The Culprit (UNDER REVISION)

Case 080: Framed Up 👮

                                    "Clue"

ALEXIS
The hotel personnel accompanied them inside the interrogation room like criminals, kulang na lang ay lagyan sila nito ng posas.

General Lambert motioned them to sit, katabi nito si Alejandro. She look at him...she was expecting him to look like tense or lose his cool, but he look good, he just look normal. Hindi man lang nga namawis ang noo nito. Ganoon nga siguro talaga kapag alam mong wala kang kasalanan. Alejandro was innocent...she's sure of that. Kahit sandaling panahon pa lang silang magkakilala alam niyang hindi ito makakagawa ng masama.

"We found out General na peke ang invitation cards nila, and they both admit na kilala nila si Inspector Garcia."

"Whatever their relations to Alejandro, it doesn't enough reason to suspect them too. Isa pa, dumating sila patay na si Daddy, how come na sila ang tinuturo n'yong suspects?" Tobby who just entered the room said.

Silence filled the room, no one talk. Nagpalit-palit lang sila ng tingin hanggang sa magsalita ulit si Tobby.

"If we look further, the clue that Dad left was not Iq (Ig). Maybe in our point of view it's Iq  (Ig) but if you look it in his point of view it's bI or Bureau of Investigation Ano ba ang Bureau of Investigation? 'Di ba ang Generals? " Tobby paused and looked at General Lambert. "That's the clue not Inspector Garcia."

"Are you suspecting me or the GENERALS' office Inspector Santiago?" General Lambert started to lose his temper but he still managed to compose himself. But Alexis saw how he balled his fist in anger.

"No...I'm not, but you sounds so defensive."

"Aba wala akong alam sa sinasabi mo!" the General lose his cool and shouted.

"General, hindi ko po sinasabing kayo mismo pero baka isa sa member ng GENERALS, wala lang kasi akong nakikitang dahilan para patayin ni Alejandro ang tatay ko... kung meron man siyang gustong patayin siguro ako 'yon!" Tobby let out a sarcastic laugh. "Dad said he wants to re-open Warden Dominguez's case, he don't believe na si Deputy Warden Manobo lang totoong salarin. He said someone behind that. Hindi rin 'yon magagawa ni Warden Manobo kung walang may hawak sa kanya. My father believed that someone made a deal with Warden Manobo para patayin si Warden Dominguez. And the next thing happened... my father died. Isn't it just coincidence General Lambert? That Warden Corpus, who takeover Warden Dominguez position was seen in the hallway before Chief Asaytuno and Inspector Garcia entered the restroom?"

"Anong ibig mong sabihin?"

"Well...I don't have anything to subtantient my claim but is there a chance that they have the same killer? I mean Dad wants to re-open Warden Dominguez case pero bago pa man niya magawa namatay na siya? At nandoon din mismo ang pumalit sa pwesto ni Warden Dominguez. Warden Corpus, benefited when Warden Dominguez died. I'm just wondering if he do something to take over the position he is in now."

General Lambert cleared his throat. "If you want, we can invite Warden Corpus for interrogation."

"That's sounds better General Lambert," Tobby said and leave the interrogation room leaving everyone in awed.

ALEJANDRO
Warden Dominguez was sent to the interrogation room. Now, he's one of the suspect but still Alejandro can't clear to the list until they found the real culprit.

He's fine with it and willing to cooperate. He headed to Chief Asaytuno's office as soon as he leave the interrogation room. He need to clarify thing him. He need to know what the chief's connection to Warden Dominguez death. If Tobby's suspicions was right, malamang na may nalalaman din ang hepe.

"Chief, pwede ba tayong mag-usap?" he said in a low but an intense voice. there's a desperation in his voice, he badly needs to know the truth.

Chief Asaytuno motioned him to come inside and offered him a seat.

"Chief kung Warden Corpus ang totoong pumatay kay General Santiago at tama si Tobby na siya rin ang salarin sa pagkamatay ni Warden Dominguez, anong nalalaman n'yo? At bakit kayo nagsinungaling na hindi kayo pumunta sa Sittio?"

Chief Asaytuno blew an exasperated sigh and look at him. "Makinig ka sa akin Alejandro...ang tatay mo, ang tunay may-ari ng pangalang Raymond de Vega ay matalik kong kaibigan. Namatay siya, no, hindi...pinatay siya!" he saw how the chief balled his fist in anger. "Noong mga panahong iyon, nagsimula ang bentahan ng droga sa loob at labas ng Capitol. Napag-alaman ng pulisya na may malaking pagawaan ng droga dito na ino-operate ng isang high-ranking official. Walang nakakaalam kung sino siya, maging ang GENERALS ay walang ideya kung sino ang taong iyon. Hanggang isang araw nalaman ng iyong ama kung sino siya at kung saan ang factory ng droga. Nagbalak siyang sugurin ang nasabing pagawaan ngunit bago pa man nangyari iyon namatay na siya. After two weeks nahuli ang factory and they used your father's name na siya raw ang may-ari ng factory. Nang araw ring iyon ay may nagpuntang grupo ng mga armadong lalaki dito, They forced me to release a statement na ang ama mo nga ang may-ari ng na-raid na factory. Alam 'kong hindi siya ang totoong may ng factory, pero wala akong nagawa para pabulaanan ang paratang sa kanya dahil natakot ako...natakot ako para sa pamilya ko!" nanginginig ang boses ng hepe, tears started to form at the corner of his eyes. "Napatigil ang bentahan ng droga pansamantala and the man, who's responsible with your father's death, comeback carrying his name. Since then, people call him RDV. And since then he scattered crime in the city."

He's taken a back when the Chief hold his hand. "I'm sorry Alejandro, wala akong nagawa para bigyan ng hustisya ang pagkamatay ng tatay mo." Chief Asaytuno wiped the tears started to fall from his eyes. Pagkatapos ay lumuhod ito sa kahrapan niya. "Now... I'm asking for your forgiveness Alejandro."

He looked up to prevent himself from tearing up. It's easy to say forgive so you can forget. But how can he forget those things happened to him—to his family?

"Chief, tumayo na ho kayo d'yan," he said and help the Chief to stand up. Kahit paano ay may natitira pa naman siyang respeto sa hepe.

"I know you can't forgive me now...but I hope, soon you can."

He bowed his head. He can't face the Chief—whom he trusted most. He look up on him and idolize him without knowing that he is one of those people who mess his father— who mess their life.

"Recently, I found out na si General Lambert kasama ng mga tauhan niya na sina Warden Corpus at Deputy Warden Sigmaton kasama ang iba pang mga tiwaling pulis ay mag-kakasabwat sa bentahan ng droga sa Sittio, pati na rin sa buong Capitol. Nalaman ko rin na si Warden Corpus ang nagtulak para patayin ni Batista, ang sarili niya, 'yong preso na nahuli natin sa oplan halughog. Hindi ko alam kung may kinalaman din sila sa pagkamatay ni Warden Dominguez, but now naisip ko rin na baka meron nga. Kaya nitong mga nakaraan araw minamantsyagan ko sila, kaya nagtungo ako sa Sittio. I also want to tell you everything but I need to confirm it first."

He did not commented at nakinig lang sa kwento nito. He wants to hear everything. He don't want to escaped little details. "Naalala mo na na 'yong suspect at nagsabi na si Boss RDV raw ang kinukunan ni Batista ng droga? Kung may koneksyon si Batista kay RDV at totoong pinatay nila Warden Dominguez, ibig sabihin kasapi sila ni RDV, I joined their group to know who's RDV. Noong una pinaghinalaan pa ako ni General Lambert na ispiya but I work hard to gain his trust. Nagbenta ako ng droga sa Sittio. Ginawa ko ang mga ginagawa nila. Nakuha ko rin ang tiwala niya pero hanggang ngayon hindi ko pa rin alam kung sino si RDV. Kaya hindi kita magawang maipangtanggol kanina dahil baka makahalata sila na kalaban din ako. Ako isusunod nila kapag tumiwalag ako sa grupo. I don't want to get involve with their shits, but it's too late...because I'm already in."

"Chief...."

"Alejandro I trust you, alamin mo kung sino si RDV, kung kinakailangan na bantayan mo ang galaw nilang tatlo gawin mo. Ikaw ang pag-asa kong makakahuli sa kanila. Ang papalit sa pwesto ni General Lambert at siguradong kasabwat din nila. Bantayan mo sila, isang maling galaw ko lang ay mapapahamak ako, kaya ikaw ang inaasahan ko. I'll give you information kapag may nalaman ako. For now, I want you to act that you hate me, I know you hate me for the fact but act in front of them me so they don't suspect me."

"I'll do it... not for you Chief, but to give justice to my father's death," he said.

He's willing to do everything in order to get that.

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