The Fall of Holden Hidalgo [Completed]

Chapter 23 - Leon

Chapter 23 - Leon

(POV Holden)

LEON DURAN. My former secretary and apparently, Detective Duran's nephew. Nagsimulang mag salaysay si Detective Duran ko paano humingi ng tulong sa kanya si Leon dahil sa pag-aalala sa akin. Leon is worried na ang suicide ni Gretchen at ang murder kay Jasmin ay konektado. Natatakot siya na baka nasa panganib din ako.

"Leon is like a son to me dahil wala akong anak. A few weeks ago, nalaman niya na magkasunod na namatay ang ex-girlfriends ng boss niya. He used the term ex-girlfriends, pero nang kinausap ko ang mga pamilya ng biktima, wala silang nababanggit na seryoso na ka-relasyon ng mga anak nila. I am assuming short time relationship ang tinutukoy ni Leon," panimula ni Detective Duran at tumango lang ako sa kanya.

"My nephew asked me to dig deeper in regard to their deaths. Tulad marahil ng nasabi niya sa'yo, walang foul play na nangyari sa suicide ni Gretchen Sy. She died of a drug overdose."

"How about Jasmin's death? She did not commit a suicide."

"Sa kaso naman ni Jasmin Alcala, malinis din ang pagpatay sa kanya. Isang drug-related murder ang nangyari, a possible mistaken identity case. How did I confirm this? Proofs, Mr. Hidalgo."

"Proof that Jasmin was killed by mistake?" galit na tanong ko sa kanya.

Jasmin may be my short time fling, but she was a nice girl. Isang girlfriend material, kundi lang ako takot sa attachment noon.

"As part of our investigation, our tech team hacked her phone. We saw several threatening text messages on her phone in relation to drug trade. Base sa laman ng text messages, tinatawag siya ng sender na Catherina Huang. Obviously, they are texting the wrong person. Ilan beses na nagtangka magreply si Jasmin na hindi siya si Catherine, but her efforts are futile."

"Isn't that a bit stupid? Putting a hit to a wrong person? I don't give these syndicates any credits, pero hindi naman siguro sila papatay ng maling tao lalo na kung nadehado sila nito."

"You are on the right track, Mr. Hidalgo. It is like these text messages were planted to make it appear that someone mistakenly murdered Ms. Alcala. Our higher ups were not able to see any other reasons aside from mistaken identity issue, hence, they asked me to close the case. I don't have the resources to explore further kaya sinunod ko ang mga nakakataas."

"Except Leon has the same hunch as yours."

"Ipinaliwanag ko sa kanya ang theories ko, pero binigyan ko na siya ng babala na walang patutunguhan ito dahil gusto na rin isarado ng pamilya ang kaso. Ngayon ko lang uli naalala ang lahat nang makita ka na pumasok sa pintuan ng opisina ng club. My nephew may be right. You may be connected to these murders," sabi ni Detective Duran sabay turo ng isang private lounge sa 'di kalayuan.

Naglakad kami pareho papunta sa isa pang cocktail lounge at niyaya na umupo sa loob nito. Tanaw mula sa sitting room na ito ang dance floor kahit ang bahagi ng bar kung saan ako kanina nakaupo. Tanaw din mula dito ang private lounge namin ni Keisha kung nakatayo ang customers.

"Habang nasa manager's office ka, kasama ko ang ilang staffs para ma-scan ang video footages sa loob ng club. This girl caught my eye," sabi ni Detective Duran sabay pakita sa akin ng picture ng babaeng nakaupo sa mismong lounge kung saan kami nandoon ngayon.

The girl is wearing a short blonde hair with dark red lipstick. May suot din siyang oversized sunglasses, malaking summer hat at creme-colored shaggy faux fur coat. She seems to be drinking alone habang nakatingin sa first floor.

"This girl has been carefully observing someone on the first floor for some time. She is like a predator waiting for a perfect time to attack her prey. After some time, her gaze shifted to that direction," sabi ni Detective Duran sabay turo sa lounge namin kanina ni Keisha.

"A while later, she called someone on the phone and left this lounge. Guess what? You answered your damn phone in the middle of your..."

Hindi na tinuloy ni Detective Duran ang sasabihin niya. Malamang nakita na rin niya sa video ang landian namin ni Keisha. Medyo nakahinga ko ng maluwag ng sinabi niya na uncle siya ni Leon. Kung ibang police officer, baka minanipula ang mga evidences, madiin lang ako sa kaso dahil ako ang huling kasama ni Keisha.

"I can't help, but to make a conjecture that this girl is related to you one way or another."

Pinagmasdan ko ang babae sa video. Hindi ko ito kilala at hindi ko natatandaan na na-meet ko na ito sa buong buhay ko. If I will keenly observe her features like her height and body built, there is no doubt that this woman is Helena in her effective disguise.