The Culprit (UNDER REVISION)

Case 026: Tattoo Brothers 👮

"Sombreno's Killer"

ALEJANDRO
"Alam naman namin na ikaw lang ang pwedeng gumawa n'on!" a long silence until Ivan broke the ice. "Ngayon sisiguraduhin naming mananagot ka!" the PO2 went on with a balled fist, Tobby replied with a hissed.

Ibinaling nito ang tingin kay Ivan mula sa kanya. "Really, and how can you prove that?"

"You admitted the crime---" Tobby cut off Ivan before he can finished his sentence.

"At paano mo nga mapatutunayan iyon?" very confident na anito, the victorious smirk still plastered on his face. "Maaari n'gang sinabi ko, pero paano n'yo mapatutunayan sa korte na sinabi ko nga sa inyo 'yon?" Tobby was right, his statement can't use against him. They can't accuse him with his confession without evidence. Unless they recorded it, but they did not.

Iniisip ng binata kung paano nga nila magagawa iyon. Tobby can deny it in the court, and in the first place paano nila mapapasakorte ang kaso, if they don't have any evidence in hand?

He got back on his senses when Tobby tapped him in the shoulder. "Now the tables have turned, and this time, not in your favor," pinasadahan nito ng tingin ang lahat bago tuluyang umalis na sinundan naman ng dalawa nitong kasama.

"Anong gagawin natin ngayon?" tanong ni Dave sa kanya na tila nakalimutan na ang komisyong naganap sa pagitan nila.

"All we have to do is to keep an eye on him," he cleared the lump in his throat. He's a big disappointment to his team. Mahirap man aminin pero ayon ang totoo. "Iyon lang ang magagawa natin sa ngayon."

•••
Kinabukasan ay muli silang nagpulong. Sandaling kinalimutan ang alitan at nag-kaisa na isagawa ang plano. After all hindi sila ang magkakalaban; iisa ang kalaban, they need to unite as one-as a team.

"I stalked him all night, I even intrude his place pero wala akong nakuha kahit isang ebidensya," Ivan look so exhausted bringing up the news, eye bags are shown to his face. It's clear and obvious that he don't sleep all night just to stalk Tobby.

"Did you put any tapping device on his room?" Cheng asked, na tulad ni Ivan ay halatang hindi rin nakatulog ng maayos.

"Of course you did...?" excited na tanong ni Kath but she became disappointed when Ivan shook his head.

"So, you spend sleepless night for nothing?" Shif unbelievably asked with a hissed.

"Ano pa nga bang aasahan natin sa gungong na 'yan!" Dave and his usual tone.

"Hey at least nag-effort siya kaysa naman---"

"Kath stop it!" saway agad ni Niel bago pa magsimula sa bunganga si Kath. "Nag-usap na tayo na magkaisa 'di ba? So, please umayos kayo."

"Sorry." Napayukong paumanhin ng dalagang pulis.

"Sige kami na lang gagawa," ani Dave at tumayo sa silya. "PO3 Lauchengco come with me, SPO1 Gabriel, maiwan na muna kayo dito ni PO1 Acosta"

"Sige po Inspector Austria," panabay na sagot ng dalawa.

"Maiiwan rin kami dito for monitoring," ani Niel na humarap agad sa computer. May dalang taping device ang inspektor kaya kung sakali mamo-monitor nila ang galaw nito.

"Ella and I will be the looks," Kath said na tulad ni Niel ay humarap din sa laptop nito.

"Ako na lang ang bahala sa dalawang unggoy. Baka may makuha din akong impormasyon sa kanila," ani Ivan. Ang tinutukoy nito at sina Nuelle at Nathaniel. Ivan's energy seems back.

He smiled an look around to his workmates. He failed yes, but having these people around him makes him feel fortunate. He knows he can do everything with these people around him.