MAFIA SERIES 2: Ready, ROGUE ONE.

"Hey." Bati sa akin ni Alonzo nang makarating na ito sa tabi ko.

We were just seated here by the counter, nakatalikod sa magulong dance floor.

He gestured something to the bartender at tinanguan naman siya nito.

"You know him?" Walang gana kong tanong sa kaniya habang pinaglalaruan ang baso sa kamay ko.

"Let's just say, I'm a regular here." He replied in a teasing manner kaya napairap na lamang ako.

"So, what's up?" I asked, changing the subject.

Umayos ito ng upo at pinatong ang dalawang siko sa counter.

"Well, the investigation's been facing a huge roadblock lately. Isa-isa naming iniimbistigahan ang naging mga kasama ni Guillen dati sa senado. Both from his and the opposing parties. Lahat ng kilos nila ay under surveillance 24/7." Panimula ni Alonzo na mas nagpakunot lamang ng noo ko.

It's been three years already or four maybe since Guillen's last term in the Senate. I should like them to realize na talagang wala nang masyadong koneksyon iyon ngayon sa mga bagong banta sa buhay ni Ethan.

If the enemy or enemies really are from his Senatorial days, edi sana ay sa mga panahong din 'yon nakatanggap ng mga gano'ng mensahe si General Celeste.

There are a total of twelve members on the senate, eleven of them are now being considered as hostile by the PNP and are under monitoring for the past month.

"Did it ever occur to you that maybe we're looking at this on a wrong perspective?" I replied before taking a sip on my glass.

I felt Alonzo laid his back on the chair and crossed his legs.

"Andy, we are looking at all the possible angles. We can't leave any stone unturned. Sa ngayon ay iyong sa politika muna ang tinitingnan naming anggulo. Once we are certain that there aren't any involvement from any of them ay magpapatuloy na naman tayo sa ibang anggulo." Alonzo explained and sighed deeply.

The bartender handed him his drink at sumimsim naman agad do'n si Alonzo. Napangisi pa ito at binigyan ng thumbs up ang bartender.

Napailing ako sa kaniyang sagot.

Their strategy is going to take them ages before they can finally figure out the real mastermind. Hindi natin alam, baka ngayon nga ay kumikilos na naman ang mga 'yon laban kay Ethan.

Just this angle on the politics from four years ago alone, and it's already taking them a month to move halfway on their investigation.

"That is so not efficient. Masyadong mabagal." Simple kong sagot bago muling uminom ng alak.

Alonzo chuckled at my response.

"Andy, wala na tayo sa Mafia. We're slow on the investigation because we're doing it the right way. We're doing it the legal way. Baka nakakalimutan mo nang pulis ka na dahil isang buwan na rin simula no'ng maging Mrs. Salvatierra ka?" Mapanuyang komento ni Alonzo sa akin.

Tinapunan ko siya ng masamang tingin bago muling tinuunan ng pansin ang baso sa aking harapan.

"Shut it. Hindi ko kagustuhang malagay sa posisyong 'to. If only my movements aren't that restricted, ay baka gumawa na rin ako ng sarili kong imbestigasyon." Seryoso kong sagot sa kaniya.

"You know you can't do that. Elio and your brother had already made it clear na magf-focus ka lang sa pagbabantay kay Ethan. O nakalimutan mo na? You wanna make your brother angry again? Have you seen his fit last dinner?" Alonzo warned me kaya napatahimik na lang ako.

My brother really is terrifying when he's angry. He rarely loses his cool, at bilang ko lamang sa isang kamay ang mga pagkakataong 'yon.

All my life he has always been the rational one in the family. Kaya bagay na bagay sa kaniya ang pagiging Consigliere. You can't be a strategist if you can't keep a cool head.