The Culprit (UNDER REVISION)

Case 082: Capturing the Culprit 👮

                      "Fake Identity"

ALEJANDRO
He received a text message from Master George saying he wants to meet him. Marami rin siyang gustong itanong dito kaya nagpasya siyang makipagkita dito. Buti na lang at tapos na rin ang shift niya, he can leave the precinct without bothering to think of an alibi.

Sa dating restaurant sila nagpasyang magkita. Naabutan niya ito na naghihintay sa kanya.

"How's the investigation?" Master George asked as soon as he seat in front of him.

"Warden Corpus killed himself... the case is close," he said with a matter of fact tone.

"What can we expect for? Si General Lambert ang may hawak sa kaso," anito at sarkastikong ngumiti at sinabayan pa ng mahinang pag-iling.

"Paano mo nalaman na may mangyayari sa party?" tanong niya dito. Master George was so mysterious, minsan hindi niya rin mabasa ang tumatakbo sa isip nito.

"I don't exactly know, I just guess it."

"What?" he asked, still confuse with the Master George's answer.

"Hinulaan ko lang. N'andoon silang lahat, maraming tao, maraming pwedeng pagbintangan na hindi sila paghihinalaan. Swerte mo at ikaw ang napagbintangan."

He don't get Master George, ano naman swerte sa mapag-bintangan? Or he just using figure of speech? He's tone was normal at wala naman siyang nauliningan na sarkasmo. He just shrugged and don't asked further.

"Nakausap ko si Matt, he said na hindi lang iisang tao si RDV. Do you know anything about that?"

Master George furrowed his brows. "I don't have an idea. All this time I thought na iisang tao lang siya."

"Tatlong tao raw ang mga ito and RDV are their initials."

"Ganoon ba?"

"Yes." He let out an exasperated sigh. "By the way, why did you call?"

"Gusto ko lang makibalita sa imbestigasyon. And I also want you to keep an eye on General Lambert."

"I'll do it, even if you don't ask for it."

"Then thank you. I'll just inform kapag may nalaman ako. For now, mag-iingat ka at 'wag pahalata sa mga kasama mo."

He nodded in respond. Tumayo ang kaharap at dire-diretsong lumabas ng restaurant. Naiwan naman siyang natulala habang nakatingin sa papalayong bulto nito. Master George is a mystery for him to solve. Isa pa ito sa mga nagpapagulo ng isip niya.

•••
He headed to his room as soon as he reached their headquarters. Hinubad niya ang suot na uniporme at nilatag ang pagal na katawan sa kama.

Nanatili siya sa ganoong posisyon ng ilang minuto hanggang sa makarinig siya ng mahinang katok sa pintuan. Isinuot niya muli ang uniporme at binuksan ang pinto. Napagbuksan naman niya ang hepe na naghihintay sa kanya.

"Anong kailagan n'yo Chief?" he hated the Chief but he don't totally want to disrespect him. Isa pa, biktima lang din naman ito. He knows to himself that he can forgive him, not now but soon.

"'Yong nangyari kanina..." tumikhim ito bago nagpatuloy. "Pinaningan ko lang si General Lambert para makuha pang lalo ang tiwala niya."

"Naiintindihan ko po," nakuha rin naman niya ang ibig sabihin nito kaya nito ginawa iyon. Hindi niya lang maiwasan na magkaroon ng simpatiya kay Tobby kaya ganoon ang reaksyon niya kanina.

"Alejandro, alam mo bang hindi naman ako nabigo? Kanina kausap ko si General Lambert and he said na panahon na para malaman ko kung sino si RDV and he said RDV wants to welcome me to their organization officially."