"Kill Me, Attorney." (Law Series #3)

PART FIFTEEN: BREAKING HIS HEART OF STONE

"We need Traise Stevens, our Jack of All Trades, Master of None..."

Walang nakakibo sa amin.

Casper was looking at the table.

Aubrielle was looking at Newt, observing him.

Andrius had no emotion on his face.

Newt cleared his throat.

"Among anyone else, s'ya itong makakatulong sa atin," Newt added, determination in his voice. "He has the face, the heart, and the brain. Nagagawa ng eagles ang perfect crime dahil sa utak ni Heinz. Pero kapag tinapatan sila ni Traise, magandang laban ito. Traise has a knowledge of law and an expert in medicine. He has everything someone like Heinz would fear."

I bit my lower lip.

Base sa sinabi ni Newt, mukhang magaling nga ito. Pero among Tyler, Avery, and Courtney na matagal ko nang hinahangaan mula nang nasa law school palang ako, si Traise itong hindi ko masyadong dama. Siguro kasi, napaka pribado n'yang tao. First time ko nga lang s'yang makita noong mapagkamalan n'ya akong nurse sa ospital.

"Sure ka ba riyan?" tanong ni Aubrielle. "I mean, we all know Traise Stevens hates publicity. This whole Death Chaser thing for him is a circus."

"Ms. Baxter, we got no choice."

"How about Avery?" I asked. "She deserves to know."

"Yes, she does," pakikisali ni Casper. "Pero hindi ngayon. I told you, she's recovering from her PTSD."

Newt looked at him, shocked.

"I told them, Mr. Dahmer," Casper said. "There was no other way."

He then looked at us.

"I can't let the fear of having Heinz alive drags Avery back to scratch. No, not this time. Kung sasabihin man natin, we have to make sure na buhay nga si Heinz. Hangga't hindi natin nakikita, I won't let you inform her. I can't risk her mental health."

That makes sense.

"How about Courtney Spencer?" Andrius asked. "I think she'd be a big help."

"Courtney is impulsive," sabi ni Newt. "Anytime, she may explode. Yes, hindi man ganoong katalinuhan si Courtney pero maparaan s'ya. Kapag nag focus s'ya sa isang bagay, kahit na ilan pa ang mag sanib pwersa ay walang makapipigil sa kanya, tulad noon. But just like what I said, Courtney is impulsive. This Death Chaser thing is a sensitive secret legion. We have to be careful. Courtney may be a problem instead of a help."

I nodded. Na-aalala ko nga noon n'ung nasa law school kami, may ipinanuod sa aming clip about Tyler Scott moving a strike against Courtney Spencer.

"With Avery..." simula ni Newt. "Casper is right. She's recovering. We can't risk her mental health again. I mean... look at me...I... I barely survive the day. Araw-araw akong natatakot, naiiyak, kinakabahan na kabigla nalang magpakita ang demonyong iyon..."

Tears started to form in Newt's eyes.

"Kaya...hangga't hindi kailangan, hindi natin s'ya sasabihan."

Newt met our eyes.

"See? Traise Stevens is our only card."

"But wouldn't it be unfair?" Andrius asked. "He lost his brother. Traise himself survived the death penalty once out of luck. Will this offer to join us, the death chasers, give him the same luck to survive death twice? Come on, the guy can't even get married."

"I agree," Casper said. "Siguro hindi papayag si Courtney knowing what happened to Tyler."

"Then what?" Aubrielle asked. "Should they just let the son of a bitch who killed Tyler Scott and a lot of women freely roam around?!"