✔ 01 | Crime Of Passion [Published Under PSICOM]

Capitulum 48

DEATH's headquarters, Eastwood
10:20 a.m.

Kinuha muli ni Nico ang puting envelope at binuklat ito. "I think there's more than meets the eye, Nova. This poem is a key to unraveling this mystery and I doubt he sent this to us just to introduce himself." He laid the piece of paper in front of Special Agent Briannova Carlos and recited the poem.

"Poor, pretty Gwendolyn,
rotten underground
She cannot break the silence,
no trace, no sound.

She wasn't good with names
nor with their number
for she never liked the way
I am obsessed with order.

Keep quiet, detectives
Gwen can still see me.
She is the heartless killer,
who caused my insanity...

...may kinalaman ito kay Gwendolyn. He's trying to connect the past to the present. He has an ulterior motive for this. Cassio stated that she wasn't good with names or numbers, and that he is obsessed with order. His poem has a code and a clue mixed in twisted poetry." Kinuha ni Nico ang tasa sa kanyang gilid at akmang hihigop sana ng kape nang maalalang wala na nga pala itong laman. He frowned and tossed the cup away.

Sumasakit na naman ang ulo niya.

Detective Nico Yukishito closed his eyes again and sorted through his mental storage cabinet. Mayroon na nga yatang imaginary drawer doon na may label na: "Cassio Salvador, the Heartless Killer". Names, dates, and other relevant information kept flooding his mind.

"Cassio Gonzales Salvador, ipinanganak noong May 15, 1981 sa Tondo, Manila; lumipat sa Eastwood noong 2000, nagtapos sa Eastwood Central University, naging businessman, ikinasal kay Gwendolyn Alverez noong March 2, 2006. Then, he killed her last April 2008." Wala sa sariling sabi ni Nico habang pilit naghahanap ng impormasyong makakatulong sa kanila.

That's when he noticed Nova staring at him, amazed. "Paano mo nagagawa 'yan?"

"Ang alin?"

"That memory thing. You memorize everything so easily, and it's frustrating."

Ngumisi si Nico, "You don't know half of it. Maniniwala ka ba kung sasabihin ko sa'yong natatandaan kong kulay light blue na cotton blanket na may Sasamé Street prints ang ipinangsasapin nila sa crib ko noong three weeks old ako?"

Natigilan si Nova at halos malaglag ang kanyang panga sa narinig. "Y-You're kidding."

"I wish I am."

Muling natahimik ang loob ng opisina. Kalaunan, ang mga calling cards na lang ulit ang pinagdiskitahan ng binata, making a mini-fortress between him and Nova. Ilang sandali pa, nagsalita ang kasama niya.

"I think I know how he does it."

"Hmm?" Nico was still preoccupied with the calling cards. Hindi niya talaga maintindihan kung bakit may ganito pa ang DEATH. Pinakinggan niya ang sinasabi ni Nova. The moment the words left her lips, Nico averted his full attention to her.

"Parang alam ko na kung paano niya nagagawang magtago sa'tin nang hindi natin siya pinaghihinalaan. Naalala mo ba noong panahong tumakas ng Eastwood Asylum si Cassio? Ang sabi sa police reports, may minassacre siyang mayamang pamilya at ninakaw ang pera nila. The Mercado family had a business empire that time, and if I'm not mistaken, Mr. Mercado's bank account had millions."

"And your point is?"

Nova hesitated, "Paano kung sinadya ni Cassio ang pagnanakaw sa kanila? He chooses his victims wisely. Tulad nga ng sinabi mo, may dahilan siya sa pagpili ng mga ito. Ang sabi ng HELP, matapos ang insidenteng 'yon, nakatakas si Cassio Salvador sa mga awtoridad at nawala na parang bula. He's a psycopath, Nico. With that amount of money, he can do anything. Kaya niyang baguhin ang kanyang records, maging ang kanyang identity. Kaya niyang magtago sa'tin gamit ang ibang mukha, ibang pangalan, at ibang katauhan. Cassio Salvador made sure that we won't recognize him, that's how he manages to do these serial killings without being detected by the police."

Naikuyom ni Nico ang kanyang mga kamay nang mapagtanto ang bagay na 'yon. But, of course! How could he forget the magic of medical advancements? Kaya hindi nila mahanap ang mukha ni Cassio Salvador sa kwentong ito.

"Facial surgery."

Because Cassio Salvador changed everything about himself: his name, his records, his identity.

Yes, money can do that nowadays. Legal shit be damned.

Napabuntong-hininga si Nova at tinulungan siyang ayusin ang fortress na gawa sa calling cards, her sharp eyes met his. Their faces inches apart, "Nico, malaki ang posibilidad na nagtatago sa ibang katauhan ngayon si Cassio. He's messing with us."

"Instincts?" He smirked.

"Yes."

Nico nodded. Hinawi niya ang buhok na nakaharang sa mukha ng dalaga at ngumiti, "I agree with you. Mukhang hindi lang ikaw ang magaling magbalat-kayo sa istoryang ito, Ms. Carlos."

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