This time you're not getting away!
"Sir, tumalon sa bintana!"
Richard quickly move out of the street they were in, may nakapag-tip sa kanila na doon nagkukuta ang killer na matagal na nilang pinaghahanap.
He issued order immediately.
"Sundan nyo! He's wearing checkered polo shirts with loose printed maong pants. Blonde hair pero malamang wig lang yun. Iyong iba sumunod sa akin, close every possible exit. Inform all our units to put up check points. Hindi pwede magpagala-gala pa ang siraulong ito. Pwede patamaan pero huwag nyong patayin, are we clear?!"
"Sir, yes, Sir!"
Mabilis na kumilos ang mga tauhan nya, tumakbo ang suspect sa intersection, sa gitna ng Sta. Cruz plaza, patungong arc of peace ng Ongpin St.
Itinaas nya ang dalang radio device at doon nagsalita, "Men, block all possible exits. Sa mga eskinita ang daan nito. Report to me, once you see him"
Mabuti na lang at pamilyar si Richard sa lugar na iyon, doon kasi siya na-destino dati. Isa sa mga tauhan nya ang sumunod sa kanya habang ang iba ay nagtungo sa mga posibleng daanan ng suspect.
There's a small shortcut here to Arranque, siguradong doon sa mataong lugar siya tutungo. Lumiko siya sa isang kalye na sa unang tingin ay tila dead end pero may isang maliit na daanan dun ng tao para makatagos sa dalawang kalye ng T.Mapua St. at Alonzo St., halos malapit na siya sa dulo ng biglang may magpaputok ng baril sa direksyon na.
Sh*t! The guy is armed?!
The bullet swipe pass his neck, daplis lang pero mabilis na nagdugo iyon. Dumukwang siya at nagtago sa isang nakatayong store standee. Sumilip saglit, nakita ang target and fired a warning shot. Asintado sya, kung di nakapatago agad ang suspect malamang ay natamaan niya ang tuhod nito. He took his time. Inabangan na muling magtangka na lumabas ito sa lungga bago muling tumira. "Ahhhh!" He hit the target at his hands, nabitawan nito ang dalang baril.
Lumabas ito ng tinataguan at tumakbo but this time Richard is prepared. He shot the man at the back of his knee, napasubsob ito sa sementadong kalsada. He cautiously come closer, his gun still aim at the fallen man. Lumingon ito sa kanya at ngumisi, "Detective Faulkerson, you got the wrong guy"
Nanlaki ang mata nya, obviously the guy is an accomplice of the main suspect. Nakipagpalit ito ng damit. He called his men, "The man has change clothes, check anyone suspicious. Look everywhere!"
Huhulihin na sana niya ang lalaki ng may muling umalingawngaw na putok ng baril. Mula sa likod ay bumagsak ang kanyang kasama, tumingala siya, a smirking guy with gun pointed at him throws picture in the air from the window, "Let's stop the chase, detective"
Richard fired his gun before the man says anything further, he shot the man's shoulder but before he could create further damage the man was already gone from the window. He looked down, scattered on the streets are photos... he felt the numbing ice cold chills run through his body... deadly chills... a familiar feeling... all the photos on the street... shouts the man's next target... in it is pictures of Nicomaine.
He quickly dialled her number, "Nicomaine, where are you?"
"Huh? At a mall in Manila, why?"
"Nothing, I'll call you later" he cut the line and quickly checked the gps system he has on her. Finally, assured that she's safe. He analyzed the possible next move of the killer.
That bastard just signed his death sentence.
Richard runs toward the possible way the suspect went to. And just what he analyze, the man is standing there waiting for him.
"Hhmm.. you never dissapoint, Detective Faulkerson. Nahuli mo na ako. Pero dahil sa hinayaan kita. At the end, I still won"
Nagtagis ang bagang niya, "People's life is not a game"
Humalakhak ang lalaki, "Natakot ka ba? Nagustuhan mo ba ang mga pictures nya na meron ako? Marami pa ko nun. But I decided to share it with you"
"Don't you dare come near her"
"Oh, but I already did"
Before the man says anything more Richard made the shots. Exactly three gun shots, the man's face falls down.
Why did he suddenly call earlier? Is he okay?
Nakauwi na siya bahay ngunit ang biglang pagtawag ni Richard kaninang nasa mall siya ang nasa isip pa rin niya. Sinubukan niya itong tawagan kanina ngunit mukhang nakapatay ang cellphone nito.
It's already five minutes past midnight but Nicomaine still can't sleep. Argh! Pinag-aalala talaga ako ng lalaking yun! Napatingin siya cellphone niyang naka-sleep mode, "Tisoy?! Tatawag ka ba o tatawag ka?! Nakalimutan mo na bang may girlfriend ka? Pag di ka pa tumawag magbibilang ako ng twenty-four times kung hindi, break na tayo?!"
"...Twenty-two, twenty-three, twenty-three and a half---" then her phone finally rings. Tisoy! Finally!
"Hi, Meng, I'm outside can we talk?"
Natigilan siya bago nakasagot, "Okay, I'll be there"
"Nicomaine, I realize something" bungad na sabi ni Richard sa kanya. They're inside his car parked outside the Mendoza residence.
Tahimik lang siyang nakatingin sa binata. Magulo ang buhok nito, may dumi sa mukha at ang higit na nakapagpabahala sa kanya ay ang tuyong dugo sa gilid ng leeg nito. Di napigilan ang sarili na napadampi ang kamay niya roon, "Are you okay? This is dried blood"
Mataman lang na tumingin sa kanya ang kasintahan. He smiled with his one deep dimple on the left cheek showing up as usual, but that glow of happiness is not visible on his eyes. For some unknown reason, looking at Richard at that moment pained her heart. Parang may mas higit na malalim na sugat sa loob nito kompara sa pisikal na nakikita ng mata.
"May problema ba? We can talk inside while I check your wounds"
Umiling si Richard, "You don't need to do that. I just dropped by to..."
Napahinga siya ng malalim, umayos ng upo at bahagyang ngumiti, "Ano nga ba ang dahilan at nandito ka kahit dis-oras na ng gabi?"
"I'm breaking up with you. I'm sorry"
