The decision at the pre-trial became a significant news story, both locally and nationally. Narciso lost his temper inside the courtroom when he heard that the prosecution was withdrawing the case against Azora. Lamech ignored Narciso’s curses. Since he was disrupting the courtroom’s silence, the judge ordered Narciso to be removed.
Alibata’s wide smile didn’t leave his face because of the prosecution’s decision.
“The case is dismissed,” announced the judge.
Everyone stood up and began packing their things. Lamech glanced at Azora, who was still sitting in her seat, staring blankly at him. He sighed. She must have completely lost herself.
He decided to approach Azora, but Alibata reached her first. Alibata guided her down from the platform and out of the courtroom. Taking large steps, Lamech hurried after them but was stopped by other lawyers and prosecutors who approached him. He smiled and shook hands with them, occasionally glancing at the father and daughter.
They stood near the door, with Alibata talking to Azora. Lamech quickly walked over to them. “Mr. Briones,” he greeted as he approached.
Alibata turned to him, but Azora continued staring off to the side. Lamech smiled at Alibata. “Congratulations,” he said, extending his hand.
Alibata promptly shook his hand, giving a brief smile. “You dropped the case, young man. It’s the first time you’ve done that.”
Lamech withdrew his hand and chuckled. “The defense prepared a lot. You defended your daughter well.”
Alibata nodded. “You did a great preliminary investigation, young man. I’m impressed.”
Lamech smiled and occasionally glanced at Azora. Why was she just staring blankly? Earlier, she had been intently watching him, as if studying him. Was she not happy that they won the case?
He heard Alibata clear his throat. He looked back at him and cleared his throat too. “Sorry,” he apologized with a forced smile.
Alibata laughed but grew silent after a few seconds. His expression turned somber as he looked at Azora. “I’ll confine her to a psychiatric hospital,” he said. “I’m glad you dropped the case. I can send her to recuperate.”
“Your lawyer did a good job winning this case.”
Alibata hummed and touched Azora’s face, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “Narciso will not let you go that easily,” he said.
“I know that.” Lamech sighed. “But I will help him uncover who the real culprit was behind his son’s death.”
Alibata paused in stroking Azora’s face and looked at Lamech. “You think you can catch the culprit?”
“I believe that justice will prevail.”
“Justice will prevail,” Alibata whispered, smiling mysteriously as he continued to stroke Azora’s cheek. “Come, accompany her.”
They walked out of the courtroom together. From a distance, Lamech saw reporters rushing toward them. Many camera flashes hit his face, but he turned to Azora and shielded her face from the camera flashes and video recordings.
“We heard that the case was dismissed. Why is that so?”
“Does it mean Azora Sirai Briones is innocent?”
“Was Miss Azora proven guilty or not?”
“What do you have to say about the prosecution’s decision, Mr. Briones?”
They stopped walking and stood in front of the reporters. Alibata cleared his throat. “I’m glad the prosecution was able to see the truth. The case was indeed dismissed by the court.”
“How about your daughter? You admitted that she was mentally challenged. What will happen to her?” asked a female reporter closer to Alibata.
He smiled. “I will send her away to recuperate. She will recover soon.”
“Sir?” called another reporter beside Lamech. “You are Mr. Lamech Adam Lepanto, the district prosecutor. Some say that if you won this case, you’d be promoted to Regional State Prosecutor. What will happen now that the case is dismissed?”
Lamech turned to the reporter, squinting slightly due to the relentless camera flashes. “The case is dismissed. I’m glad that justice still prevails.”
Other reporters couldn’t press further as security personnel from the district court arrived. They escorted them to the parking lot. Lamech offered to drive Alibata’s car, leaving his own car in the parking lot, planning to retrieve it the next day. He had a new case to focus on.
By the afternoon, they exited the parking lot. The weak sunlight streamed through the heavily tinted window. Alibata sat in the passenger seat while Azora sat in the back, still silent and motionless.
A small concern grew in Lamech’s heart, but he didn’t show it. He hoped Azora would be alright in the hospital where she would be taken.
“Mr. Lepanto,” Alibata called.
“Yes?”
“You keep looking at my daughter. Keep your eyes on the road.”
He cleared his throat at the comment and quickly returned his gaze to the front. The car traveled along the coastal road heading south. Alibata said they were going to his mansion in Naga. He needed to prepare Azora’s things before taking her to the psychiatric hospital.
“Can I ask something?” he asked Alibata.
“Ask away, young man.”
“When did Azora become like this? She seemed not herself. The last time I saw her, she was lively and very responsive. Now, she’s like a walking corpse.”
From the corner of his eye, he saw Alibata clench his fists. “I don’t know where it started. But after her poisoning, she was like that for hours before becoming responsive again. I had the doctors test her psyche, and they found out that Azora’s childhood trauma was triggered and is coming back to her again.”
“Childhood trauma?” He glanced at Alibata before returning his gaze to the road. “What do you mean?”
“She was confined to a psychiatric hospital when her mother died in an accident.” Lamech heard Alibata sigh. “And now… her nightmares are starting to haunt her again.”