Falling for Shannon (Field Romance) [To Be Published]

CHAPTER 7

CHAPTER 7

PAGKATAPOS  siyang subuan ng pagkain ni Shannon, nilinis nito ang round table at inilagay doon ang apat na folder na report ng forensic department. Kailangan nilang pag-aralan iyon para mahanap nila ang killer.

Sarah opened the first folder and she was welcomed by the sight of different photos of men and women. Kinuha ni Shannon ang mga larawan na nasa folder at isa-isang tiningnan iyon.

“Ito yung mga larawan na nakadikit sa dingding.” Ani ni Shannon. “We already established the idea that you’re next on his or her list. So ang aalamin natin ngayon ay kung ano ang gender ng killer. Mas madali nating mahuhili ang killer kung alam natin kung babae ba siya o lalaki.”

Sarah nodded in agreement then opened the second folder. Binasa niya ang nakasulat sa bondpaper. Kumunot ang nuo niya ng may mapansing kakaiba.

“Hey, bwesit?”

“Yeah?” Sagot ni Shannon na abala sa pagtingin sa mga litrato.

“Pakinggan mo ‘to.” Aniya at inumpisahang basahin ang report ni Dr. Rodriguez. “Each body that was recovered in the barn was missing an internal organ or some body parts.”

“Missing?” Kunot ang nuong tumingin sa kisame si Shannon na parang nag-iisip. “The killer took the missing organs or body part as a trophy, I guess. A price maybe?”

“Just like hunting animals.” She said. “May itinatago kang parti ng katawan ng hayop bilang patunay na may napatay kang ganoong hayop.”

“So what are you saying? Na hayop ang tingin ng killer na ito sa mga tao?”

 “There’s a possibility.” Aniya at ipinagpatuloy ang pagbabasa ng report. “There are twenty-seven decaying dead bodies. Ten of them were killed five months ago, six were killed three months ago and eleven were killed just a month ago. The forensic department cannot distinguish the cause of their deaths because their bodies are already decaying. And as for the other bodies, it is now under the forensic examination and is waiting for further analysis.”

Shannon heave a deep sighed. “Ano ba ang ginagawa ng mga forensic na yan? Gagawa sila ng report ng hindi naman pala tapos ang pag-i-examine sa mga katawan.” Tumayo ito at ihinalamos ang kamay sa mukha at nagtatanong ang matang tumingin sa kanya. “Can you examine the decaying bodies? Can you distinguish the cause of death? Kung mahihintay tayo sa kanila, mamumuti ang mata natin sa kahihintay sa wala. Napakabagal nilang kumilos.”

Sarah took a deep breath. “Kapag naagnas na ang katawan, mahirap na talaga yang i-examine. Ang kaya ko lang i-examine ay ang ngipin, kuko at buto. But that would mean crossing the forensic line. It’s their job to examine dead bodies. Labas na tayo roon.”

“It’s our job too to catch the killer. Kung hindi nila bibilisan ang trabaho nila, tatanga lang tayo sa isang tabi at walang magagawa.”

Ibinalik niya ang atensiyon sa binabasa. “The forensic team found out that some of the bodies suffered multiple stabs in stomach and chest. Some of them were tortured by cutting their limbs. The forensic team identified some of the bodies and we found out that the age bracket of the dead bodies is from twenty to twenty-eight. Fourteen male and thirteen female.”

Tumigil siya sa pagbabasa at nagtaas ng tingin kay Shannon. “Thirteen female, bwesit. I think I’ll be the fourteenth.”

“No.” Marahang umiling ang binata. “I won’t let him… or her.”

Inilapag niya ang folder sa round table at sumandal sa likod ng sofa. “Kung ako ang susunod, malaki ang posibilidad na mahuli natin siya. I’ll be the bait—”