The Ruthless (Quantum Meruit Series #1)

46. Sacrifice

46.
Sacrifice

━━━━━━━

Intimate photos. Threatening texts. Endearments.

"Someone left it before my door this morning," Acaimie explained. "It was a small guy covered in black clothes. Mukhang 'di taga-village."

Marami pang sinabi si Acaimie pero unti-unti akong nabingi habang nakapako ang tingin sa hawak na larawan. It was a photo of Hernan in a car with a girl. May kadiliman ang lugar kaya hindi sila malinaw. But I could outline how intimate they were at that moment.

Sino ang babaeng 'to?

"Apparently, that dickhead had another bitch," Nayeli voiced out my conclusion. "Ulol talaga. May asawa na, naghabol pa sa'yo tapos may kinakalantari ding iba?"

All this time, when everyone was branding me his whore . . .

"Have you read the text messages?" baling sa akin ni Acaimie.

Mabagal akong tumango at sinapo ang noo. "She was the girl who threatened him that she would leak their sex video if he would break up with her."

"It makes sense, right?" Lumapit sa akin si Nayeli at ipinatong ang mga kamay niya sa mga balikat ko. "Because it sounded so stupid when the prosecution concluded you were the one who threatened Hernan with that sex video. I even wondered if there really is. But it's not impossible!"

Apart from the photos, Acaimie also received a familiar phone - Hernan's. At first, I thought it was a burner. But it turned out to be an ordinary smart phone. Mangilan-ngilang beses kong nakitang hawak iyon ni Hernan kapag binubuwisit niya ako. Kapag nagri-ring iyon ay madalas niyang hindi sinasagot.

So Hernan had two phones. One, which he always used, was with the prosecution and this. Interestingly, this phone was dedicated only to one contact - his fucking real mistress.

Pero bakit ngayon lang ito lumabas? This was a crucial evidence together with the photos!

And the girl . . .

Where was she now?

"Nakikipag-break na si Hernan do'n sa babae kasi gusto ka niya nang seryosohin," Nayeli stated as she read the messages in the phone. "Pero ayaw no'ng kabit. So she threatened him she would upload their private video on the internet. But Hernan was determined to break up. She went crazy and killed him instead."

"What in the actual fuck is that?" Acaimie reacted.

"May iba ka pa bang konklusyon? That's what I see in this case, Cai. And this psycho bitch framed Willow up. Winner, 'di ba? Pinatay niya na ex-boyfriend niya, makukulong pa true love ng gago na dahilan ng breakup nila."

"If you argue in court ascribing the crime to a nameless woman, na walang jurisdiction ang korte, ia-admit ba 'yan? Maga-grant ba kung mag-file kayo ng motion for new trial?"

"Are you seriously a lawyer, Cai?"

Nagdebate pa sila tungkol sa legal procedure. No one wanted to lose. I was in the middle of their battefield, suddenly restless.

Nanginginig ang mga kamay na inangat kong muli ang isa sa mga larawan.

It was the first time in my life I truly hoped I was wrong.

"Who could have sent these? I'm curious," Nayeli murmured. "Although these have lesser probative value than the testimony of the state witness, I don't think these should be ignored by the court. They speak of something."

"Most probably, iyong nag-iwan sa pinto ko, inutusan lang 'yon." Namulsa si Acaimie saka naupo sa mesa. "Someone's trying to help us."

"Ang tanong ay kung sino."