Caray, Caray!

• Ricardo drove Alejandra home and thanked her for helping with Alexa. He declined her invitation to come inside because he had to prepare for court the next day. She was sure they had what it would take to win the case. He asked if she would like to go out to eat after cout and she said she would love to. He kissed her on the cheek and she laughed flirtatiously before going inside.
  
  
  
• Juan came home after trying to see Fernanda, whose mother said she was asleep. Juan was sure she was avoiding him because she was not answering her cell phone. Susanna told him he had to talk to her. She knew that he was worried about Tatiana. She told him that women don't like not knowing where they stand with men and he should tell her he loved her.
  
• The following morning Alexa was worried on her way into court. Hugo, Ricardo, and Leonardo tried to reassure her that all would be well. Alejandra joined them for moral support and they entered the courtroom together.
  
• Carlos and Alan talked about the money that would be coming in from El Ciego. Carlos decided that since he needed someone with expertise in financial law, he was going to hire Benjamín Acosta. Alan objected but Carlos so wanted to stick it to Alonso Vega and thought that he may as well take advantage of Benjamín's worst trait, his greed. If anything went wrong, it would be solely Benjamín's responsibility in the eyes of the law.
• Alexa took her seat between Leonardo and Ricardo. Hugo and Alejandra sat in the row directly behind them. The three defendants were escorted in by their lawyers and police. Their parents followed behind.
  
  Francisco stopped just long enough to stare at Alexa, most likely in the hope that she would either cry or run away. One of the lawyers guided the defendants to their bench against the wall. Francisco's father was right behind him. Hugo could not control himself and got out of his seat. If not for Ricardo he would have sprung at his brother like a lion on a boar.
  
  “Despite that he is my nephew I won't rest until he pays for what he did to my daughter! Do you hear me, you miserable wretch?”
  Ricardo pulled Hugo back, telling him to calm down. Genaro, Hugo's brother, looked at him as though he had just crawled out from under a rock, then took his seat next to his wife.
  
  Judge Marrufo entered, officially opened the trial, and had Leonardo make his opening statement. Leonardo stated that the three accused rapists left the area and that one had to be retrieved with the assistance of Interpol. Their parents were sufficiently affluent to aid their escape so they could hide from the law; their flight pointed to their guilt. Ornelas, Francisco's attorney, acted as lead counsel and announced that their clients were innocent. He claimed there was proof that the alleged victim's father was in financial straits which was what motivated the accusation.
  
  This was the bait set for Hugo to object out of order. The judge rapped the gavel for order, telling Hugo that he was to resume his seat or be removed from the courtroom. Alejandra and Ricardo tried to calm him down.
  
  Genaro rolled his eyes and looked away from Hugo. His wife looked profoundly embarrassed.
  
• Leticia walked into Benjamín's office, noting that he didn't call her the day before. He told her about his new client, another client outside the firm. She reminded him that Alonso should know about this and he replied that Alonso would not have approved. He accused Alonso of lacking vision. Of course Leticia wanted to know more.
  
• Leonardo stood up and stated that the counter-accusation was absurd, that they were in court because the accused had raped a minor. He presented medical reports showing evidence of their semen in Alexa's vagina. He wanted to question Francisco and the judge allowed it. Francisco made sure to pass closely by the victim's table on his way to the witness stand.
  
  Leonardo questioned him, first getting him to state that Alexa was his cousin. Further he said they had gotten along and sometimes hung out together. Leonardo then asked what had happened on the night in question. Francisco admitted that they were all drinking. He said that Alexa had been very drunk and that she told him and his friends that she was a virgin and wanted to lose her virginity to all three of them. He also said that she asked for it.
  
  Alexa shouted that this wasn't true. She called Francisco a liar, then became unintelligible as she cried. Ricardo restrained her gently, Alejandra did the same with Hugo, and the judge used his gavel and requested silence.
  
• Leticia would not give up. After some teasing Benjamín told her that Carlos was the client. He needed a financial expert and he (himself) was the best in the country. She said she liked the idea and he said it would mean so much money he could buy her anything she wanted.
  
• He may have become intelligent enough by then to know that Leticia's greatest aphrodisiac wasn't hot sex so much as cold, hard cash.
  
• Leonardo reminded Francisco that lying under oath could add more time to his sentence. Ornelas objected, saying that opposing counsel was threatening his client. The judge told Leonardo to go by the book. Francisco claimed to be teling the truth. Leonardo asked – rhetorically – that if this was the truth, why was this heard as a threat. He took his seat. Ornelas got up and said that his client and his friends left the city out of fear of being extorted. Ricardo rose from his seat, reached into his pocket, and took out the SIM card with the recording of Francisco's phone call, saying he had proof of the crime when Francisco called Alexa to apologise. He put the card on the desk.
  Judge Marrufo said that phone calls and recordings can be evidence but for the moment he is not accepting it. Francisco looked relieved. Leonardo and Ricardo were outraged.
  
  Ornelas then stated that his client's father had spoken with the fathers of his son's friends and explained that his brother always had financial problems and was using this opportunity to attempt to extort money from them. The other two rapists looked slyly at each other. Genaro had a superior look on his face as his lawyer delivered this accusation against his brother while looking straight at Hugo. Who took the bait.
  Hugo rose from his seat and seized Genaro by the lapels. Alejandra was right behind Hugo, but wasn't fast enough to stop him. The police took him out of the courtroom\ despite the protests of Alejandra and her colleagues.
  
  Leonardo protested that the accuseds' lawyers had no grounds for this accusation only for Ornelas to say they did. For which reason he requested permission to question Alexa. Francisco looked surprised at first, then reverted to looking as though he couldn't care less about what his lawyer was likely to do to her.
  
  Alexa took the stand and Ornelas asked whether her father had financial problems.
  Leonardo objected that this was irrelevant; his opponent said it was, and Marrufo allowed the question. She said he had lost his job two months previously and Leonardo asked what this had to do with the statutory rape charge. Marrufo ordered Leonardo to sit back down. Ornelas said “You will see” and continued questioning Alexa, asking whether her father gave permission for her to attend the party with Francisco. She answered he had. The lawyer asked whether she was expected to be home at a certain hour or whether she was allowed to spend the night there. She answered that this had not been discussed. He asked if her father was going to pick her up and she said she was to call him if she wanted him to. He took this as a gateway question and commented “How convenient” before asking how she had been dressed. Leonardo objected on grounds of irrelevancy. His opponent said that this was to determine whether she had been dressed provocatively, leading to the alleged rape.
  
• Had Hugo been in the courtroom at that moment he would have been arrested for murder.
  
• Marrufo asked Alexa if she wanted to answer and Leonardo jumped in to answer for her, stating that a woman's attire is irrelevant to such charges. His opponent said he was merely looking to establish that Hugo was too liberal a parent, allowing his daughter to attend a party with young adults who were “experimenting” with life and the world and the girl was experimenting sexually. Alexa stood and denied this. Ricardo restrained himself from getting up as Marrufo rapped for silence. Ornelas said that his client said that Alexa had consented to be a sex toy for him and his friends.
  
  Ricardo got up and Leonardo motioned for him to not come closer.
  
  One of the other lawyers said that his client and his friends are innocent and have nothing to hide. Leonardo then asked therefore why was Interpol's intervention necessary? This was a cynical defense that was laughing at the judicial process.
  Marrufa allowed Alexa to step down, then asked for closing arguments.
  
  Leonardo stated that they possessed the evidence of the crime and demanded justice for his client.
  
  Ornelas said that the accused were all young and experimenting with life and sex and that they did not rape their accuser. They had cooperated with the authorities. They only asked for justice.
  Marrufo declared a recess so he could review and render a decision.
  
  The three rapists smirked to each other while Alexa slumped down onto the table.
  
• Roberto and Juan worked on the Ibarra case and Roberto realized that Juan wasn't quite himself. Upon hearing that it was a problem with his girlfriend, Roberto recommended flowers and chocolates, which he considered to be infallible. Juan wasn't so sure, but Roberto said that he had to talk to her but to start out with flowers and chocolate. He then excused himself becase he had to visit his father.
  
• Gustavo asked Olivia's help in the dog custody case. She sensed he didn't quite understand it and explained that for some people a dog is like a child. She looked over his proposed schedule and said it was alright. She asked how things were going with his visitation with his own son and he said it was complicated. She pointed out that it would get easier over time, that he was not a bad person, just someone who had made a very big mistake. This would all take time.
  
• Genaro faced his son while Alexa worried about her father.
  
  Alejandra was concerned about the outcome because too many inappropriate questions had been permitted. They tried to reassure Alexa that her life would get better when this was all over. She did not agree.
  
• Carlos was visited by El Ciego's flunky El Gato, who brought in six large travel bags all filled with cash. He told him that if he passed the test this was only a small part of what his boss was sending. Carlos told him he had everything ready. He smiled as he looked at the money.
  
• Judge Marrufo – who had once sent a rape victim to prison for killing her rapist in self-defense – returned with his decision, which would make for shameful history in Mexican jurisprudence.
  
• The three accused rapists were declared innocent on grounds that the context of their actions involved much alcohol consumption and therefore an assumption of consent. He gave the order that the three accused were to be freed immediately. He closed the case; the court clerk announced that the proceedings had been recorded. Leonardo and Ricardo were outraged. Leonardo called Marrufo corrupt to his face before he left the courtroom.
  
  Alexa cried in disbelief. Leonardo told Orenelas that he would be appealing the decision and Ornelas sarcastically wished him luck.
  
  Genaro had the gall to say to Alexa that he couldn't believe she would do this to his son. “What a pity.” Ricardo went up to him and ordered him to stay away from his client.
  As they filed out of the courtroom the three rapists smirked at Ricardo. Alejandra and Alexa watched in disbelief.
  
• The fact that the proceedings had been recorded may or may not matter to the situation. Any judge who would so pervert such a case is likely to make them disappear.
  
• Alan got a little nervous at the sight of all that money on Carlos' desk. Carlos talked about getting a safe deposit box for the time being until he could get the money to Benjamín. Alan was worried at the prospect of being caught, especially when Carlos told him that this was only the beginning.
  
• Ricardo tried to stop Leonardo from going after Murrafo, but could not. Hugo caught up with them in the corridor and was incredulous at the outcome. Alejandra said she was sure the judge was bought off and that the judge permitted many irregularities. Ricardo said they had never expected the judge to behave in this way.
  
  To add more insult to injury Genaro caught up with Hugo and said “Do you think you have the means to win this?”
  “You miserable – ”
  “You're better off forgetting all about this.” This earned him a right cross.
  Ricardo grabbed Hugo to hold him back as the police arrived. He turned to Genaro and told him that he was mistaken if he thought he had won.
  
  Genaro only laughed as a policeman put his hand on his shoulder blade and encouraged him to leave.
  
  Leonardo followed Marrufo into his chambers where he let him have it with both barrels.
  
  Marrufo was as arrogant as usual, saying his decision was firm. He seemed to laugh when Leonardo pointed out the irrelevancy of the defendants' counsel's questions. He challenged Leonardo to prove impropriety.
  “You are corrupt! Thanks to people like you nobody in this country believes in justice!”
  “If you won't leave, I will have someone remove you by force.”
  Again, Marrufo almost laughed but Leonardo was not intimidated.
  “You do not deserve to be a judge.”
  “That would happen only by a higher authority. Think very well what you are doing.”
  
  “I don't have to think. I know exactly how I have to proceed.” He left.
  
• Carlos told Alan to go over to Vega to speak to Alejandra on foundation business. He decided to change his strategy in his dealings with her so he needed to upset its routine. He was determined to beat Ricardo to the prize.
  
• Fernanda stopped at Juan's house to talk to Susanna.She did not like what looked like an obsesssion with Tatiana. Susanna gave the same advice to her that Roberto gave to Juan and in Talk to Him.
  
• Leonardo returned saying that the situation is worse than he thought. They were going to be in for a big fight. Hugo didn't know if they could take any more. Alejandra told him that they had many recourses they could take. Leonardo remembered that the day he had gone to see Marrufo he had seen Ornelas outside of his office. Hugo was sure that his brother would do something like this. The issue was now to appeal the case and prove corruption. Alexa protested that she didn't want to go through all this again. She had no faith in the law and felt that justice did not exist. She ran out of the courthouse and Hugo ran after her.
  
• Juan caught Fernanda as she was leaving his home. He admitted he had been foolish and wanted to talk to her. They made a date for that evening.
  
• Alejandra, Ricardo, and Leonardo went into Alonso's office and told him what happened in the courtroom. He almost didn't believe it, saying that all their evidence and arguments pointed to guilt. They told him they believed that Marrufo had been bought. They had promised justice and all Alexa got were insults. She had also refused to appear in court again. They had to act quickly. Alonso was outraged and told them he would personally take this on.
  
• Gustavo's male client was in his office. He was impatient about the custody settlement as they waited for his soon-to-be-ex to arrive. He kept asking Gustavo about what if they couldn't come to an agreement and Gustavo said they would have to keep trying. Finally she arrived, carrying Chiquita. Gustavo watched the man hold and kiss the dog.
  
• Victoria and Olivia joined the others in the discussion about the appeal. Alejandra said that Alexa needed therapy and immediately. They all agreed to help in whatever way they could.
  
• Chiquita's parents talked about how she had been depressed after her father had moved out. Gustavo proposed that Chiquita spend alternate weeks with each, but her mama thought that was too long. They finally settled on every three days. Gustavo said he would draw up the agreement for their signatures. He looked somewhat bewildered by it all.
  
• Leonardo filled Roberto and Juan in on Marrufo, neither of whom was particularly surprised. Juan had never seen Alonso in court, but Roberto said he was brilliant. Juan then told them that he wold be able to ge the telephone records the next day. Leonardo was relieved at getting some good news after the nightmarish day in court.
  
• Alejandra and Victoria went into the former's office to find Alan waiting for them. He explained that he was there to discuss foundation business with them as Carlos was busy on other cases at the firm. He had a tablet with him showing properties they could rent and displayed some of them for their review. Olivia came in and Alan quickly noticed her. And she him. Alejandra introduced them and Alan made a comment that this firm had lawyers who were not only talented but beautiful.
  
• Alonso was not going to sit by and watch any more injustice in the Arteaga case. When a lion decides to take on a hyena nothing is going to stop him.
  
• Marrufo tried to avoid Alonso but that was not possible. Alonso entered his office and Marrufo shooed his secretary out. He tried taunting Alonso about his lawyers losing the case but Alonso didn't let that bother him. He pointed out “My employees have a better understanding of the law than you do for all that you are a judge.” Marrufo said that he made his decision on the basis of the evidence and the testimony and dared them to appeal. Alonso told him in no uncertain terms that he would be bringing the appeal himself. He would make sure that the rapists end up in prison. “Along with you, too.”

Labels: ley

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