Rescue Me, Stranger

Chapter 6: Thugs in court

Chapter 6

Thugs in court

MECY

"Hinahanap niyo pa rin si Ivan?" tanong ko.

Nasa consultation room kami ni Law kasama si Mr. Go. Sabi nila, kailangan naming maghanda para sa susunod na trial sa susunod na linggo dahil doon na magsisimula ang tunay na laban. Sinabi rin sa'kin ni Law na kinuha ni Prosecutor Estrellanes si sir Milky bilang state witness. They will attack me personally on the next trial so I need to prepare myself not to cry in court.

Three days before the arraignment one week ago, I was transferred here in the city jail. Hindi ko pa rin makalimutan 'yong unang pag-uusap namin ni Prosecutor Estrellanes no'ng inquest proceeding no'ng araw na 'yon. Kung hindi ko lang kasama si Law noon, baka nag-break down na 'ko sa prosecutor's office.

"Kailangan natin siyang mahanap," sagot ni Law habang abala sa pagbabasa ng mga papel na nasa mesa.

"Kapag nagpakita siya, kukunin siyang state witness ni Estrellanes," giit naman ni mr. Go. "It could be bad for our case."

Binitawan ni Law ang hawak niyang papel at tinignan kaming dalawa ni mr. Go, "Why do you think Ivan pulled back his statement regarding your alibi?" Nagulat si mr. Go sa sinabi ni Law at tumango pero hindi ko naintindihan. Huminga siya nang malalim, "It's because the person who really killed Theo contacted Ivan and told him to take back his statement."

Tumango ako, "So, kapag nahanap natin si Ivan, tapos nagsalita siya para sa'kin, makakalaya na 'ko?"

Umiling si Law, "Not necessarily. But Ivan can be our key to introduce a hypothesis of innocence. We cannot argue on lack of evidence to get you acquitted because obviously, the prosecution is holding the direct evidence that points you. That's why we need an alternate theory."

I understand that every evidence points me as the murderer of Theo. First, I have a strong motive and they have the murder weapon with my fingerprints on it. Strangely, I wasn't even caught on the security cameras in the hotel where we checked-in that day. Neither on the bus station. The last thread of hope we could've had was the check-put receipt but I was too stupid to throw it to the garbage can.

I'm not just unlucky, I'm also stupid.

"How can Ivan be the key here?" I asked again.

"Kailangan niya lang sabihin sa'kin kung sino ang nagsabi sa kaniyang bawiin ang statement niya," sagot ni Law. "And I will call that person on the witness stand."

"And?"

"Of course, he will incriminate him right there and then," si mr. Go ang sumagot at ikinagulat ko 'yong sinabi niya. "Alam ko ang iniisip mo. That person has a right against self-incrimination. But that's the only way we can prove your innocence. And the moment he invoked that right is the moment that you get acquitted. That's how great your lawyer is. And he's infamous for that."

Tumingin ako kay Law and nginisian niya lang ako, "I'm Attorney Lawrence Ramirez and I have my way of getting things done."

Nagpaalam na si mr. Go na aalis na para simulang hanapin si Ivan. Maging 'yong tungkol sa keychain na nahanap nila sa apartment ko, pinatrabaho na rin ni Law sa kanya. Nang maiwan kaming dalawa ni Law, niligpit niya ang mga papel na nakakalat sa mesa at tinitigan ako.