I'm
Christopher Mason. Digging for evidence is often a thankless job.
It's even more difficult when those doing it are too emotionally
involved in the case. Too much objectivity is usually lost.
I'm
Candice DeLong. The dangers of police work are rarely understood by
people outside enforcement agencies. Even by lawyers, who should
know better.
Victoria
went to see Ricardo. She hugged him and cried as she told him how
sorry she was for his loss. Alejandra had been her friend, colleague,
and like a sister. He started crying and she told him he had to go
on. He had her, Roberto, Gustavo, Alonso, and everyone else at the
firm. What he was feeling was normal but he would get better a
little at a time. He was to do that for Alejandra.
Alan
refused to pay anything and Téllez threatened to speak to the judge.
Alan pointed out that this would not benefit him, but Téllez
pointed out that he would have more to lose. Alan asked his price
and he named it. Alan told him No Way, but Téllez was certain that
Alan would pay up. He said he would see him soon, then left.
Téllez
had a lot less to lose and he knew it. Alan couln't afford to lose
his position or his income because they depend on the one man he has
resented for most of his life. If Carlos goes down, Alan's life and
career are over.
The
staff meeting at Vega began awkwardly. Adrián entered the
conference room talking about a possible association with an
immigrant assistance group in the US. Victoria liked the idea.
Roberto paid it lip service as he poured his coffee and kissed
Victoria as a way of marking his territory. When Ricardo entered he
touched the back of Alejandra's chair before sitting down. This was
not lost on either Sofia or Victoria, who sat next to him. Javier
was in a hurry to get the meeting over with so he could crawl back
into his cave and work alone. Alonso came in and noticed that Juan
was absent. Roberto immediately took out his cell and sent a text.
Ricardo thanked everyone for helping with his pending cases. Juan
ran in, almost knocking over his chair. He explained what happened.
All then observed a moment of silence for Alejandra.
Jaime
was with Paula, who hadn't slept all night. He looked at the morning
paper and commented that he never thought Alejandra would end up with
Carlos. Paula said she felt sorry for him as he tried to compensate
for his mistakes but could not, even with the money he gave Alejandra
for the ransom. Jaime said that this was his debt and he would repay
it. There was abundant food on the table but neither was hungry.
The
meeting started with congratulations to Lorena and Manuel on their
first case. Roberto dubbed Mauel “El Lobito” because he was
graduating at the top of his class. Then Victoria and Adrián
explained what happened with their case. Roberto interjected that
they wouldn't have found Andres without his help because they were in
Austin. Adrián didn't miss that this was an attempt at lessening
his role in the matter.
Roberto
couldn't admit his jealousy. He has spent so much effort to remain
cool and holding women at arm's length he can't admit his real
feelings to Victoria. Unfortunately, she is doing the same thing.
Quiróz
and his right-hand man entered Carlos' office. Quiróz then asked
him what he saw the day of the shooting, especially if he could
identify any of the shooters.
Alonso
said it was important to get cases resolved in their clients' favor
so all was well. However, Ricardo commented on how the events
Victoria had to prove might damage little Sol. She agreed, saying
that the poor child understood nothing. As to the case about the
nightclub fire, Javier said it was going badly. They didn't have
proof that the employees of the club had prevented people from
leaving without paying. Sofia had spoken to the judge but he didn't
think this would accomplish anything. Sofia said they had to keep
trying and Alonso told them to keep him in the loop. He said to
focus on the owners' guilt. The meeting was dismissed and he asked
Ricardo and Javier to stay. When everyone else was out and the door
closed Alonso said they needed to deal with the case about Alejandra.
Carlos
told the police that he had been with his cousin Alan that evening.
Quiróz asked if Alan would verify that and Carlos told him he would.
Quiróz then said that it was a little too coincidental that they
were in the same place as the Vega firm. Carlos first commented that
it was a public place then went on the defensive, asking whether they
suspected he had anything to do with it. Quiróz watched him
carefully as he said “No; we're just asking questions.” Carlos
tried to pull the “Be careful how you talk to me” routine, then
said he was there because he loved Alejandra. Quiróz said they
didn't intend to make him feel bad, but noted that there was a
reservation in Roberto's name for the celebration. Carlos pointed
out that Roberto had been his lawyer in an important case; Quiróz
knew about it. He still considered it too coincidental and insisted
that Carlos tell him the truth. Carlos told him was there to
congratulate Alejandra on making partner.
Quiróz and the other cop
looked at each other as though they didn't buy this answer.
Quiróz
had to have known that Carlos Ibarra represented El Ciego in court a
few months ago. When you remember that the Vega firm will not
represent drug dealers, you know why Carlos was not accepted when he
applied there after graduation.
Alonso
told Ricardo he put that case in Javier's hands. Javier had been to
the crime scene and agreed to allow Quiróz to handle the
investigation while he analyzed the crime scene reports. He was
looking at the ballistics reports. Those showed that this was a
confrontation between two groups of armed men. He said there was
nothing pointing to a specific attack directed at Alejandra. Ricardo
got up and said this was absurd because Alejandra was dead as a
result of this attack. Javier said that there was a possibility that
the return fire was from within the restaurant and Alejandra was
caught in the crossfire. Alonso said that they now needed to know
the identities of everyone who had been in the restaurant.
Carlos
continued, saying he wanted to congratulate Alejandra and continue
working with Alan. They asked him if he saw anyone suspicious and
whether he could describe them. Carlos apologized, saying he saw
nothing. They asked to see Alan, so Carlos called his secretary to
find him and send him in.
Ricardo
brought up security tapes but Alonso pointed out that they only had
cameras on the exterior but none inside. Juan was to have
requisitioned those. Javier mentioned Quiróz, but Ricardo became
irritated. Alonso told him they had to be patient.
Alan
entered Carlos' office and Carlos introduced him to the police and
explained the reason for their visit. Alan asked whether they had
any progress and Quiróz said they were talking to everyone who was
in the restaurant that evening. Carlos said he told them everything.
At this time Quiróz didn't question Alan, but said that they were
looking at everything, including security camera footage. They took
their leave. As soon as they were out Alan got on Carlos' case
saying that they had to end their association with El Ciego once and
for all because he had met with him that night in that restaurant.
He even accused Carlos of almost revealing this. Carlos asked for
Nancy and Alan said she went out a short while ago. Carlos argued
with him about this, finally telling him to get out of his office.
He left and Carlos was left to stew.
Neither
of these two was in a good position and they both knew it. The
police were getting closer to the truth.
Juan
went to his office to find Fernanda waiting for him. He knew almost
immediately that something was wrong and she started to cry. She
told him what happened in Damián's office and he said “It doesn't
belong to him. Did you register it?” She had not. She had wanted
to wait until it was completed. He told her that because of this the
app legally belonged to Damián. She asked whether there was
anything they could do.
Nancy
was on the phone with a former colleague named Sergio to enquire
about El Gringo. He told her the same thing as the young policeman,
but finally after some cajoling on her part he said he'd see what he
could do.
This
may be a previous hookup of hers and he's better-looking than Carlos.
Fernanda
told Juan that she had created the app; the project had been hers.
She had presented it to the previous owners before they had sold the
business. She didn't have anything in writing and there had been no
contract. Juan then realized that she might have a case if she had
the right documentation that this app was her work before it was
originally presented. She said she had a lot of messages and some
e-mails. He was confident that this would do it.
Ricardo
went to Sofia's office to apologize for having lost it in front of
her before. She said she understood and would help him although she
wasn't sure how. She took his hand and said something about it not
necessarily being about work. The phone rang and she got good news
about a court date. She said she wanted to help, to be a part of this
family. He said he would think about it and wished her luck.
She
smiled a little too much when he left her office.
Sorry,
but that was ghoulish of her.
Down
in the library Roberto pulled Alonso's book off the shelf and
suggested that Manuel read it.
A
few moments later Victoria came in and asked to speak alone with
Roberto. Manuel cleared out and Victoria confronted Roberto on why he
had a problem with Adrián. She was not pleased that he had to
insist on mentioning his participation in their case, accusing him of
looking for applause. He denied it but she was sure of her
accusation. He knew that this got under her skin and he was enjoying
himself.
Actually, she may also have been.
Carlos
was not having a good day, as evidenced by his choice of beverage
when it was not even close to three PM. He put it aside when his
secretary announced that Jaime was there to see him. He took a sip
of his drink as they began to talk, finally saying that they need to
find and kill the ones who killed Alejandra. Jaime told him that
revenge only causes other problems. They know this as lawyers.
Carlos was not in the mood to listen to this. Jaime told him “I
want justice for my daughter but you want revenge.” Finally he
told him he would be the one to settle Alejandra's $15MM peso debt to
him.
Nancy
– in her standard slutwear less the red lipstick – met with
Sergio at an outdoor café. He showed her a folder which he said had
information and prevented her from taking it immediately by pouring
more wine and suggesting that they enjoy the afternoon delight.
After alll, it had been a long time since they had gone out. He was
glad to get her call and she was glad that he was always helpful when
she needed it. They clinked glasses of vino tincto.
Carlos
told Jaime that wasn't necessary but he insisted. He had only
dropped by to tell him that the first repayment would be shortly. He
shook his hand and left.
Sergio
suggested a weekend getaway to Acapulco [???] and Nancy said she
loved it. She told him what she wanted to know about El Gringo. He
said they knew nothing officially but would do his best. That seemed
to please her.
Sofia
went into Javier's office to tell him that they had a court date in
the morning. They agreed on what needed doing and she went to get
her notes. He had this look that would have said “I've Grown
Accustomed to Her Face” if this were another title.
Carlos
worked late that evening. Nancy entered his office with the folder
she had gotten from Sergio. It was a list of locations associated
with El Gringo and his people. He thanked her and told her that this
information was extremely sensitive and required total discretion.
He had another request. He showed her a photo on his cell phone and
said that he needed her to edit the security tapes from the
restaurant's area to remove this man's image so he would not be
associated with it. It was El Ciego.
El
Ciego will be Carlos' downfall one way or the other. At this point he
owed him money and was in danger of being associated with him beyond
the original court case. Alan was totally naïve to think that there
was any way to be free of him... except the ultimate one.
So
true. Carlos' fall will ultimately be traced back to Alan when he
learns that Alan murdered the prostitute during his bachelor party.
There are so many ways this situation can play out and none of them
will be good for either of these men. The Vega firm and the police
in their digging for information are digging their graves. Until
next we meet Behind the Walls of Justice, I'm Christopher Mason.
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