The Montelier Bride

Chapter 3: From the Officer's Handcuffs

TINITIGAN ko ang patalim na nakatutok sa lalamunan ko. Abot ang lamig at amoy ng metal nito sa mga butas ng ilong ko. Batid kong kahit isang maling galaw o salita ay maaaring makapagpapagilit sa leeg ko at makapagpapaligo sa akin sa sarili kong dugo. Ang unang mayanig ang magiging talo ng larong ito.

"Pinapahirapan mo 'ko," Eldridge sighed out of amusement and frustration at the same time, one side of his lips lifted as its evidence. "How could you even solve that?" It almost seemed he wanted to laugh, yet the creasing of his forehead gave it away--- that his suspicions were rattling him today.

I guess it wasn't just your ordinary chessboard case, after all, was it, Pherenn? But will you really kill me this early without even finding out how I did it?

"Answer me. Identify yourself, and I'll spare you," he demanded with gritting teeth.

Deep inside, I knew he wouldn't be able to corner me any further, for I could sense another presence approaching the door outside. Thus, I waited and stood my ground, neither evading his aura nor his sharp eyes that were as black as coals.

"Sir, kailangan na po nating umalis," pag-imporma ng presensyang napuna ko habang ramdam ko ang bulto nitong lumapat sa katawan ng pinto. "He's on his way here," he added, tension evident on the first word and concern over the latter ones.

My brows twitched with the silence that pronoun produced. Hindi lamang ito basta-basta pangngalan kundi halatang pagkukubli ng tauhan kung sino ang tunay na pinapatungkulan nito. Ito malamang ang taong ani ni Pherenn na kanilang target. Ang tao na siyang punto ng operasyon na sunugin ang apartment building. Dahil kung hindi siya nakaligtas mula sa sunog, hindi na dapat naghihintay pa rito ang mga alipores ng Familia.

Nang hindi inaalis ang tingin sa akin, binawi ni Eldridge ang patalim mula sa leeg ko at saka muli itong inilihim sa dilim. Sa isang iglap ay pinutol nito ang tagisan ng titig at napukol ang atensyon sa tauhang nasa labas at naghihintay ng susunod na utos. "Kung ganoon, ba't hindi pa natin siya batiin? Ihanda mo ang mga tauhan." Ito ang utos. Ma-awtoridad ang tono at walang alinlangang utos.

Nakahinga man nang maluwag kahit papaano, sumunod na palaisipan sa akin kung kailan ako makakakalas sa kaniyang kalso. Lalo na ngayong naibalik na sa trabaho ang atensyon nito. Pero wala pa mang isang minuto matapos ng utos, inilayo niya mula sa ulo ng white queen na chesspiece ang kanang palad ko at marahas na hinatak ito.

"You don't think I'll let you go just because our conversation was interrupted, do you?" he playfully asked, tilting his head in innocence as if he were the one receiving the shorter end of the stick. I can't help but scoff at him for being shameless.

Since he was shameless enough to use his gentle facade, I no longer held back and rolled my eyes away. The doctor chuckled as we knowingly agreed to behave towards each other without further verbal exchange, but it didn't mean he was giving up the captor's role.

Paulit-ulit na tumakbo sa kokote ko kung sino ang taong puno't dulo ng hangarin ng malupit at naglalagablab na apoy. Kung hindi ako, sino? Hindi ito mawala-wala sa isip ko kahit nang inakay na ako sa braso ni Eldridge para lumabas ng inn na nirentahan nila para subaybayan ang nangyaring sunog.