Episode 6

Tuesday 9:30 AM

Synod Community Hall

Joseph Liston: The time now is 9:30AM. Now that all of the signatories have finished signing, this meeting is adjourned.

Councilman Tan: I don’t get it, why she can’t come. She lives nearby, like hey I can even throw a stone at it. Why can’t someone go to her house?

Joseph Liston: I find it quite odd too Councilman Tan, in fact the summons that we have on her was signed by her.

Councilman Tan: Does she not have other relatives around here?

Joseph Liston: Apparently not.

Councilman Tan: Look I know that most of her relatives moved out of the city to the rural towns down south. And that she lives alone now, renting a room? At least that is what I presume. Does she not just live across that tree outside. So, would someone check on her.

Joseph Liston: Are you ordering a search for her?

Councilman Tan: Obviously I can’t, I am the complainant here, it would be conflict of interests. Can you?

Joseph Liston: I’ll call on some bilanggo* and have her house checked out.

[Bilanggo - is their ancient word for constable, it got stuck as bilanggo at the Haop or Community level the word for Police or Directorate meant anything outside of the community’s control]

Councilman Tan: I mean it is very uncharacteristic of her to not fight. Hell, she and Claudia were almost at each other's throat literally.

Mediator Liston steps out of the conference room, and walks outside the community hall where some of the volunteer community cops were lounging under the shade of the Sambag Tree.

Joseph Liston: Hey, Bodega, can you go and check out if Jenny is at home, we’ve sent three or was it two summons and we’ve already had our third meeting end just now.

Bodega: Why don’t we just go both over there?

Joseph Liston: Oh shit and I had to walk all the way here, and she lives right across us.

Both men and a few of the community cops went to her house and knocked. No one answers.

Joseph Liston: Is this her house?

Bodega: Yeah, her father died right after she finished college, then her mother died of cancer about a year ago.

Joseph Liston: Yeah, I remember now, she took care of them when they were both dying.

Bodega: She missed out on a lot of opportunities I think. Getting cancer was costly, in the end they lost a lot of their savings. But she never gave up on this house, didn’t sell it I suppose.

Joseph Liston: She has not reported for work for three days now, and all of her summons of which she signed she failed to comply. It’s quite odd, let me call the Datu. You guys keep watch on her house, maybe you can do it back there.

Bodega: Yeah, we’ll keep an eye on her house. Come to think of it, it has not lit any lights for a couple of days now. We’ll see tonight.

Mediator Liston goes back to the Community hall.

Joseph Liston: Councilman Tan, I don’t think she is at home at all. I’d like to inform you that I will be calling on the Datu and make a request to forcibly enter her house.

Councilman Tan: That escalated quickly, are you sure that it is appropriate.

Joseph Liston: I don’t know. But would you mind if you inhibit yourself. It would look bad if you were involved in it and she finds out.

Councilman Tan with a quizzical look, nods in agreement.

Councilman Tan: I’ll remove myself from the premises until you have found her.

The councilman left the Community Hall. While Joseph Liston had the Datu’s secretary call him.

Camp Maxim

1:00 PM

Lt. Col. de la Cruz arrives at his office. He waited for the official orders to arrive giving both of his NCOs a commissioned officer status. He did not want to pre-empt anything, although he already did. He now has both a printout from the Regional Directorate’s orders and that of the General Directorate orders of the promotion of Herasta and Berdin, including his, and he even paid for the orders sent express.

Lt. Col. de la Cruz: Nuñez? Nuñez!

Nuñez did not notice the commander back in his office, was irked that his name was called and ran back inside the office.

Officer Nuñez: I’m sorry sir [sighs] [pants].

Lt. Col. de la Cruz: Where the hell were you anyway?

Officer Nuñez: [sighs] I was right outside sire, I didn’t see you car get in?

Lt. Col. de la Cruz: Give me a break man. Now get a photocopy of these and post the copies on the bulletin board and give these orders from the GHQ to both Herasta and Berdin.

Officer Nuñez: Of course sir…[he stupidly stares at his boss] right away sir.

Lt. Col. de la Cruz: Escalion, hey Nuñez have Escalion in here.

Officer Nuñez: Right away sir.

Officer Nuñez walks away as his voice begins to fade. And Officer-4 Escalion enters the room.

Lt. Col. de la Cruz: How are the three OJTs?

Escalion, having just met his boss for the day he stands at attention, salutes. John obliges a salute back.

Ofc-4 Escalion: Ah, good morning sir. Well we are just giving them how we monitor things on social media.

Lt. Col. de la Cruz: Are you the lead instructor on this one?

Ofc-4 Escalion: I am the lead instructor, Pastol also is qualified to be an instructor sir.

Lt. Col. de la Cruz: Exactly, Herasta and Berdin, won’t be facing the public anytime soon, I need you to step up and sit on the complaint desk. Just refer to Berdin or Herasta for any doubts. Have Pastol take the lead on this training now. Have Berdin come into my office pelase.

Ofc-4 Escalion: Yes sir. Ah, right away sir.

Escalion unaware of what is going on and wondering about the shakeup. He walks outside of the commander’s office, and sees Nuñez posting the orders. He goes and reads, and then leaves.

Escalion approaches Lt. Berdin, he salutes. And tells him of their orders. Berdin is being relieved of his post and goes to see the commander.

Elsewhere in Forge island…

A text message sent to a cell phone:

“A courier is on it’s way to deliver a package. Please do not leave your house. Please do inform us that you are not at your designated address.”

A few minutes later a courier sent another message.

“Hello sir, I am outside your house.”

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