweldo ko sa mga trabahador ko. Medyo malaki nga e' kaya nakapagtataka talaga.

"Lalo na nang mabasa ko ang nakasaad sa sulat na kapag naka-200 pesos worth ang mga tao na pagkain at na-pinish nila ito sa restaurant, libre na ito. Actually ang 200 pesos sa menu ko ay isang malaking serving. Kaya naman ito ubusin ng mga tao. Minsan, may mga kumukwestiyon pa kung bakit ganun ka-mura ang mga nasa menu. Wala na nga akong kinikita na galing mismo sa restaurant dahil sa offer na 'yon pero sa tingin ko, sapat na ang ipinapadala ng misteryosong nilalang na nagbigay ng swerte sa buhay namin ng anak ko. Ang hindi ko lang talaga malaman ay kung paano niya nalaman ang pangalan ko base sa sulat."

"I have to ask a question if you could please."

Slowly, the Manager nodded na hudyat para dugtungan ni Henry ang sinabi niya, "This anonymous person na nagbigay sa 'yo ng sulat, iniutos niya rin ba sa sulat mo na kahit anong mangyari ay huwag papansinin ang kahit na anong tunog, ni nakakaistorbo man o hindi, na mapo-prodyus sa paligid ng restaurant o sa restaurant man?"

Inalala nang maigi ng Manager ang tanong ni Henry, "Kung naaalala ko," he widened his eyes na para bang alam niya na ang sagot but he hesitated, "Hm. Sa pagkakaalala ko, hindi ganun ang eksaktong sinabi niya pero parang ganun na nga. Parang ganito 'yon e'. May musika raw na ipinapatugtog tuwing alas-dose o ala-una ng gabi pero huwag daw itong pansinin dahil bahagi raw ito ng atmosphere na dapat ay meron sa restaurant. Kung susuriin, kataka-taka rin ang isang 'yon."

"He's a vulgar man then," Henry approved himself, "That explains kung bakit iniinda mo pa rin ang rock music kahit ayaw mo sa mga maiingay na lugar, Mr. Manager."

The gesture made the Manager become pale though Henry gave his another curiosity, "I have another question if you won't mind. Did the letter that the anonymous person sent commanded you to have tables numbered from one to ten and let have reservations for the customers who wanted to reserve tables in the restaurant?"

Walang anu-ano ay sumagot ang Manager ng 'oo' kay Henry.

That made Henry's eyes sparkle for some seconds, "Bingo! Then this flyer girl says if there's a reservation or how many reservations are in for a day because she's in charge on outside acts of restaurant, right?"

The Manager ended his statement by a shut of his mouth.

"It's quite as I expected. The Manager didn't know the number of years in for the establishment of restaurant meaning hindi siya ang nasa likod nito. Another point is that, it's impossible na mula sa pagiging mahirap nila ay limang taon lamang ang ginugol ni Manager para magkaroon ng malaking pera at makapagpatayo ng restaurant na mas matagal pa yata ginawa kaysa sa pananatili niya sa New York.

"For five years, Mr. Manager is in New York and for five years, Ms. Flyer Girl is in New York too just like what she said to us accidentally. Then, two weeks from now, umuwi ang Manager na sinundan ng after a week na Grand Opening kung saan ay sa araw ding iyon ay nag-recruit ang Manager ng apat na katao where one of those is the Flyer Girl na kakauwi lang galing New York. Everything connects perfectly for they were strategized and planned. However the murderer didn't consider any probability that someone will find out about his smooth business that's why he left many clues that might actually lead to him. The time, the bank checks and lots of evidences points to him and only him!"

Ipinakita ni Henry ang kanina'y ipinakita sa akin. It made the people felt awe, "Silicon breast pad. This is yours, right?" he looked across Ms. Flyer Girl na ngayon ay halatang naiipit na sa mga akusasyong ibinabato sa kanya.

She ignored Henry that made the latter actively engage with his evidences, "Can I see your cellphone, Madame?"

She stared at Henry and directly with a hint of impatience said, "I didn't bring it with me,"

"Are you serious? It's in the pocket of your khaki pants! Don't be silly or I'll put it out for you, Ms. Flyer Girl."

I could see that she held her fists tightly when he said that.

"For all I know, wala ang negotiations mo diyan so wala ring makikita ang mga tao about your bloody business that could be gotten on your phone if you and your customers aren't that careful, but guess what? You're hiding something that is worth to see as a proof that you're really a man, Mr. Angelo Lee. There's also evidence in your bag that supports my facts. A knife, probably. Ah, no. More evidence are on the back of your shoes,"

"...those very tiny shards of glass. Also, show what's inside that bag of yours. I'm sure there are lots of flyers there but I'm precise that there is another jar of bloody part in it."

+x+x+x+

A/N: I hope you won't mind that I can't end the 'Butcher Case' yet in this chapter. I thought that I could finish it in one strike but it kept lagging when I'm typing, if the words exceed from the maximum. Near to 7,000 words is enough for now. Thank you for reading, though!