The Culprit (UNDER REVISION)

Case 019: Local Election 👮

                           "Death Threat"

ALEXIS
She desperately ran to JM's office. She blames herself she shouldn't have left her  boss. She should not follow his command, she should insist and stay with him.

Her eyes searched for JM as she entered the room. Silence greeted her inside. She saw JM crouched on the table. The color of his face was pale and the shock was still obvious. His hands were shaking and he look so tense.

"Anong nangyari?" tanong niya. Hindi ito sumagot at may tinuro sa sahig.

Nilapitan niya ang karton na tinuro nito at laking gulat sa nakita. Isa iyong patay na daga, she'd hesitated to look out to the grisly sight, sa katawan nito ay may nakadikit na papel. Binasa niya iyon at ang sabi; "Do you like my surprise?"

Tinakpan niya ang karton at tinapon sa trash bin. She turned to JM who's still in shock. "Saan galing 'to?" tanong niya habang hawak ang sticky note.

The man shook his head. With a trembling lips he answered; "I do not know!" She can sense the panic on his voice. The trace of his sobbing is still obvious. If they are not in this situation, maybe he laughed at him She just never thought that she will see JM like this. The handsome and admired by all is now clinging to her like a kid.

"I don't think na aabot sa ganito akala ko nananakot lang sila but now, I can feel they're serious! Alexis...papatayin nila ako!" Jm's voice still horse from all the sobbing.

"Ssshhh!" she shushed him and rubbed his hair. She's not good in comforting but she hope her little gesture make him feel good even a bit.

"Of course, I will never let that happen," she assured him. Yes, she will never let that happen—again! Hindi na niya hahayaan ulit na may mapahamak na sino man na wala man lang siyang ginagawa.

•••
Alexis talk to JM about her suspicions, at first the latter find it hard to believe but his will to know who's behind this make him consider Alexis suspicions. "All you have to do is to set an appointment with the three of them."

JM nod hesitantly. "Okay, I'll ask Kyla about this."

Alexis sighed. How can she tell JM that Kyla is one of her suspects?"No, you will not going to ask her!" nagulat naman ang binata dahil bigla siyang napasigaw.

"What I mean is... it's better to keep this a secret between us, for now, hanggat 'di pa tayo sigurado."

JM nod, he seems convinced. Umupo ito sa swivel chair at pinaikot-ikot iyon na tila ba nag-iisip.

"Okay, I won't tell her," he said after made a decision. Alexis smiled as she satisfied with JM's answer.

The next day JM got to scheduled his appointment with Vice Mayor Cuadrado. He called Alexis and told her to go with him at the White House Hall.

Ang White House ay nasa loob ng munisipyo. Isa itong gathering space hall para sa mga pagtitipon sa loob ng munisipyo.

Tinawag itong White House dahil purong puti ang pintura at kagamitan. Alexis arrived with cap and mask. She keep a distance with them but she make sure that they will not go away out of her sight.

She could hear the two talking, of course with the use of their phones. she put a tapping device under the JM's necktie, connected to his cellphone. From the distance, she saw how JM hid the device in his chest.

"Thanks for your time Vice Mayor." JM smiled widely and greet the the old man. The old man also replied with a wide smile on his face. May edad na ito pero bakas pa rin ang kagwapuhan at kakisingan.