Chapter 18

“Come Pa. Let’s see,” invited Mrs. Jane to her husband after Mr. Robert ends his call. He puts his phone in his pocket having a different look in his face, with fear being the dominant one.

“Who called you?” asked Mrs. Jane as they are standing up.

“Atty. Phun. He just got Exeter’s will.”

They approach the window to confirm what Elixir said that two cops are standing at their gate. Sun turns off the television and follows them. Mr. Robert takes Mrs. Jane’s cold and shaking hands to abate her being affright of the worst that could have happened.

“Exeter is not with them,” said Sun after looking through the window. A strong sense of fear runs over his entire body.

“Elixir, stay here with Sun. We’ll talk to them,” said Mr. Robert. Mrs. Jane and he walk towards the gate.

“I’m worried P’,” said Elixir.

“Think positive, nong.”

“What if…”

“Don’t think that,” cut Sun, hugging Exeter’s brother. Sun wants to drown that horrific idea in his head – that his boyfriend is gone – but no matter how hard he pushes it down to the bottom of his mind, the idea keeps resurfacing.

“Sawadee khun,” greeted Mrs. Jane at the officers.

“Sawadee krap,” replied Sgt. Won. Lt. Tan does a Wai to the Helmans without saying anything. “My name is Sergeant Marlon Wiyapong, and this is Lieutenant Thanat Simaron. Is this the residence of Mister Exeter Helman?”

“Yes, this is. I’m Jane – his mother – and this is my husband, Robert,” answered Mrs. Jane, tapping her husband in the shoulder. “What about our son, sergeant?” she continued.

“There has been an incident, Missis Jane. May we come in to discuss it with you?”

“Of course. Come in gentlemen,” invited Mr. Robert.

Mr. and Mrs. Helman move out of the way to let Sgt. Won and Lt. Tan inside. Mr. Robert closes the gate and leads the two officers into the house while holding his wife’s trembling hands.

“Please have a seat, officers. Make yourself at home,” said Mr. Robert, trying to keep calm. Elixir and Sun proceed to the kitchen to get something for their guests.

Elixir comes with a tray having separate slices of puddings, and Sun with two glasses of sweet tea.

“Officers, this is Elixir – our youngest.” said Mrs. Jane, pointing to his youngest son while he serves the desserts. “And this is Sun: he is my son’s boyfriend,” she continued.

“Please sit with us, K’Sun and N’Elixir,” invited Lt. Tan. Sgt. Won takes a glass and drinks some of the sweet tea.

“What about our son, lieutenant? What happened?” pressed Mrs. Jane while holding Mr. Roberts hand.

“This may be a shock to all of you, but… uhhh… Mister Exeter was involved in a car accident at the Land Bridge earlier,” told Lt. Tan, trying his best to ready himself to the possible reaction of his audience on the next things he will say. “He was thrown off the car and fell at the cliff by the side of the road,” he continued.

“Nooo!” Elixir cried. He hugs his father, who sits on his left, and there, he burst into tears. It’s as if time freezes on Sun himself upon hearing the news.

“Apologies, but he was declared dead by the paramedics after they got his body,” said Sgt. Won. He had to stop afterwards just to give the family a moment.

Mr. Robert consoles his wife and his youngest son, while Sun tries so hard to gather his thoughts and ask some questions to the policemen in front of him.

“Who was…with him…lieutenant…when the accident happened?” asked Mr. Robert. He is sobbing and breaks after every few words.

“He was with Mister Sebastian Yankhun, the head of Pharm Institute. Does any of you know him?” asked Sgt. Won. It is Lt. Tan’s turn to take some of the pudding and sweet tea.

“That was his boss,” answered Mr. Robert calmly, yet with a hint of emotion. His wife and son are still buried into his arms, crying.

“Do you know if K’Exeter has any enemies, or if he has been into an altercation with anyone lately?” Sgt. Won continued.

“Our son is not someone who will be looking for trouble. If ever he does get into a snag, he’ll tell us immediately,” answered Mr. Robert.

“Why…do you ask…sergeant?” asked Mrs. Jane. She is a bit sober despite clear sniffs every now and then.

“I’d like you to take a look at these photos, Mister and Missis Helman,” said Lt. Tan, taking out his cellular. “These were sent to us by Forensics and were taken while they were processing the wreckage.”

Lt. Tan slowly scrolls to the left to show a number of pictures showing a big hole on the front driver side.

“As a veteran police officer, I can definitely say that it was caused by a shot from a high-powered rifle that was fired from a distance. This was why I asked you if K’Exeter has any enemies, and someone might do this to him in retaliation.”

“No, lieutenant. Exeter is not like that. It is not in our son to keep secrets from us,” said Mr. Robert.

“I see. How about his work at the institute, does he share any information about it to you?” asked Sgt. Won.

“Not once, sergeant,” said Mrs. Jane. She is tranquil now. “He always told us that it was very confidential – what they do at work.”

“How about Doctor Yankhun? Is he alive?” asked Mr. Robert.

“Barely. He is still in critical condition at St. Elizabeth’s,” replied Lt. Tan.

“Do you have any leads?” Mr. Robert asked.

“For now, we can only tell that this is an assassination attempt. We are hoping Doctor Yankhun will recover, so we can ask him some questions,” said Sgt. Won.

“Where are his things? Exeter was supposed to go home today after coming back from Morocco,” asked Mrs. Jane.

“They are at the morgue where Forensics brought his body to. We will go there for identification after we are done. He also left a will, and our Legal Team is already on it,” said Lt. Tan.

“Do you have any suspects now, lieutenant?” asked Exeter’s mom.

“To be honest with you, we are totally blind for now about the possible suspects and motives regarding this crime. The place where the accident happened is devoid of any surveillance cameras. Our best chance now is Doctor Yankhun.” explained Lt. Tan.

“Does this mean someone is trying to assassinate one or both of them?” inquired Mr. Robert.

“It was a conjecture from previous cases we handled. Although, it is very likely the case, Mister Helman,” answered Sgt. Won.

“One last thing, Mister and Missis Helman, before we wrap this up,” said Lt. Tan as he scrolls further on his phone. “When Forensics tried to open Exeter’s phone, the screensaver looked like this,” he continued, showing a picture of Exeter’s cracked yet lighted phone with a caricature in its screensaver – a globe, and beside it are two branches of wheat whose stems are touching each other.

“This same symbol is in the design of his keychain.” Lt. Tan scrolls one step to the left to reveal a picture of it. “And again, in the cover of his notebook,” he continued as he moves one picture to the left again to show them the front cover of a thick leather-bound journal. “Does this mean anything to any of you?” he inquired lastly.

“I drew that for P’Exeter before he went to Morocco. I asked him what the image is for, but he wouldn’t tell me.” It was Elixir who answered.

As for Sun, he is silent ever since the two policemen announced Exeter’s death. He wants to speak but is unable to, still stunned with the news. Whether his Grumpy knew the culprit or not, Sun can only guess. What is sure is that this is the reason why Exeter composed his will.

“Maybe this is why Exeter did his will all of a sudden,” Mrs. Jane said.

“Attorney Phun, our family lawyer, gave me a call earlier during dinner about that will of our eldest. He is at it now for its handling,” said Mr. Robert. His phone rings afterwards. Atty. Phun is calling once again. He lays his phone on the table in front and answers it through speaker mode.

“Sawadee krap K’Phun.”

“Sawadee krap K’Robert, I called again to ask if I could meet with you after N’Exeter’s wake? It’s about his will.”

“Sure, K’Phun.”

“I’ve just processed it from the police and obtained all the things stated in it.”

“We are just planning a three-day wake for him. I’ll contact you after that when we are ready for the implementation of the will.”

“Okay.”

“Uhm, Lieutenant Tan and Sergeant Won of the district police are here. They may have some questions for you.”

“That’s fine. I’ll take their questions.”

“Sawadee K’Phun. This is Sergeant Marlon Wiyapong. Who assisted you about the will?”

“Your chief – Colonel Perth. It was witnessed by Inspector Baum.”

“Thank you. I have no further questions. Lieutenant?”

“Sawadee K’Phun. This is Lieutenant Thanat Simaron. Are the other things of Mister Helman still intact at the morgue?”

“Yes, they are still there.”

“How about his phone, attorney?”

“I’m sorry, lieutenant. The phone is part of the will. It’s with me. It may probably be given to the family afterwards.”

“Okay. Thank you, attorney.”

“Is there anything more, K’Phun?” asked Mr. Robert.

“Nothing more, K’Robert. I’ll wait for your call. My condolences again to your family.”

“Thank you, khun. Please attend the wake.”

“I will. I’ll hang up now.”

“Okay.”

“We have no further questions to you, Mister and Missis Helman. If you are ready, we can go to the morgue now for the identification of the body,” said Lt. Tan after Mr. Robert drops the call.

“Yes, lieutenant. Give us a moment to prepare. N’Elixir, stay here with N’Sun,” said Mrs. Jane.

“Krap, auntie,” answered Sun.

“We’ll wait for you and Mister Helman at the gate,” said Lt. Tan, after which, Sgt. Won and he exit the house. Mr. and Mrs. Helman go upstairs to change, while Elixir and Sun stay at the living room.