✔ 03 | Point Of Exposure

CAPITULUM 51

T U E S D A Y

DEATH's headquarters
December 10, 2019
8:40 a.m.

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"So the reason why gave me an advance Christmas gift," Nico started and glanced at the laser wristwatch he placed on the table between them. Ibinalik niya ang kanyang mga mata sa uncle niyang kumakain pa ng mansanas.

"Is because you anticipated something bad will happen to me?"

"You're lucky you're my favorite nephew," sabi ni Xavier at hinagis sa kalapit na basurahan ang naubos na mansanas.

Hindi nagbago ang ekspresyon ng detective. "I'm your only nephew."

"Sadly."

Sunod namang inayos ni Xavier ang mga papeles sa kanyang harapan. Hindi tulad ng kanyang pamangkin, he actually makes an effort to read and finish them.

"Wala tayong kasiguraduhan sa mga pangyayari, Nico. A few weeks ago, if someone tells you that a virus would plague Eastwood, would you believe them?"

Nico didn't answer.

"Thought so," Xavier said and sighed. "You should look out for yourself more often. Baka mamaya naman ikaw ang mahawaan. Kapag nangyari 'yon, lalong walang mangyayari sa kaso ninyo. Hindi ka pwedeng mawala. Baka wala pang..."

He stopped mid-sentence, sa if he was about to reveal something he shouldn't. Hindi naman ito nakaligtas sa obserbasyon ni Nico.

"Wala pang?"

Umiling si Xavier, even waving a hand as if to dismiss the topic. "Baka wala pang gumawa ng paper works na pinaiwan ko sa mesa mo kahapon."

"You know I despise those."

"Wala kang choice, ako ang boss," Xavier joked.

Pero sa kabila ng pagiging good humored ng kanyang tiyuhin, hindi pa rin mawala sa isip ng detective ang sinabi nito kanina. He wasn't a fool. He knew that Uncle X was just changing the subject for convenience. Dahil dito, hindi niya tuloy maiwasang isipin.

Bukod ba sa pakikipag-coordinate sa Interpol, may iba pa ba silang kailangang malaman?

"I need to go. Baka may updates na si Nova tungkol sa illegal shipment ng mga African green monkeys," Nico finally said, unable to endure another minute inside Xavier's office.

Ngumiti lang ang kanyang uncle at tumango. "Go ahead. Tatawagan ko pa pala si Olympia... Damn, why didn't Yuan tell me she's been sick?"

Even though Xavier muttered the last part, Nico heard every word of it. Lalong naghinala ang detective sa koneksyong mayroon ang tatlo. Hindi ito ang unang beses na napapansin niyang may samahan sila.

'Paano nga ba sila nagkakilala nina Olympia at Mr. Y? Tsk. Great, now even my uncle's past is a case to solve.'

Pagkalabas ni Nico sa opisina, agad niyang napansing naghihintay sa labas si Scorpio. Kung nagulat man siya sa presensiya nito, hindi na lang niya ipinahalata. Nico knew that Scorpio has had a hard time lately.