Chapter 5

Chapter 5

"Attorney Lucas Winterlake. I'm glad to finally meet you... again, attorney."

His forehead creased.

He turned his back and faced attorney Lucas.

Sa nakakunot nitong noo, binalingan niya ng tingin ang nagsalita.

Sa mga matang nagtatanong, ay mariin niyang tinitigan si attorney Lucas.

Nanatiling nakalahad ang kamay nito, na hindi man lang tinanggap at binigyan-pansin ni attorney Collins.

Ibinababa nito ang kaniyang kamay at tipid na napangiti nalang sa naging reaksiyon ng lalaki.

"Easy, easy!" natatawang sambit ni attorney Lucas. Nakataas ang mga kamay nito na nagpapahayag ng pagsuko.

Nanatili ang seryosong mukha ni attorney Collins. Hindi niya pinutol ang mariing titig sa kaharap.

'Who are you?' tahimik na bulong ni attorney Collins sa sarili.

"A researcher...."

That rings a bell!

Sa dalawang salita pa lang na 'yon ay nakuha na nito ang buong atensiyon ni attorney Collins.

'A researcher huh. So he knows my parent, for sure.'

"Your parent are my colleagues back then. But I have not heard anything from them from the last twenty years.  I met you already when you are ten years old."

Great. His question just answered.

'Is he a mind reader or perhaps someone who has a superpower?'

Tinitigan niya lang ito ng may maalala.

"A man in his white polo and black slack with a lab gown on his left hand. You are... that man?" nagdadalawang-isip na tanong ni attorney Collins.

So that explains why he looked so familiar. A man from his past then.

Isa lang ang bumibisita sa papa niya. Ang matalik nitong kaibigan.

Manghang tinitigan ni attorney Lucas si attorney Collins.

"Wow! How can you remember that... when it happened years ago. You are still young back then. So I assumed that your memory is quite blurry. But you remembered it all— clearly. Just... wow!" attorney Lucas uttered in amazement.

"That is not what important now," seryosong saad ni attorney Collins. Sa paraan pa lang ng pagsasalita nito ay nahihimigan ang pagiging seryoso niya. Ayaw na ayaw nito ang pasikot-sikot. Wala siyang oras at panahon para makipagdaldalan sa kausap.

"Right," attorney Lucas replied while nodding his head. His excitement just cut off.

"Besides... no one can do it... better than me," pagpapatuloy ni attorney Collins sa mahinang boses.

Hindi lingid sa kaniyang kaalaman na umabot pala ito sa pandinig ni attorney Lucas.

Naguguluhan man sa pahayag ni attorney Collins ay isinawalang-bahala nalang ito ni attorney Lucas.

Magpapatuloy sana ito sa pagsasalita ng biglang tumunog ang cellphone nito.

"I got a call," pagbibigay-alam ni attorney Lucas sa kausap habang itinaas ang hawak nitong cellphone "I will just answer it. Excuse me, for a minute."

Marahang tumango lamang si attorney Collins.

Tahimik na naglalakad paalis si attorney Lucas upang sagutin ang tawag ng sinuman.

Attorney Collins, on the other hand, got swallowed by his own ocean of thoughts.

His mind is wandering elsewhere.

If they lost contact with each other, for twenty long years. Then, does it mean... they do not know what happened to them exactly 16 years ago?

He was on the midst of weighing everything when he got halted by someone's presence.

Naputol ang kaniyang malalim na pag-iisip ng biglang sumulpot sa harap niya si attorney Lucas.

"I got an emergency. I  got to go. Say my greetings to your dad. We have a lot of things to catch up," pagpapaalam nito.

W-Wait...

W-What?!?

"Here is my calling card. I will appreciate it if you will give me a call. Bye. It was nice seeing you again," huling saad ni attorney Lucas bago mabilis na lumisan sa lugar na 'yon.

Attorney Collins was speechless.

Kasalukuyan niya pang pinoproseso ang mga kaganapan.

Kung nabingi ba siya o talagang tama ang narinig niya ay hindi na mahalaga 'yon.

Nanlalaki ang kaniyang mga mata ng may madiskubre.

Confirmed!

Attorney Lucas Winterlake...

Does.

Not.

Know.

ANYTHING.

One truth uncovered.

His father's murder case was planned out.

Someone out there,whoever he/she is, made his father's death— possible.

So his father was not working at home 20 years ago.

He did not resigned either.

He was...

KICKED OUT!

Then a conclusion was made up.

His father's disappearance in research laboratory was covered up.

They made it looked like his father left with his own will.

But he did not.

He loves his job that much to just resigned.

Another truth unlocked.

Then...

the culprit is ONE OF THEM.

But it is still so early to conclude that.

A claim without evidence is not valid.

Wasting no time.

He rushed towards his office and finished what he got to know.

May isa pa siyang kaso sa hapon na tagumpay naman niyang nairaos.

He hurriedly put the papers inside his locker.

Cleaned his desk.

And quickly rushed home.

Tahimik niyang binaybay ang kahabaan ng daan pauwi.

Dahil na rin siguro sa lalim ng kaniyang iniisip ay hindi niya na namalayang lumagpas na pala siya.

Parang iniwan na ito ng kaniyang sariling isipan.

Iniliko niya lang ang kaniyang sasakyan at maayos itong ipinarada sa kaniyang garahe.

Hindi pa siya kumakain ng pananghalian, pero hindi na niya pinagtuunan ng pansin 'yon.

He was so eager to know who exactly attorney Lucas Winterlake is.

Tahimik lang ito na pumasok sa kwarto at nagpasiyang magkulong nalang roon.

He browsed attorney Lucas Winterlake.

And as expected, maraming data ang naka linked rito.

A researcher.

A surgeon.

And an attorney.

Indeed. The man conquered the crown of the profession he was in.

He excell in everything.

A well-known man —worldwide.

He clicked the uppermost link attached.

Attorney Lucas Winterlake's Biography

- 55 years old.

- Born on September 10, 1965.

- Happily married with Doctor Lynn Cruz-Winterlake at the age of 26.

- A good father of two.

- Son, Mark Winterlake .

- Daughter, Anne Winterlake .

- Currently residing at New York, USA .

Nationality: Fil-Am (Filipino-American)

Education: University of America.

Early Years:

- He was the son of  Bernadette and Friendell Winterlake .

- A BS Biology college student, graduated as Magna Cum Laude.

- Proceed in studying medicine at University of America, there he met the love of his life.

- Then decided to study law.

- After graduation in 1989,he studied for two years (1990-1991) at the University of Cellebum, earning a Baccalaureate and civil law in 1991, at the age of twenty-six in accordance with his father's wishes that he should become a lawyer.

- In the two years following (1992-1993), he took a job at Wittenburg Law Firm.

- At the age of 28, his wife gave birth to thier daughter.

- His natural air of authority and freewheeling personality earned him the reputation for being master in court.

- While working as an agent of law, someone offered him to become one of the supported and highest paid researchers in the country.

- Aside from being a surgeon and a medical attorney, he also grabbed the opportunity of becoming a researcher.

- In year 1995, at the age of 30, he became one of the known researchers.

- He successfully created medicines and treatments for rare illnesses.

- It undergone through multiple testing.

- Involved in clinical trial and successfully proved the effectiveness of his medical research study.

- In year 2016, he finally became the medical attorney of well-known hospital, the Bridgestone Medical Center.

In the midst of browsing, attorney Grey Collins is in great awe, knowing that the man he was talking to earlier is no ordinary.

He has a sense of justice. But it never gave him the card of innocence in Mr. Edward Collins's death, father of attorney Collins.

Attorney Collins gave him the benefit of doubt. He may be or may not be behind Mr. Edward's death.

But... who knows?

If he just playing the clueless act or really does not know anything.

He need to find that out.

Marami pang mga impormasyon na nakasaad roon patungkol kay attorney Lucas Winterlake ngunit hindi na ito binasa lahat ni attorney Collins.

In year 1995, at the age of 30, attorney Lucas Winterlake became one of known researchers.

In conclusion, Mr. Edward and attorney Lucas worked together in six long years.

What happened on those six years is still unknown to attorney Grey Collins.

At 'yon ang gusto niyang malaman.

If they really become that close or they treated each other as enemy in silence.

He is done browsing about attorney Lucas Winterlake's about information.

Kaya doon niya inabala ang sa sarili sa mga pictures nito sa internet.

Nakapunta na pala ito sa iba't-ibang bansa.

Naging representive ng medical research ng  hospital.

Became one of the best researchers in his field.

Invited as a guest speaker in one of the prestigious school of researchers.

Received a lot of recognitions.

Harbored a lot of compliments.

Attorney Lucas Winterlake is indeed a successful man in his fifty-five years of age.

He lived an impressive life.

Hindi halata sa kaniyang mukha na may edad na pala ang lalaki.

Kung hindi lamang sinaliksik ni attorney Collins ang mga impormasiyon nito, ay aakalain niyang nasa apatnapo pataas palang ang edad nito.

Indeed. Looks can be deceiving.

Bago niya pa maisipang purihin ang abogado at mapilitang huwag ng imbestigahan ang lalaki ay napagpasyahan niya ng itigil ang pagsasaliksik.

He do not want his mind to be clouded with his own idea of him.

Ayaw niyang humantong sa punto na kakalabanin niya ang kaniyang sarili at panigan si attorney Lucas.

He is an attorney.

A well-known attorney for being incredible in the field of investigating.

Magaling sa trabaho.

Hindi siya yung tipong naniniwala sa sabi-sabi ng mga taong nasa paligid niya.

He believes in no one.

Gusto niya, siya mismo ang makatuklas sa mga bagay-bagay. Lalo na kung ito ay patungkol sa hawak niyang kaso.

Hindi siya naniniwala sa otoridad, sa mga pulis, o sa sinumang miyembro ng gobyerno.

They are dirty players. They can ruined someone's life in just a snap of their finger.

Paying someone to manipulate the result.

They are cowards who hides behind their money, power, and authority.

Letting someone take their fall.

He was... and still... an attorney who gathered enough evidence and put the culprit in a place where they belong.

Isasarado na sana ni attorney Collins ang ginamit niyang laptop ng may mahagip ito ng tingin.

Isang larawan.

A family picture.

Attorney Lucas Winterlake with his family.

Normal lang ang larawan kung titingnan.

Maayos na nakatayo si attorney Lucas sa kaliwang bahagi katabi nito ang mga anak at sa kanang bahagi naman nakapuwesto ang kaniyang asawa.

But what caught attorney Collins attention is...

the man in the middle.

Nakasuot ito ng itim na toga, palatandaan na nakapagtapos na ito ng pag-aaral.

Sa likod nila ay ang engineering building.

So the man in the middle graduated as an engineer, he thought.

But that is not the thing here.

The man in the middle looked really somewhat familiar.

But attorney Collins was sure that he never once met him.

Hindi pa nakatagpo ang kanilang mga landas.

At kung tutuusin, ang lalaking nasa litrato ay namalagi sa ibang bansa.

Pinakatitigan niya ang lalaking nasa litrato.

He looked older than him, a five years older than him — perhaps.

He got curious.

Gusto niyang malaman kung sino ang lalaki sa litrato.

There is something in him that awaken his sense of being.

Pakiramdam nito ay may malaking parte ang lalaki sa buhay nila, sa buhay niya.

Palaisipan sa kaniya kung bakit ganito na lamang ang nararamdaman niya tuwing titingnan niya ng paulit-ulit ang litrato.

Malalim na ang gabi ngunit heto parin siya at nakatutok sa larawan ng lalaki.

Nakalimutan na nga yata nito na hindi pa ito kumakain.

Nevertheless, that is not his concern at the moment.

There is really something in him that he wants to uncover.

It gave him the feeling that the man in the picture can give him answers in his questions.

He suddenly wants to meet him— in person.

Nasa kalagitnaan siya ng gano'ng pag-iisip ng maalala niya ang calling card na ibinigay ni attorney Lucas sa kaniya.

Maingat na kinuha niya ito sa loob ng  kaniyang  suitcase.

He stared at it like a key in a hidden doors of secrets.

With emphasis, he uttered his name.

"Mark Winterlake...

who are you?"