Behind the Facade

XII. Tip of an Iceberg

The moment I received the answer from him, a disguised doctor who happened to have a name Freician, agad kong kinuha ang aking phone sa bedside table. It took me a few taps on it before dialing someone's number. However, the other line that I'm trying to reach cannot be connected-

He answered!

"Who the hell is this? Anong oras na, oh!" hearing that familiar voice, hindi ko mapigilan ang mapatawa nang bahagya. He still doesn't change at all. "Is this some sort of prank call again?!" Inilayo ko agad ang phone ko sa'king tainga. He still has that thunderous voice!

"This is Jeinneah, Sir." I chuckled when silence greeted me next. "Have you forgotten your partner before?" I teased. But then, I heard unceasing cuss at the next thing I said. I could imagine his face he's making right now.

"Holy-fucking-shit..." he gasped. He's Alexis Dylan, the head agent of the National Bureau of Investigation. Parang noon lang kasama ko pa siya bilang senior agent, now, he has climbed two positions already! "Napatawag ka? Do you need anything?"

I heaved a sigh first, garnering courage to say the next thing, "I finally have a lead for the Lavez's case." I answered, ensuing another silence. We have once worked together for the same case, ngunit gaya ng mga police noon, our investigation has led us to nowhere, becoming the very reason for me to focus on my company instead, and resigned as an agent.

"I have a witness." I added, hoping to get his attention right away. But I was taken aback for a second when I heard a sigh from him, instead. What does that mean?

"You're still holding onto it..." wika nito. I gripped on my fist for a second, parang ayaw ko kasi ang tunog ng boses niya. He sounded like he had reached the dead-end of this case for so long already. "Alright, let's look up into it." But then he gave me a favorable answer, lighting up my face in an instant.

"The witness, however, got his siblings into the Lavez's den. I would like to have your rescue to save them..." sinabi ko rin sa kaniya ang lugar kung saan dinala ang kapatid ni Freician. "Before I forget, I would like to have some of your men to watch out a patient. He has been threatened twice, I cannot afford to have another one again." Madali rin siyang kausapin, ilang minuto lamang ang nakalipas at dumating din ang mga ahenteng pinapadala ko. There are five of them. While the two are inside, the rest on the other hand, guarded outside.

I still recognized some of them, while the rest are unfamiliar. Hindi ko na magawang mag-meet and greet pa sa kanila, dahil urgent 'tong kasong 'to. I went to Freician next to untie him and retrieve my long sleeve. Sinuot ko agad ito bago hinarap si Reinleigh na mahimbing pa ring natutulog. It's way better for him.

"Please, take care of him for me." I told them and beamed. Aalis na sana ako, but I felt a hand that caught my wrist. I stopped and turned sideways. There I saw Reinleigh with his eyes opened and looking into mine intently.

"Be safe." He spoke, catching me by surprise with those mere words. But then, I just smiled at him as a response before I gently took his hand off.

Sinabay ko na sa'kin si Freician as we head to the place where his sibling was abducted. Alexis and I agreed to meet at the convenience store before the abandoned establishment where Freician's sibling was held on. Nauna kaming makarating do'n, but it didn't take a time for Alexis and his men next.

"It has been really a while, Neyah." A towering brawny man emerged out of the car that arrived first. He's still having that dark expression as if the world betrayed him in the most twisted way. Lagi kasing magkasalubong ang mga kilay nito na minsa'y natatakpan din ng bangs niya. "How are you doing now?"

"I feel a little better now, lalo na't may lead na tayo." I answered and gave him a dry smile. Alexis is one of the few people who knows my past, kaya siguro hindi niya agad madi-disregard ang sinabi ko tungkol sa Lavez. I averted my gazes to my car and mutter, "He's inside, the witness that I told you about." Tumango lamang siya sa'kin saka ako pinasadahan ng tingin mula ulo hanggang paa.