DETECTIVE FILES. File 1 (Published under PSICOM)

CHAPTER 43: PHANTOM OF THE OPERA (Part 2)

Chapter 43: Phantom of the Opera (Part 2)

Dahil hindi pa kami nag-aalmusal ay umorder si Detective Tross ng pagkain mula sa isang fast food chain na naghahanda ng agahan. They went early in this opera house to observe the place bago pa man dumating ang ibang staff at cast ng opera. The orchestra whom they are working with ay hindi pa dumarating. Ayon sa kanila, they usually practice in other location at saka lamang dito sa opera house kapag malapit na ang performance.

Hindi nagtagal ay dumating na nga ang mga kasamahan ni Sir Lee. There were six of them. Dalawa ay bahagi ng crew ay ang apat naman ay main cast ng Les Misérables, a novel which they will perform as an opera. One of the crew was Ruel Garcia, assigned with the lights, curtains and other stuff. Ang isa naman ay si Trina Ignacio, the make-up artist of the group.

Ang cast naman na naroon ay sina Troy Monteclaro, the one who will portray Jean Valjean, the main protagonist. Ang isa naman ay si Rocco Fellon, ang gaganap bilang Inspector Javert. The one who will portray Fantine and older Cosette is Shania Ford. The last one was Ryan Chua who will portray Marius Pontmercy, Cosette's lover. Nagsimula na sila sa pag-eensayo at nanuod lamang kami sa kanila. Nang lingunin ko si Gray ay matamang pinagmamasdan nito ang galaw ng bawat isa.

Uh, don't tell me he can identify whoever the phantom criminal among them by merely looking at them?

Unang nagreklamo si Shania. "I'm so tired! Kahapon pa panay ang ensayo natin kasama ang orchestra! Sumasakit na nga ang lalamunan ko! Let's take a break Director Lee. And what's with the audience?" reklamo nito at masamang tiningnan kami as she referred to us as the audience.

"Don't mind them. They're on investigation," sagot ni Sir Lee sa kanya.

"Investigation? Like a police investigation?" Rocco asked.

"Police investigation," sagot ni Sir Lee.

"Even that young man and that girl?" Troy asked. Pinigilan ko ang sarili kong taasan ito ng kilay. He referred Gray as young man while he called me a girl?! Bakit hindi na lang sabihin na young woman? Napaka-nene pakinggan kapag tinawag kang girl kaysa kapag tawagin kang young woman. Meh! I'm turning 18 eleven days from now moron!

"Yeah. They're undercover," paliwanag ulit ni Sir Lee. "Just don't mind them. Okay, let's have a break. I'll call a snack house for food delivery."

Umalis na ang lahat sa stage. That's the time na nagsalita na si Gray. "Detective Tross, have you noticed something queer with the seven people with us?" tanong niya dito.

"Not really maliban sa magagaling silang kumanta," nakangiting sagot ng detective. Mukhang na-starstruct pa ito sa mga boses ng cast ng opera.

Gray made a face at him bago humarap sa akin. "How about you Amber?"

He's asking me? Wala ngang naisagot ang police detective, ako pa kaya?! "Queer? You mean aside from their bratty attitude?" I asked. Yeah, all the cast are stubborn and bratty. Ito pa ang nagagalit kay Sir Lee gayong ito ang director. Tumango si Gray sa akin at hinintay ang sagot ko. "Uh, well mula nang sinabi ni Sir Lee that we're part of the police investigation, parang nagulat sila at lahat ay naging maingat sa ginagawa at sinasabi nila," sagot ko.

"Yeah, that's true. Other than that?" tanong niya ulit and this time I shrugged my shoulders. Ano nga bang meron sa kanila?

"Didn't you notice that each of them have their mannerisms? Katulad na lamang ni Troy na gaganap bilang Jean Valjean, hindi niyo ba napansin na kapag wala itong ginagawa ay tina-tap niya ang sahig o dingding gamit ang kanyang daliri?" Gray asked at ininguso ang labi kay Troy na nakatayo sa harap ng elevated stage habang panay nga ang tap ng daliri nito sa sahig, as if he's doing it with a beat of a music.