The surveillance team was instructed to turn the matter over to the Japanese police. Nothing EOGC-related had been noticed so far. A day later, operatives of the Japanese police nabbed the businessman and his two associates in a sting operation. Close to sixty other people were arrested as well for their involvement in the transaction.
Laguindingan International Airport.
Anselmo Sanchez drove an official van to the EOGC arrivals area. Nobody else was available and somebody had to pick up a trio of VIPs. He was told they would call him by name, so he had to wear his nameplate.
Of course, Anselmo didn't like the added job. Driving to Laguindingan would take him past the end of his shift; then he would have to drive them to their designated hotel. He grumbled about being very late to spend the evening barhopping with his friend the judge and sent him a text message to that effect.
"I hate this," he muttered as he parked the van. "JT's gonna be disappointed. Well, I hope those bigshots will make it worth the wait!"
He got off and slammed the door then opened the side door and stood by, pouting and his hands in his trouser pockets.
The people were passing by. Some were throwing their arms around friends and family members. Others were exhausted from the trip. Still others disembarked to meet subordinates, co-workers or superiors.
Yeah, yeah, Anselmo thought to himself. All nice and peachy. You get to finish your day's work while I get stuck with a bunch of bigshots beyond my work hours.
Just then, he remembered. These were VIPs. Oh yeah! I'll put up my best face! Then I'll be sure to get a raise... or better yet, a promotion!
He turned around to clear his throat for a little rehearsal. He put his left hand on his chest and flung his right in the air. "Hello ladies and gentlemen!" he exclaimed. "Welcome to Cagayan de Oro!"
"No, that was to ostentatious," he said, catching himself.
"Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen," he said with a bow. "Welcome to Cagayan de Oro."
He caught himself again. "Nah, too formal."
As he was about to try another style, he heard a voice behind him. "Anselmo? Anselmo Sanchez?"
Immediately he spun about with a big smile on his face. "Welcome to Caga-" he said as he turned. But when he stopped, he finished with a "yike!"
Standing in front of him were three EOGC high-ranking military officers, the dreaded leaders of the Sniper Division: Brigadier General Arkady Petrov, Lieutenant Colonel Shizuo Onodera and Major Ryuichi Hayashi. Major Hayashi was Sister Cathy's older brother.
Anselmo went pale all over. Somebody, please kill me. he thought. He had once developed a crush on Sister Cathy, only to have her older brother send him flying into dumpster.
He was also shot at several times by Onodera for taking a dump behind a target on a firing range he thought was just abandoned land. He had been driving for several hours at that time from Surigao City, needed to relieve himself somewhere, parked the car, bungled through a barbed wire fence and settled down behind the target. Thankfully, none of the bullets made their mark (or Onodera was probably shooting at something else.)
And more than everyone else, he hated Petrov. On at least two occasions, he blundered into the general's crosshairs. The only reason Petrov stopped was because he was able to get a good look at Anselmo's face. There were a number of other things Anslemo knew about Petrov, including the latter's lack of interest in women, which put him on the edge whenever the general was in town.
The presence of the trio reduced Anselmo into a pale white whimpering heap of humanity. It was Petrov who called his name and the general was holding a small scrap of paper in his hand.
"Well, it's time," said Onodera. "Let's go."
"Y-y-y-y-yes... sir..." Anselmo squeaked as he shuffled back to the driver's seat.
As they drove back to Cagayan, Onodera and Hayashi were having a conversation, Anselmo remained pale and white at the wheel and drove like a snail. Petrov's eyes were on him.
Immediately he spun about with a big smile on his face. "Welcome to Caga-" he said as he turned. But when he stopped, he finished with a "yike!"
Standing in front of him were three EOGC high-ranking military officers, the dreaded leaders of the Sniper Division: Brigadier General Arkady Petrov, Lieutenant Colonel Shizuo Onodera and Major Ryuichi Hayashi. Major Hayashi was Sister Cathy's older brother.
Anselmo went pale all over. Somebody, please kill me. he thought. He had once developed a crush on Sister Cathy, only to have her older brother send him flying into dumpster.
He was also shot at several times by Onodera for taking a dump behind a target on a firing range he thought was just abandoned land. He had been driving for several hours at that time from Surigao City, needed to relieve himself somewhere, parked the car, bungled through a barbed wire fence and settled down behind the target. Thankfully, none of the bullets made their mark (or Onodera was probably shooting at something else.)
And more than everyone else, he hated Petrov. On at least two occasions, he blundered into the general's crosshairs. The only reason Petrov stopped was because he was able to get a good look at Anselmo's face. There were a number of other things Anslemo knew about Petrov, including the latter's lack of interest in women, which put him on the edge whenever the general was in town.
The presence of the trio reduced Anselmo into a pale white whimpering heap of humanity. It was Petrov who called his name and the general was holding a small scrap of paper in his hand.
"Well, it's time," said Onodera. "Let's go."
"Y-y-y-y-yes... sir..." Anselmo squeaked as he shuffled back to the driver's seat.
As they drove back to Cagayan, Onodera and Hayashi were having a conversation, Anselmo remained pale and white at the wheel and drove like a snail. Petrov's eyes were on him.
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