Defending Mr. Billionaire (Sandoval Trilogy #1) | COMPLETED

Chapter 18

"Objection sustained. Prosecutor, change the question."

"Sorry, Your Honor." Tumingin naman ito kay Jelsey at ngumisi. "Alright, Maria. What were you doing aside from preparing food for Sandoval and Tyler?"

"I prepared the murder weapon that I hid from the kitchen."

Lumakas muli ang bulong-bulungan sa likod. Todo ang pagkuha ng litrato ng mga midya samantalang ang ibang kakampi namin ay sinisigawan na si Maria. Totoo naman kasing nagsisinungaling lang 'yan!

"Order in the court!" the judge shouted while pounding her gavel. "Prosecutor, proceed."

"Now, I want you to look at Exhibit 1." After a few seconds, a photo was flashed on the screen on the left side of the prosecution. It was a huge screen so all of us can see it. The media also took a picture of it. "What can you see, Maria?"

"It is a photo of a caliber 45 gun, Attorney."

"Have you ever seen that gun before?"

"Yes, it is the one I prepared for Sir Anthony's crime."

Napakuyom na ang kamao ni Anthony kaya marahan ko 'tong hinawakan. Hindi na siguro siya makapag-timpi sa mga kasinungalingan ni Maria. I looked at him and smiled. "Everything's gonna be fine." I uttered.

"Is this a fair and accurate depiction of the gun that you prepared?" Tumingin sa akin muli si Bright at tinaasan ako ng kilay. Ang lakas talaga mang-inis ng prosecutor na 'to, ang sarap kutusan.

Maria smiled confidently. "Yes, it is."

"Now, let's look at the second exhibit." Another photo depicting a hotel-personalized fork was flashed on the screen. Si Bright naman ay inulit ang tanong na itinanong niya kanina, para sa bagong ebidensya na ipinakita niya.

Bahagyang kumalas ang tension sa kamao ni Sandoval. Mahina itong natawa at tumingin sa akin. "Nagsha-shabu ba 'yang dati mong kaibigan, Christine? Pare-parehas lang naman ang hitsura ng mga tinidor sa hotel. Kahit naman alin do'n ang ginamit ng murderer, magkakaparehas lang sila ng hitura."

"You have a point there, Sandoval. Minsan kasi'y tanga-tanga 'yan at mahilig pahabain ang mga bagay-bagay." natatawa kong sagot. Tanungin ba naman ni Bright si Maria kung nakita na niya ito, malamang ang isasagot niyan ay oo! Nagkalat ba naman ang mga tinidor sa hotel kitchen nila, susko!

"How did you give the gun to Anthony Sandoval?"

Maria answered immediately. "Nag-request po sa amin ng dinner si Sir Anthony. Habang naghahanda po ako ng dinner, t-in-ext niya po ako kung dala ko na 'yong baril na kinukulit niya sa 'kin. Hinanda ko na po 'yon at isinabay sa pagpunta ko sa kwarto nila ni Ms. Charisse. Dumaan po ako sa elevator at no'ng nasa kwarto na nila ako'y ibinigay ko na sa  kaniya ang baril at ang dinner nila."

Prosecutor Bright grinned as if he's about to win. Tingnan natin ang hitsura mo mamaya.

"With all that, Your Honor, Ms. Mario 'Maria' Baraño is really an eye witness and an accessory of the crime of the accused. The premeditation was hereby proven by the sets of evidence that were found in and out of the crime scene. Thank you. The prosecution rests its case."

Nang matapos na si Bright sa pagsasalita ay nginisian ako nito't bahagyang tinaasan ng kilay. Napangisi rin ako't napailing ng bahagya ang ulo. Napakayabang talaga ng isang 'to. Hindi niya alam na kaya kong ilihis sa tamang direksyon ang kasong ito.

"Defense, would you like to cross-examine?" The judge asked again before she ends this trial.

But no, this trial will not end until I place my cards on the table.