Rosa looked at Garcia's face for the first time since they got into the study room but her mind wasn't focused on his face but the statement he made.
''No way. I haven't done anything to my superiors. I should be considered a good junior compared to my colleagues at the office?'' Rosa said questionably and added ''are you suggesting that I was specially picked for this case by someone at the office or probably someone higher up?'' Rosa busted into a hearty and mocking laughter.
She just couldn't believe such a logic. Who would have the time to play with her in such a cruel manner? She had never done anything wrong to anyone. She had always gotten along well with her colleagues and even the janitor knows she is a nice human being.
''You are joking, right? You just said that to make me laugh and forget about my worries, right?'' Rosa asked.
''No. I wasn't joking''. Garcia said seriously and looked at Rosa. This time, their eyes met. Rosa's face was distorted and she was confused.
''You…are being played with Prosecutor Ann by someone who knows you very well''. Garcia added. 'This case has only one verdict. The suspect isn't the killer. Everyone knows that. the higher ups know that. Your superiors know that and even you know that very well yet. All your evidence shows that the suspect isn't the killer yet you are being forced to convict an innocent person or lose your job. It is clear who the target is and who the mastermind is. Don't you find it strange? You and a man you didn't know before suddenly got entangled in a case that is as difficult as this? The killer knows you. the killer is a powerful figure. And maybe, just maybe, you know who the killer is, right?''
Rosa got up abruptly from the chair pushing it to the floor and stepped back asking nervously 'who are you Ambrose Garcia? Who sent you to me?'
''Is not who sent me to you, but rather who can help you get out of this case? Prosecutor Ann, I am not a bad person. I just hate to see innocent people suffer for things they know nothing about''.
''Liar. You are lying to me. Tell me right now. Who are you?' Rosa screamed at him and clutched her bag tightly against her chest.
''I am here to help you, Prosecutor Ann. You can trust me'. Garcia said.
''Why should I trust you? You just told me that someone is playing with me? What will make me not to think that you might even be the one playing with me? Is it fun? To mock someone with your knowledge or power? Listen to me, I don't care whoever it is that is playing with me but I am going to catch that person. I have seen him once and I am sure he will come to me again since this involves me''.
''You have seen him? He showed himself to you? The killer?'' Garcia asked worriedly.
''You also know him, right? You know who he is that is why you came to me? Tell me. is it you?'' Rosa threw her bag down and walked closer to Garcia. She forcefully pulled his sleeve and undid his right hand button and pulled it up. Garcia didn't say anything. He was rather calm as he watched Rosa's every act.
Rosa pulled his sleeve up and looked at his hand. She didn't see anything and turned to his other hand and Garcia spoke.
''You won't find anything in me. I didn't know you before this case, Prosecutor Ann and we probably won't meet again after this case. The man you are looking for is here!!!''
Garcia pointed at the screen. He had paused it at where it showed the tattoo of Rosa's name. Rosa turned and looked at the screen and asked.
''You knew it already, right? You knew I was the reason why he killed those girls. You knew my birthday and knew he killed those girls as a present for me. You knew everything about me even before we met. You want to help me? Don't delude yourself. Who are you trying to fool? Smart people like me are the scariest? Yeah, right!! You really got me fooled''.
''Prosecutor Ann, I need you to calm down. I can't help you if you are acting this way?'' Garcia said and looked at the hidden camera in the room. He was sure that person was watching everything from up there by now.
''Calm down? You just told me about how I am being used and you want me to calm down? The higher ups, that psychopathic excuse of a human being who killed those girls and hides behind a mask thinking he is something unbeatable. They want to see what I Rosa De Ann would wrestle my way out of this case, right? Fine. They will soon see it. I will make sure they get to watch a very interesting show then. In the meantime, lay this message to that monster who killed those girls. Tell him this and don't leave a single word out. Make sure he hears this. He killed those girls as a gift to me? He must be sick to have even thought of that''.
''Don't provoke him, Rosa'' Garcia screamed at her.
''You shut up. I am not done yet. Tell him this. He is a waste of space and a waste of the gift God gave to him. His life is nothing more than sewage and people like him will get washed away to the deepest part of hell where they belong. He thinks he knows me, but he doesn't. he doesn't know what I am made off. his obsession is a delusion in itself. My name is too precious to be tattooed on trash like him. He thinks he is smart and hides behind a mask''
''That is enough, Prosecutor Ann''.
''If he is that confident, why doesn't he come out of his hiding? Killing innocent people? Getting innocent people to pay for his crime is only something a psychopath would do. I bet he ran away from a psychiatric home because people like him don't desire to be around anyone. He will forever be a lonely monster whose deeds will catch up with him one day and he will die a miserable death. I will be the one to put a bullet through his heart when I catch him''.
Rosa finished and picked her bag to go and Garcia pulled her aside and locked the door immediately preventing her from going outside.
''What are you doing? Open the door right now before I call the police'. Rosa argued. Garcia secretly removed a handkerchief from his drawer and used it to shut her mouth suddenly and Rosa lost consciousness. Garcia picked her up and took the bag using a secret door behind the books shelf in the apartment. He was aware of the danger that was lurking at the door.
Rosa had provoked someone she shouldn't. she had entered the lions' den and had provoked him. Garcia head the door knob turning as he closed the secret door and ran away with Rosa in his arms. Soon afterwards, the masked man banged the door open and stood in the study furiously.
He was angry and wanted to teach that little girl a lesson. After all he had done for her. She had the guts to curse him?
.........…..
Rosa woke up and found herself in the hospital. She saw Scarlet watching over her worriedly and spoke. ''Scar, what are you doing in the hospital? What am I doing here?'
Scarlet stood up and sighed relief. ''Roa, what happened to you? You totally scared me. how could you pass out just like that?''
''I passed out? How? Where?'' Rosa asked and tried to sit up.
''I was at the hospital when Garcia, that man called me. He said you passed out and he brought you to the hospital, so I rushed here''.
''Where is he?' Rosa asked and tried to get down from the bed.
''He got a call and went away. He said to give you this letter when you wake up''. Scarlet removed an envelope from her bag and gave to Rosa.
Rosa took the envelope and tore it. She removed the paper and read what was inside.