ALTERSEVEN

Chapter 34: Nana, the Culprit

It’s been thirty minutes now since we came back from questioning all the probable suspects we have, exactly fifteen minutes before the autopsy report come out. I looked at Al who was sitting on his bed with his back leaning on the big white pillow and his legs crossed. His eyes were close and both of his hands were under his chin, as if he was praying.

Ilang minuto ko na din siyang tinititigan pero hindi man lang ito gumagalaw. He was so focused with what he was thinking right now. Pakiramdam ko tuloy ay napakabigat ng hangin dito sa loob ng kwarto na kung tutuusin ay wala namang pinagbago ang ventilation magmula ng umalis kami kanina.

I tried to remember all the facts that we have gathered earlier. Una, yung alibi ni Ms. Janine Mallari, ang pinsan ng biktima. According to her, matapos umalis ng mga bisita ni Ms. Wanny kanina ay nagpaalam siya dito na magpapalit na muna ng damit. Since ang mga restrooms ay nasa right wing ng bawat floor, aabutin siya ng mga ten minutes bago makabalik mula doon. Pagkabalik niya daw, nakita niyang wala na sa room si Ms. Wanny kaya agad niya itong hinanap hanggang sa makarating siya sa may hagdan. At mula doon ay ang tagpo nang naabutan ko ang sinabi niya.

Seriously, kung nagana lang kasi sana yung mga CCTVs sa hallway at stairs, di sana’y wala kaming problema. Ang kaso, mukhang sinadya ng killer na sirain ang connection ng mga CCTVs para wala itong mairecord na kahit-ano. If that wasn’t intentional, then he must be surely lucky that everything goes according to his plans.

Ang sumunod naman ay si Dr. Agapito Cansiscio na siyang boyfriend ng biktima. Bandang 6PM daw ay on-duty siya at may mga binibisitang pasyente sa 6th floor. Nasa fifth floor kasi ang room ng biktima at sa pagitan ng 4th floor at 5th floor na hagdan ko siya nakita. Pinuntahan naman namin yung mga pasyenteng binisita ni Dr. Cansiscio para masiguro ang alibi niya. At tulad nga ng sinabi niya, wala siya sa 5th floor ng mga oras na iyon.

Akala ko ay doon na matatapos ang pagtatanong ni Al sa dalawa but then he asked some random question. “Are you familiar with ‘The Odds’?”

Maski ako ay napakunot ang noo sa tanong niya. “Banda ba yun, Al?” I asked.

“I heard Wanny mentioned that before. Ang sabi niya pa nga ‘We are the odds!’ and told us that she’s number 1. I don’t really get what she meant by that though,” sagot ni Ms. Janine.

I saw how Al curved a smile on his face na ipinagkibit-balikat ko na lang.

Since nakapagsalita na kanina si Dr. Cinco about his alibi ay ang assistant na lang niya ang pinuntahan namin sa ward ng mga ito. Ms. Trixia Clemente was a timid woman with a long hair. Bahagya pa itong nagulat nang banggitin namin ang pagkamatay ni Ms. Wanny. According to her, buong gabi lang daw siyang nasa ward dahil may mga pinapaasikaso sa kanyang mga papers si Dr. Cinco. May kasama pa siyang nurse na siyang makakapagpatunay ng alibi niya.

We also checked the schedules of the doctors para masigurong tama ang mga sinabi nila Dr. Cinco at Dr. Cansiscio sa mga alibi nila. Wala akong mahanap na butas sa mga sinabi nila that’s why I was really frustrated when we came back. Al was different, though. Pagdating namin, he told me that he has figured out the killer’s trick and borrowed my phone. After few minutes, he came back and looked at the clock.

“Cool! I still have time to rest,” he exclaimed then lied down on his bed. It was as if the case was solved.

Ano ba kasing tumatakbo sa isip niya? I let out a deep sigh. Kung sabagay, whatever it is, I’m sure malalaman ko din yun maya-maya. I just only have to wait patiently.

Maya-maya pa ay dumating na ang pinakahihintay namin. Detective Martinez came in together with some police officers.

“We’re here, just as scheduled,” nakangiti pang sabi ng detective. Dumilat na si Al at saka nag-unat ng braso.