Wild Deception

Chapter 5

CHAPTER 5

TARANTANG sinipat ni Liberty ang kanyang cellphone. She turned to her message box only to find it empty.

Nasaan napunta ang message ni Theo?

Sigurado siyang nabasa niya iyon. At sigurado siyang nag-vibrate nga ito kanina. How was it possible? Hindi niya maalalang may pinagbigyan siya ng kanyang numero. She did not even write it on her application letter. Even her co-detectives didn't know about her new number. Kahit si Captain Red ay walang alam. Balak pa nga lamang niyang magbigay sa kanya. And this Theo just texted her! Hindi naman siya nagkakamali sa nakita niya kanina, 'di ba?

"Are you okay, Miss?"

Someone asked from behind. Hindi niya napansing nasa harap pa pala siya ng office ng executive. She plastered a calmed face before turning to face the staff.

"Yes. Salamat po pala. I need to go."

Tinanguan siya nito ngunit sinusundan siya ng tingin. She can feel it.

Nang tuluyan siyang makapasok sa elevator ay mariin niyang tiningnan ang glassdoor ng executive's office mula roon.

You are hiding something, Theo Montreal.

She was keen while inside the Montreal building. She already has a hunch. May itinatagong sekreto ang Theo na iyon. Soon, she'll find it out, she promised.

Pagkarating niya sa apartment ay agad niyang kinausap si Leigh. Ayaw naman niyang ipaalam ang tungkol sa nangyayari sa misyon niya, wala naman siyang choice. Only Leigh can answer her questions. She wanted to gather information. She was puzzled by what just happened. She must start connecting dots from now on.

"What are you trying to say? He texted you without knowing your number?"

"Definitely. I was 100% sure."

Natahimik sa kabilang linya si Leigh. She heard him taking a deep breath. Tiyak na nag-iisip ito.

"Leigh?"

"You just received a flash message. Is that what you mean?"

"Yes."

"Be careful, L."

"What?" Napatayo siya nang tuwid. Nagpabalik-balik siya sa harap ng kanyang kama.

"You should act normally like an ordinary girl. Turn off your gadgets when you're inside his premises."

"But how can I--"

"Find it out." Leigh cut her off. Bumuntong hininga siya.

"Was that even possible, Leigh?"

Curiosity devoured her thoughts. Sa ilang taon niyang pagsabak sa misyon ay ngayon lang siya nawawalan ng kontrol. She even failed to read Theo's eyes. Wala pa naman siyang napansing kahina-hinala sa lalaki maliban sa flash message na natanggap niya kanina.

"I cannot give you an exact answer. Wala naman kasing ibang impormasyong nakuha sa Montreal na 'yon maliban sa negosyo niya at sa charities niya. Wala ka na bang ibang napansin sa kanya?"

Napaisip siya. She tried to remember everything that happened earlier. Sa kakaisip niya ay aksidenteng nadaanan ng mga mata niya ang lamesita kung saan nakapatong ang kanyang cellphone.

"Why don't you take a look at the viewfinder of your thermal camera?"

Then she remembered what Theo said to her. She groaned in frustration. Bakit ngayon lang niya naalala?

"He knew, Leigh. Alam niyang may dala akong tracking device!"

"What?"

Napasabunot siya ng buhok. Paano kaya nalaman ng lalaking iyon ang tungkol sa cellphone niya? Was he some sort of a spy?