Always And Forever

The Case That Went Cold

Their residence was filled with music and laughter hours ago, but in a snap. It's now surrounded by police vehicles and yellow tapes.

A black sedan came to an abrupt stop. The rear door opened before his security aid could even step out. They initially opposed the idea of him coming back to the scene. But no one can stop him. The moment the reporter saw who it was, they immediately crowded the side walk.

"It's the Philippine Senator!"
"Senator!"
"Sir one statement!"
"Do you believe this was politically motivated?"

Francisco barely heard them, camera flashes were blinding but it did not stop him to step beneath the police tape. The marble pathway was stained with blood, some chairs overturned, half emptied champagne glasses still remained on the forgotten tables.

Everything froze where the celebration ended and tragedy began.

"Sir..."

An investigator approached him. Inside the residence police moved from room to room.

"Speak", he demanded.
"Security cameras were disabled minutes before shots were fired"

Francisco just nodded, apparently he wanted to hear something else.

"My granddaughter? Where is she?"

"She's safe sir"

It was as if the weight on his chest was lifted and allowed himself to breathe once more.

"Antonio and Isabel?" he asked again.

The investigator fell silent for a moment and avoided the senator's gaze.

"I'm sorry"

As if the world fell upon him as he shut his eyes. He felt his throat tighten, vision becoming blurry. Before the investigator could stop him, he flipped the nearest table.

"Senator!", his security aids came rushing.
"No!", his thundering voice reached every ear.

He grabbed another chair and threw it across the room. "No!"

"No.." his voice started to crack. His securities stepped back as he dragged both his hands across his face before violently sweeping everything on another nearby table.

One of his aides instinctively reached for him, but he was too quick to shrug off.

"Huwag mo'kong hawakan!"

After what felt like forver, he turned to the lead investigator and violently held his collar.

Eyes filled with grief and rage, he commanded. "Find out who did this"

"You know", Francisco turned to fully face Leonor. "I used to think that the investigation would last for a week". He paused, "I thought they'd find the shooter, arrest him, we burry your parents, and life somehow continues"

This time, he shook his head and lifted the folder
"Instead, this happened"

George had photocopied every witness list and even had annotations beside it. This got Francisco impressed.

"I asked the same question", he continued, "Bakit pito lang ang statements, eh bente tres ang claimed witness"

Leonor remained quiet and let her grandfather talk.

"Eventually, the same pattern happened. Like the hearing, witnesses started disappearing, evidence inventory got missing-"

"Yan ba dahilan kung bakit ka tumigil? Why you gave up?" The frustration in her voice was evident.

Francisco just smiled, he completely understood her.

"'No", he shook his head, "I badly wanted to continue the investigation"

"But?"

"They made me ran out of doors to knock"

"What do you mean?"

"Every path I took, I hit a wall. Kahit sa anong paraan napipigilan ako nak" he looked down, "Eventually..."

When he looked at her again his eyes were already red.

"Eventually they gave me my final reason to stop"

"What?"

He smiled weakly.

"I lost my son, I lost my daughter in law, I wasn't going to lose you too".

"Senator", his secretary approached his desk and placed an envelope.

Francisco glanced at it, "What's that?"

"From the mail senator, di naka indicate san nanggaling"

When he opened the envelope, he felt cold shivers throughout his body. It contained photographs months after the tragedy. School, parks, church. In the pictures was his granddaughter, Leonor. The last picture was his final straw. It was him carrying her out of the car and entering their private residence. Behind it a note was written.

"The truth has a way of finding its daylight-Goodluck with that, senator"

"They were going to come after you next", his gaze remained fixed on the ground unable to meet hers. "I couldn't let that. So I stopped"

"That is why I became distant and cold. I couldn't bear to face you knowing that one day you'll finally ask what happened, why I stopped, bakit naging duwag ako"

He finally got the courage and looked her in the eye, "I am constantly consumed by the guilt of what could've been, anak".

And for the first time in Leonor's whole life, Francisco finally brought himself to say the words that he always intended to utter.

"I'm sorry, Leni"