"First prospect, 21, Donita Barrientos."

Ikinasa ni Atticus ang hawak niyang baril. I inhaled sharply when he slowly took hold of the knob. "Anong gagawin natin?" mabilis kong tanong.

He threw me a sideway glance. "Papasok tayo."

"What? Hindi mo ba narinig ang sinabi niya?  She wants us to leave her alone! Bakit tayo papasok kung ayaw niya ngang magpapasok?" ninenerbyos kong sabi.

The three of them sighed, like they were tired and they had no patience to explain.

"Gaia," Muli akong napatingin kay Atticus at seryosong seryoso ang pagkakatitig niya sa akin. "Just stay there and watch. You have no idea how the law works."

"I don't understand." napapailing kong pag-amin.

"We get your point. Since you don't understand, just be quiet and let us do the dirty work." Halatang napipikon na sa akin si Sandro noong sumingit siya sa usapan. "I don't even know why you're here. Wala ka namang silbi."

Halatang ubos na ang pasensya niya sa akin. Atticus held him on the arm then shook his head apologetically.

"Miss Gaia," Si Aster naman ang nilingon ko at nakangiti siya sa akin. "Isa akong pulis. Wala ka bang tiwala sa akin?"

My lips parted. "It's not like that!"

"This isn't legal, but I want you to know that we're doing this for the sake of solving the case." He explained in the nicest way possible. "Desperate situations require desperate measures. Hindi uusad ang kaso kung hindi natin gagawin ito. We have to take the initiative."

Napayuko ako sa sinabi niya. He's risking his badge for you, parang umulit sa isip ko iyong sinabi ni Atticus.

"We're not gonna hurt anybody, right?"

Ngumiti si Aster. "Right."

Atticus cleared his throat. "That's enough. Talagang dito pa kayo naglandian sa harap ko." Umiwas siya ng tingin na siyang ikinahalakhak ni Aster. "On the count of three, I'm gonna break in. I need you to cover me up. Love, tumabi ka muna."

Sinunod ko ang sinabi ni Atticus at medyo gumilid ako. Itinaas naman nina Aster at Sandro ang mga baril nila at itinutok ito sa pintuan. My chest throbbed in anticipation.

"One, three!" Pare-pareho kaming nagulat sa bilang ni Atticus. Binangga niya ang pinto at sapilitan itong bumukas.

Ngunit gano'n na lamang ang gulat naming lahat nang salubungin ng isang baril ang ulo ni Atticus. I stood frozen in fear, unlike my other companions who seemed equally calm. The young lady, Donita, stood right in front of the door like she's been there all along, waiting for us to enter.

"Pwede ko kayong kasuhan ng trespassing sa ginagawa niyo." she placidly remarked. She quickly ran an eye over the four of us. "What do you need from me?"

"We just want to talk." Atticus replied in a low monotone.

"Gusto niyo lang makipag-usap pero may bitbit kayong baril. Nagpapatawa ba kayo?" She faked a laugh. "Not to mention that there are four of you ganging up on me. You clearly want to overpower me."

"Ikaw ang unang nagpaputok." katwiran ni Sandro na noo'y nakatayo sa gilid ko at nakatutok parin ang baril kay Donita.

"Kayo ang unang naglabas ng baril." sagot naman niya.

"That's enough." Aster interrupted. "I know we have no plans of shedding blood here. Put all your guns down."

Si Atticus ang unang bumitaw sa baril niya. Itinapon niya ito sa sahig habang hindi inaalis ang tingin kay Donita. She turned to Sandro then stared daggers at him.

"Put it down." utos ng babae kay Sandro.

Umiling si Sandro. "Not unless you put yours down."

"Sandro!" naninitang tawag ni Aster.

Labag man sa kanyang kalooban, binitawan na ni Sandro ang hawak niya. Dahan-dahan namang ibinaba ni Donita ang kanyang baril.

"Anong kailangan niyo sa akin?"

Niluwagan ni Atticus ang necktie niya bago sumagot.

"You know Conan Solaire?"

Donita frowned. "What of him?"

"He's detained." sambit ni Atticus.

"So I heard." she remarked nonchalantly.

Atticus pursed his lips. "You were there at the party. You can be a witness. Why are you hiding, Donita Barrientos?"

Napaamang naman si Donita sa sinabi niya. Napansin ko rin ang panginginig ng mga labi niya, senyales na kinakabahan siya.

"I was drunk that time. My testimony won't be of any help to the case." Nanliit ang mga mata niya nang sabihin niya iyon.

"Do you believe that he killed her?" Atticus asked earnestly.

Noong hindi sumagot si Donita sa tanong niya, nilibot niya ang tingin niya sa kabuuan ng apartment nito. Magulo. Sobrang gulo. Nagkalat ang mga gamit at tila may nag-amok sa loob.

"Donita? Do you believe that he killed Stellar Lumina?" pag-uulit niya sa tanong.

She bit her lower lip. "No, I don't."

Napatango naman si Atticus.

"That's all I want to hear. Thank you for your cooperation. Here's my calling card, give me a ring if you change your mind." sabi ni Atticus kay Donita na hindi ko naman naintindihan. Bumaling siya sa amin nina Aster at Sandro. "Let's go."

Atticus led the way back to the car. I shot Donita one last look before following my comrades. Pinatunog naman ni Atticus ang sasakyan niyang nakaparada.

"That's it?" nagtataka kong tanong.

"Yeah, that's it. Were you expecting more?" pambabara niya sa akin kaya napanguso ako sa kanya. Akala ko naman papatay kami ng tao. "Ang OA mo kanina."

"What are we gonna do?" Si Sandro.

"Fuck it. Cross her out of the list. Naunahan tayo." kunot-noong sagot ni Atticus.

"What do you mean?" nagtataka kong tanong.

"Somebody came before us." Si Aster ang sumagot sa tanong ko.

Nagulat ako. "How did you know?"

"Basic," pagyayabang ni Sandro. "Her place was a mess like someone ran amok there. Pinagtabuyan niya tayo. The killer must've paid her a visit to warn her. Worst, baka pinagbantaan pa ang buhay niya. Malabong magsalita pa si Donita." He explained.

Atticus shook his head. "We'll cross her out of the list but that doesn't mean she's out of the picture. I have high hopes that she'll change her mind."

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