Eyes, Nose, Lips

06

Case Closed
_________

Breaking News: A 27-year-old woman was found murdered in her apartment in downtown Dela Rosa. Emergency services responded to reports of a disturbance. Police are currently investigating the scene and looking for any witnesses and information related to the incident.

"Deputy Chief, another reported case related to Hummingbird Serial Killing." Rinig kong balita ni Officer Mendoza rito.

"Fuck, another case?" I hissed silently.

"I've already heard the news. . . I was surprised to know that the victim is a friend of mine. Nakakalungkot, that was Victoria Santurino, one of my college besties. Hindi ako makapaniwala na gano'n ang mangyayari sa kanya. Wala naman siyang naging atraso sa kung sino, she lived peacefully. Wala siyang naging utang, mabait siyang tao. . . it's just too unbelievable. I don't understand."

I felt Deputy Chief's sentiment while stating those words. Losing someone close to you is just unbelievable. It’s an experience that shakes one's entire world. The emptiness and disbelief may be overwhelming, and the process of coming to terms with such a loss is often a long and difficult to move on.

"If you just let me continue interview the families of the victims, mas may chance pa tayong maligtas ang mga susunod na biktima. . ." I suggested.

"Susunod na biktima? May mamamatay pa?
Iyan ba ang pinupunto mo, Officer Agoncillo?" galit at nanggagalaiting boses nito kaya napatingin na rin sa amin ang iba pang mga police officers sa loob ng opisina.

"What else I am pointing out, Deputy Chief? Iyan din naman ang patutunguhan ng susunod na magiging biktima ng killer. Mamamatay sila pag hindi pa tayo, umaksyon."

"Stop, just stop. Tumigil ka na sa mga pinagsasabi mo. Pwede bang iwan niyo muna ako, this meeting is dismissed!" halos pasigaw nitong sambit sa lahat ng nasa loob ng opisina.

Everyone immediately left the office when they heard Deputy Chief's voice become stern and loud.

Nang makita kong isa-isa na silang nagsilisan at nasigurong nag-iisa na siya, umupo ako sa tabi niya.

"Pwede naman tayong magtulungan. . ."

"I said get out, Officer Agoncillo. You don't like it when I get mad. I will suspend you from this case." Malamig pa rin nitong tono.

"Then suspend me, I'll still find a way to know who's the real killer."

"Enough. . .  bakit ba ang tigas-tigas ng ulo mo?" naiinis niyang sambit saka humarap sa akin at nasilayan ko ang kanyang mukha. Her eyes was filled with tears. Hindi ko man masabi ng diretso pero alam kong sobrang lungkot ng mga matang iyon.

"Because I wanted to help you."

"I don't need help," she continued on being a stubborn woman.

"I thought I was the stubborn one here? Mas matigas ka pa pala sa akin, Deputy Chief Eva Colado. Come on, I know you need help and I am willing to lend you." I let out a small chuckle and just looking at her directly.

"S-stop staring at me. . . Officer Agoncillo and stop calling me by my complete name. You're too formal."

"Nasa trabaho tayo. . ." patuloy ko sa pagngisi.

"Cut it out, will you? Stop staring at me." Pagreklamo niya ulit sa akin.

"I will only stop if you let me help you. We can do this together, I know."

"Dumagdag ka pa talaga, e, ano? Ano bang gusto mo? Tell what do you want?" seryosong tanong nito.

"Let's investigate this case on secret. Conduct interview on the victim's family."

"A-ano? Baliw ka ba? Investigate secretly? Para naman tayong mga kriminal niyan, at bakit ba kita papakinggan, ha? I am the Deputy Chief here, so ako ang masusunod. I don't want to waste my time on you." Agresibong sagot niya sa akin na dahilan para mapakamot ako sa aking ulo. "Damn it!" rinig ko pang dagdag niya.

"Parang hindi ikaw 'yan. Cursing silently is not you."

"You don't know me, Officer Agoncillo, so shut up!" she shouted at me again.

"I may not know you yet pero makakaya ba ng konsensya mo ang mga taong posible pang mamatay kapag hindi mo pinakinggan ang suggestion ko. Maybe it's not our lose, but those lives, they don't deserve it. Those who are innocent don't deserve their death."

"Just give me those damn cases," may diin nitong sambit habang kinakalma ang kanyang sistema.

I smiled the moment she said those words, "Here are the entire case, naka-summary na 'yan kasama ang bagong kaso ngayon."

When it comes to solving crimes and cases. The only option I got is to catch the murderer along with the evidences.

"You're really persistent, huh?" She raised her eyebrows.

"Ang isuko ang kriminal sa batas kasama ang mga nakalap na ebidensya. That's the only principle I've got for now, Eva Colado."

She nodded slowly, then allowed me to watch as she reviewed the cases in the files. Those cases may only be on paper, but the lives lost can never be brought back.

"Can you take a closer look at this case? I mean, the Licarno family's case. Look carefully, I might be imagining things," sambit niya na para bang naguguluhan pa.

"Anong ibig mong sabihin?" tanong ko.

Tila nagkaroon ng bakas ng pagkabahala ang mukha niya. I sighed again and looked back at the photos in the case.

"The Licarno family's case isn't the same as the Hummingbird Serial Killing case. Look again, at first I thought the 'Hummingbird' symbol was being left by the killer, but it’s not. The two cases look completely different from each other."

"Teka lang may nabasa ako rito," sabi ko nang makita ko ang isang artikulo sa aking telepono.

I immediately scrolled through the screen, as I read the headline. It was a report about the Licarno family's case, but the details seemed off. Kulang ito ng mga mahahalagang detalye.

"Look at this," I continued, showing her my phone. "It says here that the Licarno family was seen leaving a party the night they disappeared. But there’s no mention of the Hummingbird symbol. . . but nothing connects it to the other cases— the two cases right now.

"Posible kayang magkaiba ang killer?" pagdadalawang isip niyang tanong sa akin.

"I don't know. . . 'yan ang hindi ko masasagot ko ngayon pero posible ding gawa-gawa lang din ito lahat ng totoong killer para lituhin tayong lahat.

"What? Wait? The Hummingbird Serial Killing is a case closed?" kitang-kita ko ang panlalaki ng mata niya nang makita kong hawak-hawak niya ang phone ko.

"Ano? What else did the article said?" I asked.

She nodded. "Matagal na pa lang nahuli ang killer ng Hummingbird Serial Killing. The murderer even died on prison, exactly three years ago."