Chapter
46: Regina Announces Her Candidacy
If
you tryly want to destroy your enemy, help him get to the top, then
take him down. I don't remember whether Machiavelli or even Rodrigo
Borgia ever said that, but that is the surest means of doing so in
our time.
– D.D.
Natalia
approached Mario regarding the possibility that Omar was capable of
killing José's mother. He said he was capable of truly horrible
things and asked her for the full details.
Regina
talked with Gerardo, who swore that he had nothing to do with the
microphone found in her office. The conversation went back to Mario
and his possible guilt with regard to recent events. She was still
unwilling to accept that her father was corrupt.. She told him that
he needed to return to his party and she needed to begin hers.
Hernán
and Andres discussed over the phone that they had to watch Emiliano
to determine whether he was in any way responsible for Alma's death.
Fernando
Escalante called Regina to tell her he had a surprise for her. She
was curious so she went to see him.
Ignacio
was almost broken with grief. He begged Gerard to allow him to work
for him again because he needed to or go mad. He begged Gerardo's
forgiveness and received it.
The
door was opened to the shelter and Regina saw a warehouse full of
things. Escalante told her that this donation was just the
beginning. She was shocked and asked Escalante what was behind all
this.
Natalia
returned to José's mother's home to see him but was greeted by
Blanca, his old girlfriend. She told Natalia that José had gone.
He was very nervous, she added, and that she did not know where he
had gone.
Teresa
went back to Gerardo's apartment. She doubled back and over in
pain. When Ximena's phone rang she told her to take the call “It
could be your father,” she said. It was not; it was Isela,
ordering Ximena to get to a meeting place in half an hour.
“I
can't; my mother isn't well.”
“Would
you like her to feel worse? If you don't show up I have photos to
show her.”
When
she ended the call the bearded man confirmed that the two girls who
had witnessed Alma's death would shortly be on a flight to Spain.
Natalia
told Noemi over the phone that José was gone. She was afraid for
him. She did not know that he was behind her and listening.
Regina
was suspicious of Escalante's generosity, questioning him whether
there would be a major favor he would try to obtain in the future.
He told her he wanted to help her get elected and that his only
interest was in giving back to his home country. She made it clear
that she didn't work that way. She told him she would discuss this
in her office, saying that she did not want anything like this
without being consulted. She then turned and left, leaving Escalante
there.
Mario
told Alonso about the conversation with Natalia. Alonso seemed
incredulous at his parents' recent behavior. He thanked Mario and
said he would take care of it. After Mario was out the door Alonso
called Ochoa and said to come to his office immediately.
Daniela
was confused about Regina's apparent rejection of Escalante's
generosity. Regina sent her back to the office to set up the press
conference.
Emiliano
and Hector arrived at Ximena's building to help her. They were just
in time to stop her getting into the red car driven by Isela's flunky
when she saw Emiliano. She ran over to him and theh red car took
off. Emiliano told Hector to follow it. As Hector ran to do this
Ximena asked Emiliano what he was doing. She would not believe him.
Escalante
told Lorena about what happened at the center, telling her that –
like Herod Agrippa advised in I, Claudius – Regina trusted
no one.
“It's
logical; her family is a disaster, starting with her father, her
father-in-law, and finally her husband. Look at them and you'll
know.”
“You
believe this or you know?”
“You
think not?”
“What
class of ganster are we talking about? One that knows nothing of
ethics, morality, or decency. At times you'd think you're talking
about a living saint.”
“Ah!
Be grateful you're helping a –”
“She
rejected my help. Who rejects money in this country?”
“She
is capable. She's the only one I know.”
“My
help is only for her. I don't want another candidate. I want her.”
“What
are you thinking of doing?”
“A
change of strategy.”
“No.
What you have to do is think differently.”
“What
are you referring to?”
“You
are an expert in political corruption. I will pursue the same line
with you. Regina.”
“Regina
is another matter.”
“Exactly.”
Ximena
argued with Emiliano, who wanted to know who that man was. She
completely rejected him and told him to get out of her life. She ran
off just as Hector pulled up to the curb. Emiliano got into the car
and told Hector to follow Ximena.
At
the same time the flunky spoke with Isela over his bluetooth phone.
He had recognized Emiliano from having seen him in the cabaret's bar.
Isela was not pleased at hearing this. She told him to look for
Emiliano.
Regina
was in her office when Alonso made a show of amiability as he
arrived.
“I
don't want any more problems,” she told him.
“What
do you mean?”
“I
want to know what you are prepared to do for me.”
“Everything.
Absolutely everything. You know that I love you. You have nothing
more to ask”
Regina
did not look completely convinced. She scrutinized his face.
“Therefore
I accept your proposition. You have to back out of the election.
Effective today, I am the candidate.”
Alonso
looked as though he would choke any moment. He quickly changed his
expression to a neutral one and nodded.
José
stood near his car, across the street from Omar's favorite café. He
wore black from head to toe, down to the metal of his weapon. His
trigger finger itched, but he managed to restrain himself. Omar sat
at an outside table, his expression as hostile as it had ever been.
He looked as mad as Caligula as he stared across the table at Marcia,
who was becoming afraid at his not having recognized her.
“When
I met you I thought I knew a different man,” she said.
“I
thought you were a decent woman!” he stage-whispered as he rose
from the table.
“No,
wait,” she said, also getting up.
José
took aim.
“Let
me explain,” Marcia said.
“Leave
me alone!” Omar said.
Marcia
looked up and saw the gun.
“No!”
she screamed. It was simultaneous with the first shot.
Other
customers ducked immediately. Ochoa and other goons in Omar's employ
rushed in. Ochoa shielded Omar to escort him away while shooting
left-handed at José. When they got Omar and Marcia into their car
and closed the door another black car came along and the occupants
took José inside.
“I'll
do this under one condition,” Alonso said. Regina shook her head.
“Allow me. That you get back together with me. I tell you I will
do anything.”
“You
said you would do this without conditions.”
“You're
asking a lot. Something will have to change.”
“You
told me you would do this without conditions. I don't understand.
Am I to suppose that you love me? You didn't say so.”
“Yes.”
“Are
you prepared to do the same for me?”
“Will
you let me ask a question?”
“Of
course.” She knew it would not be an easy one.
“Gerardo
Martínez also supports your candiacy?”
Regina
gave a sigh of exasperation.
“So
you would ask the same of me, to back your candidacy?”
“What
you're doing is changing the subject.”
“No.
This is the same subject as before. We have to have all the cards
on the table. Are you in love with that man?”
Regina
studied his face. She knew he was trying to back her into a corner.
Gerardo
and Ignacio were working some things out in Gerardo's office. He was
distracted with thoughts that things had not ended well during his
last encounter with Regina. They talked about the microphone.
Gerardo had not asked Andres to do that, nor had Ignacio.
Mario
stepped into the car to talk to José.
“Well,
I guess it's no surprise that you were compelled to kill.”
“You
are the senator's father?”
“Yes.
But I am also a friend of Natalia.”
They
continued talking about Omar. José said he knew that Omar had
killed his mother despite the lack of proof. “He ordered it. He
has to pay.”
“There
are other forms of revenge,” Mario said. “Well, let's be
grateful that Natalia will have another chance.” He signalled to
have the doors opened. Upon so doing he stepped out of the car while
one of his men entered from the other side, pushing José to the left
side of the rear seat.
“Where
are you taking me?”
“You
will find out.”
He
walked away as the car drove off in the opposite direction.
“I'm
sorry; I thought you knew,” Ignacio said.
“What
happened with Ximena?”
“She
was with Nayeli.”
“Why
didn't you tell me before?”
“They
made me promise not to tell, but since Nayeli's death I think I have
to trust you to hear what I have to say.”
“What
else do you know? What has Ximena done?”
“I
don't know what she's done. What I do know is that there was a
witness, Gerardo.”
“She
must have been in danger. Something tells me she was in danger.”
“It
stands to reason she did something, Gerardo. We can't leave out the
possibility that it can hurt you apart from your relationship with
Regina. Gerardo, that family is bloody. It's full of corruption.”
“I
have to go.”
As
he walked out of his office his secretary told him she got a call
that Teresa was ill. He said to get her back on the phone.
Teresa
had not gone to a hospital nor had she called a doctor. She walked
slowly through the apartment, finally leaning against a support
pillar with a loud cry of pain.
Ximena
arrived at the designated meeting place in the park. She begged
Isela on the phone to not send the photos. Isela told her to wait in
the park. Ximena leaned against a tree. Emiliano and Hector were
nearby and talking. Hector told his charge that it was obvious
Ximena didn't want anything to do with him. Emiliano replied that
Ximena was very upset and obviously had major problems. Hector took
out his cell to call a colleague who could get license plate
information.
“Are
you dismissing my backing of your candidacy?” Regina nodded. “Why
would you do that? Please answer me. Are you in love with Gerardo?”
“I
will answer if you keep your promise.”
“Very
clever. I'm not just talking about your candidacy. I'm talking abour
recovering our marriage.”
“You
are imposing conditions.”
“Tell
me that Gerardo is out of your life and I will do whatever you ask.”
She
looked at him almost out of the corner of her eye. He knew he was
getting nowhere.
“Please,
sit down,” he asked. They sat on opposite sides of the desk.
“Look me in the eye. How long have we been together? Twenty
years?”
“Twenty-five,
Alonso,” she said. There was a note of humor in her voice, as
though he had been teasing her and she was teasing him back. He
started to laugh.
“Are
you reproaching me for having a bad memory?”
“Well,
it's the least of your defects.”
“At
least it's not that I love you. From the moment I met you I knew I
would love you for the rest of my life.”
“Your
way of loving is curious.”
He
took her hand and looked at her questioningly.
“You
deceived me. Well, tell me the woman I saw was the only one –”
“Well,
yes. I'm sorry. I apologize a thousand times.”
“Tell
me how I forgive a betrayal.”
“Believing
each other. Believing in me. I've never been with any other woman
who wasn't you. Don't you know?”
She
studied his expression.
Gerardo
drove home as quickly as he could. He left a message on Ximena's
cell phone to call him as quickly as possible because he was worried.
Hector
and Emiliano arrived in the park and Emiliano spotted Ximena just as
Hector got the anser he was looking for; that the license plate
number belonged to a stolen car. Emiliano got out of the car, but
she was snatched up by the bearded flunky before Emiliano could get
to her. He ran back to Hector's car and yelled to follow the red
car. Ximena was frightened as the man told her she had to be locked
up. He grabbed at her neck for good measure but it was merely to
frighten her more as he did not want to lose control of the car.
Cecelia
was insulted by Alonso's recent behavior toward her. She knew he was
trying to reconcile with Regina and therefore felt used, especially
due to Alonso's latest directive to seduce Gerardo. Mauro gave her a
drink to help her calm down. She started asking “Who am I? Who am
I to him?” only to get an “I told you so” kind of response. He
asked her why she tolerated this treatment.
“Because
I love him.”
“Welcome
to the club.”
It
took a second and a half for this to sink in. When Cecelia looked at
Mauro he nodded slightly.
Chino
asked Marcia if she saw the shooter. She told him it was a man whom
she did not recognize. Omar proceeded to pour himself a drink and
started a rant about it having been one of his enemies who was after
his power. He then demanded to know what she was doing there,
claiming not to know who she was. Chino whispered to her to go
upstairs and talk to the nurse. Omar began yelling at him as Marcia
left the room. Omar walked out toward the stairs and yelled at Ochoa
and the others that he didn't want to see anyone when he returned.
“You
always do this: redirecting the conversation.”
“Not
this time. I'm asking whether you're in love with Gerardo Martínez
because I need to know. No trap; I only need to know the truth.”
“Are
you disoriented? Because you're enjoying this.”
“You
are cruel,” he said, half-joking. He got up.
“We
should know our minds. We're not babies.”
“No.
Want a drink?”
“No,
thanks.” There was no humor in her expression.
“Therefore,
what's your answer?”
“Only
that I want to know what you think and not just about marriage but
politics. I want to know whether you have ever thought of me and my
possibilities of becoming president.”
Alonso
was caught slightly off guard, but recovered.
“Yes;
that's why I made the proposal.” His cell phone rang.
“Didn't
you want to be in the game?” When Alonso didn't react to his phone
she told him to answer it. He checked the screen and was slightly
annoyed, but answered.
“What's
going on? I'm busy.”
“Sir,
your father is at home out of danger, but there is another problem.”
“What
is it?”
“It's
that your father is disoriented.”
“Really?”
“Yes,
including not recognizing people, including his lover. He's up in
his room. I think you need to come and see him as soon as possible.”
“Alright.
Very well; I'll be there.” He ended the call.
“Did
something happen?”
“Yes,
yes,” he said, worried. “My father isn't well.”
“What's
wrong?”
“He's
disoriented; fading.”
“Well,
you should go to see him.”
“Yes.
But I don't want this conversation to end. Do you want to go to
dinner?”
“I
can't; I have an important meeting.” The facial expression he
didn't see said she probably didn't.
“If
you're going to be a presidential candidate I guess you have to.”
“Exactly,
but in this case I should get home early. I want to see my son. I
hope it goes well with your father.”
“Thanks.”
Emiliano's
friend told Hernán and Andres that he knew nothing about Alma's
death. He told them to leave so his parents wouldn't hear about
this. Andres told him that they only wanted any helpful information.
“I
don't want to end up like Axie.”
“Axel
Villaseñor?” asked Hernán. He then turned to Andres. “That's
the boy who turned up dead of an overdose.” He turned back to the
other young fool. “He was a friend of yours, wasn't he?”
“I
don't want any more problems.” The boy was clearly afraid.
“Don't
you know that you can't have any more problems than you do now?”
Andres asked him. “Two people turned up dead and one of them was
your friend. [???]”
Regina
talked to Natalia on the phone to tell her about Omar. Natalia was
blasé about it.
“Well,
at least he wasn't shot.”
“Excuse
me, what did you say?”
“It's
a long story, daughter.”
“Well,
I have time. Tell me what happened.”
“I'm
here with your mother. I asked Mario to help me.”
“Why?”
“The
mother of my chauffeur, José, turned up dead and we believe it was
Omar.”
“Don
Omar?”
“I
can't confirm it, Regina but I can't doubt that he sent his minions
to frighten her and possibly kill her.”
“Natalia,
what you're saying is very serious.”
“Serious,
yes, but it's the truth. The man is a monster and he also could
bribe. The doctor said she died of natural causes. If he's
disoriented he still could. I don't care what happens to him.”
As
Daniela arrived Natalia told Regina she was worried about José and
that Mario had promised to help her. She listened with a thoughtful
expression and told Natalia to call her if she needed help. Daniela
reminded her about the press conference and how important it was.
Regina was beginning to develop a headache and told her it was a
family problem.
A
short while later the Senate house was full of journalists, party
members, and supporters who greeted Regina as she entered. She
hugged a few of the teens who were with their parents and made her
way to the podium where she thanked the audience.
“Today
we're here to announce that I am now officially a presidential
candidate. A new national political party is born, a new hope for
change in our country. A new path for prosperity and the good of our
people, for all Mexicans. Today is the birth of the party Women In
Action for Solidarity in alliance with the People's Power party I am
sure we will triumph. Thank you.”
She
left the podium as applause rang out through the Senate house. She
was accompanied by union leaders. Escalante was in the audience.
Tickertape – or its latter-day equivalent – was falling
throughout.
Andres
met with Ignacio who started briefing him on the investigation into
Alma's death. Ignacio was only interested in finding out about his
daughter, but Andres told him that there was a connexion and that was
drug trafficking. Ignacio asked about Emiliano's friend, but Andres
explained that the boy was very frightened.
Hector
and Emiliano went home without having found Ximena. Emiliano was
very worried.
Ximena
was blindfolded and tied up in a chair opposite Isela, whose face she
had not yet seen.
“I
told you very clearly that you were to be ready when I need you.”
“But
it's not my fault, please.”
“I
can't be so sure. Wasn't it you who called the governor's son?”
“No,
no, I swear I don't know why he showed up. Believe me. What are you
going to do to me?”
“I'm
at the point of losing a lot of money. It annoys me. I now have to
think very hard about what to do with you.”
Mario
arrived home to the familiar sight of Noemi with a drink in hand.
José entered behind him. Natalia entered the room and Mario led
Noemi out to leave them alone. This went badly because he thought
that she sent Mario's men to save Omar. She told him he had felt
driven to kill Omar. He felt he had been kidnapped and wanted to
leave. Natalia had only wanted to save him from his own impulses.
He wanted to leave and she reluctantly let him go. He turned and
walked out.
Gerardo
arrived home and called for Ximena but he only found Teresa on the
couch, whining in pain while clutching her abdomen. She wailed that
she was dying and that Ximena had abandoned her. She then seemed to
become unconcious.
Magda
arrived at the San Roman mansion to find Marcia on the ground floor.
She demanded to know where Omar was.
“In
the bedroom. He confused me with you.”
“With
me?”
“Yes.
He's disoriented. He's very sick.”
“I'm
going up to see him.” Magda turned toward the stairs.
“No,
Señora. Please, you have to help me. It's as though I've been
kidnapped. You must help me get out of here.”
“I
didn't come for you. I came for Omar. I don't care what happens to
you. In any event, I don't think you'll be here much longer.” She
turned and went upstairs.
Noemi
saw Natalia's mood and tried to be helpful. Natalia was certain that
José hated her, but Noemi said that could not be, as he had risked
his life for her more than once. However, she negated that by
reminding Natalia of the difference in social class.
“What
future could you have with him?”
“And
what future do I have without him? Go back to Omar and be miserable
for the rest of my life? Look at us, Noemi. What kind of lives do
we have? With José for the first time in my life in years I felt a
little happy. And now what?”
“You
know what? Forget all the nonsense I told you before. Go and seek
him out.”
“I
don't think he wants to see me.”
“Fight.
Recover what you had, please. At least then one of us can be
happy.”
Hernán
entered Regina's office. She asked him about his investigation into
her father's association with Cecelia. He said he lied about that.
She tried to dismiss him but he told her he came about her son. He
explained that Emiliano had been with Alma the day of her death.
Regina barely reacted, but just enough for him to realize that she
knew nothing about it.
Teresa
was lying on a hospital gurney attended by a doctor and an ultrasound
technician. She asked about the baby and the doctor requested to be
alone with her. The technician left and Teresa sat up. The doctor
told her that they could detect no activity or heartbeat. The foetus
was dead.
In
the reception area Gerardo asked if he could recharge his cell phone
because he needed to call his daughter. The desk nurse went to get
what he needed.
Isela's
henchman took the blindfolded Ximena into what looked like a
disreputable area that she would not be familiar with. He untied her
hands while holding a pistol to the back of her head warning her on
pain of death to say nothing as he went back to the car.
José
was drinking directly from the bottle when Natalia knocked on the
door. He didn't want to see anyone, but he opened the door. She
told him she sent Mario for his sake. However, he blamed her for his
mother's death.
Regina
asked Hernán how her son was guilty of Alma's death. She obviously
– like any normal mother – did not want to believe he had done
anything wrong. Hernán realized that she knew nothing of this and
turned to leave, but she would not let him. She directed him to sit
down and tell her everything.
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