"So, what is the reason why we did not give out a murder plan this time?" tanong ni Sam, mula sa kaniyang text kay Janus. Nasa isang café si Sam at ineenjoy ang kaniyang dessert na Rocky Road Ice Cream sa isang mug at pinapanood ang isang teledrama mula sa malaking TV ng café. Wala pang isang minute ay nagreply na agad si Janus.
"We don't have to. I am quite bored with the types of this murderer. After all the killings she has done, ngayon, nag-hire siya ng ibang papatay para sa kaniya? Boring!"
Natawa si Sam sa kasamahan niya. The man always had her laugh when necessary. Sila, bilang mga crime planners ay may sinusunod na mga bagay kung magbibigay sila ng isang crime plan sa isang tao. They would either pay for the plan with a big fortune, or that they see a potential from the serial killer. Walang makita si Janus na kahit ano sa dalawang iyon kay Bernadette.
"Then, you're still hanging out with your two cards?" reply ni Sam. Ang tinutukoy nito ay ang dalawang serial killer na hawak ni Janus, walang iba kundi ang serial killer sa Cebu at ang nababalitang serial killer na pumapatay ng mga animal abusers.
"Yep. Best so far. Ikaw, don't tell me you're still playing until now?"
Napangiti lang ang babae sa natanggap na reply. Bukod sa wala siyang nakikitang magandang maging laruan niya sa kaniyang mga crime plans, nararamdaman niyang hindi pa sa ngayon ang kaniyang oras para gumalaw para sa organisasyon. Naghahanap pa siya ng tiempo at maghanap ng mga taong maaari niyang gamitin para isagawa ang mga plano niyang siguradong magbibigay ng sakit ng ulo sa kapulisan.
"Relaxing. Tsaka, pinapanood ko how your Red Woman Killer would turn out. Kaunting oras na lang at mahuhuli na siya."
"I never really expected anything amazing from that woman. She's an idiot for not noticing the message of the painter. She turned senile right after I said she has been discovered as the murderer long time ago," huling reply ni Janus bago tuluyang ini-start ang kaniyang sasakyan at umalis na sa parking lot ng isang hotel.
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Mahaba ang paliwanag na naganap sa opisina ng Cold Cases Unit. Naging tahimik ang lahat at seryoso ang hangin habang pinapakinggan nina Hygia ang paliwanag nina Kaeden, SPO2 Melchor at PO3 Bok. Bawat isa sa kanila ay nagbigay ng kani-kanilang parte sa imbestigasyon. Hindi nagkamali si Hygia sa naisip niya na hindi lang basta naktia ni Ben ang serial killer, kundi kilala niya ito.
"May isang tanong na bumagabag sa akin, which led me to investigate the parts further," patuloy ni Kaeden at tumingin kay Bok na nakatayo sa kanang bahagi ng opisina. Nakatingin siya sa relationship chart na nakalagay sa malaking white board ng opisina.
"Which is?" sagot ni Leonard.
"Ang tanong ni PO3 Bok sa akin. Bakit nga ba natagalan ang isang mahilig sa painting na si Bernadette para malaman ang cipher na nasa painting ni Ben. Then it hit me. Perhaps, she really doesn't know. May nagsabi lang sa kaniya. But why is that? I think perhaps Bernadette knows nothing about ciphers or paintings deeply at all."
"That explains why it took her ages to know the meaning of the paintings. But the bigger questions are on hand. While waiting for the warrant, let's play a thinking game," suhestiyon ni Hygia at tumingin sa kaniyang boss at mga kasamahan sa opisina. Napakamot nalang ng ulo si Blair habang hinihintay na simulant ni Hygia ang laro.
"First of all, ano ang rason bakit pinapatay ni Bernadette ang mga babeng iyon?"
Tahimik ang lahat. Besides, whatever their answer would be, it's all but a guessing game not unless makuha nila ang warrant mula sa nakakataas.
"Save the question, Gia. We've got the warrant!" sabat ni Leonard at iniharap niya ang kaniyang hawak na cellphone sa kanila kung saan naroon ang text message ng kanilang director, naroon na daw ang warrant at granted nang arestuhin si Bernadette.
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Tahimik lang si Bernadette sa interrogation room. Naramdaman niyang wala na siyang pag-asang makakalabas pa roon at siguradong ang lahat ng ito ay proseso na lamang bago siya tuluyang makulong. Besides, even if she pleads in the hearing, malaki ang ebidensya ng Cold Cases at Investigation Unit para idiin siya, lalo na't mainit ito sa mga prosecutors sa kasalukuyan. Her attorney would not be able to hold up to the stress and the media trying to get the case solved.
"Ma'am Bernadette, kaya ka narito sa interrogation room, is because we still have questions for you before we put you in jail. Pwede ka humingi ng extension sa hearing mo sa kaso but we will make sure that justice will be served after all those years. Investigations Unit are on their way para maghanap ng iba pang mga ebidensyang magdidiin sa iyo sa current murder ni Ben Tudio," paliwanag ni Leonard, na siyang kaharap ni Bernadette sa plain table ng kwarto. Nasa kabila naman si Hygia na nagsilbing kukuha sa documentation at minutes ng interrogation.
"We are just curious, bakit mo pinatay ang mga babaeng iyon way back in the 80s? Ano ang naging kasalanan nila at bakit mo sila pinatay? Bakit mga nakapula lang?"
Tumingin si Bernadette kay Leonard ng diretso at parang mula sa kaniyang mga tingin ay ipinasa ni Bernadette ang mga nasa isipan niyang nangyari. Leonard however, kept his pose and did not budge with the cold stare at all.
"They said the food was plain. Mga walang alam sa fine dining na mga babae. Naghirap ang may-ari na gawin ang recipe book na iyon. He travelled around the world and studied in France para lang makahanap ng panahon para gumawa ng mga signature dishes, tapos yun ang sasabihin nila? The dishes were amazing, and yet, they preferred to say na sa fast food mas masarap pa ang pagkain?"
"So, you killed them for the fact that they can't appreciate the food? Is that just it?"
"My mother had the same thoughts. My father had a dream of building his own restaurant. He earned a few in his younger days and even forced himself to overtime, took some loans during the 70s and then kept a strong relation with the chef communities so he can get a good start. Pero hindi naging mabunga ang pangarap ng aking ama. He fell into depression at wala siyang naging suporta. Ang aking ina na siya sanang suporta ng aking ama ay siya pang magpapababa ng kaniyang loob. My mother has always been like that. She is a prideful woman na akala mo ay magaling sa lahat ng mga bagay, yet can't even admit her mistake. My father had hunger in knowledge, kahit na maliit lang na kolehiyo grumaduate, malaki ang pangarap niya. He was poor, but he had dreams. My mother came from a family of OFWs who made a fortune abroad. She became arrogant just because she studied abroad for a while. I think my parents were really never that of a good match. If you're asking me bakit ko pinatay ang mga babaeng nakasuot ng pula, that is because my mom's favorite color is red. The first victim was rather easy for me, but – "
Hindi naituloy ni Bernadette ang kaniyang pagpapaliwanag nang biglang sumabat si Hygia mula sa tabi.
"You became violent with the next victim. You leveled up the murders for each upcoming victim."
"Aha, it seems you get it too."
Tumingin si Hygia kay Bernadette at iniharap ang kaniyang upuan para mas madaling makausap ito.
"Hey, don't leave the documentary!" wika ni Leonard sa kaniya. Kinuha niya ang isang tape recorder mula sa bulsa niya at sinimulang irecord ang buong paguusap. He is a person who is always prepared. A tape recorder is a more reliable source of audio in the court dahil hindi kagaya ng digital record na madaling ma-manipulate. Ang mga tapes ay mahirap galawin at baguhin, lalo na't maririnig at maririnig ang jump cut o edit ng audio, kung ipapa-analyze ito sa mga sound engineer at experts.
"The reason you kill violently as you get to the victims, I think shows your rage towards your mother. You became obsessed with the murders as you were blinded with the fact that these people acted like your mother towards your dishes."
"Exactly, young girl. Seems like you have the same feeling as I do."
"I don't. But I can see what's on your mind. Whatever your cause may be, ang isang krimen ay nananatiling isang krimen. Sa huli mong naging biktima, hindi mo napansin na naglalakad sa malapit ang biktimang si Ben Tudio. He was surprised. The murderer famed to be the Red Woman Killer is no other than his closest friend. Hindi ka niya makuhang ireport sa mga pulis. Hindi ka niya kayang ipakulong. The only way he can convince you is perhaps his paintings. He waited for you to realize the meanings of his paintings, but it took more than thirty years for you to actually know the meaning, however. That's because – "
"That's because I don't know anything about paintings. Ang rason kaya lang ako bumibili at naging isang paraan ng buhay ko, it's because it's one of the efficient ways to earn money. I love the scenery and the images shown in the painting, but for me, it's all about money. It was a friend I met in an art symposium na siyang nagsabi sa akin ng meaning ng mga paintings ni Ben."
"A friend?"
"Mr. Climaco Bermundez. An art expert."
Tumingin si Leonard sa salamin na naka-install kaharap ng outside room. Sinenyasan niya si Allen na nasa labas para ikumpirma kung mayroong isang Climaco Bermundez na naroon sa art symposium kamakailan lang.
"My question is, why did you have to kill him?" tanong muli ni Hygia. Nang marinig ni Kaeden mula sa outside room na banggitin ito ni Hygia, naging seryoso siyang nakinig sa sasabihing sagot ni Bernadette.
"I don't know. Confronting him would never be a good idea, I thought. Walang ibang nasa isip ko nang malaman ko ang lahat kundi ang muling matahimik ang lahat. If it stayed cold for almost thirty years, then it should until now. Alam kong kapag ididisplay na ang mga paintings ni Ben in that order in any of the big art exhibits, for sure, the whole thing will be discovered. Besides, may mga netizen na ngayong nahihilig sa urban legend hunting. One of these days the whole thing would be discovered."
"Then the more reason why you shouldn't have killed him. Ipapa-exhibit parin ng kaniyang anak ang mga painting. You could've escaped the murder cases. Hindi mo ba nakikita? The reason Ben never really took the whole matter to the police, is he believes you will change. If you just confronted him and talked, this would've not happened. We could've been silent, dahil wala kaming alam sa kaso. Killing him was your undoing, Ma'am Bernadette."
Isang text message ang natanggap ni Leonard. Mula ito kay Allen na nasa kaniyang upuan sa opisina, habang nakaharap sa monitor at binabasa ang report ng lahat ng mga taong dumalo sa art symposium.
"Sir, there's no Climaco Bermundez."
Matapos niyang mabasa ang mensahe ng kasama ay tumingin siya ng diretso kay Bernadette.
"It seems there's no such man as Climaco Bermundez. Sigurado ka bang siya ang nagsabi sa iyo patungkol sa mga painting, o gawa-gawa mo lang ang lahat at alam mo talaga ang ibig sabihin ng mga iyon?" tanong niya dito.
"That's impossible! Mr. Bermundez, isang art expert na galing pang Romania!"
"Unfortunately, my researcher is never wrong. Tinignan niya ang log book ng art symposium. Walang Climaco Bermundez. Everyone who attended the symposium are also only from Luzon. Walang galing Romania."
Nanag marinig ni Kaeden ang paguusap na ito, hindi naging maganda ang pakiramdam niya. May hinala siyang maaaring si Master Murderer from Hell ang nakausap ni Bernadette. He just pretended to be a different person. Mabilis siyang pumanhik sa interrogation room para tanungin si Bernadette patungkol sa nakausap.
"Ano pong hitsura ng nakilala niyong Climaco Bermundez?"
Inalala ni Bernadette ang hitsura ng lalake. He had this distinct native look. Pilipino talaga siya. The accent is well and perfect and he is around his thirties. Ito ang ilan sa mga bagay na nabanggit ni Bernadette sa kaniya. Lalong nagkaroon ng hinala si Kaeden na kung hindi man si Master Murderer from Hell ang nakausap niya, it's probably one of his subordinates or other members of his organization.
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