Sinclair Secrets

Chapter 29: Like a Ghost

Ella felt antsy as she waited for Tito Z in the corner table of a coffe shop. She kept looking at her watch. It had just been 10 minutes past 9 o'clock on a Saturday morning and still there was no sign of her godfather.

"Here's your order, ma'am." The waitress placed her frapuccino on the table with a slice of red velvet cake. Ellah just smiled at her and the woman left.

She was about to help herself to the serving when the door chimed open. At last, a tall bearded man in a lazy police attire walked through the door and looked around for her. She eagerly waved him over with a huge smile.

"Tito Z!" She exclaimed as he neared her. She hopped off the chair for a mano and a hug. "It's so good to see you."

His ninong had this easy smile and mirthful eyes that she missed as he patted her head and they sat down. "It's so good to see you. Sorry inaanak, traffic masyado. Hey, you've  grown quite a lot. Nagiging kamukha mo na din lola mo," he remarked scrutinizing her face.

She smiled. "Talaga po, Tito?"

Tumangu-tango naman ito. "Kelan nga ulit nung huli tayo nagkita?"

Napaisip naman siya. "Parang two years na din yata po, Tito. Nung Christmas."

Tumawa ito. "Ahh, oo nga pala! Naalala ko na. Ang tagal na pala, no! Di bale babawi ako sa inyu ni Bryan."

Ngumiti siya. "Sabi niyu po yan ah."

"Oo naman. Pero, anyway. Iba muna pagusapan natin ngayon." Sabi nito habang sumeryoso ang mukha. "Yun bang kaibigan mong yun eh kilala mo na talaga?"

Napahinga siya ng malalim. "Hindi ko nga po alam, Tito. Narealize ko din po na kahit ang tagal na namin magkakilala parang alam mo yun. Parang hindi ko pa din siya ganun ka kilala talaga."

"Ano bang alam mo sa kanya?"

"Kaunti lang po talaga. That he's got a sister and they were orphaned at 7 and Minsie at 4. That they're supported by his grandmother's death  insurance until his 21st birthday pati mga ayaw at gusto niya. Maliban doon eh wala na."

Nakatingin lang si Tito Z na parang ang lalim ng iniisip. "Alam mo kasi inaanak may kakaiba dun sa kaibigan mo eh. Vaughn ba yun?"

Kinabahan siya. "Opo, si Vaughn po. Bakit niyo po nasabi Tito?"

Napakamot ito sa tainga. "Alam mo naman ang tagal ko na sa trabahong to, inaanak. Pero minsan lang ako makahanap ng tulad niya."

Nalito siya. "Ano pong ibig niyo sabihin?"

"Minsan lang ako magkaroon ng subject na walang official record."

Napakunot ang noo niya. "Paano po nangyari yun Tito? Eh lahat naman yata po ng tao nakaregister."

"Yun na nga ang punto ko. You have to be so influential to pull that off. Iilang tao lang ang nakakagawa niyan. And most of those people have questionable backgrounds. People with ghost identities have so much to hide. Your friend may be one of them."

"Ano pong ibig niyong sabihin, Tito."

Her godfather smiled. "It's where everything became very interesting. Ngayon lang ulit ako nachallenge nang ganito. Alam mo ba yun? Kaya I did more research." He took a brown envelope which she didn't notice earlier and handed it to her.

Puzzled, she opened it and let out a couple of files. She looked at her godfather in wonder.

"As I said your friend's a ghost so I have to start digging somewhere. May tao akong pinapunta dun sa address na binigay mo and you were right. Bihira nalang siya bumalik doon," he explained as she poured on photographs of Vaughn and Minsie. "It was cleared out of personal belongings too. Then he got himself and his sister a very secured elite condo on 6th street under his name. And I'm telling you it was bought way beyond my pay grade."