Chapter Two

There was a need to conduct a thorough investigation about this case so I decided to do it myself .

"Are you going somewhere ?"

"Yes Clinton ! I need to meet with the victim and talk to her !"I answered simply .

"Do you want me to come along ?"

"No I can manage by myself ,thanks!"

"Okay then , have my car keys so that you won't have to spend much on transport!"

"Thanks !"I said giving him a kiss .

Thank God I knew how to drive . While in college ,aunt Goodie thought me how to drive so I was conversant with it .

Anyways ,I felt good that Clinton wasn't pressing himself so much on me especially about the case .

The Lacozy Hotel was shut down since it was the main location for the crime scene .

I stepped out of the car quickly and moved towards the crime scene .

"Hi ! I'm attorney Liza Blaire from Clinton and Associates Law Firm and I'm in charge of handling this this case .

I have the order to conduct an investigation !"

"Okay attorney ! You may go in!"The police officer said .

Once I entered ,the place was in a mess .I took a deep breath and heaved a sigh of relief before I began to take some pictures which was significant for the case .

Just as I was about to leave ,I stepped on a bottle carved solidly with a glass coat .

It looked like a feeding bottle but of smaller size.

It contained a drop of liquid in it. I packed it and left making sure that there was no trace of my finger print on the glass bottle .

It wasn't easy conducting this investigation alone but I was nailed to the fact that I had to prove myself to Don Marcial and the other attorneys at the firm .

It was my first time however ,I was getting over my nervousness already instead of getting scared .

I sent the bottle to a laboratory and got it tested.

Doctor JC De Vera told me I will receive the test results later.

I later proceeded to visit the family of the bereaved and source out some salient information from them which I guessed ,would be very useful to the case .

"Hi ! I'm attorney Liza Blaire from Clinton and Associates Law Firm and I'm in charge of your daughter's case !"I showed my ID and took my seat .

"Attorney ! Do what you can to serve justice to my daughter !

I don't care how much you would spend on this case ,I will pay just for my daughter's sake and get those bastards who caused her so much pain to rot in jail in hard labour!"

"Mrs.Bliss ! Be rest assured that I will do anything in my power to get justice for your daughter , Alexa .

Alexa ,I know you are in a psychological trauma but any information you give me will be useful for your case !"I spoke to the young traumatized girl softly .

She told me all she knew and I could sense the pain she was going through .I later proceeded to get the results of the test I conducted earlier .

"Ma'am ! I'm attorney Liza Blaire from Clinton and Associates Law Firm and I was here this afternoon to ask for the reports concerning Alexa Bliss but I was told to come later and get them and that's why I'm here . I wanted to know if it was ready !"I asked resting my elbows on her desk .

"Attorney ! In this hospital ,there are a lot of work load so you would have to wait a bit longer for doctor Max Emiliano to finish his meeting!"She said with a shrug .

"How annoying ?!" I said as the secretary was flattering herself .

Later that day ,I went to the forensic laboratory to ask if they had received any report on Alexa's case but i had nothing .

I made my way to the police station but I could not talk to the officer Dwayne Copos who was in charge of the case. It was as if they were keeping the evidence needed for the case hidden. The accused , Bill Smith , was the High Commissioner 's son so I was not surprised that the results were delaying with shabby excuses.

The day had been stressful so I forgot to attend Klara's party . I called her up to apologize for the disappointment and she wasn't upset at all.

Through out the night ,I kept on looking into the case .

"Take rest !"Clinton said .

"You know what ? I don't understand anything Clinton.

Everyone who has a hand in this case seems to be hiding the evidence needed for the case .

But I'm not giving up on this case because Alexa deserves justice .I won't rest until I see Bill Smith behind the bars!"I laid back on the sofa angrily and shut my eyes to grab some sleep

Two days had passed and today was the first hearing .

The defense attorneys wanted to intimidate me in all ways but I developed confidence and faced them .

"You are wasting your time attorney Blaire !

You are new and no nothing about law and justice . This is not a playground so go back and sleep with your nineteen years novice knowledge in law !

What's the guarantee that a teenager like you would win us over ,huh ?

I have twenty years experience in human rights and child abuse law and I've never lost a case ; not even to the greatest of all attorneys from lavish law firms .

You should be afraid because this case and the law is certainly on our side !

Poor you !"

I chuckled before deciding to speak .

"Attorney Eva Locsin ! You may be having a team of attorneys who have never lost cases before but your words don't scare me .

I agree you have experience than I but the dice can change it's number at any time.

I have not won any case neither am I famous like you are but I can assure you of just one thing ,justice will prevail for my client and any victim of rape no matter who the accused is !

Whether rich or poor ,he shall surely go behind bars .Enjoy the trial !"I said confidently .

"You did great with get Liza !"Clinton hugged my shoulders .

"Be rest assured Clinton ,I will not get intimidated. Alexa has all hopes vested in me and i won't fail her !"I walked to the prosecutor's seat confidently and gave an assuring smile to my client.

It might be my first case but I will prove my worth and obtain justice ,I thought standing on my feet to pay respect to the honourable judge.

"The hearing of today's case is an issue of rape against the accused Bill Smith and victim ,Alexa Bliss!"The court clerk read out with all other charges involved in the case .

"The prosecuting attorney may begin with her opening statement !"The judge said .I then rose to my feet confidently and began to speak .

"Your honour ! Over the years ,abuse against women and the girl child has been prohibited by the government. However,some people fail to allow women exercise their fundamental rights and freedoms .

My client ,Miss Alexa Bliss ,a nineteen year old girl has been raped and ripped of her virginity .

Your honour ! A woman's virginity is her dignity and if that dignity is taken away from her ,it simply means her rights have been infringed upon hence , we're here today to get my client ; the victim of this abuse justice and restore the rights of every girl or woman in our society !"I said and took my seat .

"The defense attorney may now give her opening statement !"The judge added .

"Your honour , I'd make my opening statement rather short because the prosecutor here is a novice and knows nothing about law .

She's only trying to get her nineteen year pal and herself some fame by going against my honorable client here ; Bill Smith ; probably because she's nineteen too!

His name has been tainted with dirt because the "supposed" victim couldn't extract the money she needed from him !"

"Objection ,your honour ! The defense attorney is crossing her line !"Liza opposed fiercely .

"Objection sustained ! Attorney Locsin ,just stay in line with the case ."The judge passed his verdict on this one .

"That was out of contest your honour ! However ,this isn't a case that should be trialled because the prosecutor has no case !

Thank you !"Attorney Eva Locsin took her seat arrogantly .

"The prosecution may now take the stand !"The judge said .

"Thanks your honour ! I would like to call my client onto the stand and interrogate her !"

"Go ahead !"

"Miss Bliss ,how long have you known the accused Bill Smith ?!"

"Two years !"

"How did you get in contact with him ?" "We became friends during our final year in college !"

"Ever since you became friends ,have you had any intimidate relationship with him ?"

"No! Because , I told him several times that I had no interest in him! But he kept on staying on my neck .

He always pressured me about his feelings for me but I knew what he did to girls so I always tried my very best to stay away from him ."

"What exactly did he do to girls ?"

"He'd flatter them with money and use them and when he's done ,he dumps them like trash!

Because he's a total jerk !"Alexa said with fierce of anger .

"Are you the only girl he has forced himself on ?!"

"Objection your honour !"Attorney Eva Locsin objected .

"Objection overruled ! Please answer her question!"The judge said .

"Alright ,let me rephrase my question . Do you know of any girl who has gone through your situation with Bill Smith ?!"

"No attorney!"Alexa answered simply . "Your honour ,I have no further questions !"I took my seat after heaving a sigh of relief.

"With your permission ,your honour ,I would like to cross examine the victim."

After the defend attorney was done with the cross examination ,she presented some evidences to to the court.

I had none but I was not ready to give up yet .

"The court is on recess !"The judge said .

When we returned ,the judge asked us for a closing statement .

"Your honour ! Article 36 of the 1967 constitution of our state clearly gives a woman the power to exercise her human right and freedoms .

Under no circumstance ,should her right be infringed upon .

Your honour ,the constitution of our state detest abuse towards women so I plead to give me some days to gather enough evidence for the case!"

"Your honour ! You can clearly see that the prosecutor is not prepared for the case .

I have presented evidence to prove that my client is innocent but if the prosecutor still thinks that the evidence is not solid ,she is permitted to conduct any investigation of her choice .

For the mean time ,I request my client be set free from all these charges!"Attorney Eva Locsin said .

After presenting our closing arguments , the judge passed his verdict .

"This case is a delicate issue of a woman 's dignity.

After hearing both arguments ,I have decided to grant the prosecuting attorney a chance to prove her point and as a result the accused shall remain in custody until solid evidence says otherwise .

Next hearing will be tomorrow .

On that note ,court is adjourned !"

"All rise for the honourable judge!"We paid heed.

It was obvious that the defence attorneys didn't like the judge's verdict especially since they couldn't buy him on their side.

"It 's not over Attorney Blaire !"

"Attorney Locsin ,if you trust your client's innocence then why are you nervous ?"I asked with a shrug too .

"Well done kid , however by tomorrow ,we shall see who goes home crying like a little baby ...haha !"Attorney Eva Locsin teased .

"Until it's finished ,it's never finished so don't be full of yourself attorney Locsin !"I said making my way towards the exit.

"You did great babe !"

" Thank you for your support ,Clinton!"

After we left the court ,I went to gather more evidence for the case .

This time I used threats to take away the needed evidence .

I threatened to put them behind bars if they incriminated the evidence for the case .

They were convinced so I had no hard time this time . I was good at convincing people .

Through out the night ,I kept the evidence intact and practised for the case .

I was confident this time and pragmatic to win this case and attain justice for Alexa and all victims of Bill Smith.