Chapter 8: The Name in the Photograph

Hindi maalis ni Chloe Owen ang tingin sa pangalang nakasulat sa lumang dokumento.

Adrian Sterling.

Ilang beses niya iyong binasa, umaasang nagkakamali lamang siya. Si Adrian ang pinsan ni Alexander na nakilala niya sa mga nakaraang business meeting. Isa ito sa mga taong malapit sa pamilya Sterling at may malaking papel sa kanilang mga negosyo.

Pero bakit naroon ang pangalan nito sa dokumentong may kaugnayan sa pagkamatay ng ama ni Alexander?

“Mom,” tawag niya habang hawak ang papel. “I need to ask you something.”

Lumapit si Madam Elena at napatingin sa dokumentong hawak niya.

“Where did you get that?”

“Sa lumang envelope na itinago ninyo. Why is Adrian Sterling's name here?”

Saglit na natahimik ang babae.

“Chloe, I think there's something you need to know.”

Umupo si Chloe sa sofa at hinintay ang sasabihin nito.

“Before you came into my life, I had someone who helped me look into your case. He discovered that there were people who might have benefited from your husband's father's death.”

“Who?”

“Hindi niya naituloy ang investigation dahil bigla siyang nawala. Pero bago iyon, naipadala niya sa akin ang ilang dokumentong nakuha niya.”

Napatingin si Chloe sa papel.

“Does this mean Adrian was involved?”

“Hindi natin puwedeng sabihin iyan nang walang sapat na ebidensiya, anak. A name in a document doesn't automatically make someone guilty.”

Napabuntong-hininga si Chloe.

Alam niyang tama si Madam Elena. Hindi siya maaaring magpadala agad sa galit. Kung gusto niyang malaman ang katotohanan, kailangan niyang maging maingat.

“I need to know what really happened five years ago.”

Hinawakan ni Madam Elena ang kamay niya.

“Then find the truth first. Don't let your anger decide for you.”

Tumango si Chloe.

Pero sa isip niya, isang tanong ang paulit-ulit na bumabalik.

Kung walang kasalanan si Adrian, bakit naroon ang pangalan nito?

Kinabukasan, maagang dumating si Alexander Sterling sa opisina.

Nasa desk niya ang mga dokumentong ibinigay ni Richard. Buong gabi niyang pinag-aralan ang mga ito, ngunit lalo lamang dumami ang tanong sa isip niya.

“Sir, Mr. Richard is here,” sabi ng kaniyang secretary.

“Let him in.”

Ilang sandali pa ay pumasok si Richard at umupo sa harap niya.

“Did you find anything else?”

“Yes. I checked the old investigation records. There was a witness who changed his statement shortly before the case was closed.”

“Who was that witness?”

“I'm still trying to confirm his identity. But there's something else you should know.”

Napatingin si Alexander.

“What?”

“Adrian's name appeared in one of the old financial records.”

Biglang nagbago ang ekspresyon ni Alexander.

“My cousin?”

“I'm not saying he's involved. But I think you should talk to him.”

Napahawak si Alexander sa folder.

Hindi niya gustong maghinala sa sarili niyang pamilya. Pero kung may kinalaman ang mga ito sa pagkamatay ng kaniyang ama, wala siyang balak na balewalain iyon.

“Don't tell anyone about this yet,” utos niya.

“Understood.”

Pagkaalis ni Richard, agad niyang kinuha ang cellphone at tinawagan si Adrian.

“Come to my office. We need to talk.”

Samantala, nasa isang café si Chloe kasama ang kaniyang assistant na si Mia.

“Ma'am, I checked the information you requested,” sabi nito habang inilalapag ang tablet sa mesa.

“Did you find anything?”

“May ilang transactions po sa Sterling Group na hindi tugma sa mga financial reports nila. Some of them were approved years ago.”

Chloe looked at the screen.

“Who approved them?”

“Most of the records were handled by different departments, but Adrian Sterling's name appeared in several approvals.”

Napaisip si Chloe.

“Send me copies of everything. I want the original dates and transaction details.”

“Yes, ma'am.”

“Also, don't let anyone know we're looking into this.”

“Understood.”

Nang umalis si Mia, naiwan si Chloe na nakatitig sa screen ng kaniyang tablet.

Hindi niya alam kung nagkataon lamang ba ang lahat o may tunay na koneksiyon si Adrian sa nangyari noon.

Pero kung may alam ito, sisiguraduhin niyang malalaman niya ang katotohanan.

At kung mapatunayang isa ito sa mga taong sumira sa buhay niya, hindi niya hahayaang makalusot ito.

“Why did you call me here?”

Nasa opisina ni Alexander si Adrian. Nakaupo ito sa harap ng pinsan habang nakakunot ang noo.

“I need to ask you about some old financial records.”

“Business matters? Can't we discuss that during our meeting?”

“It's about the transactions made before my father died.”

Saglit na natahimik si Adrian.

“Why are you bringing that up now?”

“Because I found some inconsistencies.”

Adrian leaned back in his chair.

“Alexander, that happened years ago. Everything was already investigated.”

“Then you shouldn't have any problem answering my questions.”

For a moment, hindi nakasagot si Adrian.

“Are you accusing me of something?”

“I'm asking you a question.”

Adrian stood up.

“I think you're wasting your time. You should focus on the company instead of reopening old issues.”

“That's exactly what I'm trying to do. I want to know the truth.”

Napatingin si Adrian sa kaniya bago tuluyang lumabas ng opisina.

Hindi nakaligtas kay Alexander ang kakaibang reaksyon nito.

At sa unang pagkakataon, nagsimula siyang magduda sa pinsang matagal na niyang pinagkakatiwalaan.

That afternoon, nakatanggap si Chloe ng tawag mula kay Alexander.

“Hello?”

“Chloe, are you free tonight?”

“Depends. Is this about our project?”

“Not exactly. I just thought we could have dinner.”

Saglit siyang natahimik.

“Is there something you want to discuss?”

“Maybe. I just need someone to talk to.”

Hindi alam ni Chloe kung bakit tila nag-iba ang tono ng boses nito.

“Alright. What time?”

“Seven. I'll send you the location.”

Pagkababa ng tawag, napasandal siya sa upuan.

Hindi niya alam kung magandang pagkakataon ba iyon para mas mapalapit kay Alexander o isa na namang sitwasyong magpapahirap sa kaniya.

Pero kailangan niyang malaman kung ano ang nalalaman nito tungkol sa pamilya nito.

Alas-siyete ng gabi nang magkita sila sa restaurant.

Tahimik ang lugar at kakaunti lamang ang mga taong kumakain. Pagdating ni Chloe, nakaupo na si Alexander sa isang mesa malapit sa bintana.

“You're right on time,” bati nito.

“I don't like keeping people waiting.”

Ngumiti si Alexander.

“That's one thing I've noticed about you.”

Umupo si Chloe at nagsimula silang mag-usap tungkol sa trabaho. Ngunit napansin niyang tila wala sa sarili si Alexander.

“Is everything okay?” tanong niya.

Alexander sighed.

“Have you ever discovered something about someone you trust that completely changes the way you see them?”

Napatingin si Chloe.

“Why? Did something happen?”

“I'm starting to question some people around me.”

“Maybe you should find out the truth before making any decisions.”

“That's what I'm trying to do.”

Sandaling natahimik si Alexander bago muling nagsalita.

“Chloe, I want to ask you something. If you found out that someone close to you was responsible for something terrible, would you forgive them?”

Hindi agad sumagot si Chloe.

“Depends on what they did.”

“What if they ruined someone's life?”

Napayuko siya at marahang hinawakan ang baso.

“Some things are difficult to forgive, Alexander. Especially when the person who hurt you never even tried to understand your side.”

Alexander stared at her.

“Do you speak from experience?”

Ngumiti si Chloe nang mapait.

“Maybe.”

Hindi na nagtanong si Alexander. Ngunit halata sa mukha nito na may gusto pa itong malaman.

Pag-uwi ni Chloe, agad niyang binuksan ang kaniyang laptop.

May bagong mensahe si Mia.

Ma'am, I found another record. There's a connection between Adrian Sterling and the company that handled the property transfer before Mr. Sterling's death.

Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Chloe.

Binuksan niya ang attachment at binasa ang dokumento.

May pirma roon ni Adrian at petsang ilang araw bago namatay ang ama ni Alexander.

Hindi pa iyon sapat para patunayang may kasalanan ito. Pero sapat iyon para malaman niyang hindi simpleng coincidence ang lahat.

Kinuha niya ang cellphone at tinawagan si Madam Elena.

“Mom, I think I found something.”

“What is it?”

“Adrian Sterling. His name is connected to a transaction made before Alexander's father died.”

Matagal na natahimik ang babae sa kabilang linya.

“Be careful, Chloe. If someone is hiding something that big, they won't let you uncover it easily.”

“I know.”

“Promise me you won't put yourself in danger.”

“I'll be careful, Mom.”

Pagkababa ng tawag, muling tiningnan ni Chloe ang dokumento.

Hindi niya alam na sa kabilang panig ng lungsod, may isang taong nakatanggap din ng balita tungkol sa paghahanap niya ng mga lumang record.

At hindi ito natuwa.

“Are you sure she's investigating the old transactions?”

“Yes, sir. Someone from her office requested copies of the financial records.”

Napahigpit ang hawak ng lalaki sa baso.

“Who gave her access?”

“We're still checking.”

“Then find out. I don't want those documents reaching Alexander.”

“Understood.”

Tahimik na ibinaba ng lalaki ang cellphone.

Sa loob ng maraming taon, nanatiling nakatago ang sikreto ng pamilya Sterling.

Pero ngayon, may isang babaeng unti-unti nang naglalapit sa katotohanan.

At hindi niya hahayaang masira ang lahat ng kaniyang pinaghirapan.