"CRIME SCENE DO NOT ENTER"
I read what's written on the yellow stripe from not so far. I covered my ears using my two palm as the noise of the police mobiles became so loud. Honestly, it nearly murder my eardrums. These random police mobiles started terrifying the poeple in the whole city
Yes, in the WHOLE CITY. It started at 7pm since the news boomed. And in my thoughts, the news will last for about a month or even a year.
This encounter has a lot of mystery. This will be a hot news and topic again, that's for sure.
I roam my eyes around as I started to get an air to breath. Just seeing people being clustered, it makes me sufocate by just a look.
I shook my head.
Everbody running to see the man lying on the street. I hurry get space from these people. But I can't! They are many! I hastily join the crowd again. I even enter every inch of space. But in my dismay, I can't still move forward!
It looks like the needle can no longer penetrate this area.
I manage to excuse in every person sandwiching my body. Wow, it is even more intense than visiting and caressing the black Nazarene.
"Excuse me, ma'am, sir..." some gave me way while others just kept on running. Okay, this is enough for me to reach the crime scene.
I was about to hold the yellow stripe to get in when someone held my hand that made me stop, "Please, ma'am, do not enter. If you are a relative of that man who's lying there-- the one who was hit by a car, you will also have time to see and handle the corpse. For now, don't. We police still trying to gather information about the crime," The police reminded me calmly then it went to the people who were trying to be curious, "All right! Get out of there! Get out, we're inspecting here. Do not interrupt," I massage my forehead. I just shook my head.
While I'm standing in front of the crime scene, I saw something on the man's skin. A tattoo. A familliar tattoo. I forgot where and when did I see that art in his arm but it looks like I always seem to see it then and now. I just turn my sight around him while ignoring the tattoo drawn on his skin. As I roam my eyes I noticed that, there's nothing suspicious there. Or maybe I'm just awake too early that I couldn't take a better sleep so I still can't come up with clues in my mind
I leave the area for a while and went to my car, I rest my butt on the hood and started to cross my arms. I tried to meditate my mind and make conclusions base on the picture I had seen. But it was cut when I heard random voices near me.
"What happened to him was terrible"
"Yes, the way his head bleeding on the road is horrible"
"What happened? Was it murder or hit and run?"
"I don't know but based on a few witnesses, it's murder. How come his head is bleeding now? What kind of murder happened? Because as we can see, he was startled on the road and his head was bleeding. Of course for me I'll mark it as hit and run, why? Did we know that his head was being rolled so that's why, right?"
"Well what if it's really murder? What if the one who did the crime made a show, and that show is to let people think it was hit and run when it's not?" The other one said.
"No? Look what police thought. Hit and run too, same as mine"
"Whatever"
Looks like the arrow in my mind mislead because of this two women. Darn they have point! I vigorously closed my eyes, the world has so many problems and they even added. I am even more confused now. I get my phone inside my pocket and open my twitter account, but I had just opened it and this immediately opened up to me, "The rate/numbers of killing now are enlarging continously. Please stop losing life of others just for a pleasure and revenge. It brought anxiety to us, thinking not to go out because of random killings. #StopHumanKilling" and it has 500+ thousand of tweets, people also continue commenting on that post. I can't believe! Lately, the city of Angeles has been shaken and shocked and lately the whole of the Philippines. I won't have confusion if the issue lands in another country.
I stood up straight and went in front of the crime scene again, I am pissed! That police didn't let me enter so now I'm crawling around looking for things. I put both of my hands on my hips while thinking. if I enter here and gather some things I might get at least some information in case I am not even admitte--
"Laurence?!" I turn my head where I heard the voice."The team has been looking for you for a while, why are you late? I was walking around to see you, have you been here before?"
Ah, one of the police.
Fortunately, he got mixed up with people, but I can't be seen here. "Look, Chad, I've been here before, but a policeman won't let me in. Is it at another station or just recently new member?" I asked.
His forehead knotted, "Who? is there a new member among us?"
I shrugged my shoulders, " I don't know. I was absent for three days, remember?" I massage my forehead as i look at the man laying the the street, "Crime rate is increasing. What happened to Philippine law and justice? Are they working on these issues, too? Or are they staring as if nothing happened again as they let the police do it? Darn, they forgot their jobs!" My right hand clenched. What is the public sectors doing about this? Of course nothing yet. They will let others, after the encounter the police are to blame.
No, I am not blaming them. Of course all of us were tired, but they must need to respond on this issue!
What happened?
People with power are powerless!
The essence of justice and peace, the government's efforts and ability to response, The importance of their work, these are all fading!
I want to know, why are people so engrossed in the obsession with money? The other public officers were corrupting, the people start shouting their voices for an eye opener, yet there is no progress.
If I just could handle the world, If I am just powerful.
Sadly, we give them the power, but they are not using it for the right decisions. Same as citizens, they were given by the public a help but they use it for their selfish desires like alcohol and womanizing.
They are hypocrites. All of us are. We get worsen the worst. And I am thinking, what will happen if this continues... they patronizes no saints nor God. They patronize themselves and money too much, the more temporary, the more they want to have it.
That's the saddest part of being a human together with your co-humans.
And sometimes, they tend to pull you down by using their words just for them elevate you, but the fact that you did that to yourself, not for others' pleasant words that could maybe be a motivation for you, but under in it, it was a black word hidden in soft words to sway you. For them to manipulate you.
"Hey, Laurence, stop thinking negative. Shh, let's in in there. Let's see if there is or are evidence there .Maybe we can find something that could help us about this case," And then he pulled my arm.
I stopped, "hey, why don't you want to follow?"
"No. I think there's nothing evidence we can gather," I said in monotone. "Chad, I just think, maybe the person who committed this crime is a smart to do all of this. Believe me, that won't leave any mark. Criminals are smart, too. In this case, I don't see anything that can help the police inspection. "We can only get the contents of the pocket, clothes, and autopsy of the corpse. But there's no helpful thing we can get for now. Believe in me"
His forehead knotted, "So you have been inspecting here without getting inside?"
"Yes," I answered, "I'm annoyed, a policeman won't let me in. And look, it's still 7:00 pm. What time is it? The time nearly tickles at 9 pm, but did anyone see anything suspicious? Until now it's still a show. What if the body is turned over to the Morgue first for autopsy? And then we can check this place," I hope so this would help us. For me there's really nothing in man's body exept for head bleeding and bruses. We are still questioned how this crime became uneasy to solve. Yes all crimes are uneasy to puzzle up, but then lately it was just a glance and we could have gathered things that can be used as evidence.
And this... this is new to me, us.
"That could help. Okay I'll tell the chie--" I cut his words.
"Shhh"
While I was staring at the man lying, I suddenly noticed something in peripheral vision. Two men are talking something and acting strange, They are both talking. They're far a bit from here, and for the last time, among the passing other cars on that street I never saw one, while the man with glass shades black in his eyes walked towards a car, opened and rode it.
"Rence, what happened?" Chad asked as I look at him.
"Chad I think you have list of suspects based on what witnesses said, right?"
"Wala pa kami n'on dito, besides the witnesses seem unsure of their answer since this place is dark and now just filled with light and people," He answered.
"Why?"
"Didn't you get?"
"Get what?" I asked.
"The murder, or whatsoever criminal case it is. Who ever did this, she or he made it smooth, no marks, no hint. In short, the culprit made these all with awareness and clean," Chad, then sighed, "That human chose wisely where to kill this man. See, no houses, poeple in here if not just the crime wasn't had done plus no cameras to support this place. The place too is surrounded with high grasses and this small part of city..." he look in the sorrounding, "It looks like province, isn't?"
I nodded as a yes, "But Chad, we have to know first the whole entire scene, before and after the crime" I insisted.
"Yea--" He stopped. Once again we seemed stunned by the whistle rumors.
"Poor man, he still has a good face"
"Yes, he's handsome after all, if only he hadn't been touched in the face because of the crime committed against him"
"Well even it doesn't hit the face, can he still use it if he's dead? Tsss. Okay, change topic by the way. I feel like a policeman said earlier that he didn't see anything? I just don't know. Besides the clothes. ? How about inside the clothes then? HAHA," they giggled at the same time like they were hitting the other malicious point and were not aware of what they said!
Chad and I exchange looks in unison, like we were given a hint!
I tried to reach the yellow stripe again but I didn't even enter the crime scene. this! Someone stopped me again! "Hey hey, this is the second time! I said no one is coming in! Miss, you stay here. All of you," then he arrowed the viewers "All you can do is to stare if you want to or wait if you are a relative or wife of Mr. Martinez "
I sighed out of frustration, "Please let me enter I have the rig--"
"No" The police said.
My hand cleched, kanina pa 'to ha. I can't take it anymore! "What the f?! Do you even know m--"
"Levi, Laurence, stop!" A voice came then, when I turned around, it was Chad! "she's the private detective called by the chief. Let her enter, Levi"
Ah, so they know each other? Huh, great. Great.
"There's no illegal in her acts, give her way, Levi."
Before Levi give me way, I preceded him. As I reach the man, I kneel down my right knee fast and get some in the man's jeans. A wallet.
Maybe...
Just maybe. That this is an add case. Robbery. When the wallet is in hand, agad kong binuksan iyon. And in my shocked... there's many money in here! A thousands! Not just peso but dollars!
"The case getting more uneasy to solve" I mumbled that I know Chad heard me since he is on my side. I know... why did not just confiscated it right away, for me to see it first, for me to know, for me to build my own conclusions since I'm the hired detective.
"Chad, there are many points we need to trace. First, if it was murder or hit and run. Second, the place. Third, about about who's the really crime starter" then I handed him the wallet. "Kind of confusing, isn't? The wallet is full of money, is the guy robber one's property first?"
"As you said, maybe it is" then he started also looking for something in the wallet.
I stood up and walked towards the police team, "It's better, put the corpse in the morgue. Maybe a minute or hours it might stinks"
They nodded, "We're really just waiting for you, since the body's still fresh. You, why you're late?" Police chief officer asked.
"No. I am not that Levi," Then I pointed him, the one who always blocks my way to the crime scene, "I think he's not in our team. Is he, the police were assigned to another station? He, he didn't let me in. "
"Oh, you're right. He was at another police station, "Galella a PO1, interjected," When a woman passed by here in a remote area, she called our police station, then she called her older brother. After that, the older brother of the witness called the other station, which is them. So to make it short, they called two stations" then she pointed out those other group of police men.
"Ah," I nodded, ""So, a witness just saw the corpse itself? What about the scene? Did she see how the man got died?" I asked.
"She doesn't want to talk, it's been hours..."
I turned my back, because that's where the voice answered. And when my head turned, I saw the police again trying to stop me from entering a while ago.
"I'm sorry to interrupt, I heard a little. Ahm, I'm here to say sorry for blocking you. I don't know, I did not mean to do it so," he explained.
I didn't ask.
My mind spoke for me.
"Where's the witness then?" I asked.
"Uhm..." he roam his eyes "there" he pointed.
My sight look for it, too. When I saw what he was referring to, the woman sitting in the plastic chair looking at nothingness. I approached immediately and also get ready my paper and pen for her answers to my every question.
"Miss?" But she did not turn. "Ah, miss, can I ask questions?" She's still. Not speking, not turning and she looks like... in shocked.
Still not talking..
"Mellisa here's your water" A tall man with his black shirt came, maybe her brother.
"Your sibling's not speaking" I said.
"I'm sorry, miss. She's still shocked to this day. I just came here to see my sister. She's almost out of breath. She's almost not breathing when I saw her, her asthma started to attack lately.
So... Mellisa is her name.
"Mellisa" I tried to call her. And in my suprise, she looked at me!
Her eyes widened, she lifted both feet on the chair then hugged her knees, like she was scared looking at me.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!" She shouted!
I walked backwards, her scream like endless, the way she looked at me ... it was as if I was going to kill her because she was so scared.
"What's happening here?!" Police chief officer asked.
She covered her mouth using her palm and started to point... me. "Mm-mmm!!!"
"I did nothing!" I defended. People in the world, they are crazy! I don't remember doing anything bad to this woman. My eyes widened ... she cried like a child. Is this kid making a show? Well, the hell if it is, I will call it non sense! Instead of inspecting, here she is getting anyone's attention.
"Shhh... shhh..." her brother trying to make her calm.
"S-she... she's--- AHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!" Then she continued.
My heart beat went fast. He said something! I just didn't hear it properly!
"I am the ... what?" I know, she had a connection before her cries!
She sobbed, "Y-you... Y-you take c-care! Someone's at your back! That human! That human sold his or her soul to the devil! B-believe me!!!" then afterwards he suddenly pulled out his own hair!
All people watching step backwards. She seemed to be afraid of what she was up to. I tried to look at my back, it's just my team mates.
Is she meant...
No! They won't to that! I know them! They won't do things like that! What she's trying to say?!
"Laurence," then someone held my arms, "look, the main witness is not yet in the right state of mind. We can't talk to her politely yet, she got trauma "
"I'm not convinced, Chad. She's telling something!"
He breath heavily, Let's get away from here first, okay? Tomorrow we will come back, they are taking the corpse. There," and it snorted. I saw how they carry the man, "Please, just tomorrow"
I just nodded reluctantly. I want to hear again what she said. Chad held my hand, there I followed in his footsteps.
I was about to make my second step--
I stopped.
Someone's at my back
I can sense it.
I turn around. and there, my eyes grew widely, seems my heart missed beating.
She is standing rightly in front of me.
And there, I shievered. Seeing how she smiles and give dangerous warning in her eyes.
"YOU ARE THE NEXT, BELIEVE ME"
I froze.