✔ 03 | Point Of Exposure

CAPITULUM 65

It's over. 

Nico knew it the moment his uncle revealed that they've been a step ahead of them, this entire time. Hanggang ngayon, naaalala pa rin ni Nico ang sinabi sa kanya ng CEO ng DEATH nang lapitan siya nito kahapon, pagkatapos nilang arestuhin si Dr. Tiffany.

"There's always more to a case than meets the eye, Nico," Uncle X began with a tired smile. "Minsan, mistulang isang virus ang koneksyong hahanapin mo---invisible to the naked eye, but it doesn't mean it's harmless. It's there, and it will always be there until you change your perspective of things."

Normally, Nico would just shrug off his advice and act on his own.

Pero sa pagkakataong ito at sa mga pagdududang nasa isip niya habang pinapanood ang pagdala nila sa pediatrician sa presinto, pinili niyang makinig.

"There's something that's bothering you, right?" Uncle X pushed.

Marahang tumango ang detective, nakatayo pa rin sila sa kalsadang malapit sa clinic habang abala sina Inspector Ortega sa kanilang mga ginagawa.

"Some pieces... just don't seem to fit," Nico admitted. "Noong naospital ako, may nahanap na kwintas si Nova sa labas ng kwarto. The pendant wasn't uncommon, but I've seen it around. Hindi ko alam kung anong kinalaman nito sa kaso o kung bakit ito iniwan ni UD sa'min. Mukhang walang kinalaman si Dr. Tiffany dito. But then again, why did she admit to these crimes?"

Sumasakit na naman ang ulo ni Nico.

And to his irritation, mahinang natawa si Uncle X at inakbayan siya. He then started leading him towards the clinic were the police were still looking through documents and the lab boys were still bagging the fruits.

Isa-isang binuksan ni Uncle X ang mga drawer, hanggang sa mahanap nito ang isang partikular na folder.

He smiled when he read the contents and gave it to his still confused nephew.

"Mahirap unawain ang motibo ng mga tao, Nico. Humans are the only 'unsolvable cases' left on Earth, trust me. Pero tulad ng nga sinabi ko sa'yo, sometimes you just gotta change your perspective and see the crime through their eyes..."

Binuklat ni Nico ang folder. At nang makita niya ang dokumento, doon na niya napagtagpi-tagpi ang lahat.

"This means...?"

Uncle X nodded. "When Omari first settled in Eastwood and talked to us about the case, he mentioned narinig niyang sinabi ng isang dealer na bilinin ng kung sinumang kliyenteng bilisan ang shipment dahil hanggang 'December 12' lang daw siya sa Eastwood. He never got the chance to find out more about it, but Yuan and I did some digging these past few weeks. Noong pumutok ang balita sa nangyari kay Mrs. Taves, doon na kami naghinala. We've always suspected 'her', but the only ace we have against her was the date. Kaya nga kinausap namin ang mayor tungkol dito."

Pero hindi pa rin naaalis ang mga mata ni Nico sa dokumento.

'Kaya pala ganoon ang reaksyon ni Doc Tiffany.'

Soon, his phone rang. Nang sagutin niya ito, hindi na nagulat si Nico nang kumpirmahin ni Omari ang kagimbal-gimbal na katotohanan sa kasong ito...

"I've found the bats inside Dr. Ameida's house."

Wala nang dahilan para huminto ang oras sa nakaraan. Detective Nico Yukishito left the cold metal of the handcuff against his left wrist, where his Elmo wristwatch should've been. Nakakadismayang tinanggal niya pa talaga ito para lang sa okasyon ngayon.