The Santos Conspiracy

Chapter 2: Hacienda Santos

The next day, James excitedly got ready for his first day on the case. Was it weird that he was excited for a case as dangerous as this one? As James was fixing his signature black necktie in front of the mirror, he couldn't help but run a multitude of scenarios in his head.

"What if this IS all in Isabella Santos' head?" James thought to himself.

Pausing for a brief moment to check himself before he left, his phone let out a subtle bell sound. "DING, your Grub Driver has now arrived". James let out a small smirk at the mirror, tightened his tie one last time, and went off on his first day on the case.

James was on the way to Hacienda Santos, family home of the star studded Santos family. They were all celebrities in their own right. Luis Santos, Isabella's father was one of the richest men in all of Metro Manila, owning properties all over the Metro and even extending his reach to the far south. Her mother, Leonor, was also a multi-award winning actress. She made history as being the first Filipina to win best actress at the Oscars.

Her brother on the other hand, Edward Santos, had other ideas of being famous - or infamous for that matter. A few years ago, Edward stole a whopping thirty million pesos from his father's company. Rumors are that he stole all this money - in cash - from the family vault, got on the family yacht and sailed away never to be seen again. The Santos family, considering their social status, were very privy to all that goes on in that big mansion of theirs in Cavite. James might just be the first person, other than staff and their very close circle, to set foot in that place.

As the car was approaching the Hacienda, right along the highway, one would be downright blind not to notice the white, 10 foot tall gates adorned with symbols that James could just make out as milk fish. James thought that this was a strange thing to put on your gates, but who was he to judge.

The car went to a stop right in front of the gates and they were greeted by two guards all dressed in black from head to toe. One of the guards apprehensively approached the car, his leather Doc Martens crunching the loose dirt on the ground. James rolled down his passenger side window and, without saying a single word, the guard gestured to the other to open the gates to let them through. James had the feeling that they were expecting him. As the car rolled through the long, winding roads to the main house, James was mesmerized by vast land that the family had acquired. With all the Narra trees and even some wild horses galloping along, "I'm a long way from my apartment now" James muttered.

Finally, after about 5 minutes, the car pulled up the driveway to the main house. James got out of the car and took it all in. He was struck by the sheer size of the place. The walls looked like they were made of gleaming white marble, with two large pillars right by the door as if they were giants tasked with guarding this famous family. Around the mansion were lush gardens filled with different flowers all extenuating the beauty and elegance that is Hacienda Santos.

Just as James was soaking in the grandeur of everything, the large doors of the mansion opened as a familiar, sweet voice greeted him. "Mr. Dela Cruz! You made it!". It was Isabella, wearing what looked like a gray hoodie and sweatpants with fluffy slippers. Ofcourse, James hardly recognized her as she and her family were always seen in elegant dresses and suits when they were out and about.

"Sorry for my appearance, this is how I dress in the Hacienda." Isabella told James looking up at him. James hadn't noticed how short she was considering she was wearing heels during their last encounter.

"Oh, I don't mind Ms. Santos." He said softly. You could even see a slight smile on his face as he said it. It's what is believed to be called Kilig by Filipinos.

"Please, call me Bella" she said smiling. "Come on, we can talk in the living room."

The manor was just as magnificent inside as it was on the outside. The shiny wooden floors glistened, as if it was polished every single minute of the day. A crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling, illuminating the hallway. As Bella led James through the halls, he couldn't help but notice all the paintings that lined the towering brown walls. They all appeared to be portraits of each member of the family, Bella's not too far from the entrance as she was 'Unica Hija' the only daughter followed by her mother then her father. They were all in traditional Filipino clothing. Bella and her mother were in the common off white Baro't Saya, lightweight fabric with butterfly shoulders adorned with curve patterns, simple yet elegant. Her father on the other hand was wearing a dark blue barong, not very common among the rich. Nonetheless, they all exuded an aura of power and you could tell at first glanced that these people had stacks of cash.

Of all the paintings that James saw there, what really struck him most was the painting that WASN'T there. Just a blank spot on the wall still with the outline of what used to be there. Bella glanced at James for a split second, as if he hadn't noticed, just continued to lead James through the halls. It was of course where Edward Santos' painting used to be.

Finally in the living room, Luis and Leanor Santos were sitting on opposite ends of a white fur couch with black spots all over it, probably the longest couch that James has ever seen. Luis Santos had medium length hair for a man in their 50's with wrinkles on his face, the toll of years of hard work building his empire showing. Leonor on the other hand looked fresh as a flower in the spring. Her flowing white hair almost sparkling with the crystal chandelier. They were both wearing matching black track suits, the famous branding of three stripes along the sleeves and the side of the pants. They were both busy on their phones. Luis with his frameless, square reading glasses all the way on the tip of his nose, with his index finger pointed straight at the screen reading what is assumed to be a long news article from how focused he was on it. And Leonor, phone on one hand, rapidly swiping in all directions. She was probably playing Candy Crush, the almost ancient game made popular again by celebrities like her posting what level they are on their Instagram stories.

As James and Bella entered the room, both of the elder Santos' stopped what they were doing and surveyed James from head to toe, phones still in hand.

"Mama, papa, I'd like you to meet Detective Dela Cruz" Said Bella, gesturing towards James as if presenting a guest to a medieval king. "I've hired him to look into what I was telling you about." A bit of a shakiness to her voice. Bella couldn't say outloud what she was referring to, but the parents obviously knew. Though they apparently think that their daughter was just paranoid, James could see the look of worry in both of their faces.

"Have a seat Mr. Dela Cruz" Said Luis, using his facial expressions to point at the couch opposite them. "Let's hear what our Bella has to say."

Just as James was about to sit down, he got a weird tingling feeling. He thought he noticed something from the window in the corner of his eye. Across the yard was what appeared to be a man, on his knees tending to the flower bed just by the small pond. It was probably a regular sight to see workers out and about the yards tending to the plants. There was just something about him that was quite not right. James could've sworn that he occasionally was glancing into the house.

"Mr. Santos? James?" Bella worriedly called. She, along with her family were all already sitting. "Is everything alright?" She asked.

"Uh.. Yeah, yeah sorry." James apologized, let out a sigh, and sat down.

James glanced one more time out the window and... He was gone.

A few seconds after he sat down, it dawned on him.

The worker was wearing a green windbreaker.