Under the Pressure (De Silvianne Series #01)

Prologue

"On 23rd of December in our current year, it's between eleven twenty and eleven twenty-two in the evening when Mr. Cruz is said to murder his neighbor which happens to be your husband Mr. Perez, am I right mrs. Perez?"

Dahan-dahan syang tumango sa akin.

"And you stated that you and your family are currently sleeping by the time eleven fifteen with the whole family even your husband is there, right?"

Tumango ulit sya. I smirk secretly in my head. Tahimik ang lahat habang pinapanood kami na para bang nag-aabang sila sa susunod kong sasabihin.

"Well, it won't take a short time to get there to your house, mrs. Perez," I confidently stated.

I heard people gasping and whispering. Anong kagulat-gulat doon?

"It will take ten minutes or more to get to your house or I'll say mansion due to its distance" paliwanag ko "Your honor, as we can all see in exhibit 1, mr. Cruz left his house by the time 11:15 in the evening." turo ko sa cctv footage.

The feeling of the tension in the air is even making me more thrilled as excitement lingers all over my body.

Isn't it exciting?

"Meaning, it is impossible to make the crime possible," taas noong saad ko.

Napataas ang isang kilay ng kalaban kong abogada. "If that's so, how can you justify why is the defendant there in the crime scene and his fingerprints all over the murder weapon?"

Napataas ang sulok ng aking labi nang magsimula na naman ang mga bulungan. Kita ko kung papaanong matalim na tumingin sa defendant ang plaintiff.

"Let's all take a look at exhibit 2, the exhibit 2 shows a text message and the weapon said to be the one used," Pakita ko rito. "11:13 pm, the time when mr. Cruz received a text message from the victim and it says that there's an emergency and the defendant is needed. But, what's doubtful is all of the cctv footages ia all not working that day except from the one in the gate area where the defendant was seen to enter the mansion."

Bulungan ang namayani sa apat na sulok ng kwartong ito.

Tiningnan ko isa-isa ang mga nasa kabilang panig.

"Your Honor, can I have the permission to interrogate persons of interest?"

Tumango ang judge, "Permission granted"

I first call ms. Reyes. An old mid 60s lady who's been working with the family as the head maid for almost 40 years. Patunay dito ang kanyang putting-puti na mga buhok at ang balat nyang may kulubot.z

"State the name for the record." The clerk said.

"Esperanza Reyes," The old woman stated her name.

"Take the oat of affirmation," utos ng clerk. "Repeat after me."

Tumango ang matandang dalaga.

"Ako, si Esperanza Reyes, ay nangangako sa harap ng Diyos at sa hukumang ito na magsasabi ng katohanan, pawang katohanan at walang iba kundi katotohan lamang."

"Let's proceed."

Huminga ako ng malalim.

"Nakakaintindi ka ba ng english?" Tanong ko.

Everyone in the court laughed but she looked confused.

"Your Honor, the defense is only making fun of the case!"

Lalong nagtawanan ang mga nasa tao.

"Yeah, and you're the funny one to entertain us by making fool of yourself."