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Chapter 23: you call the shots
COOLER
Nasa opisina ako nang makatanggap ng tawag mula kay Poseidon. Other than the business, may iba rin akong inaasikaso gaya ng Vander Trading, where I was one of the executives. It's one of the legit businesses, na humahawak ng mga import ng iba't ibang produkto tulad ng mga durable at consumer goods.
"Zeus," wika ko nang sinagot ko ang telepono.
"Did you check the files Mnemosyne sent?" tanong ni Poseidon.
Bahagya kong sinulyapan ang patong-patong na reports na nasa tabi ng laptop ko. "Is it urgent? I'm kind of busy."
"The police are sniffing around the fire that broke out in Four Seasons," sabi niya, ignoring my reply.
Now he got my full attention. "What?"
I know he's a bit distressed. "You heard me."
Agad kong binuksan ang email at hinanap ang mga files na pinadala ni Mnemosyne. It was a detailed report of the fire in Four Seasons, the spa I commanded to be burned down after Rustia left sad instead of happy. Ayon sa report, may ilang ebidensyang naiwan na maaaring magpatunay na hindi aksidente ang nangyari.
But it's impossible. Arson is a piece of cake for Poseidon. Paanong sa pagkakataong ito lang siya nakapag-iwan ng ebidensya?
"What happened?" tanong ko. "You've been doing this forever, this is the firs time you left an evidence."
Narinig ko ang buntong-hininga niya sa kabilang linya. "Exactly. That sloppy leaving of the incendiary device is too obvious. And I checked, it's not mine. Ibig sabihin, somebody's messing with me. Sa tingin mo, sino kaya?"
Right. My reaper knows his craft very well kaya kapag sinabi niyang hindi siya nag-iwan ng kahit anong makakapagturo sa amin, I believe him. Kung ganoon, tama siya. Someone's messing with us.
"Fix this."
"On it," Poseidon replied. "And in case you don't know, ang police na naka-assign sa kasong ito is no other than Brad Rustia."
Another headache is about to come. "Do whatever it takes to keep him off this case." If anything, I don't want complications. I burned down the place because they upset Rustia; I don't want her brother sticking around.
Nang ibaba ko ang tawag, napasandal ako. I know sooner or later Rustia will find out, but hey, there's nothing pointing back to us. I don't have to worry about it.
What I have to do now is think of an alibi if she starts asking questions. Of course, I cannot tell her I burned down the place for her. I cannot even act like I knew about burning the place. I hope she won't ask too many questions about it. Should I pretend I was relieved na wala kami roon nang magsimula ang apoy?Well hey, I'm a bad actor so I'll just try to keep cool about it.
