"Acquaintance"
ALEJANDRO
The day he waited came. He's getting ready to attend General Lambert's birthday party, or rather to say retirement announcement.
He picked up his cap and joined his co-police officers—who's waiting for him outside. Sabi ng hepe nila kailangan daw na sabay-sabay silang pumunta sa nasabing pagtitipon.
"Inspector, kailangan pa ba ng cap? Maayos na 'yong buhok ko eh," Ivan asked, but he just walked passed on him. The PO2 did nothing but to follow him.
Chief Asaytuno motioned them to get in the car. Nasa limang sasakyan ang dala nila. Pawang nga interns ang naiwan sa presinto para magbantay. Hindi rin naman sila magtatagal kaya ayos lang kung sabay-sabay silang mawawala.
They reached their destination in just an hour. The receptionist smiled at their Chief and lend them in. The hotel was decorated very well. Balloons with written 60th birthday was seen everywhere.
Pinili niya ang pinakasulok na mesa at sununod naman sa kanya ang kanyang team. Ang kanilang hepe ay nasa bandang unahan, pati na rin ang team nila Tobby at Matt. Naroon rin ang ama ni Tobby na isang retired general.
"Inspector, may problema po ba? You look tense po eh," Kath asked him.
Kath is right. Even if he don't see his face he knows that he look unease. He felt that anytime something will explode...not literally, but he feel something's not good will happen. Hindi rin maalis sa isipan niya ang mga salitang binitiwan ni Master George. Kung ano man ang ibig sabihin nito ay sigurado siyang may kinalaman iyon sa pagtitipon ngayon.
"N'andito rin pala kayo?" someone greeted them. He looked up and saw Mitch—the PO1 in San Simon Police District—smiling at them.
"Oh Mitch, Cheng, Shift, dito na kayo sa tabi namin?" Ella invited them but their inspector choose to sit in front. The policewomen just give Ella an apologetic smile before following their inspector.
"Hindi pa rin nagbabago mayabang pa rin," Ivan mumbled beside him. Obviously he's pertaining to Inspector Austria.
"Hello, good afternoon everyone!" The emcee greeted them. "We all gathered here to celebrate General Lambert's 60th birthday...and sad part to join him in his last day as a Sherlock Capitol and GENERALS' Head General." The emcee paused and flashed a sad smile. "Let's welcome on the stage....General Richard Lambert!"
The crowed applause. They're all smile while looking at the General who's on the stage.
"Hello everyone first of all... I want to thank all of you for making it today. I'm very glad to see all of you gathered here for my special day. I hope you're all doing good. I know everyone here knows that I'm going to retire. Yes...you heard it right. Matanda na rin ako and I want to spend the remaining days of my life with my family. You know being in service is really complicated. Having busy schedules makes you apart from your love ones. Kaya gusto ko rin namang makabawi sa kanila," General Lambert paused to smile. "I want to thank all of you for joining me, for almost four decades. Nagsimula bilang PO1 hanggang sa maitalagang general ng Capitol, n'andyan kayong lahat para tulungan ako at nagpabilis ng aking trabaho. But now is the time to say goodbye. But don't worry, I don't leave you hanging, of course someone will take over my place. Please be good to him, tulad ng ipinakita n'yo sa akin. Muli maraming salamat sa inyong pagdalo, please enjoy the rest of the nights. Good evening everyone!"
The crowd applause as General Lambert ended his speech. Some were teary eyed, while some preventing their tears to escape from their eyes. General Lambert was good, he serves Capitol for almost four decades not just a police officer but also a public servant. Kaya naman hindi nakapagtataka na maraming nalulungkot sa pamamaalam nito.
Pagkatapos ng speech nito at inimbitahan din sa entablado ang ama ni Tobby na si General Santiago upang magbigay ng pagbati. Napuno ng palakpakan ang bulong silid nang umakyat ito sa makeshift stage at nagsalita sa harap.
"Una sa lahat, maligayang kaarawan aking kaibigan, Gen. Lambert. Hindi lingid sa kaalaman ninyong lahat na magkasabay kaming nagsimula ni Gen. Lambert athindi rin lingin sa inyong kaalaman ang aming pagkakaibigan. Nagtulungan kami upang mapanatiling ligtas ang ating mahal na siyudad. Gayon pa man, hindi pa rin tuluyang napupuksa ang mga masasamang gawain. Lalo na ang ating kalaban—ang droga. Magpahanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin malutas ang problema nating ito. Nakalulungkot din na masaksihan ang pagkawala ng ilan sa ating mga kasamahan, tulad na lamang ni Warden Dominguez," ngumiti ng mapait ang General at bumaling sa may kaarawan. "Ito sana ang aking hiling aking kaibigan...ang muling buksan at siyasatin ang pagkamatay ng butihing warden bago ka tuluyang magbitiw sa serbisyo. Alam 'kong ikaw ang may kaarawan ngunit sana ay pagbigyan mo ang aking kahilingan kaibigan. Muli maligayang kaarawan Gen. Lambert. Atin po siyang palakpakan."
General Santiago joined General Lambert in the center of the stage. Nagkamayan ang dalawa at pagkatapos ay nagpakuha ng litrato.
Nagbigay rin ng pagbati ang kanilang hepe at ang ilang pang mga nakatataas. Pare-pareho ang hiling ng nga ito; kaayusan para sa lungsod ng Capitol.
Pagkatapos ng pagbati ay nagsimula ang kainan. Walang katapusang pagbabatian. Kitang-kita ang kasiyahan ng lahat para sa kaarawan ng General.
He stood up when he saw Chief Asaytuno left his chair. He needs to stalk him—he needs to keep an eye of him. Marahil nagyon niya malaman ang kasagutan kung bakit ito nagsinungaling.
"Garcia, n'andyan ka pala?" anito nang mapansin siya.
"I have go to the restroom Chief, kayo po?"
"D'on din ang punta ko, halika't sumabay sa akin."
He nodded and followed the Chief's footsteps. On their way to the rest room they saw Warden Corpus who's storming outside the hallway of the restroom.
"Chief, n'andito rin pala kayo?" bati nito nang makalapit sa kanila.
His Chief just nodded in respond.
"Who's this good looking man beside you?" ilang beses na rin silang nagkita nito, maybe the new warden just don't recognize him.
He gave the man a fake smile for his compliment. He's not comfortable with his presence but he don't want to be rude.
"This is Inspector Alejandro Garcia, one of my trusted comrade."
"Nice to meet you Inspector Garcia." The warden extended his hand offering him a handshake.
He simply nodded and accepted the warden's hand.
"Kumusta na pala kayo sa Sittio?" mayamaya ay sabi ni Chief Asaytuno.
"Kayo naman Chief, hindi ba't kagagaling n'yo lang doon n'ong isang araw?"
Chief Asaytuno's smile faded and look at him before turning to the warden.
"Maiwan na muna kita at ako'y tinatawag na yata ng kalisan, "
"Ah... oo nga, sorry sa abala Chief,"
Tumango ang hepe bago pumasok sa banyo. Siya naman at sumunod dito.
"Chief, galing pala kayo sa Sittio n'ong isang araw?" he started. This is the right time to confront the Chief.
"Garcia...."
"Bakit kayo nagsinungaling Chief?"
"Garcia..."
He cleared the lump on his throat and composed himself. "Chief, please answer me habang may natitira pa akong respeto sa inyo."
"I can't answer you right now Alejandro, but please believe me, wala akong ginagawang masama."
"How can I believe you Chief? You lied to me... that's enough reason for me lose trust in you."
"But I also have a reason why I lied to you."
"Ugh!" their confrontation interrupted by the noise they heard from a close cubicle, a few inches away where they're standing.
Nagkatinginan sila ng hepe at sabay na napatingin sa nakasaradong cubicle. Nauna siyang nakabawi at lumapit doon. His heart was beating rapidly as he twist the doorknob.
He was shocked when he saw who's inside the cubicle...retired General Sigmundo Santiago—Tobby's father.
He bended his knees and checked the general's pulse only to find out that he's no longer breathing anymore.
"Garcia...?" Chief Asaytuno called his name waiting for an answer.
He look directly at Chief Asaytuno's eyes. "He's dead!"
"What?!" Chief Asaytuno asked unbelievably.
ALEXIS
She's nervous but Master George seems just fine. They entered the the hotel and headed to the front desk. Master George shows their invitation card and the security lend them in.
"Master George, paano pag nalaman nila na fake ang invitation natin?"
"They'll know if you keep on blabbering. Just act normal Alexis, 'wag 'kang magpapahalata."
"General Santiago found dead on the restroom!" narinig nilang usap-usapan ng mga tao nang makapasok sila sa venue.
Nagkatinginan naman sila ni Master George. They rushes to the rest room. Naabutan nila ang mga tao roon. Nagpapalitan ng mga kuro-kuro.
Dumating ang medical assistance at agad na isinakay sa stretcher ang wala ng buhay na katawan ng General.
She spotted Tobby, at the side. He's sitting on the floor and look blankly at nothing. Si Alejandro naman at nasa loob ng restroom kasama ang kanilang chief na natingin lang din sa kawalan. The surrounding was gloomy.
Her mind can't think straight. Isa lang ang paulit-ulit na sumasagi sa isip niya; sino ang pumatay sa General?
ALEJANDRO
The news spread like a wildfire. People gathered around, inside and outside the restroom. The General's lifeless body was brought to the hospital.
Tobby was still in shocked. They roomed around the crime scene. There was no murder weapon. There's no sign of forced entry. Wala rin silang nakitang bakas na fingerprints katawan ng biktima. Tanging ang sulat na Iq sa sahig gamit ang sarili nitong dugo ang naiwan doon.
" "inspector qarcia" that was the clue Inspector Santiago!" Nathaniel said while looking on the dead body of the retired General. "Kinulang lang guhit so it's look like q but it's actually g stands for garcia."
General Lambert barged into the restroom. Nasigawian naman ang mga nakikiusyuso roon para magbigay daan sa General.
"It's clearly shows Inspector Santiago, Ig stand for Inspector Garcia. Inspector Garcia killed your father, Inspector Santiago!" Nuelle supporting Nathaniel's claim.
He stood there saying nothing. What's the use of depending himself if he knows that they don't believe what he'll going to say? They're blinded by the anger and confusions. Wala ring maniniwala kahit ipagtanggol niya ang sarili niya. He accept the fact that crime that he did not commit would be pinned on him. Pero hindi naman siya nababahala, and besides alam niyang lalabas rin naman ang katotohanan.
Chief Asaytuno remained silent. Halos matulos din ito sa kinatatayuan... probably don't believe what's happening around him.
Tobby glance at him. He can't read what's on his mind. Everyone was pointing him, blaming him for the death of the General.
"No... of course not, Hindi iyon magagawa ni Inspector," Finally someone on his sides, spoke. It was Ivan—depending him as always. "Yes he's the first one to see the body but it's doesn't guaranteed that he's the culprit!" Ivan look at everyone waiting someone will agreed to him, but no one speak. "Look, magkasama si Chief at Inspector na pumasok dito, Chief Asaytuno will prove Inspector Garcia's innocence."
"Totoo ba iyon Chief Asaytuno?" General Lambert asked and looked at Chief Asaytuno.
Chief Asaytuno gulped several times before answering. "Yes."
"I know he's one of your protégé but please Chief...don't be blinded, he's the first one to see the body, and General Santiago left a clue, and it's his initials."
"I don't---"
He cut Chief Asaytuno's sentence. "I'm willing to cooperate until I clear my name. Kung ako ang tinuturong salarin...let's do the legal process."
"Pero Inspector... hindi naman po pwedeng---"
"I'm okay PO1 Cañete, the truth will reveal eventually."
They all shocked when Tobby stand up and walked inside the cubicle—where his father died. Mahinang paghikbi lang ang ginawa at tumalikod sa kanilang lahat. This is the first time he saw Tobby like that. He's always confident and cool, but now he look like a puppy who cry because his master leave him.
"I'll take the full responsibility of this. Since dito nangyari sa poder ko ang aksidente... I'll head the investigation," General Lambert said. Tinawag nito ang isa sa nga security personnel na agad namang lumapit dito. "Check the CCTV' footages, the guests' list. Tignan n'yo kung may kahina-hinalang taong nakapasok."
"Yes, General."
"Inspector Garcia, get ready to be interrogated. Inspector Santiago, I'm sorry for your lost...don't worry I'll make sure whoever did this will pay."
Natungo silang lahat sa presinto
para sa pagpapatuloy ng imbestigasyon. Sinalang agad si Alejandro sa interrogation room. It felt so ironic, he's the one who usually interrogates not the other way round. But this time, siya ang nakasalang bilang suspect.
Matt cleared his that before asking him a question. Kaharap din nila si General Lambert na siya mismong humawak sa kaso.
"You're the first one to see the body?"
"Yes," diretsong sagot niya. Sa dami-dami ng pulis ang trahidor pang kaibigan ang nag-interoga sa kanya.
"You're with Chief Asaytuno? Pwede mo bang sabihin ang eksaktong nangyari bago mo nakita ang biktima?"
"Nauusap kami ni Chief nang biglang makarinig ng ingay, coming from the closed cubicle. Binuksan ko 'yon and I found the victim lying there," he continued answering Matt's question without looking at him. As a suspect he know that he has to have eye contact with the interrogator to prove his innocence, but he can't bear to look with his traitor friend.
Matt was about to ask him again when the security personnel entered accompanied by PO3 Montefalco.
"General Lambert, we found two suspicious person entered the hotel, they used fake invitation card and we found out they're Inspector Garcia's acquaintance."
"Who they are? What's their names?"
"George Estrella and Alexis Mendoza."
👮👮
A/N: Look for the photo above for visual purposes. CTTO, nakuha ko lang po yan sa google. 🙂
We're near to end! Wag bibitiw!