Chapter 40

"YOU have to prepare a hundred and fifty thousand for the bail," Maria's lawyer told Euclid. "Does she have enough money to bail herself?"

"I can handle it—"

"I'll pay for it—"

Euclid and Connor glared at each other, while Maria's other lawyer, Atty. Maximilian just shook his head at them.

"It seemed that bail money is not our problem," he said with a laugh. "We can get her out of here as soon as we can."

"You're right, but we have to secure her safety when she's outside," Atty. Oliver said. "According to Mr. Mercado, Maria holds the essential information that we need to win her case."

"I'll be guarding her," Euclid said. "I'm an NBI Agent, and she's under my custody." He looked at Connor. "Anyone that will interfere with our mission will be considered an accomplice."

Connor returned his glare. "Don't do anything that will trigger her daughter's sickness. We need to put her daughter's health at stake."

"Our client won't talk if we didn't assure her daughter's safety," Atty. Maximilian said. "While I was talking with her a while ago, she always mentioned her child's safety."

"Sara is her life," Connor said. "I witnessed everything that she did for her daughter."

"But, I can sense that there's more to her that she's not telling us," Atty. Olivar said suddenly. His brows were furrowed. "She's not disclosing everything that she knows."

Euclid clenched his jaw. He also noticed that, but he won't rush Maria. She changed a lot now, and he can see that she's not that easy to please now. "We'll take it slowly. What we need now is to get her out of that prison."

Connor sipped on his coffee. As soon as the request for the bail was approved, Euclid Connor and the two lawyers talked privately inside a cafeteria near the police station.

"Agent Mercado, we have to transfer our client inside the camp Aguinaldo—"

"We can't do that," Euclid cut off. "Atty. Olivar, I told you Maria won't talk if we won't give her what she wants."

"What she wants is safety—"

"She only needs assurance," Euclid said. "I'm sure, living inside the camp with her daughter is not in her option. My undercover team and I have planned it."

"You knew her so well, sir," Atty. Maximilian commented. "But, Atty. Olivar is right, we have to transfer her to a private place. If her concern is her daughter, we can allow Dr. Connor to schedule a visit to the camp for her child—"

"I know what's on her mind," Euclid countered. "We have to let her play this game."

*

"Maria Daza, you make say goodbye with your inmates," Deputy Miranda called Maria's attention. "Do you have one last word with them?"

Maria stood and walked towards the door. She can see in the corner of her eyes that everybody is looking at her as she stepped out of prison.

"Thanks…" she murmured when Miranda held the gate open for her.

"You've got a lot of handsome men willing to help you, huh?" she said as she handed her the logbook to sign. "You've got two lawyers while your other inmates are having a hard time getting one."

"Miranda…" Euclid warned his friend. "You don't have to tell her that."

"Oh, yeah, because she already knew how lucky she was," she said sarcastically. "I wish I have such an angelic face."

As soon as Maria finished signing some forms, Connor went to her and wrapped her body with a wool jacket. "It's called outside."

Maria smiled at him. "Thanks." She looked around the station. "Where's Wendy?"

"She's waiting for Sara's end of class," he said and ushered her outside.

"Wait," Euclid stopped her arm. "You can't just walk outside without me."

Maria looked at him. "Then, follow us," she said and looked away, but Euclid gripped her arm. "What do you want?"

"Obedience," he said without hesitation. "I know your lawyers have mentioned it to you."

"Which one? They've mentioned a lot of things to me that I can't remember even one from it," she replied sarcastically.

"Miss Daza," Atty. Olivar approached her. "I thought we have made it clear to you."

Maria heaved a sigh. They were now blocking the police station's entrance, but Maria doesn't care. All she wanted to do now is to go home and hug her daughter. "I'm sorry, I didn't listen that much."

Atty. Maximilian ushered them to the side of the entrance before he started to talk. "Starting today, Mr. Mercado will be with you twenty-four hours, seven days a week, until the criminal case that you're currently involved in is not solved."

Maria's mouth fell open. She remembered that they mentioned Euclid being her security. Still, she can't remember that it would be almost every minute of every day. "Wait, that can't be. I need privacy—"

"For now, Miss Daza, you have to cooperate with us," Atty. Olivar said. "Unless you wanted to go back to that prison cell and stay there until the case is solved."

Maria bit her lower lip. She wanted to get home. But, she doesn't want Euclid to be with her.

"Maria, don't worry, I'll check you and your daughter more often," Connor said and squeezed her shoulders. "Let's go, Sara's waiting for you—"

"Wait a minute," Chief Alvarez went in their way and looked at Maria. "May speak with your client for a second?"

Maria held her face covered. She was about to speak when Euclid stood in front of her as if protecting him from a bad guy.

"What is it about, Chief?" Euclid asked in a stern voice.

"I just want to ask her about something," the chief said, his voice changed. Maria can sense fear in her tone.

Euclid smirked. "What is that something—"

"Give us a moment," Maria said and stepped forward. She nudged Euclid to step aside. "Where do you want to talk, chief?"

"You can't go anywhere, Maria—"

"Maria?" Chief repeated, sounding relieved. "Is that your name?"

Maria didn't answer. Instead, she pulled down her mask and stared at the chief. "Why, Chief? Did you mistake me for another person?"

The shock in the chief's face was evident. Maria smiled. It's payback time…

***