I'm
Christoper Mason. When we last met there was an attempt on Alonso
Vega's life that resulted in other deaths. This is another link in a
chain that leads back to Jacinto Dorantes, a corrupt politician. The
course of justice never runs smooth in such situations and will
ultimately depend on someone's ability to Connect the Dots.
I'm
Candace DeLong. I've dealt with both criminal masterminds and their
flunkies and this situation is full of them.
Alejandra
advised Sofia that since four lawyers recently left the firm there
was a heavy workload. Sofia did not seem intimidated by this. She
specialized in criminal law and human rights issues, which pleased
Alejandra well enough.
Carlos
had to face the fact that he couldn't raise the thirty million pesos
in the time frame of his choosing. Alan warned him again that he had
caught fleas when lying down with feral dogs and that he was now the
slave of criminals. Carlos replied that he never promised what he
couldn't deliver. Alan suggested that he do the negotiations.
Carlos rejected this at first but then decided that this was his
golden opportunity to rescue Jaime and get Alejandra back.
Carlos
is under a delusion. This is going to have a negative impact on his
judgement.
Not
to mention that it will not be a good thing when El Ciego recognizes
his voice.
Lourdes
visited Alonso in the hospital and tried to get him to eat. Like
most sophisticated people he was not enticed by hospital-bland food.
Victoria and Roberto promised to take him out for a proper meal when
he got released. They encouraged him to rest. As they took their
leave he told them to be careful.
Alejandra
showed Sofia around and filled her in on their colleagues, whose
reputations she was aware of. Ricardo arrived and was surprised to
see her at the office in view of what was going on. She told him
there was nothing she could do at home at that point and she still
had to figure out what to do about the [ransom] money.
He hugged
her, something Sofia did not fail to notice. He told her that Alonso
requested that he speak to her and she explained that Alejandra had
taken care of that. He said they would have a meeting to discuss the
workload so she could step in as soon as possible.
Juan
explained to Fernanda that things were going to be a bit difficult
for a while until the criminals they are dealing with are found and
caught. This was a very dangerous situation. She commented that it
was a good thing they didn't have children yet. He told her that he
loved her and that she needed to be careful.
Ricardo
handed Sofia some case files, which she said she would review. She
asked about Jaime's situation and Alonso's. She correctly speculated
that the same people were responsible for both and offered her
assistance. Alejandra told her that Juan was organizing the
evidence, but she should look at it because fresh eyes are often
helpful. She agreed and went on her way with the files.
Victoria
and Roberto arrived and he asked “Your place or mine?” with the
intention that they stick together through the danger. Independent
as ever, Victoria said she wanted to sleep alone at her place. He
said he hoped they would soon be living together. She feigned
offense and sent him off to his office.
I
wonder whether Beatrice and Benedick kept this going after the
curtain came down.
Ricardo
tried to persuade Alejandra to go home, but she said she didn't want
to be there where she could do nothing. Ricardo tried to convince
her that they should allow the police to handle this and not turn
over any money. She was determined to raise the money and said she
was going to the bank to see if she could get a loan. He insisted on
accompanying her because he wanted to help and protect her.
Juan
was going over documents in the archive room when Roberto came in to
review what needed to be done and to give him the news that he will
getting his own office. He would attend to that when he got
backlater.
Alejandra
and Ricardo went to the bank and she signed papers for a loan. It
wasn't all she needed so Ricardo offered his own savings. The loan
officer returned to tell her that the money would be in her own
account within a few hours.
Gustavo
was still inhaling tequila as his cell rang. He took it out of his
pocket and saw a text message superimposed on a photo of himself and
his lost loved ones. He declined to answer the text and put the
phone out of sight.
Alonso
spoke to some federales on the phone and asked for spceialist on
kidnappings. He said they were to contact Alejandra right away. He
asked for the chief of police as well. Lourdes came back and took
the phone from him because he wasn't supposed to be working. He told
her she should not be visiting him because of the danger. She would
not be put off; she wanted to be with him and take care of him.
Ricardo
addressed the staff meeting and introduced Sofia formally. Alejandra
told the others that Sofia has been made aware of what had been going
on and came on board nontheless. Ricardo then told them that Sofia
and Alejandra will handle Alonso's caseload and the others would take
care of the rest.
Alan
went into Carlos' office to show him a case for review. Carlos told
him to handle it because he was busy. Alan volunteered to help and
Carlos agreed, but warned him that if he made one mistake he was off
of it.
Carlos
still has not realized that there was something rotten in the hotel
situation that landed him in prison under suspicion of murder.
Ricardo
handed some divorce and pension cases to Victoria and the robbery and
fraud cases to Sofia. Juan asked about Alonso and Ricardo told the
group that Alonso was getting better and likely to get out of the
hospital in a few days. He thanked them all and ajourned the
meeting.
Elena
had to tell her children that they could not go out. The doorbell
rang and as the maid went to answer Elena stopped her and told her
that she was to get the person to identify himself. Nobody who would
refuse to identify himself or whom she didn't recognize was to be
allowed in. The children asked her what this was about and she seemed
to realize that she had to explain this.
Ricardo
handed Sofia the files on Jacinto Durantes and on his brother, with
the caveat that the cases were complicated. Gustavo had handled the
fraud case for which Ramiro Durantes was currently doing time. Sofia
asked whether she shouldn't talk to Gustavo; Ricardo had her sit down
for the explanation about the revenge murder of Gustavo's family.
She understood and said that the two of them could handle the case.
Alejandra
sat in her office, obviously depressed over the inability to do
anything at the moment. She looked at her cell phone and put it down
as Roberto, Victoria, and Juan entered. Roberto gave her a checque
for one million pesos. They pledged their support. Alejandra almost
cried.
Sofia
was given Olivia's office; Ricardo gave instructions to Carmen.
The
man who shot Alonso brought food to to the blindfolded [actually
duck-taped] Jaime, who refused to eat. He taunted him, saying
“You're keeping me here to blackmail my family because I'm still
alive but I won't allow you to keep this up. If you don't have the
pants to kill me I will not eat until I die of hunger.” The
assassin threw the burrito at Jaime and bowed his head in
frustration, knowing that Jaime couldn't see him. He made a sound
and Jaime told him “If I die you will have nothing to negotiate
with and you'll leave my family in peace.”
We're
sure he's mistaken about that.
Carlos
poured a drink for El Ciego as they closed their latest laundering
deal. Carlos told him he did everything he asked of him but he
needed to free his father-in-law. El Ciego said he understood, but
that he was dealing with some heavy hitters. “It will be good when
this is over.” Carlos told him how much money he was looking to
raise and El Ciego laughed.
“That's a lot of money!” he said.
“That's why I need your help,” Carlos said. He actually asked
him to lend him the money. El Ciego seemed amused at the irony of
the situation. He claimed he had a lot going on, like a sick mother,
and some other things that would be more believable from someone
else.
Carlos told him not to worry; he would repay the money and
that this would be the biggest favor ever.
Carlos
just forfeited his entire soul and future. El Ciego will laugh all
the way back to hell.
He
is definitely a psychopath.
Inspector
Raúl Quiróz paid Alonso a visit in the hospital and introduced
himself. Alonso explained that while he doesn't have concrete proof,
all this began when his firm made sure that Ramiro Dorantes went to
prison for fraud. He had copies of everything at the office. He
also told him that this was related to the death of Fausto Rivero.
Quiróz took notes and told him that the federales were watching all
the points of exit from the country and it was only a matter of time
before Jacinto Dorantes would be caught.
El
Ciego played a little hard-to-get about the money, but said he would
manage it because “we're such good friends and I see you really
love your father-in-law.” Carlos told him he would repay the
money, not to worry. El Ciego laughed at the idea of being paid by
his lawyer and Carlos asked what he needed. He poured him another
drink and slid the glass toward him. El Ciego told him that when he
needed the money he would try to get it. Also that “It hurts me
so much that you're feeling so bad.”
It's
too bad there are no jury trials in Mexico; this one would be most
entertaining.
Alonso
told Quiróz that there are no coincidences in the law. Fausto
Rivero turned up dead right after contacting Gustavo to represent a
group of neighbors who had been defrauded. Ramiro Dorantes ended up
in prison and a few days later Gustavo's family was murdered when
their henchmen shot up Gustavo's car. That was followed by the
kidnapping of Jaime Ponce and the attempt on his own life. Quiróz
saw the connexion but they would need to prove it. Also, the weapons
used in the shooting were of very high caliber so they were dealing
with very dangerous professional criminals. He was concerned about
this and said he would send men to guard Alonso. Lourdes thanked
him.
El
Ciego continued to play his game about the money, finishing with “Let
me see how much I have.” Carlos thanked him and he said “It's
because we're friends.” A man-hug later El Ciego left the office.
At
least Carlos had the sense to look afraid. Very afraid.
Ricardo
visited his ex's apartment to explain the situation to the children,
which was in more childish language than justified. He said he could
not allow the evil people to find them. He got them to accept that
they could not leave the house.
Really,
he should have not told them it was an “accident.” These
children are old enough to hear the word “murder.” What happened
to the plan for Elena and the children to head for Canada?
Sofia
visited Alonso in the hospital. She found him anxious to return to
the office. She told him not to worry. She had accepted his job
offer and was completely aware of current events and eager to take it
all on. She told him she was going to help Alejandra and that she
would start by paying the police chief a visit.
Quiróz
visited Alejandra to ask about the situation. She explained that
Jacinto Dorantes represented himself as a victim of a smear campaign
and asked her father to represent him. He had accepted, then
resigned. He told her that in view of the situation she should pay
the ransom. She told him she didn't have the money yet. He told her
that if she didn't offer to pay, Dorantes would take any excuse to
not trust her word. She should tell him she had the money and the
police would set a trap.
El
Ciego returned to his hideout where he found his assassin grooving to
music on his cell. The man updated him on Jaime's hunger strike
and
this only set him off again. He landed four punches to Jaime's face,
then took out his pistol. He just barely stopped himself from
shooting at point-blank range.
Alejandra
was not comfortable with Quiróz' plan. She didn't want to risk her
father's life. Quiróz told her that they had to act quickly and
that he had a lot of experience with these situations. She insisted
on doing things her way and said that if this didn't work she would
agree to his plan. He warned her that every minute counted. He gave
her his business card and took his leave.
Ricardo
told Elena he talked to the children. He apologized for putting them
in this situation; she told him it wasn't his fault. She asked him
how long this would go on and he told her that it would be until
Dorantes is caught.
She rolled her eyes ad he said they were close
to it. She asked how that could be with over a hundred million
people in the country. He explained that all ports of departure were
being watched but she was chafing at being locked up. He told her he
wouldn't let anything happen to them.
Sofia
went to the chief of police to talk about the case and he was less
than perfectly cooperative, claiming that he didn't have the
information to connect the situations. She got up and told him that
this was urgent because all of the Vega lawyers' lives are in danger.
Finally he said he would see if he could expedite it. He returned
with a document, which he handed to her.
She thanked him but with an
excellent neutral expression, indicating that she was ignoring the
fact that he was staring down her neckline.
This
is a great example of a woman using her sexuality to manipulate men.
It's a good thing she's on the right side of the law.
Alejandra
entered figures into her computer and determined that they had raised
fifteen million pesos, half of what was demanded. Paula asked where
they would get the rest and Alejandra said they would have to do what
they could with what they had. At least they were in a position to
negotiate.
That
night Victoria draped her couch, added a large pillow, and brought
out a blanket for Roberto who – although he didn't explicitly say
so – was disappointed that she didn't want him to join her in her
bed.
She
told him not to get too accustomed to staying at her place. He said
he would like to be with her all the time, finally leaving him to
sleep on the couch.
Gustavo
had passed out on his couch, but was awakened by Ricardo knocking on
the door. He finally got up and let him in. Ricardo noticed that
the door had been unlocked; Gustavo said he hadn't noticed. Ricardo
told him about the attempt on Alonso's life. Gustavo asked how
Alonso was and Ricardo said he was recovering. He told him he could
not begin to comprehend his pain, but that they needed his help.
Gustavo said he understood, but he couldn't. Everything he saw and
heard reminded him of his loss. Ricardo told him they didn't want to
lose him.
Roberto
sat up reading, but when he heard Victoria getting up he closed the
book and feigned sleep. He waited until she was in the kitchen
pouring herself a glass of water, then got up and followed her. “I
knew it. I knew you would change your mind.” She said she
couldn't sleep. He said he couldn't, either.
She poured him a glass
of water and they talked about law school days and the pursuit of
justice. Finally he suggested they watch a film,
so they went back
to the couch and turned on the television.
Ricardo
went to Paula's house where she was waiting for the call. The phone
rang and it was El Ciego, who threatened her if she answered again
after more than two rings. She told him she had fifteen million in
cash, take it or leave it. He laughed, telling her she was joking.
She told him that it was no joke. He asked which half of her father
did she want in exchange, the upper or lower. She told him that was
all the money.
He told her that it was all or nothing and gave her
three days to get it. Then he ended the call. When Alejandra said
what happened Paula became hysterical. Ricardo slammed his fist on
the desk.
El
Ciego said to himself “She's a fool. She's a fool.” He then
turned to Jaime and said “You are going to die.”
I
agree with Ricardo; they should allow the police to handle this. If
Carlos gets involved in the negotiations who is the fool?
Good
question, Candace. He certainly should feel like one...and worse.
Between the staff at Vega & Associates and Inspector Quiróz they
should be able to connect the dots between these indicents. The real
question is whether there is any physical evidence. Candace will be
with me for the duration. Until next we meet behind the Walls of
Justice, I'm Christopher Mason.
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