Chapter 36: Authentic Murder (Part 1)

The man auction ended at malapit na ding matapos ang woman auction. Now I figured out why Crystal had to look good dahil gaya ni Zywon ay representative din pala siya. Lucky that her that her boyfriend bid for her and won.

Nakaupo na kami sa mesa ni Zywon while Math was across the room talking to some people that she probably knew. "Who bid for you?", tanong kay Zy. "Is that guy gay?"

He made face at me. Actually ay kanina pa siya nakasimangot sa akin kahit natapos na ang man auction. Patuloy lang siya sa kanyang pagkain at hindi man lamang nag-abalang sulyapan ako.

"Hey, galit ka ba sa akin?"

"No."

"Eh bakit ayaw mo akong kausapin?"

"Naiinis ako sa iyo."

"Bakit naman?"

Inilapag niya ang kutsara at tinidor at tumingin sa akin. "I am almost to be dated to a gay."

"So? But you didn't. Wait, eh yung nanalo, hindi ba yun bakla? Why would he pay 50, 000 for you?", nagtatakang tanong ko sa kanya. I looked around the hall but I couldn't find the guy who bid on Zywon after he paid it.

"Kahit na! Ni hindi ka man lang nag-abalang magbid para sa akin", he said, sounding so upset.

"I have no money."

"Fool yourself."

"Wala nga akong pera", wika ko sa kanya. "Hindi ako mayaman gaya ninyo. And why are you mad? You're sold to a straight guy, not a gay. You should be happy", I said sarcastically. "Nasaan na ba yung bumili sa iyo?"

"I am not bought Just Amber. Isa pa ay abogado iyon na ini-hire ni Ryu. My brother must have known about this", wika niya.

"Wow, you called him brother", komento ko. It's not long when he doesn't even want to recognize them as family but now he called Ryu as brother. That's news.

"I have no other choice but to call him. You know what Just Amber? I hate to admit it but I see my similarities with him", wika niya. "We are both computer enthusiast. Alam mo bang maliban kay Mommy na siyang tunay na Trojan, I have Apollo as an idol."

"Really? He likes Trojan too."

"Yeah, only that it is Mom whom he idolizes", Zywon said. Just them Math approached on our table with a big frown on her face.

"My date was stolen", she said at umupo sa upuan na nasa gilid.

"You mean the winner claimed her date", I corrected her and Math just only frowned even harder. Gray was nowhere to be found pagkatapos itong ilabas sa hall ng hotel ng babaeng nagbid ng 100, 000 para sa kanya. And knowing Gray as the man of values and virtue, he mustn't have turn down the invitation of the woman kahit pa kasama niya si Math.

"You know what Amber? I think you are right. Why would some woman with a big mole waste her one tenth of a million to some guy? Unless she really badly need a date on a crime scene", Math said and sulked on the table. "Tell me, other than rich detective wannabes, who would pay 100, 000 just to date him on a crime scene?"

"Psychopaths."

"Yes they count and other than them?"

"Someone who badly wants to be with him", I replied. In my mind, I was saying Math belonged to that group. Isn't she willing to pay a large sum for him?

"Can you call him?", Math asked. "I left my phone on his car. Please Amber."

I looked at Zywon na tahimik na nakatunghay sa amin. I will call him? Ano naman ang sasabihin ko? Math wanted to check on him so she asked me to call him? I decided to get my phone and passed it to Math so she can call Gray by herself. Agad naman niya iyong kinuha at hinanap sa contacts ang number ni Gray. She dialed his number and waited for few seconds at nang may sumagot ay pinindot niya ang loudspeaker.

"Gray! Where are-

"Bzzz... Math.. Bzzz."

Static noise?

Agad na pinatay ni Math ang tawag. "Oh my God, I forgot that I bugged him!", bulalas niya. "That caused the feedback. Maybe, I can just go to his car and-"

Hindi niya natapos ang sasabihin nang bahagyang tumayo si Zywon. He slightly lean forward in the table and reached for Math's hair where a silver diamond pin was clipped. "Or he bugged you."

May kinuhang maliit na bagay si Zywon sa buhok niya and he showed it to us. "A wireless radio frequency transmitter. This look customized."

"Oh, I made it myself", Math said and winked. "I'm good in making things like that, actually, the best."

Yeah, and she's good in flirting. Actually, the best. Duh.

"I'm impressed."

"You should be", nakangising wika ni Math at bago ko pa man pulutin ang tinidor sa mesa upang ibato sa kanya ay pinulot ko na ang baso at ininom ang laman niyon.

Parehas kaming napatingin sa stage nang magsalita ulit ang emcee. "Let us proceed to our real auction! First item! A diamond embedded watch! The bidding is now open!"

I diverted my look from the stage back to my food. "Bakit naman napunta sa buhok mo yang bug na yan Math?"

Nahulog sa malalim na pag-iisip si Math. "I wonder how too. Sa pagkakaalala ko, I pinned this on Gray's necktie and- oh my God!", maarteng bulalas nito.

"What?", sabay naming tanong ni Zywon sa kanya. She looked at us with her eyes wide open.

"That woman who paid 100, 000 for Gray praised my clip. I remember her touching my hair! Hindi kaya inilagay niya sa buhok ko ito?"

If Math secretly put the bug on Gray, how come the woman noticed it and then put it back on Math? If my theory is right, hindi kaya ang babaeng nagbid kay Gray ay si ...

"Our next item, is The Jungle, an oil painting made by Peter Des Cartes in 1808 with the appraised value of 6 million pesos!"

The huge LED in front was opened and presented to us an empty frame at nasa tabi nito ang isang lalaking nakasuot ng itim na suit at walang buhay dahil may tama ng baril sa kanyang dibdib. The people inside the hall began to panic as they saw the man at nagsigawan na sa loob. Math and I stood from our seat and rushed towards the body and the stolen painting. My theory is really right. The one who bid Gray out was none other than Victoria ngunit siya din ba ang pumatay sa biktima?

Everyone was told to calm down at agad na umakyat ang security personnel ng hotel. They already called the police samantantalang naghahanap naman kami ni Math ng tiyempo kung paano makakaakyat sa entablado kung nasaan ang katawan ng biktima.

"A robbery and a murder", komento ni Zywon. "What happened to the security? Sa pagkakaalam ko ay may mga bulglar alarm ang silid kung nasaan ang mga bagay para sa auction but why did this happened? Not to mention that there were security cameras inside that room."

"Math, listen", tawag pansin ko kay Math. "I think the woman who bid Gray is the thief at posibleng nasa panganib siya ngayon. Keep calling Gray and if he answers his phone, Zywon will help you tracing where the call from. And Zywon, try your best if you can do something to get some footage from the security cameras on that room." I have to act fast bago pa may mangyaring masama kay Gray o bago pa man makalayo ang magnanakaw/killer.

Nang umalis na si Math at Zywon ay dahan-dahan akong naglakad patungo sa gilid ng entablado. From what I heard to the auction personnel, the victim was the Val Carter, CEO of Aim Laboratories and at the same time, he owned the painting and decided to give it for the auction.

As an initial theory, posibleng nahuli niya ang magnanakaw na akmang nanakawin ang painting and then things got worse, it turned into a robbery gone wrong that led to murder. When he was waiting behind the LED, the killer must have killed him few minutes before the LED opened hindi kaya ay habang patuloy pa lamang ang bidding sa unang item. Kahit na maingay ang hall, imposibleng walang makakarinig sa putok ng baril so it is safe to presume that the killer used a silencer.

Lumapit ako sa isang babae na nakatulala sa gilid. "Excuse me..", tawag pansin ko sa kanya kaya napatayo siya at hinarap ako.

"Yes?"

"Hi. I'm -"

How should I put this? I could be kicked out of this hall any moment by now. "I am a police consultant."

A lie. I lied. Consultant huh? Pft.

"You're young."

"It doesn't matter", pag-iwas ko. "Do you mind if I ask some questions regarding the victim?"

"No, I don't mind at all if it is for Mister Carter. I'm Jenalyn Cuevas, his secretary."

I smiled at her at nagsimulang magtanong. "How long does he stay behind the LED?"

Bahagya itong nag-isip. "Sa pagkakaalala ko, bago pa man natapos ang Lady Auction ay naghihintay na siya sa maliit na silid right behind the LED. Nanatili siya doon upang bantayan ang painting."

"Bantayan?"

"Yes, he said that someone might kill him because of that painting kaya napagpasyahan niyang isali ito dito sa auction for a cause", Jenalyn said.

"Does he mention about whoever is that someone that might kill him?"

"No, wala siyang nabanggit. Basta napapansin ko sa kanya lately, he seems paranoid. Something is weird with him. May isang pagkakataon na ini-lock niya ang sarili sa kanyang opisina dahil may darating daw at papatayin siya dahil sa painting."

"Do you know where did he purchase this painting before?"

Jenalyn nodded her head. "He bought it from an auction sale in Italy before. He likes paintings very much, and when you see his office, you will really know that he really likes it. Actually this one is his favourite kaya nagulat nga ako nang isinali niya ito sa auction na ito."

"Wala ba siyang nakaaway dati dahil sa painting?"

Saglit na nag-isip ang secretary. "I overheard him quarrelling with his wife on the phone. Mukhang may problema yata sa pagsasama nila. They decided to divide their properties pero hindi ako sigurado. What I am certain is that may problema sila ng asawa niya and I think pinag-awayan din nila ang painting. She said it wasn't the authentic one."

"Peke ang painting? But the appraised value of that painting is 6 million."

"Fraud. Sir Carter committed fraud. He claimed that it was real even if it is not. Kasama niya ako nang pina-appraise niya ang painting and few weeks after the appraisal ay namatay ang appraiser. Heart attack."

"Kung pinaniwala ni Sir Carter na 6 million nga ang halaga ng painting, doesn't he need extra security habang hinihintay ang bidding?"

Jenalyn rubbed her palms on her arm. "The room is equipped with burglar alarm that when the painting is taken, it will trigger the alarm. Isa pa ay may security camera kahit saan at nakaabang ang mga operators to check for any threat", she answered. Her phone rang at agad siyang nag-excuse sa akin. "I have to take this call, sorry."

I smiled at her at tinanaw siya palayo. Pagkatapos ay inilibot ko ang paningin sa paligid. The area was sealed and the other guests were kept on the larger hall of the hotel.

Isang babaeng middle age na babae naman ang nilapitan. Base sa reaksyon niya kanina nang madiskubre ang katawan ay asawa ito ng biktima.

"Ma'am?"

Napalingon ang babae at nagtatakang napatingin sa akin. I introduced myself to her the way I introduce it to the secretary.

"Val is the best husband in the world", kwento ni Mrs. Carter. "We love each other so much and he's been working hard for the family. Alam mo bang binili niya any painting na iyon nang mag-anniversary kami sa Italy. Hindi ko inaakalang ang painting na iyon lamang ang dahilan kung bakit mawawala siya sa akin." She started weeping again like a woman grieving- only that it seems not authentic to me. Pero pwede din naman na ganoon talaga siya umiyak. Some people look overrated when crying and it could be that she's one of those.

"Do you know anyone who's interested in such painting?"

"Marami ang interesado doon. God, that painting is worth millions! But there is this one person who's really interested. Allan Arellano. Nang nalaman niya na ipapa-auction namin ang painting, he negotiated with us beforehand but Val rejected his offer and then he began threatening us."

"Anong ginagawa mo dito? Hindi ba't dapat ay nasa hall ka kung nasaan ang ibang bisita?"

Napalingon ako sa nagsalita. I was surprised to see inspector Dean and he was surprised to see me too.

"Inspector Dean!"

"Hey Amber! Hindi na ako magugulat na nandito ka", he said jokingly and roamed his eyes around. "Nasaan si Silvan?"

I sighed and shrugged my shoulders. "I'm looking for him too. Malaki ang posibilidad na tangay siya ng magnanakaw ngayon. Can you please let me on in this case? Please?"

"I cannot promise. Alam mo namang inspector lang ako at hindi detective but I will try to persuade him. Sa ngayon ay kailangan mo munang umalis dito dahil lahat ng guest ay dadaan sa gun powder testing", paliwanag niya. I nodded and left the hall immediately kung nasaan ang ibang mga guest.

It took few minutes bago natapos ang gunpowder testing. Pagkalipas ng ilang
minuto ay bumalik na sina Math at Zywon.

"I figured out why the security haven't noticed the thief. Ang makikita din sa footage ay ang area at walang nai-record na pumasok doon dahil jsa iyong prerecorded video ng silid. Looks like the thief executed plan neatly", Zywon said. "The thief used an inductive signal interrupter. It stops the alarm before it can reach the computer that will trigger the alarm. And guess what, the woman who on Gray was Antonia Aragon, but what's interesting is that Miss Aragon didn't make it in tonight's auction for a cause dahil nag-out of town ito. Ibig sabihin, someone assumed her identity that's why she easily made it her tonight. Peke din ang ibinayad niya sa auction", Zywon said.

Bumaling ako kay Math. "How about Gray?"

"Hindi na niya sinagot ang tawag ko kaya hindi namin nai-trace ang tawag", Math replied. "Oh, if the thief got Gray posible bang sasapitin din niya ang sinapit ng biktima?"

I bit my lower lip habang napaisip. Even though Victoria doesn't look harmful to me, I have no assurance that she isn't really harmful.

Ilang beses ko pa lamang nakausap si Victoria and those few conversations that we had doesn't shows any sign of hostility from her. Maybe she's a thief but not a murderer. Or maybe she is a thief and a murderer. I scanned the area using my eyes. She could be in the area and disguising herself as one of the guest. Posibleng alam na niya na nabuking ko na siya kaya nag-iba na naman siya ng pagbabalat-kayo. Or her partner could still be in this room.

I heard someone cleared his throat from our behind kaya napalingon ako sa pinagmulan niyon. And guess who? It is one of the most annoying people in the world. Well aside from Math, this person really annoys me a lot.

"The murder magnet is here", wika ni Detective Adler. "When Dean asked me to take some girl in the case, I already knew that it was you", wika niya sa akin. He threw a glance at Zywon at Math ngunit saglit lang iyon at ibinalik na niya sa akin ang kanyang tingin.

"Detective Adler", bati sa kanya ni Math. "We've been seeing a lot of each other lately."

"Yes and that is because I am the new assigned Detective in this department after Delano resigned", sagot sa kanya ni Detective Addler. "We will really see each other a lot lalo na kung may magnet kang kasama."

Math laugh at it like it was some sort of a very funny joke. I took a deep breath upang pigilan ang sarili ko na pagbuhulin silang dalawa. Wow, close pala sila. Isn't it great? The two people that I hate are close. Maybe that's what they say birds with the same feathers flock together. Pareho silang mayabang at punong-puno sa sarili.

"How was the case at school?", Math asked and smiled with friendliness. See? They really are close.

"Dead end", sagot nito. "But maybe we can ask the one person that he was supposed to send an email or maybe she can help us with that case." Tumingin siya sa akin at makahulugang ngumiti. Oh come on, I know all along what he really wants. He only wants me on the case for his own benefit.

I saw a guy who was acting so suspiciously. Lumingon-lingon siya sa paligid na tila ba nagmamatyag. I looked away when he glanced on our side but still watched him secretly. Bahagya siyang umatras at dahan-dahang nilakad ang pinto palabas ng hall ng hotel.

"I need to find Crystal", Zywon said at nagpaalam na umalis. Patuloy lamang sa pag-uusap sina Detective Adler at Math na para bang mag-best friend sila na matagal hindi nagkita- only that their topic is about the case in Bridle.

Nang medyo may distansya na ang kinaroroonan ng lalaki ay dahan-dahan din akong umalis at tila hindi iyon napansin ng dalawa na abala sa pag-uusap. Nang makalabas ang lalaki sa hall ay agad itong sumakay sa elevator at patungo ito sa basement ng building. I got in the other elevator at bumaba rin patungo sa basement. He walked straight towards a white delivery van at may kausap na babae. It was the woman who won the bidding on Gray. Victoria minus the disguise. Gone was the big mole on her nose at inilugay na niya ang buhok na naka-bun kanina.

I tried my best to hide on the nearest car at dahil medyo malayo ako ay hindi ko marinig ang pinag-uusapan nila. Pagkalipas ng ilang sandali ay sumakay na sa motorsiklo niya ang lalaki at umalis na sa basement na siyang parking area ng hotel. Meanwhile, Victoria was left at nakapameywang nakatingin ito sa loob ng van. When she was about to reach for the helmet na nakapataong sa kalapit na motorsiklo ay lumabas na ako sa pinagkublihan ko.

"Leaving so soon?"

#

-ShinichiLaaaabs