A'ishah's POV

The office was buzzing with tension as we all worked tirelessly, digging through the metadata of Nicole’s picture. The clock was cruel, reminding us that time was slipping away.

Gwyneth hunched over her laptop, typing furiously, while Jana combed through files on another screen. I focused on cross-referencing timestamps, my eyes burning from hours of staring at the screen.

And then there was Alverson.

Leaning back in his chair, arms folded behind his head, he smirked as he watched Jana and Gwyneth stress over the data. “You know, watching you two work so hard is inspiring.” He mused. “Makes me feel bad for sitting here looking pretty.”

Jana didn’t even look up. “You should feel bad for existing.”

Gwyneth snorted but kept her focus on the screen. “No, he doesn’t. He enjoys being a pain in the ass.”

Alverson clutched his chest dramatically. “You wound me, officers. And here I thought we were bonding.”

I shook my head, hiding my smirk as I continued typing. Of course, he would be like this in the middle of a serious investigation.

Jana finally turned to glare at him. “Less talking, more working.”

He raised an eyebrow. “I am working. I’m providing emotional support.”

Gwyneth rolled her eyes. “The only thing your existence supports is my urge to commit violence.”

I let out a quiet laugh, shaking my head as I refocused on the data.

Despite their bickering, we were making progress.

Hour after hour, we sifted through the data, matching timestamps, tracking geolocation, and piecing together the puzzle surrounding Nicole’s photo. The atmosphere was thick with focus, interrupted only by Alverson’s occasional sarcasm, and Jana and Gwyneth’s immediate, sassy shutdowns.

At one point, Alverson leaned over Gwyneth’s screen and pointed at a corrupted file. “That looks important. Or maybe it’s just a meme someone saved.”

Gwyneth didn’t even hesitate. “If you don’t shut up, I’ll corrupt your face.”

Jana chuckled at that, and I couldn’t help but laugh too.

Alverson smirked. “Ah, violence. That’s how I know you guys care.”

And yet, despite all the teasing, he worked just as hard as we did. He was fast, methodical, and annoyingly good at finding patterns in data that we might’ve overlooked.

By the time dawn started creeping in, our table was a mess of empty coffee cups, scattered papers, and exhaustion clinging to all of us.

But we had something. The metadata.

I exhaled, leaning back in my chair, staring at the results on the screen. My heart pounded.

The moment we plugged in the metadata, all of us leaned in, watching as Gwyneth ran the search. Numbers and names flickered across the screen, moving too fast to catch.

Then, nothing. No owner. No assigned personnel. No footage. Just… nothing.

A sinking feeling settled in my stomach.

“That doesn’t make sense.” Gwyneth muttered, quickly rechecking the data. “The system should at least show a record of the assigned officer.”

Jana frowned. “Try a cross-reference. Look up officers deployed during that time.”

Gwyneth adjusted the parameters, but the result was the same. A blank space where information should be.

Alverson, for once, was quiet. Then he let out a slow whistle. “Well, well. Either someone’s incredibly incompetent, or this is a deliberate cover-up.”

My jaw clenched. The second option felt far more likely.

Jana sighed, rubbing her temples. “Great. So we’re at a dead end?”

But before anyone could answer, Alverson suddenly leaned over Gwyneth’s shoulder, fingers flying across the keyboard.

“What the hell are you doing?” Gwyneth snapped, but Alverson ignored her.

He muttered something under his breath, hacking through restricted access with practiced ease. Within seconds, new lines of data flooded the screen.

Then… A name popped up.

P/Lt. Nicole Mendoza

My heart stopped.

Jana took a step closer, her eyes widening. “No. That… that can’t be right.”

Gwyneth’s fingers trembled over the keyboard. “Nicole’s body cam?”

Alverson let out a low chuckle, but there was no humor in it. “Looks like someone's playing at us.”

“And they are playing really well.” I sighed.

Alverson leaned back in his chair, stretching his arms with an exaggerated groan. “Alright, kids, I think I deserve a damn break. It’s already 1 PM, and we haven’t even had lunch yet.”

Jana shot him a glare. “Don’t call us kids. And who said you deserved anything?”

Alverson smirked. “Oh, I don’t know, maybe the guy who just cracked the case wide open? That guy deserves at least a burger.”

Gwyneth crossed her arms. “Please, you just clicked a few keys and acted smug about it.”

Alverson feigned offense, placing a hand over his chest. “Oh, wow. I solve the mystery of the missing metadata, and this is the thanks I get?”

Jana rolled her eyes, already grabbing her jacket. “Fine. Whatever. I hate to admit it, but I do need a break.” She glanced at Gwyneth. “You coming?”

Gwyneth sighed. “Yeah, yeah. I’d rather eat than sit here and watch Alverson act like he’s some genius hacker in a spy movie.”

I exhaled, rubbing my temples. As much as I wanted to keep working, I couldn’t deny it, we needed rest. I hadn't even noticed how exhausted I was until I stood up, my body aching from sitting too long.

“Alright.” I muttered. “Let’s eat. But we regroup after, no excuses.”

Alverson grinned, already heading for the door. “Don’t worry, boss. I’ll even let you pick the restaurant.”

Jana scoffed. “Wow. So generous.”

Gwyneth shook her head. “If you two don’t shut up, I’ll make sure neither of you eats today.”

Despite the stress, the exhaustion, the revelation about Nicole, I couldn’t help but let out a tired chuckle as we left. We had a long way to go, but for now, food and a little rest were necessary.

By the time we returned to headquarters at 4 PM, exhaustion weighed heavily on all of us. The moment we stepped inside, Alverson let out a dramatic sigh and dropped onto the nearest couch, stretching out like he owned the place.

Jana sat at her desk, rubbing her temples. “I’ll just… rest my eyes for a second.”

Gwyneth leaned back in her chair, arms crossed, her head already nodding slightly. “Don’t wake me up unless it’s the end of the world.”

I watched as, one by one, they succumbed to exhaustion. Even Alverson, who usually had an endless supply of sarcasm, had gone silent, his breaths evening out as he fell asleep.

I was tired, too. More than tired. My whole body ached from lack of sleep, my mind foggy from pushing through hours of nonstop work. But I couldn’t rest.

Tomorrow was Maxine’s judgment.

If I stopped now, even for a moment, I might miss something crucial that could change everything.

Suppressing a yawn, I grabbed my phone and stepped out of the room. My feet carried me down the hallway to where John and Jeremy were stationed. They were reviewing files when I approached, my gaze locking onto John.

I hesitated for a second before finally speaking. “I need your help.”

John raised an eyebrow, setting down the document he was holding. “With what?”

I held up the polished piece of wood we had found earlier. “This. I need to know for certain if it’s what Alverson claims it is.”

John’s eyes narrowed slightly as he took the wood from me, inspecting it carefully. “Alverson said this is the handle of a knife, right? One made specifically for Cobra Organization leaders?”

I nodded.

Jeremy leaned in, examining it as well. “If that’s true, this is bad news. Only high-ranking Cobra leaders are given customized weapons. The design is usually unique to each leader. If we can confirm that, it means—”

“That the person connected to this knife isn’t just some low-level operative,” I finished, my throat tightening. “It means someone powerful was directly involved in framing Maxine.”

John sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I can verify it, but it’s not going to be easy. These weapons are rare. Most of them are made in secret, and the only people who would recognize the craftsmanship are—”

“People from the underworld.” Jeremy muttered.

I clenched my jaw. I knew where this was leading. If we wanted answers, we had to find someone who actually made these knives—or someone who owned one.

John looked at me carefully. “Are you sure you want to go down this path? You might not like what you find.”

I swallowed hard. I wasn’t sure. Doubts clawed at my heart, but I had no choice. If this piece of wood truly belonged to a Cobra leader’s knife, then it could be the key to proving Maxine’s innocence.

So I took a deep breath and steadied myself.

“I don’t care what I find.” I said, voice firm despite the exhaustion weighing me down. “I just need the truth.”

John crossed his arms, his expression dark with frustration. “Are you even hearing yourself right now, Attorney? You’re risking everything. Your career, your life, just to undo a case that you built.”

Jeremy, usually the calmer one, shook his head in disbelief. “You’re the prosecutor, A’ishah. You’re the reason Maxine’s behind bars. If the higher-ups even suspect you’re trying to break your own case, you’ll lose everything. Do you even realize what you’re doing?”

I clenched my fists, jaw tightening. Of course, I knew. I knew the consequences of what I was doing. I knew that overturning the case I had so meticulously built would make me a target. But I didn’t care.

Because if someone could break my case, it was none other than me.

I met their glares head-on. “If you think I don’t know what’s at stake, then you don’t know me at all.” My voice was steady, but I could feel the weight of exhaustion creeping into my bones. “I built this case. I know its strengths, and I know its weaknesses. If someone is going to tear it down, it won’t be some outsider, it’ll be me.”

John let out a sharp breath, shaking his head. “You’re not thinking straight.”

Jeremy sighed, his tone softer but just as firm. “A’ishah, this isn’t just about Maxine anymore. If you push too hard, you might not be able to come back from this.”

I swallowed back the bitterness in my throat. They were worried, I knew that. But they didn’t understand. They couldn’t.

“I appreciate your concern.” I said, forcing my voice to remain even. “But if you can’t help me, that’s fine. I’ll find another way.”

With that, I turned on my heel and walked away, leaving them behind.

My steps were quick, fueled by frustration and urgency. I didn’t slow down until I reached the parking lot. The cool evening air hit my face, but it did nothing to calm the storm brewing inside me.

I pulled my keys from my pocket, gripping them tightly as I leaned against my car. My heart pounded, my mind racing with possibilities.

I had no time left. Tomorrow was Maxine’s judgment. And I was running out of options.

I exhaled sharply, gripping the car door as I ran through my limited options. The only Cobra Organization leader I know that is still alive was Nikki.

But she would never talk. Not to me. Not after everything I’d done to her.

I was one of the reasons she was behind bars, and to make matters worse, her son, Nicolas, was under my custody. In her eyes, I had robbed her of everything. Her freedom. Her legacy. Her own flesh and blood.

Approaching her felt like walking into a den of vipers. If I went in alone, she’d shut me down before I could even get a word out. I needed leverage… something that would force her to listen.

And that leverage was Nicolas.

He looked hesitant at first, but when his eyes met mine, he straightened his posture. I had picked him up earlier, convincing him that this was the only way. He had every reason to refuse, he didn’t owe me anything. But he had agreed.

Because deep down, he knew the truth.

If we didn’t act now, if we didn’t get the information we needed, Maxine’s fate would be sealed.

“Nervous?” I asked him while driving.

“It's my first time meeting her after she abandoned me, Ate. Hindi ko alam anong mararamdaman ko.” He said with a blank expression. But I know him well enough to notice the worry in his eyes.

“I'll be there with you.” I smiled softly.

“I know. Thank you.”

As I drove, my fingers tightened around the steering wheel, exhaustion creeping into my bones like a slow, relentless tide. My vision blurred for a split second, but I forced myself to stay alert.

Nicolas, seated beside me, noticed.

"You haven't been sleeping, have you?" His voice was laced with concern.

I didn't bother lying. "I can't afford to rest if it means losing time, or losing the chance to find the truth and acquit Maxine.”

He sighed, shaking his head. "You can't keep running on empty, Ate. At this rate, you'll collapse before you even get the chance to prove anything."

I said nothing. What could I say? That he was right? That every part of me ached for rest, but my mind refused to shut down? That every ticking second felt like a countdown to something irreversible?

Instead, I focused on the road.

Nicolas exhaled sharply, then muttered, "Fine. If you're that stubborn, I'll do everything I can to make her cooperate.”

I glanced at him briefly. There was determination in his eyes, something that reminded me of his mother.

When we arrived at the prison, I stepped out first, adjusting my blazer to regain my composure.

"Nicolas, wait here for a moment," I instructed. "Let me talk to her first."

He nodded reluctantly but stayed behind as I entered the visiting area.

The moment Nikki saw me, her expression twisted into something between hatred and amusement.

"You’ve got some nerve showing up here." she sneered, arms crossed as she leaned back against her chair.

"I need information, Nikki."

She scoffed. "And I need my freedom. And my son."

My jaw clenched. "Help me, and maybe you’ll get something in return."

Her dark eyes studied me, calculating. "Why should I help the woman who took everything from me?"

I expected this. Nikki wasn’t the type to be easily persuaded. Which was why I had come prepared.

Without another word, I subtly signaled the guards.

A moment later, the door opened.

Nicolas walked in.

And just like that, the smirk on Nikki’s face vanished.

The moment Nicolas stepped into the room, the tension shifted.

Nikki’s breath hitched. Her tough, unshakable facade cracked in an instant. Her lips parted as if she wanted to speak, but no words came out. Instead, her eyes welled up with emotion.

“Nicolas…” Her voice broke.

For a long moment, she just stared at him, her expression torn between longing and regret. Then, before anyone could react, she surged forward, pulling him into a tight embrace. Nicolas stiffened but didn't pull away.

“Anak ko.” She whispered against his hair, clutching him like he might disappear. “Ang tangkad mo na.”

Nicolas let out a small sigh, hesitantly patting her back. “It’s been so long, Mom.”

“I know.” Nikki’s voice shook. “I know, and I hate myself for it. I should’ve—” She cut herself off, inhaling deeply. “I should’ve been there.”

The moment was heavy, emotions raw and laid bare. But I didn’t have the luxury to dwell on it. Time was running out.

So I stepped forward. “Nikki.” I said firmly, pulling her attention back to me. “I need to know something.”

Her expression darkened instantly, eyes narrowing. “Seriously? You bring my son here just to interrogate me?”

I met her glare without flinching. “We don’t have time to waste.” I reached into my pocket and placed the small polished wood piece on the table between us. “Tell me, is this what I think it is?”

She stiffened, her eyes flickering to the object before snapping back to me. “And you think it’s appropriate to talk about this in front of my son?”

I expected that reaction. But before I could respond, Nicolas stepped in.

“I already know everything, Mom.” His voice was steady, unwavering.

Nikki looked at him sharply. “What do you mean?”

“I know about the Cobra Organization. I know about the things you used to do. And I know Ate A’ishah was one of the people who put you behind bars.”

She looked stricken. “Then why are you here?”

“Because I also know that Ate A’ishah took me in when you couldn’t. Her, and Ate Maxine. They made sure I had a future, a life outside of all that mess.” Then he gestured toward me. “She’s been good to me. So I don’t appreciate you being rude to the person who helped me when you couldn’t.”

Nikki’s lips trembled. She swallowed hard, looking away as if ashamed.

Then, after a long pause, she exhaled sharply. “Fine,” she muttered, reaching for the piece of wood. She turned it over in her hands, inspecting it closely. Her jaw clenched.

“This…” She tapped it against the table. “This is the handle of a Cobra leader’s knife. Not just any leader, one from the highest ranks.”

I leaned in. “Are you sure?”

She shot me a look. “I used to carry one myself. I’d know it anywhere.”

A sense of vindication rushed through me. This was it. This was the lead I needed.

“Whose could it be?” I asked.

She hesitated. “There weren’t many of us left. If this was found at the crime scene, there’s only one person it could belong to.”

I held my breath, waiting for the name.

“Boa.”

“The big boss?”

She nodded her head. “You must be a hell of a hindrance, so the Boa decided to go there personally.”

My grip on the table tightened. The Boa. The highest-ranking leader of the Cobra Organization. But… why?

I exhaled sharply, forcing my emotions into check. “You’re absolutely sure?”

Nikki nodded. “Like I said, I’d know that handle anywhere. And if it was found at the scene, it means only one thing, Boa was there.”

A heavy silence settled in the room.

Nicolas looked at me, concern written all over his face. “Ate, what does this mean for Maxine’s case?”

I clenched my jaw. “It means that the real killer is someone powerful. Someone who isn’t afraid to eliminate obstacles.” I looked at Nikki. “Why would Boa go through all this trouble?”

She leaned back, arms crossed. “Boa doesn’t move unless it’s necessary. If they were there, then either the victim was a direct threat to them, or…” Her gaze sharpened. “Someone lured them there.”

The implication hit me like a truck. Someone set this up. And Maxine got caught in the middle.

I had no time to waste. I turned to Nicolas. “We’re leaving.”

He hesitated. “Are you sure you’re okay? You haven’t rested at all.”

I forced a small, tired smile. “I can’t afford to rest. Not when I’m this close to finding the truth. I’ll rest after I see Maxine walk out of that courtroom a free woman.”

Nicolas frowned. He wanted to argue, I could see it in his eyes. But instead, he sighed and nodded. “Just… be careful.”

“I always am.” It was a lie, and we both knew it.

After saying a brief goodbye to Nikki, we left the prison. The drive back was quiet. Nicolas kept glancing at me, like he was debating whether to say something. But in the end, he stayed silent.

When I pulled up in front of our house, he hesitated before getting out. “Ate A’ishah… I mean it. Be careful.”

I gave him a reassuring nod. “I will.”

He didn’t look convinced, but he didn’t push further. With one last glance, he stepped out of the car and disappeared into the house.

I let out a deep breath before gripping the steering wheel tightly. My body was screaming for rest, my mind foggy with exhaustion. But I couldn’t stop.

Not yet. I checked the time. 2 AM.

Five hours until Maxine’s judgment.

I needed to move.

With renewed determination, I drove straight to the headquarters.

When I arrived at the headquarters, the exhaustion weighing down my body nearly won over my willpower. But the moment I stepped inside, the sight of Alverson, Jana, and Gwyneth now glued to their screens, still fighting against the impossible task of recovering the deleted body cam footage, pushed me forward.

Alverson rubbed his eyes, muttering curses at his laptop. Gwyneth looked dead on her feet but still typed away with gritted teeth. Jana, arms crossed, was pacing as if trying to keep herself awake.

“You’re all still at it?” My voice came out hoarse, the lack of sleep taking its toll.

Alverson snorted. “Says the woman who just drove across the city at two in the morning instead of getting even a minute of rest.”

Gwyneth scoffed. “Focus. We need that footage.”

Jana turned to me, eyes scanning my face. “You look like hell.”

I huffed a laugh, tossing my coat onto a chair. “Parang ikaw.” Then I got straight to the point. “I confirmed it.”

That got their attention.

“Confirmed what?” Gwyneth asked, sitting up straighter.

I placed the small polished wood piece on the table. “This was from a Cobra Organization leader’s knife. And not just any leader—Boa’s.”

“Oh, hell.” Alverson leaned back, running a hand down his face. “So, what, you’re telling me the leader of a goddamn crime syndicate was at the crime scene?”

I nodded. “And if we can confirm it was Boa's knife, we can prove that Maxine was framed.”

Jana let out a low whistle. “Shit just keeps getting deeper, huh?”

I exhaled sharply. “Which is why I need you all to keep working on that footage. If there’s even a single frame left, it could be the evidence we need to link Boa to the crime.”

Alverson rolled his shoulders, cracking his neck. “Fine. But if I die of exhaustion, I’m haunting you.”

“Get in line.” Gwyneth muttered, already turning back to her screen.

As they got back to work, I turned to Jana. “I need you to call Denise.”

Jana froze. “Denise?”

“Yes.”

She scrunched her nose in distaste. “You do know that woman is still in love with Maxine, right? And that she hates your guts?”

“I know.” I took a deep breath. “But she’s still Maxine’s lawyer. And if we’re going to win this, I need to tell her exactly what to do—and what to say.”

Jana hesitated, glancing at Alverson and Gwyneth as if waiting for them to object. But neither did. They just kept working, letting me handle it.

Then, with a dramatic sigh, she pulled out her phone. “Fine. But if she starts getting all smug, I’m hanging up.”

“Just put it on speaker.” I muttered, rubbing my temple.

Jana rolled her eyes but dialed the number anyway. The phone rang twice before an all-too-familiar voice picked up.

“This better be important.” Denise’s voice was sharp, impatient.

Jana looked at me. I took a deep breath, straightened my posture, and spoke.

“It’s me.”

“Huh? A’ishah?” Denise’s voice lost its edge, shifting into something unreadable. “Why the hell are you calling me at two in the morning?”

I clenched my jaw. “Because if you want to win this case, you need to come here at the headquarters. Now.”

“Shit! I'm coming.”

It didn't take long before she arrived.

Denise barely took a step inside the headquarters before her sharp eyes locked onto mine. Her hair was disheveled, and she was still dressed in what looked like yesterday’s clothes, she must have been working non-stop just like us. But I didn’t care about that right now.

“What the hell is so urgent that you needed me here in person?” She snapped, eyes flickering between me, Jana, and the two still working at the computers.

I wasted no time. “We have new evidence that could prove Maxine was framed.”

Denise stiffened. “What?”

I grabbed the small piece of wood from the table and handed it to her. “This came from a knife used in the crime. It belongs to Boa, one of the leaders of the Cobra Organization.”

Her brows furrowed as she examined it. “How do you know it’s his?”

“I used to work cases connected to the Cobra Organization. Their higher-ups have custom weapons, and this wood comes from a knife handle specifically crafted for Boa. If we can match it to them, it proves that someone from Cobra was at the scene of the crime, and Maxine was just a scapegoat.”

Denise’s grip on the evidence tightened. “And you’re telling me this now?”

“Because I just confirmed it an hour ago. I also had to make sure you’d actually listen to me,” I shot back. “We only have two hours before the judgment, and I have to leave in an hour to meet Nicole’s parents.”

Denise narrowed her eyes. “And you trust me to handle this?”

I met her gaze without hesitation. “I don’t trust you. But I have no choice, anyways.”

A flicker of something crossed her face, hurt, maybe, or guilt, but she squared her shoulders. “What else do we have?”

Alverson spoke up without looking away from his screen. “Still working on the deleted body cam footage. If we recover even a few seconds, we might have proof that Maxine wasn’t alone at the scene.”

Gwyneth let out a frustrated groan. “Whoever wiped this was damn good. But I’m better.”

I turned back to Denise. “Whether or not we get that footage in time, you need to argue that the prosecution hasn’t ruled out all possible suspects. This knife handle is our best shot at shifting suspicion onto the Cobra Organization.”

Denise ran a hand through her hair, deep in thought. “Alright. I’ll push for it. But the judge won’t accept just one piece of wood as evidence. We need something stronger.”

I exhaled sharply. “We will. I just need you to stall for time.”

“Fuck! Don't argue too much, please. Ang hirap mong kontrahin sa korte, A'ishah.”

I clenched my jaw. “I had to.”

“Okay, but please hold back a little?”

I sighed as I turned to Denise. “I have to go. You know what to do.”

Denise gave me a firm nod. “I’ll fight like hell.”

With one last look at the exhausted team still working to clear Maxine’s name, I grabbed my coat and headed for the door. There was still one more battle I had to fight.

~~~

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