✔ 03 | Point Of Exposure

CAPITULUM 06

"I have no idea what this symbol means."

"And yet you've been staring at it for more than an hour," kinuha ni Nico ang bato kay Nova at ibinalik sa bulsa ng kanyang jacket. "For a moment, I was worried you'd swallow it and yell 'Darna!', or some shit like that."  

Mahinang natawa ang mga tauhan ng ECDCP sa sinabi ng detective. Pero agad rin silang tumahimik nang dinapuan sila ng masamang tingin ng dalaga. It was clear that nobody else would dare test the pink head's temper. To her partner, she said, "Ngayong malinaw na hindi isang 'aksidente' ang pagkaka-expose ng biktima sa kung anumang pathogen ang pumatay sa kanya, it'll only be a matter of time before the killer strikes again."

Detective Nico leaned against the taxi and watched the biohazard personnel at a distance.

"What are you suggesting?"

"Simple," she crossed her arms over her chest. "Kailangan nating ipaalam sa city hall ang potential risks nito sa bayan. Kung sakaling lalala ang sitwasyon, at least they'll be able to come up with a plan as early as possible. Lockdowns, community quarantine guidelines---"

"The last time I checked, we're detectives, not medical experts. Isa pa, baka lalong mataranta ang mga tao kapag nalaman nilang may kriminal na gumagamit ng virus na pakalat-kalat sa lansangan."

Besides, on several occasions, Nico had already encountered the mayor. At base sa assessment niya rito, he's not the kind of man to jeopardize the economy of Eastwood based on anything less than concrete facts. Hindi na niya kailangan pang idagdag ang pangungumbinsi rito sa trabaho niya.

Nova rolled her eyes and pointed at the crime scene. "Don't you think it's too late for that? Ngayon pa lang, 'natataranta' na ang mga tao, Yukishito. Now if we don't warn them about god-knows-what virus is on the loose, baka marami pang mawalan ng pamilya itong darating na Pasko."

'For once, can't we just agree on something?'

Napasimangot si Nico, hindi dahil hindi siya sang-ayon sa opinyon ng kanyang kasama; kung hindi dahil alam niyang tama siya. His eyes scanned the neighborhood, silently watching the nearby residents gaze curiously at the scene.

The weight of the situation dawned upon him.

Dahil ngayon, sa ayaw at gusto nila, kailangan nilang iligtas ang mamamayan ng Eastwood sa dalawang bagay: sa isang serial killer at sa isang nakamamatay na infection.

'It's unfair. Sherlock never solved any cases that concerns a deadly pathogen.'

He sighed.

Sino bang nagsabing madaling maging detective?

"Gotta go. Tawagan kita kapag naalala ko."

Natigilan si Nova sa kanyang sinabi. Before she could even stop him, Nico casually walked past the guys wearing biohazard suits. Hands in his pockets. 'Matatapos lang ang lahat ng ito kapag nahuli na namin nang maaga ang killer,' isip-isip niya, making sure he still had the potential evidences.