VICTORIA

Three

As soon as Cara rounds up and the judge gives me the will to speak. I stand up.

“The defendant, Mr. Jonas isn’t the murderer of his wife, although he had confessed that he killed his wife. The autopsy result shows the time of death to be between 8:30 to 8:40, the same time Mr. Jonas was out to get a drink. The owner of the shop had few discussions with him, meaning Mr. Jonas wasn’t present during the time of the murder. His fingerprints are on the wrong side of the rope used in killing the victim, also meaning he might have been threatened “  I say.

”Mr. Jonas was treated for alcoholism, he wouldn’t go out to get a drink.” Cara says as she stands up and walk over to the Judge to hand over the medical records.

“Yes, but that doesn’t mean he stopped.” I say and move to hand over my own evidence.

“He wasn’t taking the administered drugs and that means the drugs can’t work. He still drinks. Your honor, permit me to bring in the witness.”  I say.

“Okay.”

The witness walks in and as soon as he settles down, I begin my questions.

“On Thursday, seventeenth did you agree to seeing Mr. Jonas?” I ask.

“Yes.” He replies.

“Tell the court the time you saw him.” I say.

‘It was between 8:30PM and 8:35.” He replies.

“Any lengthy discussion?” I ask.

“Not a lengthy one, but we talked for a while.” He replies.

“Your honor, also yesterday another murder case was reported at the crime scene. The murderer seemed to have escaped again according to the investigators at the scene. I went to the crime scene twice yesterday and I found a dead dog, one which must have belonged to Mr. Jonas and his wife.” I say and roll up my left sleeve.

“The same person who murdered the defendant’s wife and the victim from yesterday evening did this to my hand.” I say showing everyone my bruised hand.

“I object. That might also be a suspect, but not the murderer.” Cara says.

“Denied, let the attorney speak.” The judge says.

“Thank you your honor. Therefore your honor, I request for a supplementary witness.” I say,

“A supplementary witness? It is a request for a witness that wasn’t agreed upon, what’s your reason?”  The judge asks.

“The supplementary witness, who is the ex of the victim who hit me was also present at the scene on the day of the incident, even though he is omitted in the prosecutors report. He admitted to being the murderer.” I say and the crowd begins to mumble.

I hand a recorder over as the new suspect is brought in.

“Cole! You admitted to killing your ex last Thursday, didn’t you?” I ask.

“I did.” He replies.

“Why are you confessing now, without being forced to?” Cara asks.

“I will end up being caught anyway. I have completed my mission and I am sorry Mr. Jonas.” Cole, the murderer say and I turn to face the judge.

“The supplementary suspect, who is also the murderer as confessed himself and the recorded evidence proofs it. Therefore, I plead the defendants innocence.” I say and Mr. Jonas smiles.

The rest of the courts session goes on as the defendant has been acquitted and the murderer sentenced to life imprisonment.

I step out and Cara walks over to me.

“Congratulations, you won the case.” She says and put out her hand for a handshake.

“Thank you.” I say and take her hand.

“A cup of coffee it is?” she asks.

“A deal is a deal.” I reply and she smiles.

“You are so smart.” She says.

“Thank you.” I Reply.

“My driver brought me here, we could go in my car or yours.” She says.

“Let’s go in mine.” I reply and she smiles as she walks next to me.

“Thank you.” She says as we settle down in my car.

“For?” I ask.

“Accepting to talk to me.”  She replies.

“Oh, you are welcome.” She says as I drive.

“The airport seems far, lets grab a cup nearby.” She says.

“Okay.” I reply and stop the car in front a mini café.

“What’s your type?” She asks as we walk into the café.

“Latte with a lot of milk.” I reply and sit as she moves to order.

She walks back to where I am seated and pull a seat in front me.

“You know, you are actually the first friend I made since I came to Downtown.” She says.

Friend?

“Sweet.” I reply and she smiles.

“I don’t know why I am telling you all this, but I feel secure with you. This neither a fantasy novel nor a movie, but I have this natural intuition that leads me.” She says.

Weird.

“Okay, wow.” I reply.

“I didn’t know you went back to the scene.” She says.

“I did, it’s a smart thing to do.” I reply and she smiles.

“I wish I was as intelligent as you, I barely passed the bar exams and my boyfriend of seven years broke up with me to be with my best friend…” She says and I sigh.

“I hope you didn’t try to kill yourself.” I say.

“I tried to, but I stopped because I knew why I became a prosecutor.” She says.

“Good. No man should be the reason why a lady breaks. At least, yours broke up with you officially to be with your best friend. Mine ditched me on our wedding day to be with my best friend.”  I say and she sighs.

“My dad used to beat up my mom when I was young. The case was taken to court and my wicked father won the case because he had a supportive attorney and it made me think to myself then that if there was a competent prosecutor he wouldn’t have won, that made me strive to get to where I am today. I am not seeking for pity, I just feel like talking to a stranger who might become a friend would help the weight off my mind.” She says and my phone rings.

Liam’s name flashes on my screen and I hesitate to pick it, before pressing the phone to my ear.

“Dad collapsed at the cemetery.” He says and I stand up.

I end the call and look at Cara.

“You can give me your contact card, I will call you.” I say and she gives it to me quickly.

“Thanks.” She shouts and I wave as I run out.

Even if anyone told me I would drive any way faster than I had driven from the station to my dad’s penthouse, I would have argued but here I am driving like a manic and getting middle fingers from men who do not have patience. In no time I have arrived at the cemetery.  Getting of the car I run towards the part they engraved my mom’s name.

“Where is he?” I ask and my half-brothers and their mom scoffs.

“He is still here, we are waiting for you.” Boyd replies and I can’t help the sudden rush of anger.

“You four were waiting for me? Am I a doctor? Why didn’t you call an ambulance, Liam?!” I ask and my dad walks out of where he must have been hiding all along, making me scoff as realization dawns on me.

They lied in other to get me to come.

“Victoria, pay some respect to your dead mom.” My dad says and I scoff as I place the back of my hand over my mouth.

Never!

“You want me to pay some respect to someone whose corpse weren’t even buried here. Someone who isn’t even dead? My mom is alive somewhere…” I reply.

“Stop hallucinating, she must have died even twelve years ago. We just didn’t find her corpse.” My half-brothers’ mom replies and I turn to face her.

“You are not someone I respect, the only reason why I haven’t hit you is because of my dad and brothers. If she died twelve years ago and you talk about it with so much confidence, then you must be involved in her death…”

“Victoria!” Boyd shouts.

“I wasn’t referring to you!” I shout back at him and face their mother.

“Pray that you were not part of her disappearance. Good bye, Dad. Take care of yourself and beware of the toxic woman you call your wife.” I say and turn on my heels.

I walk away, ignoring my dad’s calls and my half-brothers insulting words.

“They never seize to amaze me…” I say with a scoff as I fiddle with slotting in the key through my blurred vision.

I sit in my car and hit the steering repeatedly until I am satisfied. I start the car and drive home without any speed, making me get home thirty minutes later than I would have gotten home.

I unbutton my shirt as I lock the door behind me. I raise my legs one after the other to take of my strapped heel sandals. Leaving myself in just my b*a and skirt as I walk towards the center table in the lounge to place down all the necessary documents.  I walk into the kitchen and return with a cup of coffee that will help me stay up all night. I move to sit on the rugged area very close to the center table. Taking the remote that controls the lights, I turn off all the lights, leaving just the LED lights on. I begin with the research on my mom’s case.

Dropping the papers in my hand, I try to remember the code to my mom’s safe but it seems that I can’t even remember the first number. I take out my pen and begin to write the names of her friends from twelve years ago.  Taking out my laptop, I begin to type in every one of their names into the goggle search box.

Writing their occupations in front of their names, I mark the one of her best friend and decided to search up more.

“She became an actress?” I ask as that reminds me that I haven’t watched any movie channel in years.

Copying the number of her manager, I take all the pictures relating to my mom’s case and walk into my room with them. I stick them on the part of the wall where I normally stick unresolved cases and begin to write each and everyone’s name beneath.

My phone rings and I pick it up without looking at who is calling.

“Is that attorney Victoria?” A voice I can’t mix up with another person’s says.

“Cara?” I ask.

“Yes, I just wanted to be sure that you are okay. You left with such emergence.” She says and I sigh.

“I am okay, everything is fine. I will compensate you with a cup of coffee at my place soon.” I reply.

“Be well.” She says and I end the call.