✔ 03 | Point Of Exposure

CAPITULUM 46

M O N D A Y

A church in Eastwood
December 9, 2019
7:40 a.m.
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The mass starts at 8:00 a.m. sharp, and yet the church is almost at full capacity. 

'This is bad,' Nova thought and glanced outside the window where a steel gray van parked adjacent to the street. Sa unang tingin, tila ba isa itong ordinaryong family van, pero sa likod ng heavily tinted nitong mga bintana, alam ni Nova na nakabantay ang kanilang team.

Bakit ba kasi hindi pa rin nagre-release ng guidelines ang mayor?

"Nandito na kaya ang Unknown Disease?"

Inayos ni Nova ang kanyang facemask at pasimpleng sinulyapan ang mga nagsisimba. The thought that any of these families might be the next victims made her uneasy.

A few hours ago, after leisurely scouting the area and finding nothing (and no one) unusual, napagdesisyunan nilang magmanman na lang at hintayin ang pag-atake ng virus. Of course she was against it when Nico suggested this, pero hindi niya maipagkakailang may punto ito.

Kung ie-evacuate nila ang mga tao at isasara ang simbahan, mawawala ang oportunidad nilang mahuli si Unknown Disease.

They already know that the killer is present at every crime scene and leaves a stone as a clue, and they plan to use that opening against him.

'Ang problema, hindi namin alam kung kailan o anong oras mangyayari ang krimen.'

Nang magsimula ang misa, wala sa sariling kinapa ni Nova ang kanyang earpiece.

"I never pegged you as the religious type," kumento ni Nico. "Hindi bagay sa'yo."

Nova scoffed, knowing he was watching her from afar.

"Bakit ba hindi ikaw ang nandito? You need spiritual enlightenment more than any else on the field."

"Because detective work is already my religion, sweetheart."

Before Nova could even point out how hopeless he was, nahagip ng kanyang mga mata ang pamilyar na bulto sa 'di kalayuan, like a shadow passing by. Agad na nagpalinga-linga ang dalaga at hinanap ito, her eyes sharpened while scanning the crowd. Ni hindi na niya pinakinggan ang mga sinasabi ng pari.

This suddenly reminded her of the time they were spying on Lelouch at the Masquerade event hosted by HELP, noong mga panahong may hinuhuli rin silang serial killer.

'But this is nothing like last time... Mas malaki ang nakataya ngayon.'

*

"Anong nangyayari?"

Inspector Cordova inquired, glancing over an officer's shoulder. Napuno ang loob ng madilim na van ng nakabibinging ingay ng pagtitipa nito sa computer.

"Wala naman pong nangyayaring kakaiba. Mukhang na-distract lang si Detective Brian," the officer behind the screen stated.

Samantala, tahimik namang nakaupo sa isang tabi si Nico. "She can handle it," he said, legs stretched out on the floor as he started messaging someone on his phone. Hanggang ngayon, unti-unti niyang pinagtatagpi ang mga pangyayari. Dan's latest report on his uncle didn't help much, either.

'Kaya pala parang may kakaiba rin kay Uncle X.'

Hindi niya alam kung anong mga plano nilang dalawa ni Mr. Y, pero malakas ang kutob ni Nico na may kinalaman ito sa kasong hinahawakan nila.

'Anong tinatago ninyo?'

Napapikit ang detective, sumasakit na naman ang ulo sa samu't saring impormasyon. As of the moment, Chief Inspector Ortega and Lelouch are investigating the illegal shipping of those African green monkeys, kaya in-assign nila si Inspector Cordova para "mamumo" operasyon nila ngayong araw. He's the same one who handled the evacuation at the Mockingbird Apartment, kaya nakilala ito ni Nico.

'Not that his presence makes any difference,' he thought.

Meanwhile, they were still keeping updates with ECDCP. Nakumpirma nga nina Dr. Almeida na Marburg virus rin ang may salarin sa pagkamatay ng mag-ama sa mall. Sa pagkakalam ni Nico, abala pa rin sin Dr. Fabella sa contact tracing nito dahil hindi malayong marami na ring nahawaan.

As much as he hated working with others, Nico knew that this Unknown Disease created a domino effect in Eastwood.

Anyone can be exposed.

Makalipas ang ilang oras, nabasag ang katahimikan nang biglang nagsalita si Nova. The speaker blared with her panicked words, "Call an ambulance! Call the ECDCP! Bumagsak ang isang sakristan!"

'Sakristan?'

Nico stood up and calmly dusted off his pants. If this is UD's sick humor, he doesn't want to buy it. Kinuha niya ang mic sa natataranta pa ring officer. "Keep an eye out for the killer, Nova. Papunta na kami diyan."

Hindi na niya inintindi ang mga sinasabi ng inspector at mabilis siyang lumabas ng van. The weight of the gun inside his leather jacket reminded him of the possible dangers.

Nasa malapit lang ang mamamatay-tao.

"Sana nangumpisal ka na, UD."

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