Chapter 3: 03| t h e d o s s i e r
03
t h e d o s s i e r
THE aroma of spices, herbs, and other Italian flavorings filled the entire kitchen. Astrid feels like she's sitting in one of those restaurants in Italy.
"Tonight i will take you to Italy," Astrid's Mom said.
Pinagmasdan ni Astrid ang kaniyang ina na may hawak hawak na tray na may laman na florentine steak, her Mom bought the Chiana cow in Tuscany and a medium bowl that contains risotto.
Binaba nito ang tray sa lamesa at inilagay ang mga pagkaing niluto nito.
She was busy and elated at the same time dahil dumating ang kaniyang kapatid na si Eric at ang asawa nitong si Martina na nang galing sa States.
"Mom stop dancing," nahihiyang wika ni Astrid. She felt a little embarrassed nang sumayaw sayaw ang kaniyang Mom sa harapan ng kaniyang mga Tito at Tita ngunit hindi na niya muli ito sinaway nang makitang nag e-enjoy silang lahat.
Halos hindi makalabas ang tawa ng kaniyang fifty years old na uncle matapos itong matuwa sa ginawang pag sayaw ng kaniyang Mom.
Her Mom is already 45 years old but acts like a 20 years old single woman who is always ready to go to the club and party all night.
"Why? I love to dance," sagot ng kaniyang ina habang marahang sumasayaw sa salsa.
"You look so beautiful hon," biglang pumasok sa eksena ang kaniyang Dad , at umangkla ang braso ng kaniyang ama sa baywang ng kaniyang ina na animo'y ahas na umikot sa puno. Suddenly her Dad gave her Mom a quick kiss.
Sa kalagitnaan ng mumunting kasiyahang pinagsasaluhan nila ay di pa rin maiwasan ni Astrid na isipin ang sulat na kaniyang natanggap kanina. Sa tuwing sumasagi sa isip niya ang death threat na iyon ay bigla na lang naninigas ang katawan niya.
Marami na rin siyang death threats na natanggap noong siya'y nag i-imbestiga sa ibat ibang kaso but this time its different. The killer is so smart and unpredictable, the killer doesn't leave a single evidence either.
"Mom can you pass me the wine? Thank you." Ani ni Astrid
Inabot ng kaniyang Mom ang red wine.
Astrid drank and emptied the full filled glass of wine in one gulp. She wanted to calm herself, she wanted to think other means to save her family from grave danger.
But how can she do that? She don't want to tell her parents na may gustong pumatay sa kanila or else they will go to the police which will make them more vulnerable to danger.
"How was your schooling anak?" Tanong ng kaniyang Aunty Mariz habang nag sasalin ng risotto sa kaniyang pinggan.
Natigilan ng ilang segundo si Astrid nang bigla niyang naalala ang nangyari kay Emilia.
"It was good. Somehow." Pag sisinungaling niya. She wanted to say "Its not good and my life and my family are in great danger"
"Galingan mo so that i can introduce you to my friend. Nag ta-trabaho kasi siya sa isang University sa States baka gusto mo mag turo ng history and other related field doon," suhestiyon ng tita niya.
"Wow. That's great Tita. I'll inform you as soon as possible if ipu-push ko yung pagtuturo," sagot niya at sinubo ang hiniwa niyang karne ng florentine steak.
"By the way Mom, Dad. I wanted to visit Lolo sa Iloilo." Biglang sabat niya
Astrid is convincing her Mom and Dad to go to their rest house sa Iloilo upang mapalayo sila sa gulo.
Nagtinginan muna ang dalawa bago sumagot.
"Well, that's a nice idea. Gusto niyo bang sumama?" Tanong ng Mom niya sa kaniyang Tito at Tita. Alam ni Astrid na hindi magtatagal ang mga ito sa Pilipinas.
"I guess staying in Iloilo for 2 days is enough," nakangiting sagot ng Tito niya.
"What? Two fucking days? Are you kidding me? Wag ka ng sumama Tito!" Bulong ni Astrid.
She can't let her parents stay there for two days only!
"But we can stay longer kay Lolo diba Mom?" Biglang sabat niya , ginagap niya ang palad ng kaniyang ina na animo'y isang batang nagmamakaawang bilhan ng laruan.
Binalingan ng tingin ng kaniyang Mom ang Dad niya.
"Let's stay there for awhile hon, mag unwind tayo. These past few months are stressful and its draining my will to live," sagot ng kaniyang Dad. Pakiramdam niya'y nakuha ang isang malaking tinik sa kaniyang dibdib.
"Puwede naman silang umuwi if they wanted to wander around Manila or sa any province." Nginitian ng kaniyang Dad si Erik na kumakain.
She's always been a daddy's girl. Alam niya kung sino ang puwede niyang hingian ng tulong sa tuwing nagigipit siya.
Maya maya pa'y nag ring ang doorbell nila. Dinaga ang kaniyang dibdib.
Agad siyang napalingon, nakita niya si Celine na naglalakad palabas ng sala upang tignan ang nag doorbell.
Naalala niya bigla ang sulat na kaniyang natanggap, it wasn't a lovely sweet letters from her secret admirers or her suitors , it was a death threat from an unknown killer.
"Aunty Cel! Wait!" Pigil ni Astrid. Through her peripheral vision nakikita niyang pinagmamasdan siya ng lahat.
Tumayo siya at lumapit sa katulong na nag hihintay.
"Ako na lang mag che-check Aunty," ani ni Astrid
Napakunot noo si Celine "Ay wag na, ako na lang. Ipagpatuloy mo ang hapunan mo hija," nakangiting sagot nito at muling lumingon sa harapan ng glass door.
"Its ok Aunty Celine, I invited Genesis here baka siya na 'yan. I need to talk to him, just the two of us," ani niya. Hindi na nag protesta pa si Celine. She knew Aunty Celine won't disrespect her privacy.
While traversing her way towards the door she could almost see blurry street lights through the frosted glass door.
The door is huge kaya nakikita niya ang buong vicinity ng terasa at garden nila, frosted din ang glass sa labas kaya hindi sila nakikita sa loob kahit bukas ang ilaw sa living room.
Astrid pushed the glass door sideward.
Sa kada lakad niya'y bumibilis din ang pag tibok ng kaniyang kabadong dibdib.
Nang makarating siya sa harapan ng kanilang gate ay kinuha niya ang gardening shovel na nakatayo sa tabi ng pine tree nila na malapit sa gate.
She swallowed her fear but it seems like something is obstructing her airways, she can't barely move her hands.
Maya maya pa'y biglang tumunog ang doorbell na siya namang ikinagulat niya. Bumalik ang kaniyang diwa at dahan dahang binuksan ang gate.
Binuksan niya ang gate but she saw no one. Walang man lang taong naghihintay.
Dinig na dinig niya ang malakas na pagkabog ng puso niya sa sobrang kaba.
She immediately gathered her senses at sinarado ang gate but someone stopped it on the other side before it reaches the lock. It was now halfway closed. She pushed it so hard but the person on the other side is too strong, hindi ganon kalakas si Astrid gayo't hindi naman siya isang body builder.
"Astrid! Wait! Its me Genesis!" sigaw ni Genesis sa labas.
Ang kabang kanina'y kaniyang naramdaman ay agad na napalitan ng inis. Pwersado niyang binuksan ang gate at kamuntik nang masubsob sa lupa ang mukha ni Genesis ngunit nakuha rin nito ang tamang balanse.
Inayos ni Genesis ang kaniyang fitted polo na hapit na hapit sa katawan nito na animo'y puputok na ang sleeves.
"Stop joking around Gen!" Sigaw niya kay Genesis at dinuro niya ito ng gardening shovel.
"Calm down," natatawang sambit nito sabay taas ng kaniyang dalawang kamay .
"How can i fucking calm down?!" Astrid angrily said.
"Ok. Ok . Sorry!" Pigil ang tawa ni Genesis na nahalata ni Astrid
"Please, stop laughing. Napipikon ako,"
Naglakad papasok si Genesis at sumunod din si Astrid nang maisarado niya ng mabuti ang gate.
"I thought you have errands to run?" Tanong ni Astrid habang naglalakad sila sa footpath sa kanilang nadaanang botanical garden.
"Postponed daw yung meeting since namatay yung kapatid ng CEO ng Autumn Publishing. Murder daw. Sa apartment nila mismo." Kwento ni Genesis.
THE night went well, everyone enjoyed the little party that her parents threw. Ilang minuto niya ring nakalimutan ang mga nangyari sa kaniya. From Emilia's death and the death threats she received. Astrid knew na marami pang darating so she must ready herself for the next phase of cat and mouse chase.
Kasalukuyang nasa kwarto silang dalawa ni Genesis.
"So have you found the person who sent you the letter?" Tanong ni Genesis, na nakaupo ito sa kaniyang sleeper chair.
"Unfortunately no. I went to the guard house and found nothing, even sa CCTV footage nila wala. The CCTV isn't working since its under maintenance upgrade." litanya ni Astrid.
"No way?!" di makapaniwalang sambit ni Genesis. Dumi-kwatro ito at isinandal ang likod sa upuan.
"I even checked the CCTV outside the subdivision pero wala akong nakitang sasakyan or tao na pumasok within the perimeter. The killer knows where the CCTVs are placed, alam niya rin kung kailan ina-update ang CCTV database," paliwanag pa ni Astrid.
"So are you implying na isa sa mga security guards ang taong nagbigay sayo ng death threats?" tanong ni Genesis.
"No, I am implying that the killer is here sa subdivision. Isa siya sa mga tenants. Alam niya ang bawat galaw ng CCTV outside the subdivision. Security guard knows the movement of the CCTV sa loob lang at halos lahat ng night shift security guards ay umuuwi ng diretso. They dont have that much strength to scrutinize their environment. They always show that kind of behavior," litanya ni Astrid.
Lumiit ang mga mata ni Genesis na animo'y may iniisip. "That person must've used a secret door or entrance."
Astrid cocked her head, "Sa subdivision? That's ridiculous. The walls are surrounded with anti-theft wall mount. Mataas ang wall sa subdivision and wala pang na-record na nagkaroon ng kasong burglary sa mga bahay dito,"
"I am pretty sure na before the death of Emilia ay nandito na siya nakatira. This subdivison is 4 blocks away from our school," dugtong pa niya
Sunod sunod na inilatag ni Astrid ang kaniyang obserbasyon.
Tumayo siya at binuksan ang walk-in closet niya.
There's a secret stash in there, where her safety vault is hidden. Tinipa niya ang password sa kaniyang vault at awtomatiko itong bumukas. Agad na bumungad sa kaniya ang mga dossiers.
Kinuha niya ang mga folders at inilabas ito mula sa kaniyang safety vault.
"What's that?" Kunot noong tanong ni Genesis.
"Dossier," sagot ni Astrid at inilapag niya ito sa kaniyang study table. She spread the folders like she's spreading a deck of cards.
"Dossier?"
"Yes, it is a collection of document pertaining to a certain person or place. Ito yung mga folders na nakikita mo sa mga crime documentaries,"
"Wait. So , babalik ka sa pag i-imbestiga?" excited na tanong ni Genesis
Tumango si Astrid. "As if i have a choice."
While waiting for the dinner party Astrid made a dossier of Emilia, tho she doesn't want to go back sa field ng investigation there's something that keeps on pushing her to identify who the killer is.
The killer who almost orchestrated a massive havoc to their town and to the AKT members.
Binuksan niya ang folder na may label "Emilia".
"See! This subdivision is also a couple of blocks away from Emilia's house. Talagang sinundan at pinag-aralan ang galaw at schedules ni Emilia," ani niya habang binabasa ang mga data na naka-sulat sa dossier nito.
Astrid twitched her lips. She wanted to point out something but she wasn't sure. She can't justify the possibility she's thinking.
"I need to join the Alpha Kappa Tau sorority," walang kaabo abong sambit ni Astrid.
Nabulunan ng sariling laway si Genesis nang marinig ang gustong gawin ni Astrid.
"Wait. What? Sasali ka sa AKT?" Tanong ni Genesis .
Astrid stood up, "I need to infiltrate their den in that case if the killer is a member of AKT madali ko siyang made-detect or if the killer is outside the sorority then he or she will do all the possible means to enter the highly secured sorority manor and kill me. Either way checkmate pa rin siya."
Fear rushed in her system. Partly clouding her ability to think ngunit bahagi iyon palagi ng proseso ng imbestigasyon.
"When are you going to join AKT?" Tanong ni Genesis.
"Tomorrow."
Kinontra ni Astrid ang takot na bumabalot sa sarili. She knows that every investigation entails a danger. Investigation is merely playing in the dark with the killer.
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