"Mr. Y?"
Hindi makakilos si Nova habang nakatitig sa CEO ng kanilang agency. The notorious businessman and the emperor of SHADOW himself. Sa ilang pagkakataon, marami siyang naririnig na haka-haka mula sa ibang agents tungkol sa kanilang boss. One of the most famous rumors circulating in the office is that Yuan can intimidate even the Devil himself.
'Mukhang tama naman,' Nova thought, still skeptical with his presence.
"Ano pong ginagawa mo rito? And...how do you know him?" Nova momentarily glanced at the foreigner who stood straight and fixed the collar of his shirt. Para bang hindi pa rin ito naaalarma sa mga pangyayari.
"Ano ba talaga ang nangyayari rito?"
Just in time, Nico jogged towards them and stopped a few feet away from the scandalous scene. Agad na dumako ang mga mata niya sa "kalaban" ng kanyang uncle. Napasimangot si Nico.
"And here I was hoping Dan made a mistake... pero mukhang tama naman ang iniisip kong posibilidad." Sunod niyang tinapunan ng tingin ang foreigner. "You're working with him, aren't you?"
Mr. Y didn't even bother concealing his dislike for the top detective, "Does 'wrongfully accusing people' run in the family genes? Wala kang ipinagkaiba sa tiyuhin mo."
Ngumisi si Nico at ipinakita ang isang larawan sa kanyang cellphone.
Ito ang picture na kinuha ni Dan kahapon sa parke.
"I had a feeling that something strange was happening. Ilang araw na kayong sinusundan ni Dan," Nico said. "Nange-espiya siya sa inyo ni Uncle X."
"Ah, and it looks like he isn't doing a better job at it, too."
Napalingon silang lahat sa panibagong boses. Hindi na nagulat si Nico nang makita si Uncle X, kasunod si Dan na ninenerbyos na natawa. The goofy agent adjusted his eyeglasses and scratched his head sheepishly, "Umm... Sinundan ko sina Uncle X at Mr. Y dito, tapos noong pipicturan ko na sana sila, na-corner ako ng uncle mo, Yuki. Hehe."
Ngumiti nang malawak si Uncle X at magiliw na sinulyapan nang mapang-asar ang kanyang pamangkin.
"The next time you send someone to spy on us, make sure he didn't learn the skills from the 'Spying for Dummies' handbook I co-authored. Alright?"
Nico shrugged.
Samantala, lalo nang naguguluhan si Nova sa mga nangyayari. Kung ang pang-eespiya pala kina Mr. Y at Uncle X ang pinagawa ni Nico kay Dan, at natuklasan nilang kakilala ng mga ito ang foreigner na ilang araw nang sumusunod sa kanya...
"Then this means this is all just some stupid misunderstanding, isn't it?" Binalingan ulit ni Nova ang foreigner. Mabuti na lang at wala itong natamong sugat.
"If you're not the killer, then why were you following me?"
Sandaling sumulyap ang foreigner kina Mr. Y at Uncle X, as if asking their permission. Tumango naman ang dalawa, napalitan ng seryosong ekspresyon ang kanilang mga mukha. Noticably, the atmosphere grew heavier as they waited for him to pull his ID out of his wallet.
Nang ipakita niya ito sa kanila, kamuntikan na yatang nalaglag ang mga panga nina Nova at Dan.
"I'm an agent from Interpol."
The International Criminal Police Organization, commonly known as "Interpol", is the world's largest international police organization with around 190 member states. They were established mainly to address concerns and provide investigative assistance for transnational crimes such as terrorism, cybercrime, and organized crime.
Kaya hindi na rin nagtaka si Nico kung bakit ganoon na lang ang reaksyon ng kanyang mga kasama.
"Why were you following my partner, then? I wasn't aware that 'stalking' is now part of your areas of expertise."
The Interpol agent glanced at him, unfazed with his accusations. "It's a wildlife crime concern. I was sent to investigate the illegal shipment of African animals to Eastwood. It caused alarm for the locals and we've been trying to trace the culprit for several weeks, but no to avail."
"Kami ang nakipag-coordinate kay Omari para rito," Mr. Y explained. "Noong nalaman namin ang tungkol sa kaso ni Mrs. Taves at na may kinalaman ito sa virus, agad kaming naghinala ni Xavier na may kinalaman ito sa kasong iniimbestigahan din niya. Omari has been following Detective Carlos, in hopes of seeing this case from another angle and gaining enough info from your investigation."
Humalukipkip si Nova, hindi pa rin nagustuhan ang paliwanag nito. "Eh, bakit hindi na lang siya nagpakilala sa'min? What's the point of being discreet about all this if he's just here to help with our case?"
"Well, first of all, Omari was suppose to work undercover, meaning only Yuan and I were only permitted to know about this. Kami nga lang ang nakakaalam na ilang linggo na rin siya rito sa Eastwood. Second, knowing my beloved nephew, alam ko namang magta-tantrums lang siya kapag nalaman niyang nakikialam ang Interpol sa kaso 'niya'. Hindi ba, Nico?" Uncle X smirked, mocking the greatest detective in Eastwood.
Nico glared at him.
Sa di-kalayuan, napansin nilang humuhupa na ang kaguluhan sa simbahan. Dumating na rin ang ilang personnel ng ECDCP at police officers. Mukhang inaasikaso na nina Inspector Cordova ang sitwasyon.
Pinulot ni Nico ang bato na nahulog ni Omari kanina at tinitigan ang mga nakaguhit rito.
'The next location... Nakakawala na naman siya.'
"Nico?"
Despite the pressure he was feeling, especially with the involvement of so many people, Nico turned to Nova. Hawak na nito ang kanyang pink na cellphone, tila ba lalong nanlata sa kung anumang nabasa nito.
A text message.
'Another bad news,' he thought.
"What is it this time?" Nico asked.
Everyone waited.
Nova lifted her eyes and hesitated, "Patay na si Benet."
---
BINABASA MO ANG
✔ 03 | Point Of Exposure
Mystery / Thriller"Kailangan natin siyang pigilan bago pa ubusin ng virus ang populasyon ng Eastwood!" This time around, Detective Nico Yukishito and Detective Briannova Carlos are forced to face two enemies... One unseen. One vengeful. Both deadly. What happens when...
