The only thing we have to fear is fear itself – Franklin D. Roosevelt

ROZOVSKY HEIRS SERIES 14 BOOK 1| THE DARKNESS WITHIN

CHAPTER ONE | THE GOOD COP

PRESENT TIME

DACI

The old woman was weeping while looking at the three corpses covered with white cloth. Her cries were piercing around the place. Three corpses on three embalming tables. One woman aged twenty-five and two children aged seven and five.

All of them were burned to death inside their car.

By the head of their family.

And this old woman who was crying to this burned corpses was the grandmother of the kids. The mother of the woman killed.

Her cries were piercing right through my bones. Sent chills down my spine. Looking at her slumped on the floor while looking helpless at those corpses was a view that I won't forget easily. I knew how hard she was trying herself not to uncover those corpses. I told her not too. I didn't want her to see how bad those burnt bodies would look like. It was hard for her to accept that her loving daughter was gone and her precious grandkids suffered this horrible death but I couldn't let her see them like this.

"Bakit kayo nagkaganito?" Humihikbing sabi ng may-edad na babae. Ngayon ay nakatulala na lang habang patuloy ang pagdaloy ng luha.

Napatikhim ako at lumakad palapit sa may-edad na babaeng umiiyak. "Hindi n'yo inisip na puwede itong gawin ng manugang ninyo?"

Hitsurang wala sa sariling umiiling ang babae. "Akala ko mabait si Rodney." Basag na basag ang boses niya. "Ibinibigay ang lahat para sa anak ko. Para sa mga apo ko. Magandang bahay. Edukasyon. Spoiled ang mga apo ko. Araw-araw laging may pasalubong galing sa tatay nila kaya hindi ko akalain na magagawa ito ni Roger sa pamilya niya." Muli ay umiyak ang matanda. "Ang babata pa ng mga apo ko. Wala silang kasalanan. Walang kamuwang-muwang."

I gritted my teeth when I remembered how these body were found. They were still burning when the police came. Initial investigation said that gasoline was poured around the car while the mother and her children were locked inside. They couldn't get out and the father let them burned inside the car.

"Wala kayong nakitang mga pagbabago sa manugang ninyo? Madalas nilang pag-aaway ng anak n'yo. Pagiging bayolente niya."

Umiiling ang may edad na babae. "Hindi ko sila nakitang nag-away ng anak ko dahil hindi naman ako nakapisan sa kanila. Pero minsan, nakikita ko ang anak kong may mga pasa sa katawan. Sa tuwing tatanungin ko kung napaano, ang sasabihin lang ay nabunggo."

May pumasok na dalawang lalaki sa loob at sinabing kailangan nang ayusin ang mga bangkay na naroon para maihanda sa burol. Muling lumakas ang pag-iyak ng babae at ayaw humiwalay sa mga sunog na bangkay na naroon. Kinailangan pang tumawag ng ibang mag-a-assist dito para lang mapabitaw sa embalming table na pilit pinipigilan nito. Doon na ako lumabas. I already got what I needed.

Lumabas ako ng punerarya at sumakay sa kotse ko. Deretso ako sa opisina ng NCB. National Clandestine Bureau. An underground agency that mostly work with organized crimes, serial killers and high-profile cases. All of us here were police officers that moonlights in this department and I am the youngest among our team. Our head, Philippe Macatangay was once a Senior Inspector and got connected with powerful people. I heard some of his story. His father was Armen Yagoslav. The file of that man was classified and only a handful of people knew about it. Rumor has it that his own father Armen Yagoslav raped him and cut one of his balls. But we didn't know if that was true. He never talked to about that. Actually, he never talked about his life at all.

Michael Lemmy Sweeney was Philippe Macatangay's next in command. We call him Miles. We knew each other when he worked with Kuya Danny about smuggling people abroad and helped us to catch Lewis. It was Miles who told me about this team. I was a Police Lieutenant that time and doing all my best to climb the ladder. Although I could use the connection of my father and my family in my quest for being the best cop, I'd rather do it on my own. So far, I am enjoying what I was doing. Being a cop completed my dream.

Our researcher slash computer whiz was Sylvia "Malware" Constantino. Philippe arrested her for hacking the website of PNP and other government agencies. She was sentenced to be jailed for a long time but Philippe decided to keep her. To use her. She was good. She even leaked to our department the underground organizations that she was working with and she helped tracking these bad guys abroad. Sometimes, she was working with her other hacker friend Presley who also works with the crime mobs.

Charles Rhodes was a rookie researcher. He works with Sylvia and sometimes go with Miles to work with the bad guys.

I knew Philippe was still looking for other candidates to join our team. Mahigpit pa naman sa pagpili ang isang ito kaya ayaw ko din naman na may masabing kaya ako nasali sa team na ito ay dahil anak ako ni Stas Rozovsky. I knew he and my father and Auntie Ilyenna had history before. Gusto kong kaya ako napasali dito ay dahil magaling ako. Dahil deserve ko. Na kaya kong mag-isa kahit wala ang maimpluwensiyang pamilya ko. Kung puwede ko nga lang palitan ang apelyido ko ng iba ay ginawa ko na. It was not I hated being a Rozovsky. It was just, I wanted to create my own name. My own identity. I didn't want to be always introduced as the son of Stas Rozovsky. Na para bang hindi ako mag-i-exist kung hindi babanggitin ang pangalan at apelyido ng daddy ko. I wanted to be my own self.

I wanted to be just Daci. The damn good cop.

Because being a good cop covers the truth that I never wanted people to see even my own family.

"Daci."

Napatingin ako sa pinto ng office ni Philippe na nakabukas. Sumenyas siyang pumunta ako doon kaya lumakad na ako. Marahan pang hinihilot ni Philippe and batok niya na hitsurang pagod na. Itinuro na maupo ako sa couch na naroon na ginawa ko naman.

"Problem?" tanong ko habang sinusundan siya ng tingin na palakad-lakad sa kuwarto niya.

"Wala naman." Napahinga pa ng malalim si Philippe pero halata sa kanya na mayroong malalim na iniisip. Ayaw niyang magpapatawag ng Sir kahit na nga may-edad siya sa amin. First name basis was fine with him. "Itatanong ko lang 'yong case na pinuntahan mo kanina. The mother and the two daughters who were burned to death."

"It was a mess." Sagot ko. Pakiramdam ko ay naririnig ko pa ang nakakakilabot na panaghoy ng may-edad na babaeng kasama ko kanina. "Are you sure we are not going to take that case? Mukhang wala namang ginagawa ang department na humahawak ng kaso. The suspect is still at large."

Inis na umupo si Philippe at naisuklay ang kamay sa buhok. "There is no advice from our contact authorities. They want this case to be solved by the local police."

Tumawa ako ng nakakaloko. "Local police? You think they will do anything in this case? It's been twenty-four hours. They got evidence who did the crime. CCTV footages. First hand witnesses. The confession of the father and yet they are not doing any arrest." Naiiling na sagot ko. "They are not going to do anything, Philippe you know that."

We both know that no arrest won't happen for that case. The man involved was the son of a high ranking general of AFP. Upon checking the reports, the murdered mother filed a complaint several times for domestic violence. I saw the reports. The photos of the beaten woman but the complaints were dismissed.

"You know how the justice system in this country works." Dama ko ang inis na sagot ni Philippe. "Remember Wayne Garci? He is gone. On the wind. Got away from all his crimes just because his family was powerful."

"No news about Wayne Garcia?" paniniguro ko.

Umiling si Philippe. "And I am sure, wala na dito sa bansa iyon. Naitago na ng pamilya. Iyan din ang mangyayari sa case na iyan. Iingay saglit pero makakalimutan ng tao dahil matatabunan ng iba pang krimen. Sigurado akong nakalabas na ng bansa ang suspect diyan."

Hindi ako sumagot at napailing lang. Tingin ko naman ay walang sasabihin sa akin si Philippe. Tinawag lang ako para may makausap. Para mailabas ang sama ng loob dahil sa mga nangyayari sa paligid.

"How's your father?" Iyon na lang ang naitanong niya.

"Getting older." Natatawang sagot ko. "Dad is good. Recovering after the incident that happened few weeks ago."

"Everything okay with that incident?"

Gusto kong matawa sa tanong ni Philippe. Alam naman niya ang nangyari doon. Alam niya ang ginawa kay Nic Feliciano. And just like other cases that he handled with Dad he would turn a blind eye to those crimes.

Philippe Macatangay was one good cop but he got no problem working with the bad guys.

"Do you still have news about Xuan Lam. The Chinese national that was caught assaulting his Filipina maid? Na-deport ba 'yon? Wala na akong report na nakuha doon."

Umiling ako. "Hindi naman natin nakuha ang case na iyon. Just like other domestic abuse cases, hind iyon napupunta sa atin. Dahil ang katwiran ng higher authority mas may malalaking cases na dapat i-handle ang department. Just like the case of Ezequiel Cardenas."

"Naitanong ko lang. Bigla na lang kasing nawala iyon. Anyway, we don't have anything to do. You can have the day off." Saglit siyang nag-isip. "Make it two. I know you deserve that two days off. Have fun with your family. Go fuck your girlfriend." Ngayon ay tonong tinataboy na ako ni Philippe.

Natawa ako. "Girlfriend. I don't have that." Tumayo na ako at tinungo ang pinto.

Tumatawa din siya at sumenyas pang umalis na ako. Tatawa-tawa din akong lumabas ng office ni Philippe at nang maisara ko iyon, doon unti-unting nawala ang ngiti sa labi ko.

He was asking about Xuan Lam. The Chinese national that was caught assaulting his Filipina maid. He was not deported but he won't talk nor abuse any woman ever again.

Because I was the one who killed him last week.

After following his tracks, his everyday routine, his connections in this country, I attacked. I made sure that he was in his vulnerable state. I found out that every Sunday night, he was booking a male service escort for a good time. I hacked his messaging app and I was the one messaging him about the service. He let me in his home. I pretended to be the escort service and when he thought that he was going to have a good time, that was the time I put him to sleep and took him to my private lair.

My lair where I play with men like him.

Whatever he did to those maids that he abused, I did it to him. He hit them with a hammer on their heads, I hit his head with a crow bar but made sure that he won't die yet. I took my time with that guy beating him up. Until he was begging me to kill him. The last blow that killed him was when put his neck on the bottom of the door frame and close the door so hard that crushed his neck. Killing him instantly.

Did I feel any remorse? No. It felt good actually. I am telling myself that I was giving the society a favor by eliminating people like Xuan Lam.

I went to my car and drove away from our office. My phone was ringing and it was Mom calling me. I put my phone on speaker mode and continued driving while my mom started his monologues.

"Aren't you coming home tonight?"

"I can't, Mom. I have a job to do." Nanatiling nakatingin ang mata ko sa kalsada.

"Job." Dama ko ang disappointment sa boses ni Mommy. "Ilang linggo ka nang hindi dumadalaw dito dahil diyan sa job mo na 'yan. Kaya ka lang nagpirmi dito nang mabaril ang daddy mo. Kailangan bang may masaktan ulit sa pamilya natin para umuwi ka?"

Natawa ako. "Mom, you know what my job is. I am a cop. People need me."

"And I need you." Nagtatampo na ang boses niya tapos ay napahinga ng malalim. "I'm sorry. I am just getting emotional these days. Ikaw na lang ang walang partner sa mga kapatid mo. Ikaw na lang ang makukulit kong magpunta dito. Masha is spending some time with Amell... Noah... Am-" I smiled when I heard my mom cursed under her breath. "I don't know what to call him. Should I call him Noah? Or still Amell?"

"Whatever you are comfortable to call him, Mom." Natatawang sagot ko. "I'm sorry, Mom. I just can't go home tonight. I have an important job to do. But I promise I will be home at dinner tomorrow. Would that be okay?"

"That will be okay, sweetie. Siyempre nami-miss ko naman ang bunso ko." Ngayon ay masigla na ang boses ni Mommy.

Natawa ako. "Eight minutes lang na naunang lumabas sa akin si Masha. Saka mas gusto n'on siya ang bunso. Ibigay na natin 'yon sa kanya."

"The moment she got married, she already lost that privilege." Alam kong nagbibiro lang si Mom. "Kaya ikaw kapag nag-asawa ka, you will lose that privilege too. Sa mga apo ko na lang ibabaling ang lahat ng atensiyon ko. Sa magiging apo ko sa'yo."

Nasamid ako sa sinabi niya. "Malabo 'yang sinasabi mo, Mommy. I intend to be single forever. Ayaw ko ng babae. Sakit sa ulo 'yan."

"Hmmm... sinabi din 'yan ng daddy mo. Sinabi din ng mga kuya mo." Tonong nang-aasar na si Mommy. "All right. Hindi na kita kulitin. I'll prepare your favorite dish tomorrow. I'll see you. Miss you."

"Missed you too, Mom."

Napahinga ako ng malalim nang i-end ang usapan namin ni Mommy. Itinutok ko ang tingin ko sa kalsada at unti-unting natatawa. My mom thinks I would marry someday? That would be impossible to happen. A man with a dark secret like me was bound to be alone for the rest of my life.

Ipinarada ko ng maayos ang kotse ko nang makarating sa apartment na tinutuluyan ko. There was nothing grand in the house that I am renting. Masha was telling me to look for another that was bigger than this but I prefer to be in this place. It was quiet here. The neighbors were not nosy. I already checked each of the houses living near my apartment. Most of them were call center agents who were asleep in day and working during night time. Wala na silang pakialam sa mga nangyayari sa paligid kapag nakaharap na sila sa monitor ng computers nila at may headset na.

People knew around that I am cop. I made sure that they would know someone who could protect them all the time. But that was just the façade I wanted them to see. The good cop that everyone could depend on.

So, they won't suspect that in one of the rooms in my apartment, hides a sinister truth that only I knew about.

It was a quiet night tonight. I went inside my apartment and went straight to my ref and took a bottle of beer. I walked around and went to one of the rooms of my apartment and opened it. And from there, I saw a man tied tightly on a chair with a cloth wrapped around his mouth. I heard his muffled screams and he was trying so hard to escape from his ties.

I finished my beer while looking at him. I remembered the old woman who was crying on the burnt bodies of her daughter and granddaughters. This asshole did it. The media thought that he already escaped and went abroad. Little did they know, I was the one snatched him and would give him the horrible death he deserved.

I walked closer to him and took off the cloth that was wrapped around his mouth. He immediately cursed at me. Calling me names. Yelling at me telling me his name and how powerful his family was. I was just looking at him. Letting him use all his energy in anger. Despair.

"Sino kang putangina ka?! Hindi mo ba ako nakikilala? Ang pamilya ko? Ang tatay ko? General ang tatay ko sa AFP, gago. Ipapa-salvage kitang gago ka. Babalatan ka ng buhay ng mga tauhan ng papa ko."

Gigil na gigil ang lalaki habang nagwawala mula sa pagkakatali sa upuan. Nanatili lang akong nakatingin sa kanya. Men under distress always fascinates me. They wanted to show that they were still tough but the truth, I could see fear in their eyes. I could feel terror from their breaths and that would always bring smile to my face.

"Why did you burn your wife and kids?"

Nawalan ng kulay ang mukha ng lalaki at nanlalaki ang matang nakatingin sa akin. Umawang ang bibig na may gustong sabihin pero hindi makapagsalita.

"I saw their charred bodies. Your kids. They are so small. Helpless. I bet you watched them while they were asking for help trapped inside the car burning alive."

Napalunok ang lalaki at umiiling. "Hindi ko kasalanan iyon. Sinunog ni Mae ang kotse pati ang mga anak namin. Hindi ako. Gaga ang babaeng iyon. May lalaki kasi at nang alam niyang mabubuko na siya, nagpakamatay at idinamay pa ang mga anak ko. Hanggang impiyerno masusunog siya."

"That's not the story I heard, Rodney."

"H-how did you know my name?" Kinakabahang tanong niya.

Ngumiti ako sa kanya at lumapit. Hinawakan ko ang mukha niya. "Because I am the one who would burn you alive just like what you did to your family. But don't worry. We will take it slow. I don't want to rush things. I love to play with my victims." Kumindat pa ako sa kanya at binitiwan ang mukha niya.

Nakakabingi ang pagsigaw ni Rodney. Humihingi ng tulong. Sigaw nang sigaw pero tinawanan ko lang at iniwan doon. Wala namang makakarinig sa kanya dito at malabo siyang makatakas sa pagkakatali niya sa silyang kinaroroonan niya. The room was sound proofed and made especially for people that I am playing with.

A warm shower was nice tonight then a good sleep.

Tomorrow, Rodney and I would start our play. 

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