Sound of Silence (Good Hearts Series #1)

Epilogue

"Can you tell what time you saw the incident at the victim's house?"

I looked carefully at the alleged witness to the killing of Mayor Velarde and noticed that his hands were shaking.

He nodded. "O-opo. Bandang alas diyes ng gabi po, attorney."

Tumango ako at muling nagtanong. "Can you tell me in detail what happened if you actually saw it?" I questioned.

Hindi agad siya nakasagot at nakita ko ang paulit-ulit na paglunok pero maya-maya lang ay tumingin na siya sa akin. "S-sasabihin ko po nang detalyado..." He took a deep breah and looked at the audience.

"P-pauwi na po ako pagtapos akong utusan ni mayor pero may nakalimutan ako sa bahay niya kaya b-bumalik ako roon..." He was still shaking. "P-pero pagbalik ko po..." He pointed to my client. "S-sinasaksak niya po si mayor! Kitang-kita ko dahil maliwanag ang kwarto. S-sinaksak niya po si mayor sa dibdib at sa tagiliran..."

"Hindi totoo 'yan! Sinungaling ka!" Napatayo ang kliyente ko kaya naman agad ko siyang inawat at pinakalma. She was crying as she looked at me. "Attorney, nagsisinungaling siya," saad nito.

I faced the witness again. "What hand did she use to stab the victim?"

"K-kanan po..."

Naglakad ako sa harap ng judge at tumingin sa mga nanonood. "Why would the defendant use her right hand if she is left handed? Sigurado ka bang detalyado mong nakita ang insidente?" I grilled.

Mukhang nalito siya at hindi na alam ang sasabihin kaya nagsalita ulit ako. "Maaari bang nagsisinungaling ka lang?"

"Objection Your Honor, no basis!" sambit ng isang abogado.

"Objection sustained," the judge said.

"Kung sinasabi mong detalyado at nakita mo talaga na siya mismo ang pumatay kay Mayor Velarde... panoorin natin ito. Your Honor, allow me to reveal the evidence."

"You may proceed."

"One of the most significant pieces of evidence that supports the defendant is this CCTV footage where the witness did what Mayor Velarde allegedly ordered. At 7:46 pm, the witness left the victim's house to follow the Mayor's order. At the other corner of the area, he was seen passing by at 9:30 in the evening and based on this CCTV footage, he talked to an old woman and helped him with the things she was carrying, but it was past ten in the evening and he was not seen passing by the street where Mayor Velarde lives. This fact reveals that he never returned to the victim's house and never saw the murder committed." Naisip ko tuloy na ilang araw akong walang tulog para lang makuha ang ebidensya na ito. Ayaw kasi ilabas ang CCTV na ito dahil natatakot sila.

"Objection Your Honor!" sigaw ng abogado.

Nagpatuloy ako. "And last, the victim was not stabbed. His family refused to have the mayor's body autopsied but I got authority from his brother who was disowned by the mayor's step-mother. I have the result of the autopsy report of the victim and he died due to poisoning."

Biglang umiyak ang witness at sunod-sunod na humingi ng tawad. Dahil sa mga ebidensyang ipinakita ko ay nailigtas ko sa pagkakakulong ang katulong nilang walang kaalam-alam.

"Attorney, salamat!" She started to cry. "Salamat po!" Napayakap siya sa akin kaya hinagod ko ang likod niya.

Hinarap niya ako at puno ng luha ang mukha niya. "M-maraming salamat, Attorney Segovia..." She cried again so I tapped her shoulder.

I smiled at her. "I just did my job."

Pagdating sa kotse ay niluwagan ko ang necktie ko. I need to go home because my dad's been calling me for an hour. I don't know why he's calling but I think it is important.