I'm
Christopher Mason. Greed became fashionable sometime in the 80s.
That fad does not appear to have ended. Corporate greed is now in the
spotlight but it's an overgrowth of the sort of personal greed that
we are now witnessing. Corporate greed can destroy economies while
personal greed usually destroys lives.
I'm
Candice DeLomg. Greed is one of the primary causes of all kinds of
crime. Greed coupled with psychological warfare is devastating to
its victims.
Mexico
City: Roberto walked
Lucia through the offices and she talked about this being one of the
happiest days of her life. Roberto was guarded through most of this
as he said they should talk later.
Carlos'
latest interaction with El Ciego did not go well. El Ciego was his
usual sociopathic self saying that they were the same because of
their missions of revenge, finally saying that revenge is the only
true justice. Carlos maintained a stern expression, but most likely
was concealing a sense of panic.
Juan
called Tatiana to tell her that his colleagues liked the new house
and to thank her for her help. She led him into inviting her on a
dinner date after work.
Los
Cabos: Sofia and Ricardo were at the courthouse all day waiting
for the court order when the nasty woman told them they were closing
and they had to leave. All her colleagues were leaving for the day.
One handed her a large white envelope containing the response from
the clinic. She read it aloud, saying that there are no recordings
because the clinic doesn't keep them a long time. Neither Sofia nor
Ricardo was ready to buy this and they said there needed to be
another try. If there was no video proof they needed more time. The
woman said “This is the only chance” and resumed her seat at her
desk.
Is
greed this woman's motive? Was someone paying her off? There was no
other logical explanation for this behavior.
Mexico
City: Victoria looked like she was wrapping up for the day and
she thought about Roberto. Adrián came in and they briefly talked
about Lucia. He thought it a bit strange that this was the first
time she had visited her son at work. Victoria agreed, but said
nothing else.
Alan
sneaked into Carlos' office and took out a grey cloth bag before he
opened the safe. He keyed in the numbers – using his bare hand –
and removed a three-inch stack of money. He bagged it, closed the
safe and the door of the credenza over the safe, then left.
This
obviously showed that Alan was no expert in criminal law. He wasn't
even thinking about fingerprints.
Victoria
visited Roberto in his office to make sure he was alright. He said
he felt strange, unsure what to do next. He had never felt this
vulnerable before. She advised him to allow himself to enjoy time
spent with his mother and to ask any questions he had in his mind.
He told her she was right and thanked her.
Nancy
was still at the office sending a text on her cell when she saw Alan
leaving, the money bag dangling from his hand. She asked if he was
alright and before he could utter a second syllable his cell rang.
It had to have been Téllez because he said “I'm on my way. I'll
be there in a few minutes.” Nancy watched him go up the stairs.
Los
Cabos: Over dinner Ricardo
speculated that Dr Pineda and his lawyer must have delayed this on
purpose so they needed to find another way to connect him to Ana
Morales. Sofia suggested that they talk to the various businesses in
the area that had security cameras that might show her entering the
clinic. Otherwise they might not have a way to connect these two
people.
Mexico
City: After Nicolás talked
about having another date with an attractive woman, Roberto shocked
him by telling him that Lucia had come to see him at the office.
Téllez
waited for Alan, who pulled up and let him in the passenger seat.
Alan handed him the bag and he said that this was not the amount he
asked for. Alan told him that his acess/control was limited. Téllez
then identified the exact motive for Alan killing the prostitute:
With Carlos in prison he could take over. Alan told him to shut up
but Téllez said that everyone knew that Carlos was the only lawyer
of distinction in that office. He went on about this was why he
tried to frame Carlos for murder. This was getting Alan's dander up
but Téllez did not let up. He told Alan he could stop worrying if he
gave him the rest of the money. Alan said he would need more time,
but Téllez would not relent. He said that it wasn't his problem
that Carlos didn't know what kind of a scorpion he had in his firm.
Alan tried to grab his jacket but he said that if he didn't come up
with the money ASAP his silence would end. Alan said to calm down
but to no avail.
Téllez
got out of the car to walk back to his own. Alan watched him in the
rear-view mirror, put the car in reverse, and floored the
accelerator. He watched out the rear window as he knocked Téllez
down. He paused a few seconds before moving the car forward, then
stopping it to get out and retrieve the money. He then ran back to
his car and drove out as fast as he could without drawing attention.
So
Alan now had two murders on his conscience, if he had one.
Nicolás
asked Roberto for details and how he felt. Roberto told him he
didn't know. “What did she want?” and Roberto told him “Nothing.
Why?” “Because I know her.” Roberto, however, asked Nicolás
whether he was sure he had always told him the truth.
Alan
drove a short distance away and looked at both ends of his car. Dogs
were barking in the background. Alan looked around nervously. There
was blood on the rear bumper of the car. He looked inside the trunk
and the back seat and finding nothing, he took off his jacket and
used it to wipe off the blood. He then threw the jacket into the
back seat, took out his cell, and erased all of Téllez's voicemails
before getting back into the car and driving off.
Alan
clearly wasn't thinking. He was as inept a killer as he was
incompetent as a lawyer. Didn't he know that cell phone records
could show what he had erased?
Roberto
wanted the truth and Nicolás didn't like being called a liar. When
Roberto asked him why he didn't tell him the details he said that it
was because of his last bit of respect for Lucia. She had told
Roberto that he had deceived her. He seemed to deny having done
this, finally telling Roberto that the only thing he wants is that
Lucia not hurt him. Roberto finally told him to think carefully
about this, then wished him goodnight.
Alan
rang Carlos' doorbell impatiently. When Carlos answered he said he
had to talk to him and not at the office. He asked forgiveness for
not having been more helpful when Alejandra died. He was too
concerned about the party and forgot what was really important.
He
finally kept asking forgiveness as he hugged Carlos.
This
was not usual behavior for Alan, and Carlos knew it.
Juan
dined with Tatiana, who aske about his work. He talked about liking
his colleagues and his boss, hoping some day to be like Alonso.
Tatiana actually said she could see him with his own firm.. He liked
the idea but said it was too soon for that. She went on about how
time passes too quickly, etc. He seemed to like the idea... a little
too much.
Juan
really needed help from Roberto for this. Juan was accustomed to his
mother's honesty and Fernanda's wholesome affection. Tatiana was too
grasping for him.
Carlos
asked Alan if he was high on drugs or something. Alan said he had
been working too hard but wanted him to know “I'm not your enemy”
and other such things. They should be able to work together. Carlos
said that what happened with Alejandra changed his life but it had
nothing to do with him. All he expected Alan to do was to concentrate
on his own work. He reminded Alan that their clients come to them
because they never lose.
He
then asked why Téllez was looking for him. Alan invented a story
about the poor man having trouble with a fraud case. That Téllez'
client ended up calling him. Carlos did not look like le believed
him.
Nancy
met her informant in a cafe. He advised her about La Bestia, who had
always managed to escape the law. He had learned of the connexion to
El Gringo from someone in the US. She was pleased and he wanted to
know when she would help him desecrate the patrol car. She laughed
and said that when the investigation was over he would be duly
rewarded.
Quite
the tease, wasn't she? What are the odds that she will follow through
on this? I'm guessing Lloyd's of London would make that a thousand
to one against it.
Juan
took Tatiana home; she clearly had consumed more wine than was good
for her. It seemed that he had as well. This time when she kissed
him he kissed her back.
Carlos
tried to persuade Alan to go home; it was late. Alan poured himself
another drink and said he was just fine, thanks. He drained the glass
and left. Carlos shook his head, saying to himself “I don't know.”
Yes,
he knew. He knew that something wasn't right.
Tatiana
broke the kiss because she had to go inside or the neighbor looking
after her son would be upset. They agreed to dine together again the
next night.
Police
and ambulance personnel were at the scene of the most recent crime.
Quiróz arrived to see the body covered with a sheet. He ordered the
area cordoned off after listening to cause of death, which included
multiple contusions and eviceration.
The
next morning Roberto was still in a fog about the events of the
previous day. Victoria offerred her help if he needed it.
Los
Cabos: Over breakfast
Ricardo explained to Fabián that the clinic was not cooperating. He
understood what that most likely meant and Sofia said they agreed,
but had no way to prove that they were withholding the security
tapes. Their current hope was that one of the nearby businesses had
caught Ana on one of their cameras on the date in question. They
would have to go to a judge if they had no luck with this and hope
that the judge will believe their case. Fabián acknowledged that
this situation was very difficult to believe. He found it hard to
believe that anyone would do this much damage just for money.
Fabián
obviously hadn't spent enough time in Ana's company to recognize her
as a sociopath and predator. She is the type who would kill a
husband for his life insurance.
Mexico
City: Roberto found Juan in the break room working on something
and talked to him about his mother. He still didn't know what to
think or do. Juan encouraged him to get to know his mother but
Roberto seemed to have doubts.
Quiróz
and Ignacio talked about the latest homicide. They had a few
eyewitness statements but he didn't think it was enough. They needed
to get more. He also said to get the autopsy report to see the
details that could lead to identifying the type of car involved. All
they knew was that the victim appeared to be a lawyer.
Juan
told Roberto not to be afraid to ask the hard questions, exactly what
Victoria had said. He then asked Roberto for advice regarding his
own situation. He still loved Fernanda but got on well with Tatiana.
Roberto did not have a good vibe about Tatiana and advised Juan to
be very careful around her. She had more experience with men than he
had had with women and Roberto was concerned for Juan.
Carlos
confronted Alan about why he came to his place the night before. He
wanted to make sure that Alan wasn't trying to deceive him.
When
lawyers who handle criminal cases end up dead of unnatural causes,
police investigators usually look first at their clients. Unless
there was a eyewitness it could be a while before Alan is caught...
unless Téllez' cell phone was on his person. Alan wasn't smart
enough to look for it. He was only concerned about retrieving the
money.
True.
I wonder if he is smart enough to return it to Carlos' safe before
anyone else gets to the office in the morning. That is, after he has
his car detailed, which would look suspicious if anyone near the
scene could identify it. Then there is Nancy, who was the last one
to see him leave the office before committing the crime. Will she
remember the money bag? Fabián wondered how anyone could go through
the trouble torturing others for money. He will see that in court.
Until next we meet Behind the Walls of Justice, I'm Christopher
Mason.
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