“D O YOU know him?” tanong ni Alexandra kay Luca. Gusto niyang malaman kung ano ang kinalaman ng dalawang lalaki sa isa’t isa. Para tuloy ayaw na niyang magtiwala kay Luca, kahit alam niyang ano’t anuman, kailangang hindi niya mabilis na ibigay ang pagtitiwala. Sa mundong iyon, nagtiwala rin sa iba ang kanyang ina. At nasaan na ito ngayon?
Natural na dumaan sa isip ni Alexandra ang posibilidad na malaki ang kinalaman ni Luca sa pagkawala ng kanyang ina, pero may nagsasabi rin sa kanyang hindi siya ipagkakatiwala ng ina kay Luca kung hindi nito sigurado ang lahat. Alam niyang para lang talaga sa kanya ang mga clue na iniwan ng ina sa dollhouse.
Si Connor ang sumagot sa tanong na para kay Luca. “No, he doesn’t know me. I just happened to drop by this place.” Sarcastic ito.
“Ah-ah-ah. Be a gentleman, Connor,” saway ng matanda sa lalaking mayabang.
“Careful, you might have a stroke,” sabi ni Alexandra, nakaismid. Hindi gentleman si Connor. Opposite nito iyon. May dahilan ang kanyang inis sa lalaki at lalo siyang naiinis na halatang inis na inis ito sa kanya. Obvious din naman ang dahilan ng inis ng lalaki—hindi nito matanggap na naisahan ito at hindi nagawang ma-scam ang isang tulad niyang baguhan. Typical.
Tumingin siya kay Luca. “He would physically hurt a woman. I know that for a fact.”
“Well, not everybody who claims to be a woman is actually one. Some are little devils.” Umismid din ang lalaki. “How could I have allowed a tiny evil being to hurt me?”
“Hurt you?” ulit ni Alexandra, saka ngumisi. “Are you saying that a tiny person, a little girl, kicked your ass? Ouch. Must have been pretty embarrassing.” Ngumiwi siya, kinagat ang labi na parang siya ang napapahiya para dito.
Mukhang effective. Halatang lalong nainis ang lalaki. “Well, for your information—”
“Stop it. Stop it, the two of you,” agaw ni Luca, napapailing at parang naiirita na rin.
Napahiya si Alexandra. Ano ba ang pumasok sa kanyang isip para makipagtagisan ng pang-iinis kay Connor? May mga tao talagang hindi nakakasundo ng iba, katulad ng mga taong meant to be. Siguro, sila iyon ni Connor. Meant to be enemies. Ito ang nagsimula ng lahat nang i-underestimate siya, saka in-scam. Wala siyang kahit na anong simpatya sa mga taong tulad nito.
“I will be back, cara ,” sabi ni Luca kay Alexandra, saka binalingan si Connor. “Come with me, boy.”
Umalis nga ang dalawa. Naiwan si Alexandra na mas maraming katanungan. She suddenly wondered if Connor knew her mother. Ang hirap na parang tinutuklas niya ang ina ngayong wala na ito.
Mayamaya, bumalik na si Luca, nag-iisa na. “I’m sorry about that. He’s a good guy, just behaving a little odd lately.”
“I bet it’s a problem about women,” komento ni Alexandra. Hindi rin niya alam kung saan iyon nanggaling.
Tumawa si Luca. “Seems like you know him well.”
Mukhang tama siya. Parang may PMS si Connor dahil siguro kay Nadia. Typical. “So can I ask you about my mother now?”
“Not until you get your rest.”
Tumango na lang si Alexandra. Pinasamahan siya ni Luca sa isang kuwarto at doon, agad siyang nakatulog. Nang magising, madilim na sa labas kahit tanghali nang dumating siya. Mabilis siyang naligo at bumaba na rin, hinanap si Luca. Hindi na kayang maghintay pa ni Alexandra. Nasa komedor ang matanda, pero nandoon din si Connor.
“Good evening,” bati niya kay Luca, hindi nag-abalang sulyapan man lang si Connor. Wala siyang pakialam kahit na hindi na ito pansinin kailanman. He was nothing but one of those people her mother warned her about. Ugh! He was infuriating. Sana umalis na ang lalaki, tutal mukhang hindi planado ang pagbisita nito.
“Ben svegliata!” sabi ni Luca. It was a greeting for someone who had just woken up. “Please join us, cara .”
Naupo siya sa tabi ng matanda na nasa kabisera. Nasa kanan nito si Connor kaya sa kaliwa siya pumuwesto.
“I guess a formal introduction is necessary. Alexandra, this is Connor. Connor, this lady is Alexandra.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” sarkastikong sabi ni Connor.
“The pleasure is all yours.”
Ang lakas ng halakhak ni Luca. “Kids these days. Well, eat up.”
Nakahain ang masaganang hapunan. The best of Italian dining. Kumain na si Alexandra, inihahanda ang sarili sa kung ano ang mga impormasyong matutuklasan mamaya. Nang matapos ang hapunan, sinabi ni Luca kay Connor na mamaya na mag-uusap ang mga ito. Niyaya si Alexandra ng matanda sa home office. Pumuwesto siya sa couch at ang matanda naman ay naupo sa isang one-seater.
“Tell me about my mother, please. Do you know who she really was?”
“Of course.”
“Who else knows?”
“Just me, I think. I never told anyone.”
“How did you know her?” tanong uli niya.
“We met in Peru. She was trying to acquire an Inca piece in a small museum. I was also interested in the piece and she beat me to it. We shared the same passion about certain things.”
“The lost city of gold.”
Tumango ang matanda. “Some might argue we’re both crazy, trying to make something out of a myth. I guess in this world, you simply have to be a little crazy, use your imagination. Anyway, we ended up talking and sharing the piece. She had been in the business then for a few years. I think you were very young at that time. Do you know the story about the lost city of gold?” tanong ng matanda.
“I’ve known about it since I was a young girl.”
“Do you think it’s true?”
“If my mother believed it is, then I am sure it exists. Do you know anyone who might be interested in it?”
“There are a lot of people interested in it. Just imagine an entire ancient city filled with gold. But these people don’t care about anything but the gold—not the history, not tradition, just the gold.”
“Do you think my mother was working on the map of Paititi and do you think she found it somehow?”
“It’s possible, otherwise, why would they take the books? The only question is how they knew.”
“They? Do you think it’s a group of people?”
“I’m not very certain, but I do know that your mother could never have ended the way she did in the hands of just one person, unless…” Parang nahulog sa malalim na pag-iisip si Luca, saka bumuntong-hininga. “Unless she knows who did it. Unless she opened her door, let the person in, only to end up the way she did. Who else knew about her research? It has been my question ever since she passed away.”
May kurot sa dibdib ni Alexandra, saka napabuntong-hininga. Iyon talaga ang malaking katanungan. Tiningnan niya ang phone records ng ina at wala siyang nakitang kakaiba sa mga iyon kundi ang katotohanang siya lang ang tinawagan nito. Malamang na may ibang phone na gamit ang kanyang ina at maging iyon, kinuha ng mga pumatay dito. It might be a new phone, and in it might be more details about her research.
“Do you know anyone else who knew my mother?”
“Francine, whom you’ve obviously met. Your mother never really shared stories about herself, of how she started in the business, or anything very personal. But she told me stories about you. That alone was an honor, Alexandra.”
Tipid siyang ngumiti. Tama si Luca. Malaking bagay siguro sa kanyang ina iyon. Talagang itinuring nitong kaibigan si Luca. “Where do I start looking for those who killed my mother? Where do you think that book might end up in?”
“Since her death, I’ve been hearing some buzz about a book with a map to Paititi.”
“From?”
“A few people, contacts, asking me about it, asking if I knew whom it came from. Of course I knew exactly where it came from. Nobody knew who she was. At least for the longest time, I thought I was the only one who knew. Apparently, I was wrong.”
Magsasalita pa sana siya nang matigilan. Francine suspected her mother was the infamous “Fantasma.” Kung nahulaan ni Francine, ilang tao pa ang posibleng nakahula? Ang ilan sa mga nanakaw ni “Fantasma” nitong huli ay mga bagay na may kinalaman sa Inca, sa legacy ni Atahualpa. Pero sa mga forum sa Internet, malaking debate kung si Fantasma nga ba ang may gawa ng mga krimeng iyon. Same strategy, but the items taken were too small for someone as big as Fantasma. Sabi ng iba sa mga forum, isang copycat daw iyon.
“I need to find the book and from there, I can trace the killer,” sabi niya. Iyon ang pinakamatinong solusyon. Mas madali iyon at mas reasonable kaysa ang hanapin ang lahat ng mga taong na-involve sa kanyang ina dahil imposibleng makompleto niya iyon. “Do you have any idea where the books are?”
“I’m guessing they will be auctioned very soon.”
“Auctioned?”
“Yes. If the map turns out to be the real deal, who else will buy the book but someone who can fund an exploration? There are underground auctions yearly. Billionaires from all over the world come together to bid on stolen art pieces and the like. You get the picture.”
Nagtanong si Alexandra kung saan-saan ginaganap ang mga auction at kung sino ang nasa likod ng mga iyon. Ang sabi ng matanda, tatlong beses sa isang taon kadalasan may auction na ganoon—isa sa Russia, isa sa Macau, at isa sa Dubai.
“I have always been invited to the two, except the one in Macau. But I don’t think the list of contractors will be there anyhow.”
“I need to see if there is a list. Do you think there is one?”
“Of course. Who doesn’t keep track of items with that much value? Your mother’s death was an obvious hit. I never would have found out if I didn’t try calling her and there was no reply. I sent someone to check it out, only to find out she has been murdered three weeks prior.”
“Why didn’t you come visit us before?”
“She never asked to introduce me to you. She didn’t want anyone from the business to know about you. I thought only me and Francine knew. Francine wasn’t even supposed to meet you, according to your mother.”
“I know.” Napahawak siya sa noo. “I need to think of ways to get to those auctioneers before they begin.” Pero paano? Mauubos na ang kanyang pera. Wala siyang ideya kung saan makikita ang bahay o opisina ng mga magpapa-auction, at para malaman, kailangan niya ng malaking pera. Kailangan niya ng contacts. Pero magsisimula ang lahat sa pera. Saan siya kukuha ng pera para ipagpatuloy ang gagawin? Napakadaling maubos ng pera kung tatalon-talon siya sa kung saan-saang bansa. Natuklasan niya ang lahat nang makarating sa Peru. Kahit umupa siya ng bahay, hindi pa rin siya nakatipid. There were people to talk to, to bribe, vehicles to rent, plane tickets to buy, gadgets, and many others. Kasabay niyon ay ang patuloy niyang pagbabayad ng student loans. Napakahirap gumalaw sa ganoong klaseng mundo kung walang pondo. “Do you really think that my mother’s work is with one of those people?”
“I am almost a hundred percent sure, though there is no way to confirm my suspicion, of course.”
Ano pa nga ba ang gagawin niya kundi ang sumubok? Alam ni Alexandra na kahit mapasok niya ang bahay o opisina ng mga auctioneer at makita ang listahan, may posibilidad na hindi niya makita roon ang libro. Isa iyong sugal, pero iyon lang ang mayroon siya sa ngayon.
“Will you help me?”
“Of course.”
“Why?”
“Because she was my friend.”
“That’s it?” Ayaw magduda ni Alexandra, pero sa dami ng nangyari at nalaman niya, mahirap na ring basta na lang magtiwala.
“Well, there is always something to take from those places, Alexandra.”
“Of course.” Napatango siya. Understood. Itinanong niya kung sino-sino ang mga tao sa likod ng mga auction. Halos manghina siya nang malaman ang paunang detalye. Isang dirty politician ang sa Russia, Triad naman ang sa Macau, habang isang oil magnate ang sa Dubai. Saan siya magsisimula?
Pero iba ang naging tanong niya kay Luca. “Can I ask you something? Do you know who my father is?”
“No. I never asked. I figured she will tell me if she wanted to, but she never did.”
“It wasn’t a US Airforce pilot, was it?”
“Of course not.”
“Did she expect me to call you?”
“Of course. She mentioned it before.”
“Did she ever tell you where she kept her money?”
“No. It was always a new number she used for the payment transfer. It was safer that way.”
“I don’t have enough money to fund this.”
“Like I said, I can help you with jobs and information you need to find those who killed her.”
Malinaw sa kanya ang sinasabi nito. Pagtatrabahuhan niya ang tulong na handa nitong ibigay. It was mutually beneficial. Alam ni Alexandra na hindi biro ang gagastusin ng matanda para sa mga impormasyong kailangan niya. Hindi niya iyon kayang hanapin nang nag-iisa. Hindi rin biro ang contacts na kailangan para mapasok ang ganoong klaseng mundo. She needed Luca.
Hindi na naging mahirap sa kanyang pag-isipan ang lahat. Wala nang dapat isipin pa. Dumaan sa kanya na baka hindi kailanman ginusto ng kanyang ina at malamang na hindi nito magugustuhan kapag nalaman na pinasok niya ang mundo nito, pero wala siyang ibang pagpipilian. Paano pa siya makakabalik sa dating buhay habang hindi naiaayos ang bahaging iyon? Paano tatakbo ang kanyang buhay habang mayroon siyang iniindang sakit? It was impossible. She would only find peace once she had sought justice for her mother’s murder.
“Where do we start?” tanong niya.
“It just so happens that I have a job, but it’s a two-man job because there are two items to take.”
“A two-man job? But I don’t know anyone who can help me out.”
“Don’t you worry about it, cara . I know someone with the same expertise as you. I’m just not sure if you will be willing to work with him,” sabi ng matanda na biglang ikinakaba ni Alexandra. “I think you already know who he is.”
Oh, no. Oh, God. “Please… I don’t want to work with that man. He’s gonna send me to the cops, I’m sure of it.”
Tumawa ang matanda. “He’s not as evil as he seems. He’s a very nice fellow. I’ve worked with him for years. He’s one of the best. You don’t have to like each other. You just have to work together. It’s a million dollar job.”
Hindi siya agad nakapagsalita. Isang milyon para sa isang trabaho. Ilang tao ang gugustuhing tanggapin iyon agad-agad? Tumango siya. “I guess I can handle him for a job as big as this.”
Tinawag na ng matanda si Connor. Nang pumasok ang lalaki, nagtatanong ang tingin nito kay Luca. Luca said, “Well, I think I have found you a partner. No buts. You needed one and I found you one.”
Hindi maipinta ang mukha ng buwisit, umiiling-iling. Ang yabang! “You have got to be kidding me. She? She’s going to be my partner? There’s no way. There’s absolutely no way.”
Gustong mapikon ni Alexandra sa reaction ni Connor. Pero bago pa siya nakapagsalita ay nagreklamo na naman ang reklamador.
“She’s an amateur. I don’t think she can pull this off without a hitch. I don’t even know how she pulled the job Francine gave her. Come on, Luc, you know other people.”
“Do you know any other person who can hack into a system in less than a minute?” tanong ni Luca kay Connor. Obviously, he was reading the news. Hindi kumalat masyado ang balita ng pagkawala ng mga alahas ni Bolotnikov, pero may ilang Internet articles tungkol doon, natabunan ng mga balitang pampolitika at giyera.
Hindi nakapagsalita si Connor. He should be impressed somehow. Nagsalita uli si Luca. “Even you would need a minute to break that code, last time I checked.”
“I can work on it,” sabi ni Connor.
Ngumisi si Alexandra. “It takes you a minute to crack the G-4000 model? And you have the nerve to call me an amateur? Oh, please.”
The man made a hissing sound, as if disgusted. Pero hindi na nagsalita.
Ibinigay na sa kanila ni Luca ang plano. Isang plastic tube ang inilabas nito at inilatag sa mesa ang laman niyong blueprint ng isang luxury cruise ship.
“The Regal Queen of the Seas. Ah, she is such a beauty, isn’t she?” sabi ni Luca habang nakatingin sa blueprint. “But what she will have on display is much more beautiful and precious. Have you ever heard of the Hope Diamond?”
Nagulat si Alexandra. Of couse she had heard of the Hope Diamond. But it was not for sale and now belonged to the Smithsonian Institute. “You want us to steal the Hope Diamond?”
“No. It’s in the Smithsonian. But recently, there has been a discovery that there are two smaller diamonds, cut from the same formation as the Hope’s. It’s discovered fairly recently in India, no less, where the Hope Diamond came from. They, too, came from Hindu god statues. One weighs thirty-two point eleven carats and the other, twenty-eight point two carats. They will be on display and will tour around the world aboard the Regal Queen of the Seas.”
Inilabas ni Luca ang mga picture ng diamond na nabanggit, pati na rin ang picture ng kuwarto kung saan nila iyon nanakawin. Ipinaliwanag nito ang route ng Regal Queen of the Seas.
Naghintay si Alexandra ng iba pang sasabihin at ibibilin ni Luca—kung ano-ano ang security systems na gamit ng Regal Queen of the Seas, kung paano ang rotation, ilan ang empleyado, at marami pang iba. Hindi iyon dumating kaya nagtanong siya. “Is there any other information?”
Ngiti ang isinagot ng matanda. “You will have to find out.”
Napatango siya. Kahit ibigay nito ang detalye, kakailanganin pa rin naman ng kumpirmasyon. Biglang tinambol ang kanyang puso. Maisip pa lang ang posibilidad na magkamali, nanginginig na siya.
Mukhang hindi apektado si Connor at mas concerned sa kikitain. “So how much does this diamond cost? A hundred mil? And you’re giving us one each? Oh, my dear, Luc, that is low.”
Gustong mainis ni Alexandra sa lalaki kahit may punto naman ito kung tutuusin.
Tumawa si Luca. “When have I ever been cheap? You seem to be mistaking me for your other contacts.”
Nagkibit-balikat si Connor. “I have been scammed a lot recently, can you blame me?” Tumingin kay Alexandra ang lalaki, nakataas ang sulok ng mga labi. Parang balak talaga nitong ipagdiinan na siya ang scammer sa kanilang dalawa. Ano pa ba ang aasahan niya sa isang tulad nito?
“`You ready to do this, kid?” tanong ng lalaki sa kanya.
Uminit ang ulo niya sa salita nito. Kid, na halatang pangmamaliit sa kanyang kakayahan. Gusto nang sigawan ni Alexandra si Connor, pero naisip niyang iyon mismo ang gusto nito, ang ipakita niya kay Luca na mabilis siyang mainis at hindi kayang mag-control ng sarili. No, she would not give this asshole the satisfaction.
Inismiran niya ito. “I guess the only question is, can you crack the code of the alarm system at all?”
“I can crack any code. The ship might not be using the G-4000 so don’t act smug, little one.”
“True. Well, we’ll see how you do it. All I know is I know my stuff. I just hope you do, too. It will be hard working with someone who has a mouth bigger than his skills.”
It seemed to have made an impact. Pulang-pula ang mukha ng lalaki, pero hindi na nagsalita pa.
Humugot ng hininga si Alexandra. It was going to be a very tough job, but for how much it would pay, she was willing to make the sacrifice. Not the money per se, but the information about her mother’s murderers that Luca would help her acquire. It was worth it.