Chapter 12
Sunod-sunod na pagputok ng fireworks ang nakapagpigil sa kalagitnaan ng pagliligpit ni attorney Collins.
Napangiti nalang ito ng mapait ng maalala ang huling bagong taon, kapiling ang ama.
Labing-apat na taong gulang ang batang si Grey sa taong 2005. Nakaupo ito sa kanilang mahabang sofa katabi ang ama. May hawak itong chips na pinapapak niya habang naghihintay sa pagsalubong ng bagong taon. Hindi kasi ito pinapayagan ng kaniyang ama na kumain sa hinanda nilang Noche Buena hanggang hindi pa pumatak ang alas dose.
Saktong alas dose ng madaling araw ng sunod-sunod na nagputukan ang mga fireworks na kita sa terrace ng kanilang ikalawang palapag.
Nagdulot ito ng malaking ngiti sa batang si Grey at mabilis pa sa alas kuwatrong inubos ang kaniyang chips.
Tumayo ang batang si Grey at hi ila ang ama papunta ng k
Chapter 13 At the same day, at 10: 00 am, nagising si attorney Grey Collins. Namamaga pa ang mata nito galing sa matinding pag-iyak. Unan ang naging karamay niya sa mga oras na 'yon. Kumot ang siyang yumayakap sa kaniya na para bang sinasabing okay lang minsan na maging mahina. Man. He never cried even once after his father's death. And it was the first time he shed tears since then. Masakit, oo. But he got used to it. Nasanay na ito sa sakit na para bang manhid na ito sa sobrang sakit. He gotnumb to all pain and sorrow. That's how he dealt with his life. He never cried since wala naman daw'ng mangyayari kahit iiyak pa siya. His tears won't get back his father's life. But earlier, he got so emotional. Sa ilang taong pagkikimkim niya sa sakit at galit ay tuluyan na nga itong sumabog. He missed his father so dam
Chapter 14 Days passed by rapidly, ngayon ay balik trabaho na naman si Attorney Collins. Tahimik ang daang binaybay niy, tila ba ang mga tao ay hindi pa tapos sa pagdiriwang at pagsalubong ng bagong taon. He was on his way to work when someone blocked his way. A black Ferrari. The car in front of him is quite unfamiliar. Sa pagkakatanda niya ay hindi niya pa nakasalamuha ang may-ari ng sasakyan. Nakakunot ang noo nitong binalingan ang pintuan ng sasakyang humarang sa daan niya. As far as he know, wala naman itong nilalabag na batas. He follows all the safety precautions in driving. Nasa tamang bilis ang pagmamaneho niya. Nakasuot ng seat belt at may driver's license. Kumpleto rin sa mga papeles ang sasakyan nito. Inaabangan niya kung sinuman ang bababa mula sa pintuan ng sasakyang humarang sa kaniya. Naningkit ang mga mata niya sa dahan-dahang pagbukas n
Chapter 15 “This case... Is a murder case.” Mga salitang narinig ni Mr. Winston mula sa bibig mismo ni Attorney Collins. He heaved a relieve sigh. Akala niya ay tatanggi rin ito na kunin ang kaso. But upon observing Attorney Collins' thrilled expression which he had seen in just a spur of the moment, he knew that his case was being taken care of. He does not know why Attorney Collins seems excited about taking the case. Was it because of personal matter? A self-wanting revenge? To feed his wrath to those murderers? Or did he just seen it wrong? Mr. Winston asked himself. He was doubting if what he saw from Attorney Collins was true or just a product of his imaginative mind. Not sure if his eyes was deceiving him a while ago. Truth be told, the moment Attorney Collins finished reviewing the case and knew that it was a murder case.
Chapter 16 Napaawang ang bibig ni Mr. Winston sa biglaang konklusyon ni Attorney Collins. Hindi na rin kataka-taka at kagulat-gulat. It's Attorney Collins, after all. Attorney Collins analytic skills and fast logical thinking are quite impressive. It deserves an applause. Halata nga siguro sa kinikilos ni Mr. Winston kaya nagkaroon nang ganoong konklusyon si Attorney Collins. “I get it. I know this is not the right place to talk about crucial information. Let's meet in your convenient time and chosen place. Here's my calling card. Just give me a call,” walang paligoy-ligoy na saad ni Attorney Collins. Pansin kasi nito ang pagiging hindi komportable ng kausap. Dahil na rin siguro sa kadahilanang hindi lang sila ang tao sa loob ng apat na sulok ng kuwarto. Ramdam niya ang pakiramdam ni Mr. Winston na parang may nagmamasid sa paligid. He cannot blame him. Impo
Chapter 17 Napangisi si Attorney Collins matapos lakbayin ng kaniyang isip ang nakaraang pangyayari kung paano niya nakuha ang loob ng mga opisyales at ni Detective Lim para magkaroon siya ng easy access mula sa mga awtoridad. Kinuha niya ang kaniyang cellphone para tawagan si Detective Nathan Lim para humingi ng ilang pabor. Unang ring pa lang ng tawag ay agad itong sinagot ng tao sa kabilang linya. “Detective Nathan Lim, speaking.” Words Attorney Collins heard from the other line. “011301,” pagsagot ni Attorney Collins. He used their code to indirectly introduce himself to Detective Nathan Lim. “Attorney Grey Collins,” saad ng nasa kabilang linya, confirming his identity. “Can I ask you a favor, Detective?” malumanay na tanong ni Attorney Collins. Attorney Collins is always like that. Telling what he needs directly without saying unnecessary things. “Sure thing.
Chapter 18 Matipid na tango lamang ang ginawad nila Attorney Collins at ng lalaking kararating pa lang sa isa't-isa. Their own way to acknowledge each other's presence. Bahagya pang lumingon sa likod ang lalaki at sinenyasan ang kung sino para pumasok at kunin ang lalaking nakamaskara. The man who came just minutes ago didn't wear his usual attire. He was currently on disguise to hide his identity for some reason. They cannot take the risk to reveal his identity in the midst of situation they were in at baka ikapahamak niya pa ito. Lalo na ngayon na may intruder silang kasama. His identity might be used against them at ayaw niyang dumating sila sa punto na ganoon nga ang mangyayari. The case he and Attorney Collins currently working is no ordinary. At lahat ng involved sa kaso ay walang kasiguraduhan ang kaligtasan. You just have two choices to make. Either to reveal yourself and attract
Chapter 19 Napabuga lang ng malalim na hininga si Mr. Jared. Kasalukuyan silang nasa secret quarter kasama si Attorney Collins, Mr. Winston at ang dalawang tauhan ni Mr. Jared. Prente at tahimik lang na nakaupo si Attorney Collins sa isang swivel chair. Malalim ang iniisip at tila ba nasaang lupalop na naman ng mundo tinangay ang naglalakbay na isipan nito. Si Mr. Jared ay nanatiling nakakunot ang noo at pabalik-balik ang lakad sa harapan, hindi mapalagay at tila ba balisa. Ang dalawang tauhan nito ay nakatulala lang sa gilid at nagmumuni-muni kung ano ang sunod na gagawing habang. Naghihintay lang sa utos ni Mr. Jared. On the other hand, Mr. Winston was on his phone... probably calling his most trusted staff to take care of the restaurant while he is still not around. “Hello, Ms. Maggie?” unang bungad ni Mr. Lee sa kabilang linya. Ms. Maggie, his cashier and his most trusted staf
Chapter 20“Good day, Mr. Lee! Glad to finally meet you,” Attorney Collins greeted.Kasalukuyan silang nasa loob ng interrogation room and it was the first time they met to talk about the case. Palapit na rin kasi ang kaso kaya kailangan nilang mag-usap dalawa para makagawa na ng plano.“Nice to meet you too, Attorney Grey Collins. I heard about you a lot,” balik na bati ni Mr. Lee. He was returning the favor, he treated Attorney Collins with respect and someone he looked up to.Mr. Lee was on his jail uniform, he is still under the police custody until he is not yet proven innocent and not guilty. Just until then, they held him captive.Attorney Collins nodded.“About the case... Mr. Winston gave me a short briefing about your situation,” Attorney Collins paused as he wander his eyes around, being careful not to be heard by someone. Their case is confidential and the informat