Lo Que la Vida Me Robó #193, Lunes 8/11/14: Little Boy Lost

Chapter 193: Little Boy Lost

Valverde House, Study: Dimitrio Mendoza had suspected that his old friend Pretty Boy Argüelles was The Scorpion. Facing that this was fact was a different kettle of fish.

“How do you know this?”

“He himself confessed to Nadia.”

“Adolfo. Adolfo killed Mónica.”

“And Refugio. And many other people.”

Dimitrio took one second more to take this in. He silently left the house.

Valverde House, Bedroom: Pretty Boy Argüelles begged his bride to forgive him. He talked about his own pain when he heard that his sister was dead because of Pedro Medina and what it had done to his life. He cried far more than he ever had before.

“I need you. I need you to forgive me. You would do it. Every year I was away from you killed me. I was alone. I lost feeling for life. I beg you not to leave me. You are the only one who can save me.”

Josefina knew he was lost forever. “No. Don't make me feel guilty for your decisions, Adolfo.”

“Forgive me. I beg you. Don't leave me. Let's go. Help me. Help me escape from the authorities. Let's go away from here. Listen. We can have our dreams. We can have it all.”

“Adolfo, those dreams would end in a nightmare. I can't... I can't marry you, Adolfo. I had believed you had changed. The dear Adolfo who had brought me roses all those days, who won me with words and beautiful things. Now I know all that is all a lie.”

“It was the only sincerity in my life. You are the dream of my life. The woman I love above all things.”

“If that is true, show me by doing the right thing. Paying for your crimes.”

“I can't do that!” he shouted through his tears. “Understand me, please!”

“Don't come near me!” she shouted as she stepped away. “Don't touch me, Adolfo. Your hands are drenched in blood.”

“I can't go to prison, Josefina. Not for you or anyone.”

They stared at each other.

Solares Apartment: Police chief José Luis Álvarez was visiting Esmeralda, who was minding the Almonte children. His cell phone rang. He checked the ID screen.

“Hello? I'll be right there.” He ended the call.

“What happened?”

“The wedding was cancelled. In the meantime, don't leave the house. Stay here and watch the children. I'll send guards to watch the house.”

“What's happening?”

“I know who The Scorpion is. I'm going to get him.” He ran out without another word.

Mendoza Apartment: Dimitrio had gone home. He had removed his uniform jacket and was sitting on the couch, looking at the photo of himself and his dead fiancée, Mónica Rentería.

He thought back to her funeral. Adolfo had been there conveying condolences. He had looked him in the eye. They had embraced. Adolfo's act had taken him for the worst ride of his life. He got up and loaded his pistol. He tucked it into the back of his trousers. His cell phone rang. “What do you want? You know who the Scorpion is? I'll be there.” He ended the call and ran out, pulling out his shirttail to cover the gun.

Valverde House, Bedroom: Adolfo would not give up so easily.

“Josefina, run away with me. Please do not abandon me. I beg you, save me. Save me. Save me. For God's sake put yourself in my place. Come with me where we can start a new life together. With our children. Where I won't need a gun. I know you can help me. Please help me.”

“Adolfo, understand this. You can't escape who you are. Nobody can escape from themselves. Nobody. This life you are offering me, this role doesn't exist.” He collapsed on the couch at these words. “There is noplace in the world where you can find peace, Adolfo.”

“Yes, with you there is!”

“That is not true!”

“Listen to me,” he begged.

“Adolfo, do you really believe I would have a killer as the father of my children? No. Adolfo, you have to surrender to the authorities.”

“I can't endure prison, Josefina.”

“Even if I ask you to? In the name of the love you say you have for me? Turn yourself in! Kill The Scorpion! Do it.”

“The only one who can kill The Scorpion is you. Your love. Tell me you will marry me. Tell me you will have me at your side. Say you will not abandon me, please. If you do this, I'm prepared to spend the rest of my life in prison with you as my wife. Tell me.”

Josefina was in as much pain as he was. “No, Adolfo. No. No! I cannot marry you.”

She walked over to the nightstand and picked up the phone.

“What are you doing?”

“Calling the police.”

He crossed the room in two steps. He took the phone and threw it across the room, then he pushed her back onto the bed.

“No! Adolfo, no!” she screamed. He pulled back in horror at what he might have done. He looked in the full length mirror for a moment in disgust, then left the room, closing the door behind him. Josefina cried as she tried to catch her breath.

Valverde House, Parlour: Nadia and Victor remained in the parlour with their daughter. Neither wanted to talk about what was happening. But Adolfo forced the issue when he came in.

“Why are you crying, Uncle?” Victoria asked. She went over to him.

“Victoria,” said Victor in a warning tone. But the child seemed not to hear her father.

Adolfo knelt to be face to face with his niece. He held her in front of him and managed to smile for her.

“Victoria, don't ever forget that I love you. We may not see each other for a long time, but I'll always take care of you.”

“What long time? What are you saying? Where are you going?” she asked, starting to cry.

“Are you trying to escape?” asked Victor.

“Please don't do this,” said Nadia. “I beg you. Turn yourself in.”

Adolfo picked up his niece and stepped closer to her mother. “I can't. I only hope to finally have peace. I love you, sis.” He hugged her with his free arm. She hugged him back.

“I love you,” she said.

“Forgive me,” he said.

He kissed Victoria and put her down on her feet. Then he walked past Victor and out of the house. He walked up to his car and saw that the tires had been flattened. That's when Pedro Medina pulled up. He grinned like a mad scientist in a bad movie.

“I hope with this you will realize that you are permanently in my world, Fofito,” said Pedro. “You are a criminal equal to me. What's with you, idiot? You try to show two faces of a coin but that's impossible, idiot. Adolfo is dead. You were the first victim of The Scorpion. Now get into the back seat. We'll go far away together. They'll never find us. You and I are invincible, Fofito. I am Pedro Medina and you, imbecile, are my balls. If you want to escape you have no other option. Now stop crying and get in the car.”

Adolfo got into the back seat of Pedro's car. The driver pulled away just as the police siren was heard. The two police cars rounded the corner and stopped, discharging several officers.

Peralta House: Macario returned alone. He told Dominga he had looked everywhere for Kevin.

“You better find him, Macario. Our son left. Our boy left and it's all your fault.”

“Forgive me – “ Macario was afraid of Dominga's anger and the guilt she would make him feel.

“I don't want to hear these words until you come back with him. Do you hear me?” He hung his head in embarrassment. “How unfair you've been. Bring back my son!”

“Kevin isn't your son!”

She slapped him hard.

“He may not be my son, but the boy has won my heart. He needs a family and I want to give it to him! If you don't want him to be part of this family, the one who has to leave is you! Listen well, Macario. You don't come back into this house without Kevin. You will find our son!”

“Very well,” he murmured as he turned to leave.

Valverde House: Nadia sat on the parlour couch with Victoria on her lap. She knew in that moment she had seen her brother for the last time. Monserrat and Alejandro came in.

“Nadia, how is Josefina?” Monserrat asked.

“Uncle Adolfo left and he's not going to marry Aunt Josefina,” said Victoria. She began to cry.

“Love, why don't you play for a little while in the garden with Manuela?” asked Monserrat.

“You're going to talk about grown-up stuff?”

“Yes, my love.”

“OK.” Manuela came to take Victoria outside. The adults waited until they were out of earshot.

“Dimitrio knows what's happened,” Monserrat said, quietly.

“He's going to kill him. If he doesn't turn himself in, he will kill him, Victor!” said Nadia.

Victor held his wife as she began crying again.

The ladies went upstairs and knocked on Josefina's bedroom door. She had just ended a phone call and she was dumbfounded for a moment.

“Josefina, it's Monserrat. Nadia is with me. Open up and let us in.”

Josefina opened the door.

“Pedro Medina has just called. He's setting a trap for Dimitrio and Adolfo. We can't let anything happen to them; we have to do something.”

They all went downstairs.

Abandoned Warehouse: Pretty Boy Argüelles paced. Pedro Medina sat in his rocking chair, smoking a cigar. One of his thugs rocked the chair so his boss wouldn't have to. It was impossible to tell what he was thinking as he watched his boss. Freud would have loved watching this. He would have enjoyed seeing a man being rocked in a chair by someone else as he sucked on his adult pacifier. Except that nothing pacified Pedro Medina. He enjoyed taunting Pretty Boy Argüelles. He almost laughed as he said, “Calm down, Fofito. They'll be here in less than five minutes. I don't know why you're so nervous.”

Outside the gate surrounding the warehouse complex, Dimitrio pulled up and got out of his car. José Luis arrived right behind him.

“Dimitrio! Why didn't you call out the Navy?”

“This is between Adolfo and me,” he said. “Pedro Medina will also be here.”

“That guy knows I'm after Refugio's killer. For that I want The Scorpion taken alive and thrown in prison.”

They ran through a few ruined walls and arches. José Luis was catching up to Dimitrio, yelling at him to slow down and remain calm. “Calm down. Don't proceed yet.”

A helicopter appeared overhead. They looked up for a second. Both realized that the copter belonged to Medina. Dimitrio hit José Luis in the back of the head, knocking him out cold on the pavement. “I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry!” he said. He headed inside the warehouse.

The copter had landed. Pedro, The Scorpion, and the two goons were on their way to board it.

“We're going to escape and we have to step on it,” Pedro said. “The police and the Navy are after us. We're saving The Scorpion.” He touched Adolfo. “Believe me. Together we will be invincible.”

The Scorpion lagged behind the others and looked behind him. The two thugs were dressed in black. Adolfo was the only one in white. He made an easy target.

“Adolfo! Adolfo!” Dimitrio called out. He was following with his pistol in hand. Pedro boarded the copter.

Adolfo stopped and turned around when he reached the plane. He looked for a brief moment at his former friend. Dimitrio shot twice, but wasn't close enough to hit. Pretty Boy Argüelles tried to board the copter, but Pedro kicked him out as it began its ascent.

“Now you will know the true meaning of treason,” said Pedro. Adolfo fell to the ground as Pedro sneered at him. The copter ascended.

He scrambled to his feet and drew his pistol. He and Dimitrio stared at each other over the barrels of their weapons.

Alejandro, Monserrat, and Josefina arrived at the scene. Josefina was still in her bridal gown and jewels. Alejandro told the women to wait for him by the car while he looked for Dimitrio and Adolfo. However, Josefina would not wait and followed him into the abandoned buildings. Monserrat followed her when she refused to listen to her warning.

“Put down the pistol! Put it down!” Dimitrio shouted.

Adolfo looked up, then threw the pistol down. Dimitrio tossed his aside, then charged him for a fight. He knocked him down and punched his face twice. They got to their feet and punched and kicked each other until their faces were bloodied. Pretty Boy knocked Dimitrio to the ground and landed two more punches before running for his weapon. Dimitrio crawled toward his, got up, and began chasing him.

Alejandro and the ladies found José Luis lying on the ground. He felt a pulse, said that the police chief was alive, and Josefina ran into the complex. Alejandro told Monserrat to stay with José Luis while he went in after Josefina. A shot rang out. Dimitrio shouted “Don't move!”

The former friends stared down the barrels of their weapons once again. The showdown at the OK Corral couldn't have been more tense.

“I'm sorry, Dimitrio,” said Adolfo. “But you didn't listen to me. I won't go to prison.”

“It was you, you bastard. It was you who killed Mónica. All this time it was you! How could you do this? How could you look me in the face after everything that happened?”

“You can't know. Do you think it was easy for me to kill my friend's fiancée?”

“Friend? You lied! You looked me in the face all this time! You lived in my home! You came to her funeral. You embraced me. Friend?”

“Believe me, I didn't want to hurt her. But there was nothing else I could do. She followed me. One of my men fired. There was an open door and she came in. She realized it was me. It was my life or hers. I didn't want to kill her, I swear.”

“But she is dead. So am I. And all the others as well.”

“I'm sorry, but I can't have you following me all my life. It's going to be over here. The last death of The Scorpion.”

Josefina arrived and shouted “No, Adolfo! Don't do it!”

He turned to her and said, “Forgive me, Josefina. Forgive me.”

He then lowered the gun, pulled it behind his back, and removed the magazine. He raised the empty weapon quickly and aimed it at Dimitrio. Dimitrio shot once in the heart. Adolfo swayed slightly without lowering his armed hand. Josefina cried out “No!!!!” Dimitrio shot again, this bullet landing lower down.

“No! No!” Josefina cried out. She began running toward him as he began to fall. “No, Adolfito, no!”

As she knelt by his side he said “After all that, I always loved you” with his last breath.

“Don't leave me,” she begged. But it was too late. He closed his pretty green eyes for the last time. Josefina leaned over his body. She cried.

José Luis, Alejandro, and Monserrat arrived at that moment. Monserrat went to Dimitrio and asked “Are you alright?”

He did not answer. He walked over to Pretty Boy's dead body and said to Josefina “I'm sorry I ruined your wedding.” He then walked away.

“Josefina, I'm so sorry,” Monserrat said.

Josefina cried. “Oh, dear friend. Adolfo wanted this. You know? He looked for it to end this way. Why did I know this would be the only way it had to happen, for him to save himself? How I wanted to do something for him! My love, you asked me so long ago. How could I have known you had become The Scorpion?” The tears fell like rain. “When you were crying in my arms it was because you had lost your soul.”

She kissed his forehead. Faust was dead and the devil had won.

Valverde House, Parlour: Nadia and Victoria cried.

“Don't cry, love,” Nadia told her daughter. “Your uncle is going on a long trip.”

“Will we see him again?” asked the child.

“Now, you're too little to understand a lot of things, but your uncle has made a lot of mistakes.”

“Was that why Aunt Finita isn't going to marry Uncle Adolfo? I won't talk to her because I can't forgive her. I'm mad at her.”

“Love, it's much more complicated than that. Your uncle did something very bad and we couldn't help him.”

“Where is he going on this trip?”

“To a place where he can pay for what he's done. He has to take responsibility for his mistakes.”

“In prison?”

“Yes, my love. In prison.”

Nadia hugged her daughter and both continued crying. Victor watched, feeling helpless. Finally he knelt to talk to Victoria.

“Daughter, your mother is right. We're not going to abandon your uncle. We'll be allowed to visit him soon. I know he will be very happy to see you.”

“What did he do that was so bad he's going to prison?”

“He hurt a lot of people and he needs to pay his debt to society,” Nadia said. She hugged Victoria just as Victor's cell phone rang. He stood up, looked at the screen, and answered.

“What happened?” He listened and ended the call in three seconds without saying anything else.

“My love, who called?”

“Alejandro.”

“What happened?”

“He's on his way back.”

“And my brother?” she asked. He took her hand. “No! Victor, no!”

She sank back onto the couch repeating herself. Victor embraced her.

Bus Stop: Kevin got on the bus and the doors closed. Macario arrived just before the driver prepared to pull away from the curb. He knocked on the glass doors until they opened. Kevin came down the steps, asking him what he was doing there. “I'm only in your way, after all,” he said. Macario admitted he was wrong. He had accused him of a crime he didn't commit. Kevin called him out on his attitude. Since he had arrived in Aguazul, Macario had wanted him to leave. But Macario didn't let him go. He told him he was his son and his place was with him. Macario echoed Dominga's attitude to him about coming home to them.

They finally embraced.

Warehouse Grounds: There was nothing more that anyone could do. José Luis tried to help Josefina to her feet. A police siren was heard in the distance. She cried, hoping that Adolfo's soul would rest in peace.

“With every act of The Scorpion his soul was slowly dying,” she said. “Of pain and regret.”

“Pedro Medina set him on this path,” said Alejandro. “That wretch destroyed his life.”

“And mine,” said Josefina. “This morning everything was taken away.”

“Josefina, let's get out of here,” said Monserrat, gently. She helped her up. Her hands were stained with Adolfo's blood. She and Alejandro helped her out. José Luis lingered long enough to look down at the body.

Mendoza Apartment: Dimitrio was alone in his living room, staring into nothing. There was a knock. He opened the door and Rosario came in and embraced him.

“Son, son. I was so worried when you called.”

“I killed him. Adolfo was The Scorpion. Adolfo killed Mónica.”

“I heard about it. Alejandro told me everything.” She directed him to the couch and they sat.

“There had to have been something else I could have done. I fell like such an imbecile. He came to her funeral. He embraced me as though we were friends. He killed Refugio. He had a child who needed his father. He destroyed their lives.”

Rosario put her hand on his shoulder. “Don't torment yourself, Dimitrio. You did the right thing. You had to do it.”

“I so wanted to kill him. And the worst was that when I did it I felt like I was dying.”

“Because you are not a criminal. You were nothing like him.”

“I killed Adolfo on the day of his wedding to Josefina.”

“Now Josefina needs you more than ever. Don't abandon her, Dimitrio. Tell her what you told me. I'm sure she'll understand your reasons.”

“I can't tell Josefina and Nadia. They will hate me.”

“They won't hate you.”

“Of course they will. Because I intended this. I knew what was happening. They will have the right to hate me. I swore I would catch the Scorpion when I found Mónica dead on the floor.”

Rosario said no more. She stroked his hair and his shoulder as though he were her own son. He said nothing, but was grateful.

Peralta House: Macario and Kevin came home. Dominga was happy, calling him “son.” Dominga begged Kevin never to do this again. She even told him to come to her if his father ever became that stupid again. That was a guarantee they'd be close.

Valverde House: Monserrat took Victoria to Esmeralda's apartment so she could be with her children.

Josefina walked in with blood stains on her wedding dress. She was in tears. She knelt on the floor saying “Nadia, forgive me. I couldn't do anything to stop it.”

“My brother. My dear brother,” Nadia said. She and Nadia embraced and both cried.

Victor watched them silently. For that moment he was grateful that Nadia couldn't see her brother's blood.

Solares House: José Luis arrived to tell Esmeralda what happened.

“Let's just say that The Scorpion won't hurt anyone else.”

“Good. I want to look into the face of the man that killed my husband.”

“Why?”

“Please, José Luis, don't you understand? I want to tell him to his face that thanks to him Angel will have to go on without his father. I need to look him in the eye and see who is The Scorpion.”

“Esmeralda, The Scorpion is dead. And believe me, that guy died sorry for everything he did.”

“Please, José Luis, that doesn't matter to me. I don't believe in his remorse. Did he know who Mónica was when he killed her? More, who was Refugio and me? Or my son, or anyone?”

He looked away for a moment. “He knew, Esmeralda.”

“I don't understand.”

“The Scorpion knew what would hurt Dimitrio, you, everyone. He knew perfectly well.”

“No. Who was The Scorpion? Who?”

“Nadia's brother. Adolfo Argüelles.”

“No, no! How perverse! No, no!” She paced around, looking in all directions. She couldn't quite believe it. “No. Adolfo was here! He embraced me! He consoled me!” She looked as though she would scream. “How disgusting! Just a few days before Refugio had been holding me!”

Valverde House: Josefina tried to explain her feelings to Nadia. It was not easy for either of them. She lamented her innocence and how good she had thought Adolfo was.

“Adolfo loved you, Josefina. You were the love of his life. I am sure of this.”

“I want to remember him as the man who loved me. Who made me see heaven with his words. I felt like the most beautiful and important woman when he held me in his arms. Now when I look back and see the times he kissed me I realize he was a killer.”

“No, no. Josefina, when my brother was with you he was Adolfo. The man who fought for my happiness and that of my daughter. Neither you nor I knew The Scorpion. Adolfo loved us and I'm sure he lived his life trying to protect us.”

The doorbell rang and Victor brought Father Anselmo into the room. The old priest kissed Nadia and said “I can imagine how you feel, but I'm here to bring a little peace to your souls.”

“You knew, Father. That's why you wouldn't marry us in the church.”

“Yes, daughter. Yes. Adolfo finally found the peace he needed so much. You don't know about the times he came to me broken and crying. Regretting his actions and looking for a way out of the torment he lived in.”

Almonte House: Dimitrio had come back with Rosario. He was in his mother's room. He sat on the floor with his back to the sofa, facing his mother's bed.

“Please, don't keep thinking about this. You did what you had to do to stop that killer. I knew Adolfo took the wrong path. When he began working for Pedro Medina it was logical to suspect so. He told me it was Maria who killed Sandro Narváez in this very house. Your sister was desperate so I called Pedro for help. He sent Adolfo to clean up the crime scene.”

“Why didn't you tell me?” Dimitrio asked.

“Out of fear, Dimitrio. Adolfo threatened me with a pistol. He broke into my bedroom trying to get Benjamin Almonte's will from me. Adolfo was one of Pedro's men. I had to take that into account. You know that, Dimitrio.”

“It can't be. He deceived us all. To my face.” Gracie nodded in acknowledgment of his words. “He even stayed in my home. I can't believe I missed something that obvious all that time.”

“I know. But you can't keep tormenting yourself like this. You never listen to me. I know lots of things hurt you, love. I am proud of you because you are the person you are partly thanks to me.” He looked up at her.

He stared in suspicion. “In contrast, your friend never listened to his mother and Pedro ended his life.”

Dimitrio said nothing. He was trying to swallow this bullshit.

Valverde House: Father Anselmo told the ladies about how Pretty Boy had almost once killed him. Nadia hugged herself as she listened.

“I was The Scorpion's first victim, daughters.”

“My brother tried to kill you, Father?”

“Yes, daughter, yes. Your brother, enslaved by Pedro Medina, was ordered to kill me but he couldn't do it. I couldn't see in that moment how he could be made to be a killer. But, disgracefully, Ezekiel arrived and kidnapped me. I was drugged for a long time. He used all the weapons he had; above all, Adolfo. And finally when he let me come back to Aguazul it was too late to save him. Adolfo had been transformed into The Scorpion. There was nothing I or anyone else could do. His hands were soaked in blood.”

Almonte House: Alejandro and Monserrat returned with the three children. Rosario told them that Dimitrio was in the house. Lauro and Victoria went to her side.

“Where is he?” asked Monserrat.

“He's in with your mother.”

Monserrat handed Romina to Rosario and went to her mother's room. Alejandro stayed in the living room with his mother and the kids.

Gracie was sitting on the couch. Dimitrio was still sitting on the floor.

“Come here, love,” she said to her daughter. “Your brother needs a lot of help and I think you also need a hug.”

Monserrat sat at her mother's feet near her tormented brother. Gracie pulled her as close as she could. “I want you to know that I love you with all my soul. I love you to my last breath.”

“I don't want to lose you, Mother,” said Dimitrio.

“Neither do I,” said Monserrat. “I don't want you to die, Mother.”

“It will be alright,” Gracie said. “You know what? I've always believed in miracles. God is just and he has great love for us. You need me right now as your mother.”

She kissed their foreheads. Dimitrio stared away. He may or may not have realized the true meaning of her words.

Dear Friends,

Here is where I say goodbye to Aguazul. It's a pretty little town with lots of sunshine. Citizens aren't too bright by comparison, though. A perfect place for evil narcos to hide.

Pretty Boy Argüelles is dead. I think these days they call this Suicide By Cop. Things are finally happening to put Pedro Medina where he belongs. In the slammer or in Hell, it won't matter which; Aguazul will get relief soon. Somebody is on Pedro Medina's tail.

I've been called back to the mean streets up north. If you ever need my help again, just whistle. You know how, don't you? Just put your lips together and blow.

– Dashiell Hammett.