Shots of Secrets

Caught Red Handed

"We have a lead about our most troublesome case, Castine." Nilingon ko ang kasamahan kong pulis na si Richard na kakarating lang sa presinto, matapos kong ilapag sa lamesa ang iniinom kong kape.

After hearing what he said, It feels like i've lost my appretite even though I was just drinking coffee. It's been a few months since the killings started. Nagsimula sa iisang area hanggang lumaki na at umabot sa mga probinsiya, at ngayon ay lumaganap na sa buong bansa. I even heard that it's spreading worldwide, means that the suspect isn't working alone in this.

It's hard to catch the killer, he or she works very well. Wala siyang iniiwan na bakas, lahat malinis. The hardest part is that the dead bodies are also missing after we got them from the crime scene after a few days.

The victims are males, purong kalalakihan lang. Walang halong bata or teenager, mostly were middle-aged men or married men. Some of them were known politicians, and from different professsions.

Inilahad ko ang kamay ko sa harap niya para hingin ang sinasabi niyang lead. He handed me two resealable pouch, and a long brown folder. Iginilid ko ang kapeng iniinom ko kanina bago buksan ang folder.

"There was a black ferrari parked near the last crime scene, sa bodega. Isa sa mga pinaghihinalaang sasakyang ginagit ng suspect. The MMDA are also helping us to track this car, but got blocked out nung nalaman nilang hindi nakarehistro yung sasakyan dito sa Pilipinas."

Nangunot ang noo ko sa nakitang litrato ng sasakyan. It looks.. familiar. I think i've seen it somewhere before pero hindi ko maalala kung saan. Maybe, one of the past cases i've handled.

"Sosyal ng killer niyo naka Ferrari, kabog!" Natatawang sabi ni Milli na sumulpot mula sa kung saan, isa sa officers namin sa team. She handles the DNA's and other evidences that may lead us to the right suspect's identification.

Milli looks sleep deprived like the rest of us here inside the precinct.

I wore a disposable glove before opening the ziplock pouch. Ang isa ay naglalaman ng isang hibla ng buhok, at ang isa naman ay face powder ng isang kilalang cosmetics brand. Hindi ko na kinuha ang buhok dahil baka liparin pa sa kung saan.

Pumwesto si Milli sa gilid ko, "Grabe, sinong kumuha ng buhok na 'to? Sobrang linaw ng mata ah." Komento ni Milli na hawak ang pouch na may hible ng buhok.

Same thoughts.

"It was spotted on the tiled floor sa banyo ng bodega, it might lead to our suspect or maybe sa victim kaya naman kinuha na. Isa pa we had similar cases before nsa halos magkakaparehas ang DNA nung mga victims. We can't lose possibilities." Sabi ni Richard at naupo sa harapan ng table ko.

"Okay, ako na bahala dito." Sabi ni Milli at umalis sa gilid ko.

"What's with this face powder anyways?" I asked Richard.

Ang alam ko lalaki ang huling victim na natagpuan sa bodega kaya bakit may face powder doon?

"Pwede sa worker ng bodega 'yan, o 'di kaya ay-"

"Babae ang napatay nung killer," putol ko sa sasabihin ni Richard na tinanguan niya naman.

"If she's really a woman, what's the killer's motive to do this to her?" Sabi ni Richard bago idukdok ang ulo niya sa lamesa ko.

"Men victims.. and a woman. Isn't a bit.. obvious? What if it's a revenge?" Sabi ko kay Richard na halatang nakuha agad ang interes sa sinabi ko.

"Revenge, huh?"

"Yes, just what if." I shrugged my shoulders off.

"But we don't rely on what if's" Napailing na lang siya at walang pasabing umalis sa harap ko habang ako naman ay titig na titig sa face powder na nasa pouch.