CHAPTER TWO ‘Gunshots’

Three thirty. That was the time I woke up. Not only with a groaning stomach but a back pain. I must've slept too hard.

I shook off my tiredness and made pancakes, eating them as they were brought out of the pan. In no time, I was full. Afterwards I went to lay on my bed and relax.

When I felt energized I worked out a bit to strengthen myself. A shower afterwards and I went to sleep. Again.

When I awoke, the skies were dark and I was hungry so I went to the fridge and packed all the snacks I could gather then I turned on the tv and put it on the news.

Coincidentally, I heard my phone ring. I went to look for it and I found it right on the table. Amanda.

“Yes.” I answered.

“You're on the news.” Just when she said that, I heard my name being mentioned on the news.

“.. Attorney Alvah Benjamin will defend Jacob Santiago Alabaster in court over the alleged murder of his older brother, Drake Roderigo Alabaster. The trial will take place on the 14th of April 2018 which is tommorow. Will the popular Ceo of IJK tech and industry, Jacob Santiago Alabaster be convicted or not? We'll find out tommorow..” The tv presenter said and started talking about a different headline. Suddenly I heard a sound.. not from the tv. Immediately, I turned the tv off and placed the phone near my mouth.

“Amanda don't cut the call.”

“Why?” I heard her ask.

I tiptoed behind the furniture and peaked through the curtains. There were several men heading towards the house and they looked armed. I could tell by their bulging pants. Immediately, I turned off the lights while ignoring Amanda's questions through the phone.

I headed to the door and quickly locked it. Unfortunately, it seemed to have alerted the men outside.

“Boss, I think the crazy attorney is home. She thinks locking the door will save her tonight.”

I calmed my pacing heart. They were here for me. For years, it had been incredibly difficult for angry mobs to locate me. I had always kept my identity a secret especially when driving here. How could they find me? One thing was for certain. These people weren't oridinary.

I took a deep breath as the footsteps approached the door. Then I turned on the doorstep light outside so the CCTV camera outside could capture the men's face. Then I said to Amanda over the phone, “There are armed men outside my house.”

 “Tell me your house address I'll call the police and have them protect you.” I barged into my room and unlocked the last of my drawer with my personal key. I heard a gunshot outside but I don't let it mess with my head.

“Alvah! Are you safe?” Amanda yelled. She must've heard the gunshot outside.

“For now,” I pulled the drawer open and grabbed the brown envelope. I ripped the envelope off and loaded my gun.

I legally got it four years ago and I hadn't use it since then. But today.. it might be used again.

My purse. I threw in all the things I needed and opened my laptop, connecting it to the CCTV outside but it was broken. Apparently, that was what they shot. Thankfully part of the video had recorded so I sent it to Amanda.

“Amanda I sent you a video of those—”

I heard the door unlock outside so I turned my room light off. These people could even unlock my door from the outside..

“I think they broke in.” I said into the phone and reduced the volume of the voice call in case Amanda shouted again.

“I saw the video,” she said, “Its unclear but I think I recognize one of them.”

I heard the door open wildly and gunshots followed afterwards. I threw myself onto the ground and thought of what to do.

First, if I get caught.. what would they do? Destroy proof of anything that could

expose them. I slammed my laptop shut and slid it under my bed.

“Go to the balcony and hide I'm coming!” I heard a grunt from the background.

“I can't. I have to pass the living room to get to the balcony and they're already here.”

“Hey! Come out Attorney Alvah Benjamin, I didn't mean to scare you I just wanted to talk.”

“Record this Amanda and don't say shit. I'll handle this.” I put my phone on dark mode and hid it by the side of my bed then I put my finger near the trigger button and walked with my back bent as I approached the door.

Two of them were already walking towards me so I targeted one of the men's knee and pulled the trigger. As the first man fell, the other shot in my direction and I threw myself into the ground. The bullet penetrated through the door and fell next to me, almost hitting my head.

This time, I couldn't resist the fear in my heart so I ran to my bathroom to take cover. The other man entered my room and I targeted his chest this time. I couldn't think of acting logically anymore. All I was concerned of was my own safety, if I died the court wouldn't care and Jacob would most likely be convicted of murder. The bulky man shot at me and I hid behind the door. The shooting went on for a few minutes with bullets falling in front of me before a voice interupted, bringing the shooting to a halt.

“Brian, stop. We don't want to scare Attorney Alvah Benjamin, do we? And that stupid kid just had to let the impudent lawyer shoot him.”

My heart was pounding and my breathing was in a mess but I couldn't let no one see that. Especially not my enemies. I inhaled and forced myself to get up. Then I stepped out of the bathroom, my gun pointing between the two men in front of me. One I recognized. He was the younger brother of my client, his name was Alfredo.

“I must commend you attorney, you have a sound mind in law education and you even own a gun, legally.” Alfredo said glancing at his man who's gun was still pointed in my direction.

“Do not defend my brother at court tomorrow else—”

“—Is that a threat?” 

He stared at me, “Yes. If you do not do what I say, consider your family dead meat.”

Suddenly I heard a panicked voice from outside, “Boss! The police are here. We gotta move.”

“Shit. Let's go!” Alfredo and his man  turned and ran out, leaving me alone in my room. After I could no longer hear their disappearing footsteps, I put my gun on safe mode and collapsed on the ground.

After some time I could hear the sirens approaching.

I inhaled and exhaled deeply. Thank God Lenoir didn't come home tonight if not I wouldn't have be able to take it. 

“Attorney?”

“Attorney!”

Without thinking twice I could guess who's voice that was. Amanda.

“Attorney! Are you dead?! Attorn— Shit” Her voice faded as she saw my shattered living room and me— lying on the ground in my room.

“Don't tell me she's dead—”

Amanda rushed towards where I was laying and ripped open my shirt first.“No blood..” she sighed and went on to accessing the rest of my body untill she was satisfied. “Thankfully, you're not badly hurt. Come.” She helped me get up from the ground and a familiar policeman barged in. I knew him.

“Nathan.” I said.

“There's an ambulance waiting for you outside.”

“I'm alright. Thanks for stopping by. Did you catch them?”

“We should go to the hospital first. You don't look too well.”

I sighed, “Stop nagging me Nathan, I said I'm fine.”

He sighed as well, “Where will you sleep?”

“A motel or something—”

“—She'll sleep at my place, Mr Nathan thank you so much for dropping by. If not for your help, it would have been hard for Attorney Alvah to live.” Amanda cut me off, which she rarely does but I let her. 

“It's no problem at all. Attorney Alvah is a friend, I'd do anything to protect her.” He glared at me, “Take care.” before going out to explain the situation to his colleagues.

“What did Alfredo say?” Amanda asked after a while. She knew. “He wants me to step down from the case. I guess there's a huge possibility of me winning the case.”

“You should step down.”

I looked Amanda dead in the eye, “Why?”

“He'll involve your family—”

“—Speaking of family.. how did you know I live here? No one except my family knows I live here.” I asked.

Amanda cleared her throat and said, “Well.. I-i found out after you sent me the video through your laptop. I- I can hack things and spy—”

“—Truth Amanda, I won't let this go” I warned.

“Two years ago.” She bowed her head and I froze, “I was curious as to whom you received texts and calls from. I thought you were being blackmailed so I followed you one night and later found out you were married.”

I couldn't even cry. Amanda.. she acted like she knew nothing while in reality.. she knew a lot about me. She was scary.

How could she behave like she knew nothing. 

“I knew you wanted it to remain a secret so I didn't ask about it.” 

“Wow..” was all I could say. 

We had been only acquaintances for five years and she knew this much about me.. it was pretty impressive. I had to find a way to make her stay away from me.

“I know you're probably thinking of a way to make me stay away from you but can you do that later, right now you need me.”

“What?”

Amanda helped me button up my shirt before pulling me alongside to the living room. She pointed to the table where I was studying earlier. My file and documents were now ripped and damaged. Shit.

I should've made a photocopy.

“If you're going to continue with the trial, I'll help you.”