Rescue Me, Stranger

Chapter 7: Crossed out

Chapter 7

Crossed out

LAW

“I know you are the great Lawrence Ramirez but what you did this time was unbelievable.”

I can’t believe that they came here just to nag me again.

Gaya ng inaasahan ko, inaresto ako kahapon at pansamantalang ikinulong sa city jail. Nasa iisang kulungan kami ni Mecy pero magkaibang wing kaya hindi ko pa siya nakikita. Kasama ko sa selda sila Joe at ‘yong iba pang mga lalaking sinama niya.

“I told you, I have my own way of—"

“Bugbugin na lang kaya kita dito?” bulyaw sa’kin ni James. Tinaas niya pa ang kamao niya na parang susuntukin ako pero hindi niya rin tinuloy. Bumalik siya sa pagkakaupo at inis na huminga nang malalim. “I understand why you did what you did. But you can’t help her when you’re in jail, too!”

“Attorney James Hidalgo, we both know I won’t be staying here for long,” I replied sarcastically. “I will be out even before the next trial.”

“Palala na nang palala ‘yang kaibigan mo,” sabat ni mr. Go at napailing.

“Pinuntahan niyo lang ba ‘ko dito para sermonan?” tanong ko. Sinamaan nila ako ng tingin at sabay na humalukipkip. Okay, hindi na ako dapat magbiro. Nakaposas ako kaya kapag pinagtulungan nila ako, hindi ako makakalaban nang patas. Iniba ko ang usapan, “Anong sinabi ni Ivan?”

“Teka lang,” sabi ni mr. Go. “May kailangan ka munang malaman.”

“Ano?”

“Nawawala si Patty.”

I couldn’t speak for a moment. Patty was my paralegal, and she’s a competent one. I think her disappearance had something to do with the incoming election. Her father was a congressman and now running as a senator. Her disappearance probably has something to do with politics.

“When we thought she was just sick because she couldn’t come to work, she was already missing,” Mr. Go added. “The family just officially reported her as a missing person last night.”

Tumango ako, “Politics. It’s been long since she was gone, but I hope she’s fine. Now, tell me about what Ivan told you.”

“Can you believe how he commands me like he’s older than me?” he asked James.

“You love receiving orders from him,” James replied and we both laughed.

“Sinabi niya sa’kin kung sino ang nag-utos sa kanyang bawiin ang statement niya,” sabi ni mr. Go kaya tumahimik ako. Maging si James ay nakinig din sa kanya. “Nagpakilala raw ito sa kanya bilang Marko. Tinakot siyang papatayin ang nanay nitong may sakit kapag hindi niya ginawa ‘yon.”

The name Marko sounds familiar to me.

“You should make him take the stand and testify, then.”

“Hindi tetestigo si Ivan. ‘Yon ang napagkasunduan namin para sabihin niya sa’kin kung sino ang nag-utos sa kanya,” sagot ni Mr. Go. Tinanong ko siya kung ano pang alam ni Ivan tungkol kay Marko. Sandaling tumitig sa’kin si mr. Go, “May tattoo siya sa kaliwang pulso. Tattoo ng agila.”

“The keychain,” I said.

Mr. Go nodded, “I showed him the keychain. It’s exactly what he saw on the man’s wrist.”