Caray, Caray!

• Alejandra and Ricardo discussed ending their relationship for the sake of his children. She said that they had to think of each other only as colleagues and he said they needed to keep their distance from each other otherwise. He said that being that close to her would provide too much temptation for him.
  
  
• This couple really needs to read books about narcissism. They seem to be abysmally ignorant of the fact that this alone would never satisfy Elena whom – as we will see later – has no limit on how much misery she can cause.
  
• Vicente Iturbide continued his testimony by telling the court that when Imelda realized her brother was dead she asked him to hurt her to avert suspicion from herself. Carlos got up to remind him that he was under oath. Vicente claimed to be telling the truth. Pilar yelled out a demand that he tell the truth while Imelda got to her feet and called him a liar. Carlos restrained her and Vicente's lawyer asked his client how it was that the deceased's sister helped kill him. Vicente answered that she had demanded the boy remain silent, but Carlos interrupted and handed a forensic report to the court clerk which stated that the cause of death was not what had been previously said in testimony.
  The judge asked whether there were other questions and Vicente's lawyer asked to question Imelda. She was sworn in and was immediately asked whether there had been violence or other issues in her relationship with the defendant. She said no. He asked whether they had both been high and she then also said no. He then asked what had happened that day.
  
  Carlos and Alan exchanged looks before she began and Carlos watched her carefully. She said that Vicente went crazy when her brother said he would tell what they were doing and for that reason he killed him. She then appeared to cry for a moment before looking at Vicente and saying that when he saw what he had done he wanted to kill her as well. At no time did she look into his lawyer's eyes or even Carlos'. Vicente then denied her testimony, saying that she had told him what to do. The judge demanded silence. Pilar's face was stony while Carlos looked suspicious.
  
• No lawyer likes having a client lie to him. It upsets the case and could make him look incompetent or careless. Carlos had been wondering from the beginning at what the Huerta women were hiding from him. The trial is no place to find that out first.
  
• The morning meeting at Vega & Associates went mostly as usual. It began with Alonso announcing his latest case, the mission to expose the corrupt mayor of St Benito. Ricardo and Roberto immediately said to count on them, followed by everyone else. Alonso thanked them all and said that the immediate need was to investigate the personal finances of their target and he asked Benjamín to report on this. Benjamín – as was his egotistical habit – rose from his seat to present the results to date. Public funds were going directly into the man's personal accounts and funds meant to go to the health department were going directly into the personal account of the Secretary of Health's wife. Leticia, who had worked on this, tried to add to this but Benjamín shut her down and continued, saying it was all linked and proof of corruption. Alonso thanked him for a job well done. Not content with that, Benjamín said that it was complicated, took many hours, and was for the good of the firm. Juan and Victoria exchanged looks. Alonso said he was grateful for this and Benjamín sat down.
  
• Vicente's lawyer asked whether this wasn't revenge against his client for his relationship with Imelda's mother. Pilar looked uncomfortable. The judge disallowed the question, as it did not follow up on the previous response [???]. Counsel for the defense replied that he was looking to see if the murder had been premeditated. Imelda then said that Vicente went crazy as her brother was about to leave the room. As to why she said that her brother was going to tell their mother, crying as she said that this was why Vicente killed him. Her left wrist was exposed as she said this, showing the tattoo that matched Vicente's. Vicente's lawyer asked whether she tried to stop him and she said she intended to but could not because he was much stronger than she. Vicente's lawyer then asked to call Pilar to the stand.
  
  Carlos stood up to question Imelda first and the judge told him to proceed. He asked Imelda to recall her thoughts when she was near to death. Vicente's lawyer stood and objected that the question was inappropriate [???] but Carlos denied that. The judge did not react, so Carlos asked Imelda to show her neck to the court. She gritted her teeth, then agreed to.
  
  She then pushed back her hair, and slowly peeled off the bandage, revealing the long cut and the stitches holding it together. It extended around at least a third of the circumference of her neck and was still red. The judge looked away after a moment.
  
• Imelda may be a minor but she had a full adult understanding of the effect this would have on a courtroom. She didn't have to say another word on her own behalf and she knew it.
  
• Roberto was asked about “your friend, the reporter” and he said she had agreed to assist with pleasure, which elicited a comment from Victoria. Alonso went through the other lawyers' cases. Olivia had a simple divorce case she expected to finish at the end of the week and a criminal case she passed to Roberto. Victoria had a child support case that had no complications. Alejandra had a case involving a simple name change on a birth certificate, Ricardo had an uncontested divorce case. Leonardo talked about the Ibarra case, saying that the deceased's fiancé had been following Tatiana, whom they gotten police protection for. They will grab him at the first sign of trouble. They were still also investigating Alan. This made Olivia nervous.
  
• Pilar looked over at Vicente as she was sworn in. His lawyer than asked her about her relationship to his client. She replied that it was polite but distant because she did not approve of his relationship with her daughter. He asked whether she had ever been alone with him in the house and she answered that it was a few times when waiting for her daughter. She was beginning to get nervous.
  
  To his next question she denied having sexual relations with Vicente. She looked back at him; he appeared to be shocked. Carlos stood up, saying that it was clear that the only criminal there was Vicente. As his previous lawyer had pointed out this was an act of jealousy and a bid for attention. Counsel for the defense said he was trying to demonstrate motive, but Carlos denied that. The judge dismissed Pilar and requested closing arguments. Carlos claimed that all the evidence pointed to Vicente as the only guilty party. The defense claimed that the only mistake Vicente made was getting in between a mother and a daughter by getting involved with both of them. Pilar stood up and pulled class rank with regard to respect and to stop saying this. Imelda stood up and turned around to face her mother. She said that her mother would never do such a thing and extended her hand to her.
  This looked choreographed, and not necessarily by Carlos and Alan.
  
  The judge called for silence and then declared a recess.
  
• Carlos could certainly have had a better closing argument if he had the time to prepare one and this case had been before a jury. He could also have done better if he knew what the Huerta women were hiding from him.
  
• Gustavo told the others about the husband who tried to prevent his wife from having an abortion, saying that it has been difficult explaining to this man that he had no right to prevent this. Ricardo said that fathers' rights are a difficult issue with some things that can't be solved. Victoria said that abortion is solely a woman's decision because at the base of this it's her body being affected. Ricardo said that it is the man's child to... after three months. The man is the father from conception. Everyone began talking at once, but Alonso shut it down. The law says what it says and it favors the woman for the first three months. Gustavo said that this is what he tried to explain to his client, but that he himself had some issues with it.
  
• Vicente was declared guilty of the murder of Eugenio Huerta and the attempted murder of Imela Huerta.
  
  Imelda actually smiled at this verdict. The judge cited an element in the criminal code and stated that this was particularly egregious in view of the multiple violations of trust. He sentenced Vicente to sixty years in prison.
  Vicente became hysterical, calling out Imelda's name.
  
  She continued to smile as he begged her to tell the truth about what happened. As the prison guards took him away Imelda and her mother hugged each other. Vicente called Imelda a liar. Mother and daughter broke the hug and Pilar thanked Carlos. She did not seem to notice that Imelda looked at Carlos as though she wanted to drag him to the nearest four-poster bed. Carlos said there was no need to thank him; he was just doing his job. Pilar and Imelda looked at each other, then at Carlos and Alan.
  Neither of them could have missed Imelda's come-hither look.
  
• One has to wonder what sort of a family life Imelda had to have come to this situation.
  
• Roberto described the client whose boyfriend tricked her into driving the drug-laden car. They were looking for other similar cases. Juan then said he found at least three similar examples. All were arrested and all claimed that it was a boyfriend who tricked them.
  
  Victoria pointed out that they would have a great case if all were victimized by the same man. Leticia said she was waiting for a new case since the investigation. Benjamín said he would give her a paternity case, something simple. Alonso ended the meeting saying he would be in St Benito most of the week. Leticia looked very peevish.
  
• As they were leaving the courtroom Carlos, Alan, and their clients were ambushed by the press. Imelda looked like she was eating this up as she began to answer a question. Carlos got Alan to take their clients back inside while he took on the reporters.
  
  He told them that his client had no statement and then they asked whether the case was easier in absence of the murdered lawyer. He said it was not because the defense was very hard on his client without consideration of the pain caused to those involved. As to the rumors of her involvement, he said that this was a mere distraction from the actual suspect. He then said that he was satisfied because justice had been done.
  
  Pedro – the latest suspect in Patricia's murder – appeared among the reporters and said “How good that justice does exist.”
  
  Carlos told them that this is difficult for the family because nothing could bring Eugenio back. As he tried to withdraw Pedro pushed past the reporters to accost him. He started to whisper something and Carlos asked “Do I know you?”
  
  Pedro's response was to pull back and loudly congratulate him and applaud him. The reporters aimed their cameras at him then at Carlos, who seemed genuinely confused.
  
• Pedro was present at the hotel the night that his fiancée was with Carlos in the Orgy Suite. Carlos seems to not recognize him, but why was he taking the risk of being at the courthouse?
  
• The four Musketeers and Gustavo walked out of the meeting talking about Ricardo's problem. Ricardo said it would take time to get things resolved, then they asked about how things were going for Gustavo. Gustavo said that despite having been married to Isabel he's having a hard time figuring out what would win her back.
  
  A few jokes later he finally figured out that he should be pleasing his son as well.
  
• Leticia got on Benjamín's case about how he treated her during the meeting. He took full credit for research into the corrupt mayor's finances and did not give her her due. It appears that his status had been maintained by her competence and not his own. He had been taking advantage of her. She told him she would never help him with anything again; she had learned from her mistakes.
  
  She opened the door and told him to leave. He kept trying through all this to remind her of the car she wanted, etc., but she had clearly had enough. He left and she closed the door.
  
• The reporters gone, Carlos and Alan escorted their clients out. Pilar expressed relief that it was over. Carlos told them that Vicente's lawyer would want to appeal, but he doubted that Vicent would get out of prison. Alan asked about their plans. Pilar said she was going to sell the house, as it was too upsetting to Imelda to live there. There was a show of mother/daughter affection before Alan escorted Pilar out of the building.
  
  Imelda watched her mother walk away and asked Carlos whether he was sure they would not have to return to “this place.” He asked her why she didn't tell him the truth. She said she had told him all that happened. She had testified that her brother discovered the two of them trying to escape. Carlos said, “No, that isn't true. Tell me the truth.”
  “The trial is over, so I don't have to talk about this anymore. Excuse me.”
  
  He didn't let her get away. He pulled her back.
  “Don't touch me,” she said, trying to push his hand away. He didn't stop.
  
  “The bag you were going to escape with was in your room. Your brother was killed in the living room. Didn't you have Vicente kill him in revenge against your mother? Tell me the truth. It's not my job to judge you. I'm just making sure you can live with what you did.”
  She fluttered her eyelashes at him, then slipped away.
  
• I think Carlos got the answer he was looking for even if it wasn't the one he hoped for.
  
• Elena's cell rang. She almost didn't answer, but changed her mind. It was Miguel, whom she had met the evening before when she was out with Leticia.
  
  He apologised for calling so late in the day but finally asked if she would like to go out with him that evening. She only skirted playing hard to get but finally accepted, telling him she would text her address and directions after the call. She did so and looked happy about it.
  
• Gustavo called Isabel about taking Luis to the new superhero movie. She liked the idea, then he asked whether she would come with them. She tried to beg off but he said it was a long time since the three of them had gone to the movies together.
  
  She finally said Yes and they agreed he would come by at seven. He was happy as he ended the call. Oddly, she also seemed to be.
  
• At that moment a man on a gurney was rushed into the emergency room. A red-haired woman whom the French would describe as jolie-laide followed in a state of panic. A nurse had to stop her and reassure her that the doctors would do everything they could. The woman told the nurse she would call Dr Moreno, the cardiologist. The nurse said she would contact him and the woman begged the nurse to save her man.
  
• Juan showed the files to Roberto about the women he mentioned during the meeting. Juan said they would take the photo from Giselle's cell phone to show to these women to see if they were deceived by the same man. They had to act quickly.
  
• Carlos visited Alejandra to tell her he had won the case. She thought the sentence appropriate because of the heinous and sick nature of the crime. He thanked her for her help and she said that she really didn't do anything. He then went on about what a great lawyer she was, etc., and that was why he was in love with her. She was not comfortable with this declaration, but allowed him to hug her.
  
  She hugged him back, but with a doubtful expression that he did not see.
  
• The redhead paced in the waiting area. A doctor came out asking for the family of Armando Ruiz. She answered. He then informed her that Sr. Ruiz had arrived in very bad condition from a heart attack and they were unable to help him. He had died almost upon arrival.
  
  As the woman began crying in disbelief the doctor said she needed to fill out the documents.
  
  She had just said she would not be able to when another woman arrived. This woman had platinum blond hair that looked more like a wig over dark hair and was wearing a clingy black dress. She asked at the desk and the clerk pointed in the doctor's direction. All she saw was the redhead and she angrily demanded what she was doing there.
  “You have no business being here! Get out of here! Get out!”
  
  She grabbed the redhead's arm and tried to throw her in the direction of the elevators. The doctor watched, horrified, as the redhead said that Armando was dead. The “blonde” paused only a moment before slapping her down hard, demanding to know “What did you do to my husband?”
  
• Carlos asked Alejandra if she had a lot of work and whether he could help her. She told him no and yes. He went on about working together, etc., and she was not about to let him continue. It was obvious that he was still trying to get back together with her. She told him “I'm not ready.” He made it clear he wasn't giving up and that he thought she still had feelings for him.
  
• Alejandra should not allow herself to be vulnerable to Carlos. His lust for ill-gotten gains is merely a symptom of what motivates him to pursue her. But who is going to tell her that?
  
• The blonde asked the doctor what happened. He explained that it was a fatal heart attack. Of course the blonde blamed the redhead, screamed that she had no right to be there, that she had destroyed her family, and started shoving her. The redhead said that the dead man was the father of her son. The doctor got between them for a second but eventually the blonde shoved the redhead back, telling her she was entitled to nothing.
  “But he loved me,” said the redhead.
  “You think he loved you because he boinked you? Or that he just paid your bills? I knew. I knew all along. I'm telling you clearly that your son is your problem. It won't be mine.”
  “I will see that he gets what's his.”
  “He will get nothing because from now on your gravy train has stopped running.”
  The redhead picked up her purse and left the nasty, slutty-looking blonde to cry her own tears, real or not.
  
• Adultery is a family affair, like it or not. It's the kind that in Sr Ruiz' circles leads to the worst scandals... and high news ratings.
  
• Elena served cereal to her children at the dinner table while she was dressed in pink to paint the town red. Federico said he wasn't hungry and Natalia said she didn't want cereal. That was all Elena had for them and they would not be going out. Natalia said that their father always made great sandwiches for them. Elena sang her old song again. “Your father is with his girlfriend and not with us no matter what you want.”
  “That's not true,” said Natalia. “You don't let us see him.”
  “It's better not to argue with Mother,” Federico said.
  Elena played her broken record one more time. Natalia didn't want to eat what Elena put in front of her. Elena took the plate away and ordered Natalia to go to bed without supper. She said to herself she could not deal with this child, but Federico probably heard her.
  
• Gustavo brought Isabel and Luis home; it was evident they had had a good time. He asked whether they wanted to go again and even Isabel said Yes. Luis asked if he could bring his friends and Gustavo asked how many. Nine or ten, his whole team. Gustavo didn't agree to that but took him upstairs so he could get ready for bed. Isabel smiled.
  
• Ricardo was still working and he looked at the photos of Natalia and Federico on his computer screen. A secretary came in to tell him there was someone who wanted to see him urgently. He had just wanted to leave but he stayed to see the redhead, who told him her name was Adela Sarate.
  
  She started crying as she told him that she was alone and the love of her life just died.
  
• Elena looked at a letter or note, then Miguel arrived in the elevator. She greeted him with a kiss. He looked around and said complimentary things about the apartment while she put her keys in her purse. Miguel came out of his room and asked who he was.
  
  Elena introduced him as a friend and Miguel shook hands with Federico, who asked if they were going out. Elena said yes, but wouldn't be late. She told him to brush his teeth and look after his sister. Federico didn't say another word as they left.
  
• If Elena Fernandez thought she had caught Ricardo in a compromising position with Alejandra, she just made the mistake of creating one for herself. She has just left her underage children alone in the home without a servant or other adult present. She had allowed a complete stranger to enter her home, which compromised her children's safety as well as her own. It seems that she has earned her son's disapproval or – at the very least – his doubt.
  
• Adela told Ricardo that she was involved with Armando Ruiz, a producer. They were in love and had a son. He just died and his wife wants to make sure they are left with nothing. When her son was born Adela dedicated herself to him and saw Armando when he was available. Now that he is dead she doesn't know what she will have to do. She asked Ricardo to help her get the money she will need to take care of her son. He asked whether Ruiz had left a will and she told him that he had never made one. He was superstitious about such things. With no proof of his wishes, Ricardo told her this will be a difficult case.
  
• Luis had gone to bed and Gustavo went back down to the kitchen and he and Isabel talked about him as thogh nothing had ever gone wrong. She kissed him on the cheek before going up to bed herself. Gustavo looked hopeful. 
  

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Permalink posted by Urban Anthropologist @ 11:48 PM