Blood Menace

29- The Husband

Tahimik na pumasok si Cole sa hotel suite kung saan naganap ang massacre. May police tapes pa pero nalinis na ang crime scene. Cole sniffed. There was no trace of blood. Biohazard was properly cleaned up. It was immaculate.

He knew the place was cleaned up that's why Kam didn't know about the crime until she went home and saw it on the news.

Ilang beses na nilinis ang suite na ito?

Walang kung anong gamit doon at mukhang hindi bubuksan ang kwartong ito any time soon para sa guests ng hotel.

He touched the wall and he could feel a faint hum from there.

Magic. Someone used magic here recently. Or maybe during the time of the massacre.

He slowly walked around while his hand trailed across the walls. There was magic all over the place. Kahit na konti na lang ang natira ay sigurado siyang may gumamit nga n'on.

"But Kam and her friends are all vampires. And all their guests were mortals. Who cast a spell?"

Dali-dali niyang kinuha ang kanyang phone mula sa back pocket ng kanyang pantalon. Naroon and digital copy ng files tungkol sa massacre.

"Sinu-sino pa ang naroon nang gabing 'yun?"

He scrolled through the list of names who were present that night.

Not one was a witch.

"Huh!" 'yun lang ang nasambit niya nang biglang bumukas ang pinto ng suite.

It was too late to hide!

Standing at the doorway was Kam. Nakasuot ito ng puting sweatsuit, sneakers at cap. Katulad niya ay nagulat din ito nang makita siya.

"What are you doing here?" tanong nito kapagkuwan.

"Investigating," simpleng sagot ni Cole. "How about you?"

Okay, this was weird. Ito ang unang pagkakataon na mapag-solo sila after twelve years.

He actually didn't know how to act. Would he be playful and act like they were cool? Or would he be formal and act like he was bitter.

Okay, the first option sounded better. Hindi kaya siya bitter.

"Akala ko ba isasama mo ako... kami sa investigation na 'to?" anito saka isinara ang pinto.

"Well, I can do what I want. I'm an official investigator hired by the mayor. So, I'd ask you the same question. Why are you here alone? Were you trying to investigate behind my back?"

She didn't answer. Nanghihinang sumandal lang ito sa dingding malapit sa pinto.

Saka lang napansin ni Cole na may pulang mantsa sa gilid ng sweatshirt nito at may punit iyun.

Blood. The stain was blood.

Otomatikong humakbang ang kanyang mga paa palapit dito pero agad din naman siyang napatigil nang maalalang may asawa itong babae.

He cleared his throat. "What happened to you? Okay ka lang?" he gestured at her clothes.

Tumango naman ito. "Someone recognized me outside. A mortal woman. She called me a murderer and sliced me using a pocket knife."

"What? Does this happen often?"

Tumango ito. "Ilang beses na itong nangyari. They're mad at me especially the mortals. The massacre victims were all mortals, you know. Bakit daw hindi pa ako nakukulong? Dahil daw sa yaman ng pamilya ko kaya malaya ako kahit na isa naman akong kriminal. May ilang rallies nga all over the city. They want justice for the victims."