Ye Hua Chinese Resto
11:13 a.m.

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Mr. Ye Hua wiped his hands with a clean towel and scanned the restaurant once more. Abala ang kanyang mga waiter sa paghahatid ng pagkain sa kanilang customers. To and fro, they buzzed around with trays, balancing bowls of pasta, roasted ducks, and their new best seller: his family recipe's bat soup.

"Boss, mukhang busy tayo ngayon, ah?" Bati sa kanya ng isang parokyanong dumating. Mahinang natawa ang Intsik at nagkumento, "Ah. Busy is good for the business, my friend."

Sa kabila ng mga empleyado at customers na abala sa kanilang mga ginagawa, amoy ng nilulutong manok mula sa kusina, at ingay ng mga kabataang nagkukwentuhan sa isang gilid, the owner easily averted his attention to the bottles of wine neatly displayed on the wooden shelves.

'He hasn't called me yet... I wonder why,' he thought.

Ilang sandali pa, biglang nag-ring ang kanyang telepono. Mr. Ye Hua quickly excused himself and vanished into a hallway. Hinawi niya ang mga kurtina at sumulyap sa likod, sinisiguradong walang nakasunod sa kanya.

Mahirap na.

His palms felt clammy, and that caused him to alternatively wipe them again on his apron before swiping "accept call". Nang marinig niya ang boses ng kanyang kausap, agad siyang nahimasmasan.

["Expect the new stocks this afternoon."]

"Xié xié."

The owner sighed in relief and sat on top of one of the wooden crates. Hindi na niya namalayang napadpad na siya sa storage room ng gusali. Pero panandalian lang ang ginhawang naramdaman niya nang muling magsalita ang lalaki sa kabilang linya...

["What if someone finds out about this?"]

"No, no. No one will find out---"

"Find out about what, Mr. Ye Hua?"

Napapitlag na lang ang may-ari ng restaurant nang biglang sumulpot sa kanyang gilid sina Detective Nico Yukishito at Detective Briannova Carlos. Kabado siyang napahakbang papalayo, hindi maitago ang gulat sa kanyang mukha.

["Sir?"]

Tuluyan na niyang hindi pinansin ang kausap sa telepono. The Chinese man's full attention was on the two other people inside the storage room. At base sa seryoso nilang ekspresyon, mukhang hindi sila nagpunta rito para lang mananghalian.

"You haven't answered my question yet," Nico said and narrowed his eyes at him. "Anong tinatago mo?"

"N-Nothing... Get out! Get out! You're not allowed inside---"

Hindi na naituloy ng Intsik ang kanyang sasabihin. Sa isang kislap-mata, mabilis na kumilos si Nico. The detective lunged at him and easily twisted Mr. Ye Hua's arms behind his back, making his cellphone drop to the floor. Nico kicked it away and yanked the owner on his feet.

"Ayoko nang ulitin ang tanong ko. If you haven't noticed yet, a lot of people are terrified of getting exposed to the virus you unleashed."

Kumunot ang noo ng Intsik sa kanyang sinabi.

"I unleashed a virus?"

"Don't play dumb with me. Nakita sa CCTV ang kaparehong wooden crates na ginagamit sa shipment ng wine ninyo."

"Crates? I-I don't know anything about that. Wait... You think I'm the Unknown Disease?"

Bago pa man makapagpaliwanag si Nico, narinig niya ang boses ng kanyang kasama.

"Who were you talking to earlier, Mr. Ye Hua?"

Unbeknownst to them, while Nico was busy restraining the restaurant owner, Nova picked up his cellphone and scrolled through the call history. Sa kasamaang-palad, binabaan na siya ng kung sinuman ang kausap nito kanina. The number wasn't even registered in his contact list.

It took a while before the owner admitted, "T-That's my friend. He helps me with the wine, since I ordered another batch."

"Mind if we look around?"

"You won't find anything."

Despite his words, Nova walked towards them and pulled out Nico's personal investigation kit from inside his jacket. Dahil hawak niya ang Intsik, hindi na nakaangal pa si Nico nang kinuha nito ang face mask at latex gloves doon. Napasimangot na lang siya sa kanyang kasama.

"I didn't say you can borrow those."

"You didn't say I can't," Nova corrected him, before returning the kit with a teasing smile.

Matapos nito, sinimulan nang buksan ng dalaga ang mga wooden crates. Isa-isa niyang sinilip ang nilalaman ng mga ito. Nang wala siyang mahanap na kahina-hinala roon, she moved on to the bottles of wine on stored on a long shelf.

"I told you, you won't find anything," Mr. Ye Hua said. Still, his face was noticably pale.

'Ano naman ang itinatago niya?'

Still, Nico wasn't convinced. "You sound nervous. I wonder why? Pero dahil ayaw mo namang umamin, I might as well call the Heraldic Eastwood Local Police Department and request Inspector Ortega to investigate your transactions---"

"I think I already know why," Nova called out. Kapansin-pansing nanlata ang restaurant owner nang mapansing hawak na nito ang notebook kung saan niya sinusulat ang kanyang transactions. After a while, she met Nico's eyes and confirmed, "Illegal shipment. Hindi dumadaan sa customs ang wine na ini-import pa nila."

'Well, that explains why he was nervous,' Nico thought and let him go.

"Kailan ang dating ng shipment?"

"T-This afternoon."

"Perfect."

Nova raised an eyebrow at him. "At ano naman ang pinaplano mong gawin?"

"I need to take Goldilocks out for a walk."

Hindi na niya inintindi ang pakikiusap ni Mr. Ye Hua para 'wag nilang ipaalam sa mga awtoridad ang kanilang nalaman. He'll let Nova and Inspector Ortega handle the rest. Sa ngayon, mukhang kailangan na muna niyang bumalik sa apartment at kunin ang kanyang aso.

'I just hope she's up for an afternoon stroll.'

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