Quest For Justice

Prologue

PROLOGUE

1991

In a rush, Prosecutor Steven Bernardo sped down the road in his Ford Endeavour. Despite the inner panic, he maintained composure under pressure, though he couldn't help but swallow anxiously.

He passed every vehicle on the road in front of him, driving with speed and determination. Glancing at the rearview mirror, he noticed an SUV tailing him since he left the city prosecutor's office. Aware of the individuals and the sender behind this pursuit, he knew his life was at risk the moment that SUV overtook him. Focused on the road ahead, he concentrated on avoiding any potential threat.

Prosecutor Steven Bernardo filed criminal charges against Don Sebastian Guzman, the chairman of one of the largest companies in the country. This marked the second time that he would be challenging the CPM company, headed by Don Guzman. Over the years, CPM had encountered various civil and criminal charges. Notably, Prosecutor Bernardo's wife, Attorney Jeah Bernardo, had been representing the CPM company in all criminal court proceedings for the past three years.

Despite her fierce competitiveness as one of the most renowned court lawyers in the country, Attorney Jeah consistently excelled in her role as a knowledgeable criminal defense lawyer, securing the dismissal of numerous charges throughout her career. Dealing with criminal charges against the CPM company proved to be a straightforward task for her. She possessed a deep understanding of various factors that could work against the prosecution's case. Skillfully identifying weaknesses in the evidence presented by the prosecution, she consistently prompted them to drop charges due to insufficient evidence or limited resources, enabling the CPM company to avoid trial. Charges against the CPM company were routinely dismissed before reaching trial, only to see new charges pressed in subsequent years, creating a recurring pattern.

Whereas, as a government prosecutor, Steven Bernardo, always pressed criminal charges against defendants like CPM company. He was completely against his wife's decision to accept CPM company’s offer because he was well aware of how filthy that company was. But his wife insisted. Atty. Jeah had never cared about his say on her decisions. In a unique twist, Steven found himself as the prosecutor in Jeah's first case defending CPM, a company he considered tainted. Jeah never tried to negotiate with him as the prosecutor in charge of the indictment. She was confident he could make him drop the case on his own prosecutorial misconduct. How painful it was for him to hear from his own beloved wife’s mouth that she found him incompetent in his job. He thought of filing a divorce with her at that time, but he couldn't do it. He couldn’t think of their child growing up in a separated family.

Prosecutor Bernardo dismissed the charge against CPM company prior to trial. Atty. Jeah was very proud of herself and she was praised by the CPM company and even got rewarded with a Lamborghini. She didn’t have any idea, he dismissed the case for her own safety. It was a very tough decision for Steven, knowing he was a righteous prosecutor. Pero alam na ni Steven na kapag hindi naipanalo ng asawa niya ang kaso, CPM would automatically have her replaced. But it didn’t mean na papalitan lang, she could be killed. Syempre, marami na itong alam about the company's misconducts. Hindi nila ito papakawalan ng buhay. He spoke to her multiple times, trying to persuade her to resign from CPM Company, but she remained unresponsive. Ito ang palaging inuugatan ng kanilang pag-aaway. She was an ambitious and fearless woman. Despite being an intelligent lawyer, her selfishness rendered her ignorant of potential dangers to their family.

Blessed with both goddess-like beauty and intelligence, Attorney Jeah experienced a traumatic incident of s****l assault and threats from the chairman. The chairman began showing interest in her three months ago, and despite her bold assertion that she was a married woman, he persisted, displaying a malevolent disregard for her boundaries. Initially hesitant to confide in her husband, Steven, the chairman's escalating threats eventually pushed her to share the distressing details with him two months ago. Steven, visibly angered by the revelation, promptly reported the incident to the police. The following morning, Attorney Jeah submitted her resignation letter to her employer.

Prosecutor Bernardo was resolute in ensuring the malevolent chairman faced legal consequences. Conversely, Chairman Sebastian was equally determined to eliminate them. Initially, the chairman issued warnings to halt the investigation, but matters intensified when his wife became a victim of threats and s****l assault. This battle wasn't just about his wife; it extended to safeguarding their child and the individuals corrupted by CPM. The chairman's aggression towards their family escalated, likely triggered by the impending trial following a successful investigation. The case was set for a pre-trial hearing in less than a month, putting the entire company at risk.

Chairman Sebastian’s people were chasing after his life. He had prepared for this but now that he had found himself running, he couldn’t help but feel frustrated and helpless.

“Damn you, assholes!” Steven forcefully struck the steering wheel with his knuckles.

There was a four-way intersection road ahead.

Observing the traffic light, he made a quick left turn at the intersection just before the red signal. The SUV failed to catch up and became trapped in the traffic.

Nabunutan ng tinik si Prosecutor Bernardo nang naipit sa traffic ang nakabuntot na SUV sa kanya na sakay ang mga professional gunmen ng CPM. But he did not dare to slow down the speed of the car. He drove as fast as the beat of his heart.

Steven glanced at his iPhone na nasa car dashboard mount holder. “Hey Siri, call my wife,” sabi niya sa cell phone niyang may voice control.

He needed to check kung ano na ang lagay ng mag-ina niya. He wouldn’t be able to proceed with his business without assuring his family’s safety.

“Hello, Steven? Oh my God, are you safe?” Even though Jeah made an effort to sound composed, fear still tinged her voice.

Steven turned left at the next crossroad.

“Jeah, listen. I’m heading to my friend’s place right now. He said he could help us.” He kept glancing at the rearview mirror to see if the SUV was back on track. He thought those bad guys lost him.

“What? Who is that friend? Steven, be careful. Come back alive.” He heard his wife took a very deep breath on the line.

Steven concluded, Jeah was about to cry for she sounded brittle. But he supposed she was crying for long before he called. But meant to be his wife, Jeah was similar to him: Brave and smart. He was fine with suffering alone but his wife and a five-year-old daughter who’s turning 6 in the next 2 months were too precious to him. Mababaliw siya kapag may nangyaring masama sa mag-ina niya. Kaya gagawin niya lahat ng makakaya niya, even if it meant risking his own life just to protect the most important people in his life. He'd burn the world for them.

Countless times, the couple held optimistic thoughts about prevailing in this case. Not a single night went by where they could rest peacefully without concerns about their family's safety, ever since the first day they had received the threat from the biggest company in the country.

Before leaving home every day, they prayed. Despite all those death threats they had received, people coming after their lives, this fight would last until the end.

“Honey, no matter what happens do not go outside the house. Lock all the doors. Hug Cassandra tightly in your arms. I’ll be back. I love you, two.” He let his tired and weary tears fall.

He tightened his grasp on the steering wheel, releasing the tension in his body.

After a 2-hour drive which was supposed to be a 4-hour drive for a normal speed, Atty. Steven arrived at the address his friend gave him at exactly 5 in the afternoon. He used GPS to find the exact place. The contemporary huge house stood at the fifth phase of a village.

He arrived solo, following his friend's advice, as the nature of their business required utmost confidentiality.

He parked on the side of the road. The moment he stopped driving, he was visibly shaking. He exited the car, and headed directly to the gate.

He was greeted by an exceptionally tall wooden gate that completely obscured any view of the entire front of the house.

Steven clicked the video doorbell intercom. He waited just for a moment and the gate opened. Nobody was behind the gate.

He proceeded directly to the house, presuming his friend awaited him in the living room. Upon observation, he found himself in a picturesque lawn he had traversed. The green grass appeared to be regularly trimmed, along with the spherical bush formations. However, there were no people outdoors; only the occasional chirping of birds broke the otherwise silent atmosphere.

The moment he set foot on the porch, the double doors made of solid wood swung open, seemingly triggered by a sensor. Standing before him was a man approximately six feet tall, clad in a formal suit.

In a formal tone, the tall man in a suit remarked, “Welcome, Prosecutor Bernardo.” With his sharp gaze, he established eye contact with Steven.

Steven just nodded at him at binalewala na lamang ang kuwestiyonableng mala-agilang tingin nito sa kanya. He just suddenly felt like a prey to an eagle.

He asked kung saang parte ng bahay naroroon si Richard, ang kaibigan na kikitain niya. Pagkuwa’y tumayo siya ng matuwid, chest out. He must not be intimidated by anyone.

The door shut behind him, confirming its automatic nature, possibly indicating advanced technology controlled by someone monitoring them through CCTV cameras.

The security slightly turned his head to talk as he fiddled on his earpiece.

“This is G3. The visitor has arrived.” The security paused, probably to listen for instructions.

“Copy,” he added.

G3 turned to Steven with a long face. “Sumunod ka,” anito.

Prosecutor Stephen found the security arrangements peculiar, but Steven decided to place trust in the individuals within the house, considering it belonged to his friend.

They traversed the winding staircase and a corridor within the expansive house, featuring ten rooms on either side, making their way to Atty. Richard's office. G3 rapped on the door thrice before opening it, and they entered a dim, roomy office.

Stephen surveyed the surroundings, taking note of a brick wall serving as a backdrop that enhanced the aesthetics of the wooden open shelves. Positioned in front of the backdrop was Richard's desk, where he sat, casually sipping on whiskey.

The man put down his whiskey glass as soon as he saw him and his security entered the office.

Steven was happy to see Richard again.

“Prosecutor Steven! My friend!” Standing up from his revolving chair, Attorney Richard approached, then halted, keeping a meter's distance between them.

Steven expected to receive a hug from him, he was waiting for it. But his friend failed to give it to him. He did not dare cross the line even though he missed a friend he had not met for years.

Atty. Richard crossed his arms. He was smiling, but not a friendly smile but something that had a negative effect on Steven.

Atty. Richard looked more boastful and ambitious which was unusual to the man Steven used to be friends with in high school. Of course, It had been almost 10 years, who wouldn’t have changed that much besides from a real vampire? In their earlier years, Richard had worn a bright, genuine smile and had been very approachable, qualities that had fostered a deep bond of brotherhood with Steven. But right now, when Richard called him, “My friend!”, he heard him sarcastic. It had made him feel uneasy. Hindi lang itsura ang kayang baguhin ng panahon pati na rin ang pag-uugali ng isang tao.

Or maybe Steven was wrong about it. Baka the tension he felt because of the situation was the reason he was being suspicious.

“It’s nice to see you again.” Steven forced a smile without showing his teeth.

“Yes yes!!” Richard nodded in agreement.

Despite Steven's desire to delay the business proceedings or spend some initial time with his friend, he had to rush.

“Atty., please you know why I came here. I’m in a situation right now and I can’t stay any longer. I have to go back to my family as soon as possible. Kaya kung mayroon ka ngang maitutulong, It will be greatly appreciated.” Atty. Steven really felt anxious. He never felt right the moment he saw the security, to be honest.

“Relax, my friend!” Atty. Richard guffawed.

Something was wrong. Steven sensed it. Hindi maganda ang pakiramdam niya ngayon sa taong itinuring niyang kaibigan. Richard didn’t even offered him a seat, kahit ang hospitality nito ay nawala na rin. Richard's aura sent him shrivels pero hindi niya dapat ito maipakita dahil papaano kung nagkakamali lamang siya ng pakiramdam.

“You see, I didn’t come here to play, Atty. Richard.” He made himself clear, voice sounded grating.

Steven came for the documents Richard promised. His family's safety was his priority than to get together with a friend he had not met for years.

Suddenly, Atty. Richard’s face became serious, giving Steven an unblinking focused eye contact. Steven finally concluded that his friend had a different deal or a suspicious motive. That was how fear started to shake his world again, pagkatapos lang ng ilang sandaling naka luwag-luwag siya sa paghinga.

“I thought you’re smart, my friend. In the situation you’re in, you should not trust people easily. Didn’t you wonder why I suddenly contact you when the last time we saw each other was almost a decade ago?” The devilish glint in Richard’s eyes makes Steven's eyes burned.

“You’re evil!” Steven yelled, curling his fingers into fists.

Before Steven could react, a gun was pointed at his head. His eyes welled up with frustration. What heightened his fear was the presence of a silencer on the gun, creating an ominous sense of no possible escape. The friend he had trusted displayed no mercy or remorse on his face.

Richard, once one of Steven's closest friends from high school, gradually drifted apart from him after graduation. Their encounters became infrequent, with the last one occurring almost a decade ago at a restaurant by chance. Despite Steven's attempts to reach out over the years, he couldn't establish contact. Yesterday, an unknown number called him, initially making him wary of another threat. To his surprise, it was Richard, revealing over the phone that they needed to meet in secret as he could offer assistance, understanding what Steven was going through. Without hesitation, Steven trusted his friend and looked forward to reuniting with him. He had no idea, na ganito ang sasapitin niya. He’s very unlucky.

“My boss wants you dead. You and your family. Especially that psycho wife of yours. She’s one hot gal. Sayang siya. Napakaganda, matalino, matapang. If only she agreed to be his mistress, she’d be safe.” Richard was looking straight at his eyes like a mighty one who is not afraid of karma.

Where did this evil get his confidence from? He thought while giving Richard a scrutinizing gaze.

Steven felt his fingers curled into fists. “I’m gonna kill him or anyone else before they could even lay a finger to my wife.”

“Puro ka salita, wala ka namang magagawa.” Richard sneered in an insulting manner.

Richard looked at his only security inside the office who’s pointing a gun at Steven.

“G3, contact G1.” Richard’s command was full of authority.

G3 reached for his earpiece and communicated with G1. The security was still pointing his gun at Steven.

"This is G3. How's the situation there, G1?"

G3 seemed to be listening well to what the other security was saying on the other line. Steven had no idea what was going on, pero napakasama ng pakiramdam niya. He was scared, he was worried, he was angry, he was sad. All the negative emotions accumulated in his chest at once.

Pagkatapos makipag-usap sa kasamahang security ay binalik ni G3 ang atensyon kay Atty. Richard and nodded at him, sending him signals.

“Okay.” Atty. Richard clapped just once, looking so damn satisfied. Then, he took his phone out of his pocket and dialed.

After few seconds, the video call was finally got connected.

“Tulong…” A helpless woman's voice screamed.

The very moment Steven heard his wife’s voice screaming for help over the phone, hindi na napigilan ni Steven ang sarili. His fears were all gone, it was all rage and furry.

Steven held Richard by his collar tightly causing him to move few steps backward.

“Papatayin kita.” Punong-puno ng galit ang mga mata ni Steven. Sa sobrang panggigigil niya sa galit ay bumabakat ang mga ugat niya sa leeg.

Ikinasa ni G3 ang baril na hawak nito at tinutok ito sa ulo ni Steven. But at that moment, wala na siyang takot na nararamdaman, kinain na lahat ng galit at pagkasuklam.

“Let go if you want to see your wife before your death.” Richard tried to remove Steven’s grip but failed, he grunted.

Sa higpit ng pagkakakwelyo ni Steven sa kalaban ay mukhang wala na siyang balak pakawalan ito ng buhay.

“I said let go!”

Atty. Richard pushed him away with all his force at napabitiw siya rito.

Richard smoothed the creases on his white formal long sleeves as he sneered. Afterward, he brought the phone screen close to Steven's face. Kitang kita ng dalawang mga mata ni Steven ang asawang nakatali sa isang upuan habang duguan ang mga labi at namumula ang mga pisngi sa suntok.

“Anong ginawa niyo sa asawa ko mga hayop kayo! Anong naging kasalanan ko sa ‘yo!” Steven yelled. Umigting ang mga panga niya. He felt his muscles stiffened.

But Richard seemed to not have a conscience.

“Let’s play a game, my friend. Who do you want to save? Your beloved wife or your precious daughter? Choose only one.” Richard laughed like a hyena.

Parang mababaliw na si Steven sa ginagawa sa kanya. He was losing his mind. Hindi siya makagalaw, hindi siya makapagsalita. Why didn't they just kill him and leave his wife and daughter alone?

“Save the child, Steven! Save our daughter,” sigaw ng asawa niya mula sa loob ng phone screen sa gitna ng paghikbi nito.

Gustuhin niya mang magsalita, but he couldn’t move his lips. Only two people in the world he loved like this. Putting one before the other was unthinkable. As was the alternative.

“Steven, say it. Save our daughter!” Jeah screamed over the phone once again.

“At the count of five, my friend! 5. 4. 3 .2” Richard was taunting him in a manner that was deeply unsettling.

“Save the chi--”

The sound of the gunshot that echoed over the phone cut Steven off.

He saw Jeah lost her breath in three gunshots on a phone screen. Blood drenched her. He couldn’t even run to her at the moment. His poor wife. He slowly lost his balance and fell kneeling on the floor. He couldn’t breathe.

Atty. Richard even pushed the phone screen closer to his face.

Steven's mouth hung open, he couldn’t believe what just happened. He wanted to scream his heart out but couldn’t. Walang boses na lumalabas sa kanya.

“I knew you would save your child. Inunahan na kita.” Richard smirked, nanunuya pa sa dalamhati niya.

As Steven lifted his gaze to Richard's face, a tumult of emotions flooded him—pain, guilt, worry, and anger. There wasn’t anything in the world that was more pitiful than seeing a man, right through his eyes all those emotions altogether. He thought for a moment if he did not fight for what was right, would they be safe? He was blaming himself. Richard didn’t have to kill him, his worry toward her daughter that was still alive was killing him. His now dead wife was killing him.

For a long moment, Steven did not say anything as he was mourning.

As he glanced up at Richard, his eyes brimmed with hatred.

“If you kill me next. I promise, at the right moment in the future, all of you behind this will suffer from someone of my own blood.” Steven gritted his teeth.

Fear briefly flashed across Attorney Richard's face.

“Shoot him,” walang awang anito kay G3.

At the villain's order, Steven was immediately shot. He fell down on the floor breathless. Blood splattered on the wall and pooled on the tiled floor.

“Ikaw na bahala dyan.” Atty. Richard told G3 as he mercilessly stared at the cold body lying on the floor.

* * *

The next morning, false news spread that married lawyers committed suicide by shooting each other. The media reported the case as an act of suicide. All evidence was provided for the news reporters. All were fabricated and no one dared to investigate the case. All investigations conducted had accepted money-involved transactions. All false results were reported.

The case had been closed in a week. The couple had not been given justice.

Cassandra, who was a five-year-old kid at that time her parents were killed, was inside her room, trembling. He saw her mom got taken by men he was not familiar with. She was praying that any moment that time, her mom would come back.

* * *

“Sweetheart, get inside your room. Mommy will be fine. Go! Get in! Don’t go out! Lock the door!” Atty. Jeah pushed her daughter inside her room as two men wearing masks were standing in the living room holding a gun each, at least not pointing at her.

“Please. Spare my daughter. Leave the child alone. She doesn’t know anything.” She cried, begging.

The kidnappers took Atty. Jeah with them and left the little girl.

Cassandra wanted to open the door to run and take her mom away from those bad guys but she was told to never leave the room and lock the door. She obeyed her mom. That’s how Cassandra was raised by her parents.

Her mom didn’t come back. Her dad didn’t come back either. She was clueless. Huddled beneath her Frozen-themed blanket, she sang her parents' favorite song, the one they used to enjoy together in their garden while her dad played the guitar. The song was "Shallow" by Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper.

At least, singing the song gave the child comfort. As if her mom and dad were singing with her inside that lonely room.