I keep swallowing the lump of air in my throat, hoping somehow random words could come out between my drying lips to lull the heavy atmosphere. Detective Hipolito, who’s standing across the table, crosses his arms over his chest then tilts his head on the side without removing his gaze at me.
“So,” he says. “The rumor which I heard from the chief inspector a couple of days ago may have some truth to it.”
I gape in astonishment while Nico shifts his gaze between me and our senior officer with curled eyebrows and an open mouth. Since I’m out of words, I bow my head down, taking off my sight from Detective Hipolito.
“I know it’s not easy for you. But you have to do the right thing. You have to tell us what you know. We’re a team after all,” he says.
With so much hesitation that hovers in
