Trace of Innocence

Chapter 9

CHAPTER 9

AFTER encoding my feature article for the next magazine issue, I made sure that I was able to proof read it. Once done, my eyes wandered around the four-cornered office where I currently work. As usual, people here were busy with their computers with bunch of papers on their side.

But I am not just going to observe my co-writers, that's not my goal for today. My eyes landed at the empty cubicle where the Managing Editor was supposed to be seated. I was told that he was not present today because he's about to interview an actress who's going to be featured on the next issue.

Mukhang makaliligtas ngayon si Miguel.

"I'm going out," sabi ko sa katabi ko.

She's also engrossed in her laptop but when she heard me, her head craned towards me. "Why? May field work ka ba ngayon?"

A smirk curved on my lips. "Parang ganu'n na nga."

I no longer waited for her reply as I grabbed my purse and went all the way to the exit. I am sure Mr. Jacinto wouldn't notice that I am out again today. After all, I was able to submit my article already, grateful that I was able to regain my writing prowess.

I drove my car to the police station where Lew and I agreed to meet. He promised me that we're going to the crime scene where Caleb loss his life. I am really hoping that we'll have a breakthrough today.

Kahapon kasi ay dead end kami kay Felicity. Wala raw siya sa kanilang bahay ayon sa mga tauhan ni Lew. Samantala, patuloy ang iba sa pagkalap ng impormasyon tungkol kay Damien. I made no progress on Miguel's case too.

PUMASOK ako sa station at muli na naman akong binati ng pulis na nasa front desk. His eyes even squinted at me. He probably recognized me.

"Si Detective Lew, nandiyan na ba siya?"

"Teka, ikaw rin 'yung kasama niya kahapon ah," he stated the obvious. "Mukhang tagumpay ka sa panliligaw sa kanya ah."

I rolled my eyes. Instead of answering my inquiry, kung ano-ano pa ang sinabi niya.

"Maghintay lang po kayo saglit, ma’am; may kausap pa siyang kliyente."

Naupo akong muli sa mga benches. Alam ko namang may iba siyang clients, pero sana naman mag-focus siya muna sa isa bago siya bumaling sa ibang kaso. We could no longer delay justice.

I began to stalk Felicity in social media instead. Naalala ko kasi na hindi ko pa pala nakita kung ano ang itsura niya. In her profile photo, she's wearing a white dress, mukhang nag-abay siya sa kasal dito. Agaw pansin ang mole malapit sa kanyang bibig. She looked innocent in her photos. Who would have thought that this woman could be dangerous after all?

The door to Detective Renko's office opened and a woman came out. Basta diretso lang ang lakad nito at mukhang bad mood. Grabe, lahat na lang ng mga babae na lumalabas sa opisina niya ay nakasimangot o 'di kaya ay umiiyak. Hobby niya ba 'yun? Matabil din kasi ang dila ng lalaking iyon. Wala man lang sugarcoating ang mga salita.

Ako naman na ang tumayo at nagtungo sa loob ng opisina niya. Nadatnan ko siyang kaharap muli ang kanyang laptop tulad kahapon. Seryoso ang mga titig niya rito.

I knocked thrice on the door kahit na nakapasok na ako just to get his attention.
Our eyes met but then I noticed that his brows were knitted.

"Ano pang ginagawa mo riyan? Akala ko ba pupuntahan natin ang abandoned house ng mga Tavera?" tanong ko.

"What? I have an appointment today?" napakamot siya ng ulo. "I thought we would leave that case though."

I didn't know but I felt offended because it appeared to me that he didn't consider the case as important. Parang pinapamukha niya na waste of time lang ang pag-iimbestiga namin. Hindi ko alam kung tama ba ang nararamdaman ko o nagiging over sensitive lang ako.

"Why do I have a feeling that you don’t think this case is worth looking for?" I asked, trying to stop myself from getting disappointed again.

He sighed. "That's not what I mean. What I am trying to tell is that--"

"Kaya pala umaalis nang nakasimangot at minsan umiiyak ang mga babaeng kliyente mo kasi insentive ka."

"What? Look, Ms. Yaneza, I am also working on big cases, bigger than the one you referred to me. I am trying to balance myself here."

Napatangu-tango na lang ako. "I understood. Ako na lang mag-isa ang pupunta sa crime scene."

Tumalikod na ako agad sa kanya because my tears were threatening to spill at any second.

This was something that I don't want in myself, I easily trust persons I just met and end up getting disappointed. Napailing na lang ako at hindi pinansin ang pagtawag ng officer sa may front desk.
Wala na akong sinayang na oras pa at nag-drive na patungong Caritan Sur, kung saan nangyari ang aksidente at kung saan naroroon ang abandonadong bahay ng mga Tavera.

I GOT stuck in the traffic on my way there, rush hour na rin kasi, kailangan talagang magbaon ng mahabang pasensya sa ganitong mga oras. Mabuti nga'y mabilis na umusad ang trapiko. I made a sharp turn and I could now see the public library, ang lugar kung saan pumunta si Selyn bago siya maaksidente. I also passed by the state university before stopping the car near a tree. From the window, I could see a narrow pathway leading to where their abandoned house was situated.

Huminga muna ako nang malalim bago bumaba ng sasakyan. As I was about to walked down the pathway, someone grabbed my left arm. My reflexes were quick enough to land a punch on the man's face.

The man grunted and let go of me as he held his cheeks where my fist landed. My eyes slowly widened when I recognized who he was.

"Lew? Oh my gosh, I'm sorry," I immediately apologize and began inspecting his left cheek which turned pinkish.

"Bakit ka ba biglang nanununtok?" he asked with a hint of annoyance.

"I'm sorry, okay. Ikaw naman kasi bigla na lang humahawak ng braso. Next time, just call me by my name."

Hinihimas pa niya ang kanyang pisngi habang masama ang tingin sa akin.

"Why are you here? I thought you have 'bigger' cases to solve?"

"This is my job and besides you want me to solve this immediately, so just be thankful," he snapped.

He began walking on the narrow pathway and I followed behind him. Hindi ko na sinagot ang huling tinuran niya. Tama naman siya. I should be grateful because he's helping me. I guess ako talaga ang insentive kanina.

"My apprentice already did his investigation in this house," he said when we reached the deserted abode.

"T-Talaga?"

Do I owe him an apology? Kaya pala hindi siya kumilos agad kanina ay dahil may inutusan na siya. But of course I also needed to check it myself and he promised me that we would visit it together, 'yun pala tinamad siyang magtungo rito.

"What did he find out?"

"Why don't we see it for ourselves?"

Siya na ang nagbukas ng pinto. Lumikha ito ng ingay na tila ba nag-echo sa loob.
The rotting wooden door creaked slowly open and our echoing footsteps invaded the silence. A thick carpet of dust covers every object and the rays of light of the sun penetrated through the broken glass windows.

How could Caleb do it? My mind really refused to entertain the idea.

I continued to move around the house. He allegedly ended his life in one of the rooms here. I needed to see it.

Before I took a step forward, Lew went near me and whispered, "Someone's here."

"Who?!"

Nagulat ako nang ilabas ni Lew ang kanyang baril at itinutok ito sa may kusina.

"Stop where you are."

Noong una akala ko ako ang tinutukoy niya pero nang magawi ang tingin ko sa kusina, nakita ko ang isang babae doon. Dahan-dahan siyang lumingon sa amin.

"Felicity?"

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