Caray, Caray!

• Alejandra told her female colleagues – the ones she could trust – that Carlos had deceived her with another woman the night before the wedding while Ricardo was selfish. She was unable to deal with either of them at this stage. Olivia didn't think that this was a fair comparison. Victoria didn't want to argue the point and Alejandra was determined never to be hurt again.
  
  
  
• Leonardo received a call that Manuel had been arrested in Chiapas. This only left the ringleader, Francisco. Ricardo said that they needed to get to court as soon as he was captured. This left Leonardo free for the moment to work on Carlos Ibarra's case.
  
• Roberto posted photos on his office wall as he and Juan reconstructed the night of the crime. Patricia went to bed with Carlos and was found dead the following morning by Tatiana, who had taken her zzz's with Alan. Juan added their new person of interest: Pedro, Patricia's fiancé.
  
• Who at that moment was sitting in an empty café looking at the photos of both women on his tablet. His phone rang but he did not answer.
  
• Benjamín was enacting his OK Corral fantasy in his office until Leticia came in to tell him he was walking into trouble, taking cases on the side. He said he wanted to prove that his clients brought in the firm's income. He would take the first opportunity to get out of the firm. She told him he was mad as a hatter.
  
• Gustavo met with his latest clients, a 30-something couple seeking a divorce. He asked the usual questions, including whether they had anything held in common, such as children. They told him they had a little one named Chiquita. This name seemed odd to Gustavo and when he asked her age the wife told him that Chiquita was three years old. The couple told him that they were in agreement about everything except custody. Gustavo said they would work out an agreement, but the husband said he wanted to see his baby every day. The wife told him that this was impossible, as she had to work and couldn't be home all day long. Gustavo stopped the argument and told them that they'd work this out after drawing up the divorce papers. He told them that they needed to agree on whether the support money would go until the child was legally an adult or until she finished her education. She said that they didn't need that and the husband said “No, sir; Chiquita is our little dog. She's our Chihuahua.”
  
  The wife handed her cell phone to Gustavo, who enlarged the photo for a better look.
  
• Benjamín and Leticia continued to talk about his obsession with proving his worth to the firm. She changed her strategy and had him sit on her lap like he was a little boy. She told him that yes, he deserved more than what he was getting and why don't they talk about it at her place later over dinner. This changed his mood immediately and he said so. She replied it was “because I know you better than anyone.” She said to wait for her at her place and not to be late.
  
  She got up to leave and as she slinked out the door she told she didn't want anyone calling him so as not to lose the moment.
  
• The only explanation anyone could have for this relationship is if Benjamín knew the Venus Butterfly. But it would far too gauche to ask.
  
• Gustavo told his clients that this changed everything but they continued to say that Chiquita was their daughter. They began arguing with each other over Chiquita's emotional state, each claiming the right to full custody. Gustavo tried to explain that custody issues only appied to human beings. Each continued to insist on full custody, calling the dog their daughter. Gustavo tried to get them to agree to talk about a schedule of visits “so each of you can spend time with your pet.” However, the husband inssited that they were a nuclear family. They argued about who bathed Chiquita and who took her to the doctor when she injured her paw and Gustavo stopped them again, stating that he would draw up a schedule for them and that was that.
  
• Of course in every situation like this it is inevitable that a meeting would take place between two parties whose only interests were their own, to the exclusion of everyone elses's.
  
• Elena got off one elevator at Vega & Associates at ust after Carlos had gotten off the other. She greeted him, acknowledging that they had never met but that she had seen him on television. She said she was surprised to see him, as Ricardo had told her that he and Carlos worked very differently. He said he was there to see Alejandra and to see about his own case. He did not hesitate to pitch his services – legal ones, that is – by handing her a businesss card. She wished him luck, said a good morning to the secretarial staff, and headed for Ricardo's office.
  
• Ricardo ran into his office to answer his phone. The news was good and he ran out immediately.
  
• Leonardo, Roberto, and Juan were discussing Carlos' case., deciding that their next step had to be fining Pedro. Juan said he would get the telephone reports against Patricia's and Tatiana's cell phones so they could go through the numbers called most frequently. Leonardo said that this was their only chance. Since the prosecutor didn't have any other suspects they would arrest Carlos again if they didn't come up with one. Roberto said they would be coming up with nothing if this report wasn't helpful.
  
• Ricardo went to Alejandra's office with the good news of the day. Not only had Manuel been arrested, Francisco was taken in Arizona. He needed her to call to begin the extradition process. As they hugged in celebration Carlos entered with a sarcastic “I came at a bad time.” His snake eyes looked at one, then the other. He walked right into the office and got behind Alejandra's desk. She told him he was wrong and that they just celebrated a major step in a difficult case. He congratulated her then said he wanted to talk. Ricardo started to leave but she didn't allow him to. She asked Carlos what he was there for.
  
• Leonardo said that they now had to inform the prosecutor that Tatiana was a possible suspect. Further that he would go to the hotel and get the security videos. Roberto said he would go with him. However, they now had to find Pedro. They would soon need to talk to Sonia. They also had to talk to Alonso, but Leonardo felt that somehow something was escaping them.
  
• Carlos told Alejandra that he had formally registered the foundation and that they could move forward. That was all. An awkward moment later he took his leave, telling her that she was beautiful. When he kissed her cheek she did not acknowledge it and stood there stiffly until he left. Ricardo offered her his office to discuss the foundation with Carlos but she declined. Alexa was the priority. She declared that Carlos had to respect her working hours and not just show up when it pleased him. They left to join the criminal law team.
  
• Isabel and Luis arrived home and she told him to do his homework and wash his hands before dinner. He said he had no homework. He wanted to see his father. They went through the same conversation all divorced mothers have with their children about why wasn't his father there. Isabel tried to explain that they could not live together any more and that he would get to spend a few days a week with each of them. This was not what he wanted to hear and when she tried to kiss him he got up and went to his room.
  
• Alejandra and Ricardo went to his office to find another unwelcome guest, Elena. He had not expected her and asked whether the children were alright. She said they were and she just wanted to see him.
  
• Alejandra was very put off by this and Elena knew it. She therefore loved ever second of it.
  
• Carlos then invaded Roberto's office where he noticed the pictures on the wall. They told him that Tatiana was a possible suspect. He asked about Alan and Leonardo said they would be talking to him. Carlos said that it was difficult to think of him as a suspect but if they discovered anything he wanted to know right away. He asked about Pedro and they told him what they knew. “At last some good news,” was his reply. They realized he was having a bad day. He left them to their work and their thoughts.
  
• Ricardo asked whether Elena was there about the children.  Elena told Ricardo she was there to talk about other things. Alejandra started to leave the office but Ricardo stopped her. He told Elena that this could wait because they had an important call to make regarding their case. What was it she wanted? Elena was offended and said so. Ricardo said he would catch up with her later and she told him not to wory; that would not be necessary. She left in a huff. Ricardo then told Alejanda that the only thing he had left to discuss with Elena was the children and nothing else. They got back to work.
  
• Carlos went into Victoria's office supposedly to discuss the foundation. Victoria asked whether he was doing this because he wanted to help or because he wanted to impress Alejandra. He told her it was independent of Alejandra. If she didn't believe him she didn't show it. They talked about this with a few details and he left, saying he'd be in contact with her.
  
• Because Elena failed to capture the flag this time, she paid a visit to her accomplice.
  
• Elena took her anger to Leticia's office, complaining about Alejandra being in Ricardo's office. Leticia explained that his case required her specialty since she specializes in international law. Elena asked why she never told her that and the answer was “Because I didn't think it was important.” Elena then announced that if Alejandra thought she was going to get Ricardo she would have to deal with her.
  Leticia looked as though this conversation was giving her a headache. She told Elena to stop stressing out about this but Elena didn't want to. She reminded her that she could be stressed at her work as well. “But it's not the same!” was Elena's excuse. They mentioned Carlos and then Elena told Leticia if it suddenly looked like more than work to let her know. Leticia agreed to and suggested they go to lunch.
  
• Alejandra told Leonardo on the way to Roberto's office that she had a call in to Arizona. They talked about Manuel and Octavio and that their escape attempt is a statement of guilt. There was nothing that should stand in the way of them being sent to prison.
  
• Roberto dropped in on Victoria for another Shakespearean round of frustrated flirting only to have his dinner invitation rejected again in favor of working late to prepare for court in the morning. He was just out the door when she called him back with a question. She wanted his opinion of Carlos Ibarra.
  “He is proud and vain, but I think he is innocent of what he's been accused of.”
  “That's not what I'm thinking about. Do you know if he can be trusted?”
  “I think so. Why?”
  “Alejandra and I are helping him with a foundation he is starting for women who have suffered violence.”
  “I think he is very proud and if he's doing something like that it's because of what happened to Patricia.”
  “Very well. I was only looking to see if I was doing the right thing.”
  “At your service, as always.”
  
• Alejandra finished up with the call to Arizona and gave the men the good news. The extradition was under way and Francisco would be back in Mexico the next morning. Leonardo said they needed to see Alexa and Ricardo kissed Aleandra's hand befoe they left.
  
• As the maid prepared dinner Elena played at her work on the tablet while her son asked whether Ricardo had called. Federico wanted to call but Elena stopped him, saying that he was busy. Then for the nth time she started telling them that she thought Ricardo was with “someone else” and would “therefore not spend as much time with us.” With sympathy that was a total fairy tale she told Natalia that she loved her so much and that it looked as though Ricardo was not going to keep his promises, especially since he wasn't there with them now. She asked Elena if they cold go to see Ricardo the next day and she told them maybe but if he was concentrating on other things – or someone else – they had to respect that. Natalia started to choke up, a precursor to crying. Federico didn't quite believe it all. Natalia didn't want to be forgotten. Of course,
  
  Elena said that if Ricardo wanted to move on with someone else and have “his own” children, then he wouldn't have much time for them.
  Natalia said “But we are his children.”
  Elena replied that “You'll have to tell him that.”
  
• Elena was a special sort of mother. She must have enjoyed watching her daughter cry.
  
• Paula was playing cards with her friends when Alejandra arrived home. She updated her mother and her friends on what had been happening and that she wasn't allowing herself to be hurt anymore. Paula told her that if she was to do that she'd never leave her own room. She shouldn't stand in the way of her own happiness.
  
• Over dinner Juan explained that he was worried about Tatiana because Roberto had been tough on Tatiana because he considered her a suspect. Fernanda said he could have a reason but Juan defended Tatiana in a way that not please Fernanda. She had nothing to say when he said he didn't know what he was going to do about this after spending all that time getting Tatiana to trust him.
  
• The elusive Pedro was at the bar that night staring at Tatiana as she danced against the blue screen.
  
• Fernanda told Juan he was worried over nothing but he reminded her that Tatiana ended up on the suspect list. He was so sure she hadn't done the crime. So sure that Fernanda said he was getting over-involved in this case. He then made the mistake of telling her that he helped Tatiana with her child's medical bills. That was the last straw for Fernanda, who then left until such time as he would get this out of his system.
  
• Ricardo and Leonardo went to Hugo's house to deliver the news and discuss what needed to happen next. They were ready to go to a judge and needed to prepare Alexa. She refused to go. She begged Ricardo not to insist because she didn't want to face her rapists and all she wanted to do was forget that this ever happened.
  
• Gustavo went to Isabel's house to see Luis, who was happy to see him. However, things took an immediate awkward turn when Luis said he wanted his father back in the house again.
  
• Ricardo was shocked and a little impatient as he told Alexa they had worked hard on her case. She almost shouted at him that she didn't want anyone else putting the blame on her for this. Leonardo expained that since she was a minor they could prevent her full name from being said in the proceedings. She didn't believe him. Ricardo told her that they could protect her and that they would be with her through this. Hugo handed Ricardo the tablet showing the nasty messages and postings. He was not sure what to do. Alexa sobbed that she didn't want to face them. She just wanted to forget this all happened. In another place. Leonardo said that the criminals deserve punishment for their actions. He has dedicated his life to justice but couldn't do it alone. She said they could do it because they were strong but she was not. Ricardo tried to buck her up, saying that she had shown courage by reporting the crime and that she could complete this by seeing it through. Alexa still looked reluctant.
  Leonardo asked Hugo if he had sought out his brother, but Hugo had been told that he was out of the country. He wasn't sure that his brother knew about any of this. Leonardo explained that the three rapists had all been caught. Alexa left the room, crying. Ricardo asked Hugo to talk to her. They needed her testimony. Hugo said he would try.
• Gustavo tried to explain to his son that he had another home and that he (Luis) woud have two. He was not agreeable. He began to blame his mother. He insisted that Gustavo stay there with him. Gustavo suggested he stay in the guest room. Isabel agreed for that night. As Luis rushed off, telling his father to come with him Gustavo thanked Isabel. She looked defeated and far less than pleased with the situation.

Labels: ley

Permalink posted by Urban Anthropologist @ 10:59 PM