Episode 8

The Synod Datu’s Office

3:00 PM

Datu Paul: So you're telling me that no one is answering in her house.

Bodega: Well we found it strange Datu it has been a few days now, last night the lights were not turned on, if they were not able to pay the utilities. They would at least have some candles.

Datu Paul: So are you saying there are no movements.

Bodega: Not just last night the other night as well, now that I think about it.

Datu Paul: Let’s do this by the book okay. We need witnesses outside of the council. Raffle up the names of the last five Datus, wait how many are still alive?

[In Dakbayan once elected to a status of Datu, the title sticks to you for life. When you lose a re-election you still get to be called a Datu. Female Datu are called Bae simply meaning Lady.]

Dinah: We can only raffle three names, Datu Lima, Bae Asuna, and Datu Bodak.

With an authoritative voice Datu Paul orders.

Datu Paul: Okay, let us go on with it. Have Bodega pull the names out.

Yet his face betrays his voice. He stares at the secretary, as she is writing the names on small sheets of paper. A sense of dread, a grim look at his face as if the world is about to end, as the secretary rolls the sheets of paper.

Then the secretary places the rolled sheets of paper in a Conch Shell shaped plastic container with a lid on top. She shakes the container and opens the lid. Datu Paul swallows, as Bodega reaches in for the pick.

Bodega picks one, and takes the rolled sheet out, passes it to the secretary.

Dinah, the secretary rolls out the sheet of paper, and reads the name.

Dinah: Datu Lima.

There was a sense of relief on the face of Datu Paul, like someone just got off the toilet and finally released something. Regaining confidence he orders.

Datu Paul: Call Datu Lima, ask him we will pick him up to witness an event.

Dinah calls the home phone of Datu Lima, but is told that he was out of town with his great-grandchildren.

Dinah: They said he is out of town. Shall we try and ask Bae Asuna instead, she…

Datu Paul: What? Are you nuts, I give the orders, we’ve tried the raffle but we only have two choices left, I say we call Datu Bodak.

Datu Paul calls Datu Bodak on his smartphone, and sets it on speaker. The phone rings, no one answers, he calls him up again, it rings again, and rings, on the sixth ring…

Datu Bodak: What the hell. What do you want?

Datu Paul: We’d like you in as a witness for an event.

Datu Bodak: Oh that, Jeez, I am at the foot of Mt. Yawa, at the hot springs. Sorry I can’t do it, and besides, doctor’s orders. Heh, heh, heh, looks like you are in some sort of a pickle. This is all your fault, for what you did last week.

Datu Paul feeling resigned and looking gloomy.

Datu Paul: My apologies then Datu. Dinah, I guess we’ll need Bae Asuna after all. Do we even have her on our directory list?

Dinah: I’ve been trying to tell you. She is already here.

For transparency the Datu’s office has a glass pane, so that everyone can see what goes on inside. Datu Paul looks up and there she is Bae Asuna, staring at him.

Wide eyed he relents.

Datu Paul: Fine let her in.

Before Dinah could open the door, Bae Asuna has her head inside, as she opens the door herself.

Bae Asuna: Well Datu. Isn’t it quite early for you to be asking help from me.

Incensed at the sound and tone of her voice. He grinds his teeth.

Datu Paul: I was avoiding you at all cost. [sighs]. Relax you’re being too full of yourself aren’t you?

Bae Asuna: Speak for yourself. Let me have it. What do we have?

Datu Paul: We need to break open the door into Jenny Lynn Villamar’s house.

Bae Asuna: What for? She lost her keys or something?

Datu Paul: No, we have not seen her for quite some time now. And the bilanggo says her house has been dark for days.

Bae Asuna: That’s not promising. I guess we should go now.

With that said both left for Jenny’s house.

Mall of Acacia

Unlike one big building mall, Mall of Acacia is a mall complex with several mall buildings in one big land area. Apart from several buildings, the sidewalks and the center lane divider is lined with acacia trees.

Benedict Abella or BA, nonchalantly strides the sidewalk of the Mall’s complex. When he received the key from the courier. An hour later he received an email from the seller. Another set of instructions. It was a route map to take. Two routes, an ingress and an egress.

Business Box Center is one separate building, and no other business occupies that building.

He enters the façade, inside, it looks like a bank, in a way it is. A customer service agent approaches him.

CSA: Good Afternoon sir. Do you have a key?

BA: You mean like this one?

CSA: That sir, would be this way.

The CSA showed him the way to his box.

CSA: I am afraid I am not allowed to enter that area, you will have to proceed on your own.

BA: Thank you very much you have been a great help.

BA, walks towards his box and finds it conveniently hidden from view from the outside. He opens it. Inside he finds a black plastic pouch, impatient and seemingly untrusting, he rips the pouch open.

BA: Smells like shit after all.

Residence Villamar

The bilanggos together with the Datu and an outsider witness went inside the house of Jenny Lynn Villamar. The Villamar residence is a two story colonial house, the paint has chipped away, but with clear telltale signs that it was painted white.

After searching the first floor they went up the second…

In a room, they found Jenny Lynn Villamar’s body, sprawled lifeless.

Datu Paul: This is bad, no one leaves this place. None. I’m calling the police and an ambulance. Bodega don’t let anyone in. No one goes inside the house, if they do, they are not getting out until the Directorate arrives.

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