Smaller and Smaller Circles

In the sweltering summer of 1997, a gruesome discovery was made in the depths of Payatas dumpsite, Quezon City. The lifeless body of a teenage boy lay still, a stark reminder of the senseless violence that had besmirched the city's streets. Father Augusto "Gus" Saenz, a forensic investigator and Jesuit priest, was summoned by Francisco Lastimosa, an NBI deputy director, to unravel the tangled threads of a murder spree that had left a trail of destruction in its wake. As Gus delved deeper into the case, he was joined by Father Jerome Lucero, another devoted Jesuit priest, who shared his expertise and insight.

Together, they unearthed a disturbing pattern: the murders seemed to cluster around Saturdays, with the victims' faces, hearts, and genitals precision-crafted as if by a skilled surgeon. The priests' investigation took them on a journey of discovery, from the sterile halls of the NBI to the seedy underbelly of the city's streets.

Meanwhile, Cardinal Rafael Meneses and Deputy Director Lastimosa found themselves in the hot seat during a tense talk show appearance, their words laced with tension as they dodged pointed questions. But just as it seemed like things couldn't get any more volatile, Deputy Director Lastimosa suddenly collapsed, sending him to the hospital and temporarily clearing the way for Deputy Director Mapa to take his place.

As Gus and Jerome continued their quest for justice, they became increasingly skeptical of the arrest of Carding, a local parish worker who had been fingered as the prime suspect. They knew that something didn't add up, and so they set out to gather more evidence by talking to people who knew Carding, including Rommel, a loyal acquaintance.

The priests' next stop was the Cultural Center of the Philippines, where they attended an opera performance that would prove to be a turning point in their investigation. It was there that they ran into Cardinal Meneses and Mrs. Urrutia, the head of a children's charity, whose conversation with Gus ended on a confrontational note. The pair hastily departed, but not before they had caught wind of whispers about Monsignor Ramirez, a priest rumored to have a dark secret.

Seeking solace in a nearby bar, Gus and Jerome ran into Joanna once again, who provided them with crucial clues as she revealed that Hon. Mariano, the councilor, operated a mobile health clinic that might hold the key to identifying the other victims. And despite the arrest of Carding, the murders continued to claim innocent lives.

Deputy Director Lastimosa would later express his disappointment with the bungled investigation, calling out Deputy Director Mapa and Atty. Arcinas for their failures. Undeterred, Gus and Jerome decided to pay a visit to Hon. Mariano's mobile health clinic, where they hoped to find answers. It was there that they gained a vital lead on Dr. Alejandro "Alex" Carlos, a Payatas native with ties to UP Manila, who emerged as a prime suspect.

As the investigation continued to unfold, Gus and Jerome found themselves at the mercy of Alex's unpredictable actions, which included bursting into the health clinic and pilfering medical tools from Dr. Gino, an earlier interviewee.

As the darkness of his twisted intentions enveloped him, Alex's attempt to snuff out a student's life on their way home ended in brutal failure. The unsuspecting victim's cries for help proved too potent for Alex, and he found himself on the receiving end of a merciless beating at the hands of an enraged witness. In a desperate bid to silence his own turmoil, Alex subsequently murdered Rommel and then retreated to a nearby structure, indulging in self-mutilation as a twisted form of catharsis.

Meanwhile, Gus and the investigative team were hot on Alex's trail, their search leading them to the very building where he was hiding. It was here that Gus finally cornered Alex, only to find him slumped on the floor, his body a testament to the brutality he had unleashed upon himself. As Gus extended an offer of prayer, Alex seized the opportunity to strike back, plunging a knife into his would-be rescuer and making his escape.

In the aftermath of this chaotic episode, Gus was able to recover from his physical wounds, while Alex's own life came to a tragic end at Payatas, his body bearing the scars of multiple self-inflicted stab wounds. As Gus continued to nurse his physical and emotional injuries, a surprise visitor arrived in the form of Guillermo "Emong" Ricafrente. It was he who revealed the darkest secrets of their shared past, including the traumatic experiences they had endured at the hands of their PE teacher, with Alex emerging as the most brutally victimized of them all.

Deputy Director Lastimosa also paid a visit to Mrs. Urrutia, his mission to expose the shocking truth that their respected figure, Msgr. Ramirez, was siphoning off charity funds for personal gain. Meanwhile, Joanna turned her attention to a new case involving the enigmatic Solano, a development that would send ripples through the entire investigation.