P.I.BOX

A Candidates Case -Part 2

Hawak ang dyaryo, tutok si Makoy sa pagbabasa habang tahimik na nakaupo sa harap ng nagbubulungang miron.

Si Melba Justo, ang asawa ng mayoral candidate, si Sherwin Toledo ang campaign manager at siyempre, si Gustavo Justo...kumakain ng cornik.

"So this is it?" This guy is our best bet?" Ani Mr. Toledo.

"Believe me, this is how desperate we are." Sagot ni Capt.Cortez. Habang kumakamot ulo.

"Excuse me who is he again?" Tanong ni Melba.

"This..." hindi makahanap ng salita para idescribe ang kulot. Dalawang dyaryo ang binabasa ng sabay. Tumayo ito at tumingin sa naka mute na tv sa may pader. Sa balita ay ang insidenteng naganap. Ito ata ang palabas sa lahat ng istasyon. Bumalik sa upuan at tiningnan uli ang larawan sa dyaryo.

"...is Makoy...and he has his own process..." patuloy ni Sixto. "Anyway, nobody wants to box anyone.. What we are suggesting is to limit tv interviews and do not release campaign schedules in advance."

"No no no forget it! Do you mean we run the entire campaign in a basement? I'm sure the mayor would love that!!" Sarkastikong sagot ng cm.

"Cool down, Sherwin... the captain is just doing his job." Pigil ni Gustavo.

"Mr. Justo, is there anyone you know who could have done this? A disgruntled employee perhaps?..." tanong ng kapitan.

"Or an ex wife..." pang-inis na sabi ng misis.

"Break na kami... break na kami.." naging maingay muli ang conference room. Patung-patong na salita buhat sa cm at mayoryal candidate.

"Oh how about ex-business partners?... wait, may listahan ata ako niyan. Yung mga hindi na nagpapadala ng keso de bola sa atin kapag ka Christmas...o alak sa New Year." Habang patayo si Melba. Kiniss sa ulo ang asawa.

Tuloy lang ang pagsulat sa notebook si Lt.Sajonas.

"A man who hasn't made any enemies hasn't done anything at all..that's what they say." yabang ni Mr.Justo.

"Gustav, are you sure you are pushing through? I mean, after yesterday, no one would blame you if you quit..."

"Come on Ricky, QUIT is a four letter word that I hate!" ang sagot.

"Excuse me.." sabad ni Capt.Cortez. "We haven't been introduced. Sorry who are you?"

"Rick Owa, from upstairs SVP slash BFF with the future president" tukoy si Gustav.

Tumango lang si Sixto at nagtinginan sila ni Jonas. Nagsulat uli ang tenyente.

"All of this will not run if Rick is not upstairs running the store." yabang ng kandidato.

Tumango uli si Sixto at nagtinginan uli sila ni Jonas. Nagsulat nanaman ang tenyente.

Naglabas ng maliit na botelya si Melba at ininom iyon sa isang sulok ng silid. Maiging pampakalma ang kaunting alak. Tumayo si Gustav at lumapit sa maybahay. "Oh come on, baby, do you really need that?" lambing nito.

"Yes I do, yes I do..." habang ayaw ipaagaw ang inumin. Stressed. "Someone tried to kill my husband yesterday and you want me to relax?!?"

Napalingon ang lahat at napahinto sa pag-uusap nang makitang nakalabas ang kalahati ng katawan ni Makoy sa bintana... "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA" nag vovoicing. May falceto at kulot pa ang tono.

"What the hell?!" sabi ni Melba. Napahawak sa kanyang ulo si Sherwin.

"So this is it talaga? A civilian?!"

"Mrs. Justo, I can assure you, Mr. Makoy's involvement is an indication of just how serious we are taking this case."  Lumapit sa may bandang likuran ng kulot ang kapitan. Medyo asiwa, "...but first...I'll need to talk to him." sabay hila sa sinturon para maipasok sa loob.

"Ehem" niluwagan ang lalamunan habang inaayos ang jacket. "Sorry... sinubukan ko lang." pa cute na ngiti.

"Mr. Toledo..." ani Makoy, "...this is you sa front page right...?" Napalingon si Sherwin. Tiningnan ang larawan sa dyaryo.

"Yes." tugon. "So?"

"Wala lang..." May iniisip pero hindi niya mawari. "...ganda ng kuha mo dito."

"Owwwkaay..." sarkastiko.

Bumalik si Makoy sa pwesto niya sa lamesa. "I'd like to see where the shots are fired..."

Mabilis hinawakan ni Sixto ang binata sa braso at humarap muli sa campo nina Mr. Justo. "We are getting every help we can get. We will be updating you soon..." sumenyas kay Jonas. "If you'll excuse me, Lt. Sajonas will continue with the meeting..." nag muwestra sa kanyang kamay : five minutes. Lumabas sa silid kasama ang kulot.

Sa labas ng conference room diretso ang sermon. "What are you doing?" matapang na mukha ni Sixto. Nagsalubong nanaman ang magkabilang bigote. "I told you, you don't say anything unless I tell you to!  Ano sa observant status ang hindi mo naintindihan?!" nakatingin lang si Makoy, dalawang kamay sa kanyang bulsa.

"You're a civilian! You are not even suppose to be there!"

"So why am I there?" blankong tanong ng kulot. Sandaling napatahimik si Sixto. Tumalikod si Makoy at lumakad sa kalapit na bintana sa hallway. Doon sumandal.

"I asked you to be there because I want you to see them in person. You observe people closely and might see things even me and Jonas won't see."

"K..." halos pabulong. "Exactly..."

Umalis sa pagkakasandal. "I have something pero nasa dulo ng dila ko hindi ko maisip..." pinakita ang tinuping front page ng dyaryo na may picture ni Toledo during the incident. "I'd like to keep this muna ha, if okay lang..."

"It's newspaper Makoy, you can get that anywhere..."

"...yeah right..." tinupi uli at binulsa. "...anyway, sorry for over stepping. I get excited lalo na pag nasa zone ako... nakalimutan ko na lahat ng orders should be coming from you. I just stated that If pwede lang naman, and kung hindi makakasama sa loob mo, i'd like to see kung saan pinutok ang baril."

Tumahik ang dalawa.

"...Of course! I'm giving it a GO." tugon ni Sixto. "But don't get too cocky, you'll be there with police supervision of course, SOCO will be there as well and me and Jonas..."

"Yada-yada-yada...bring anyone you like. I'll be there with a friend too."

"With wha--Who?!?" halos mapasabunot ang kapitan.

"A colleague! I'm not doing this alone, Sir Sixto! I'll need help... and a free transpo."

"Transpo? We have dozen of police mobiles out there...ride one!" Bulyaw.

"You need my help 'di ba? Then I rather arrive in style. Isa pa I don't want to look like na inaresto ako riding at the back of a mobile." Nakatawang sabi. "And by the way: you missed a spot shave sa may baba mo, something that won't happen if nakita 'yan ng misis mo. Your wife always uses the Eldridge knot for your tie versus todays normal knot na probably ikaw lang ang nagtali. Saka yung baso ng kape mo kanina, coffee cup ng NEOSTAR INN... Conclusion: nag-away kayo and hindi ka sa bahay natulog..."

"Stop.." pabulong na pigil. On point! Tama si kulot. "...it's best if we keep it to ourselves, okay..? Baka isipin nila ander ako."

"Hey I'm 100 percent with you Sir Sixto." Pabulong din and may pa surender na taas kamay pa. "Send her some flowers! That'll do the trick. Kaw pa!"

Sabay mabilis na lakad palabas ng pinto.

"Text me the address and we'll meet you there!"

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