I'm
Christpher Mason. The quest for truth in a world filled with fake
news and people lying or keeping mum to protect themselves is often a
difficult endeavor. For lawyers with ethics and a crusade it can be
very trying and emotional. Some even collapse during discovery and
for those with something to hid it can be disastrous.
I'm
Candice DeLong. In law enforcement there is nothing worse than a cop
or a lawyer to turn up dirty. It hurts the public trust and by
extension the profession.
El
Ciego and his goons stopped in what looked like a cul de sac. El
Chivo had told El Cuervo that this was not a trap. The seven of them
got out a minute or two later, pistols cocked and ready.
This
must have been what the OK Corral looked like.
Camila
went to sleep briefly on the sofa and Sofia leaned against her. When
she awakened her demeanor went back to normal and Sofia got her to go
to bed.
Gustavo
showed some information to Ricardo about the cartel's territory in
the US, but said that there was no connexion to Dorantes. There was
no progress. Ricardo's phone rang and Sofia told him about Camila's
crisis. He asked whether she wanted to take her to the hospital and
Sofia told him no, as they had a doctor's appointment the next day.
She just needed to vent to someone because of how difficult this was.
She said that Camila was calmer than before, and that she would be a
little late to the office because of the appointment. She told him
that she felt better for having talked to him. When they ended the
call he told Gustavo about it and both were concerned. Ricardo said
that this was likely just the beginning and he intended to ask
Nicolás for advice.
Ignacio
brought an evidence bag to Sonia containing Téllez' personal
effects. One of the items was his cell phone. They had sent a
request to the provider for a usage report but it was not yet in.
The
next morning Nicolás asked Roberto about his colleagues and about
Victoria. No progress with her. Nicolás said he had always hoped
that Roberto would find someone like her. Roberto agreed, but said
that she was more interested in another colleague. He seemed to have
resigned himself to this, saying it was better this way. He didn't
finish his breakfast before leaving.
Roberto
was lying to himself. He was more upset than he was willing to show
his own father. The mariachis have a song called “Los hombres nodeben llorar”. That's not something I ever expected Mexicans to
have in common with us.
Carmen brought Lorena's morning
coffee to the library as she had gotten in early to help Gustavo.
They talked about Gustavo's legal prowess and how they hope he is
recovering from the loss of his family and the family that is the
firm.
Carmen
isn't Alonso's wife, but she is definitLey the maternal figure in the
firm.
Carlos and Michelle breakfasted
together and she caught him off guard by asking why he was in jail.
He told her that he was accused of a murder he didn't commit. He
further explained that he had to get out on his own, that nobody
helped him. It was difficult, he said, but it was now all in the
past. Michelle said that she admired the fact that he could recover
from this and be the important lawyer he was.
Of
course, Carlos could not have gotten free without the help of the
Vega firm, but perhaps it was best that he not mention that. He has
more important things to worry about than his old rivalry with
Ricardo.
Camila's medical appointment
disclosed that while she was alright physically she had suffered an
anxiety crisis, which was normal under the circumstances. Further,
the doctor advised that this would be frequent. It was partly
because of the reduction of her medication doses. Camila began to
cry that she couldn't stand it nor the worry it provoked in Sofia.
The doctor advised Sofia not to get confrontational about this if it
happened again. Camila listened, got upset all over again, and
apologised to Sofia and cried.
Carlos talked about working his
butt off to prove his innocence and that he initiated a foundation to
help women who had been victims of violence. Michelle seemed to like
hearing about this. A few sentences later he asked her how it was
that such a beautiful woman as herself didn't have a novio.
She said she hadn't met anyone she was interested in. Until now.
Camila's doctor said he would
need to do more tests because he wanted to determine whether the type
of dementia she had was genetic. He asked whether anyone else in her
family had it. She answered “No one.” Sofia reminded her that
her aunt had suffered from it. The doctor handed something to Sofia,
Camila got more upset, and they left.
Alzheimer's
Disease is sadly very democratic. It doesn't care about your social
status, education, race, religion, or bank account. Sofia is
beginning to realize this.
El Gringo received some very bad
news, as in the shipment of drugs was stolen. He said “There were
five men bringing that in!” but his henchman said that when he and
his men got there two were dead and they found this message “Don't
mess with me.” El Gringo lost his cool – a rare occurance –
and his henchman picked up a pistol and said “Give me the order;
I'll kill him.” El Gringo shouted that he would have El Ciego's
head.
Jaime and Paula visited Ricardo
and talked about Alejandra. They had come to help him.
Gustavo was pleased with Lorena's
work in drafting the divorce petition. He said it was ready for
court. He told her she would present the opening arguments, which
made her a little nervous. He told her that this was how to learn.
He told her not to worry because he would be there with her.
Carlos and Michelle parted
company after breakfast with her saying that questions are to get to
know someone better. He didn't mind. He wanted to continue seeing
her. More verbal flirtation later they agreed to see each other the
next day. They kissed twice.
Neither saw that they were being
watched by El Gringo's most trusted man.
Paula told Ricardo that Jaime
being with her was the reason she was getting better. Ricardo was
sure that Alejandra would have been pleased if she were with them.
She advised Ricardo to cherish the best moments he had with her but
to recognize that this was all in the past. It was difficult for her
to do this but necessary. Jaime told him that he was young and still
had life ahead of him. Alejandra would want him to find happiness.
He thanked them.
Sofia and Camila arrived home
with bottles of new medications. Sofia gave her mother her pills and
took out the book to record this. Camila got upset again, for all
the reasons so far. She kept saying that she didn't want to upset
her or be a burden on her life. Sofia told her she was not a burden
and that they would get through this together.
Juan told Roberto about Fernanda
dumping him. Roberto was incredulous at first, but was finally
convinced that Juan wasn't wrong about the situation. He finally
told him that the best thing he could do was to not give his heart
again. Juan said that this would be difficult for him, but Roberto
said it would be the only way to protect himself. Juan said he would
try.
For
once, this is where I hope Juan fails. It is difficult enough today
to find people wth empathy who aren't ashamed of it. As long as they
learn not to wear their hearts on their sleeves.
Marcela arrived and Sofia updated
her on Camila's crisis the previous night and that there were new
medications. Marcela offered to update the book so Sofia could go to
work. Sofia said she would finish but Camila came in and told her to
go to work and she would have Marcela to stay with her. She was
alright until Sofia was out the door. She then broke down into the
same despair she showed the night before and in the doctor's office,
crying that she didn't want to be a burden to her daughter.
As Michelle was driving away from
the restaurant the goon who ratted on her to El Gringo circled her
car to roadblock her. He walked up to the window and told her she
was to see El Gringo immediately. She was no more pleased at this
than El Chivo had been but agreed to go... by herself. She rolled up
the window, wondering what this was about.
It
was possible that Michelle's guard was down. Or that it never
occurred to her that being El Gringo's sister isn't protection in a
cartel. She really needs to research Griselda Blanco.
Carlos arrived at the office and
commented that he didn't see Alan's car in the parking lot. Alan
said it was in the shop and he would pick it up shortly. He asked
about whether Carlos presented the gift and how that went. Carlos
said he had, it was a success, and refused to answer the other
questions. Alan said “but you're going with Nancy,” but Carlos
ignored it. He then brought up the debt to El Ciego, which is almost
paid off. Alan said that this meant more income for the foundation.
Alan suggested making the final payment and being done with it.
Carlos seemed to like that.
Carlos
hadn't learned that this would not rid him of El Ciego. There is
only one thing that would: Death, a ccommodity that El Ciego and
others like him enjoyed doling out for free.
At the Vega staff meeting Carmen
publicly thanked Adrián, Roberto, and Victoria for their help.
There were comments about abuse of authority hurting society no
matter the country as this was a human rights issue. This was
followed by the announcement of Victoria passing the bar exam.
Adrián said that Victoria is now able to help Latinos in the US and
he would help her if she needed him. Roberto tried correcting him by
saying that Victoria doesn't need his help and if he really knew her
he would know that. She knew why he said this and told him that he
knew very well that trying cases in the US is very different from
what happens in Mexico. He answered that this didn't mean she
couldn't do it alone. Victoria then said that too many Latinos in
the US were not represented so they need to have more lawyers at the
firm who can try cases there. Gustavo agreed. Alonso talked about a
colleague in Philadelphia saying that lawyers there barely get
forty-five minutes to study a case before going to court. The others
contributed their opinions and Alonso ended up agreeing with Victoria
and Gustavo. Sofia arrived and Alonso asked her and Ricardo to fill
everyone in on what happened in Los Cabos.
Alan was on the phone with
someone at the auto shop who told him his car wasn't ready. He was
annoyed, as he had brought it in the day before. He went back to
reading the news online, cocky in the belief that the police had no
evidence. Marta came in to tell him the police were there to see
him. He reduced he browser window and told her to let them in.
Sonia led the way, followed by Quiróz, Ignacio, and Herrera. She
had the arrest warrant, naming him the prime suspect in the murder of
Téllez.
Alan
had this coming for a long time. If he is discovered to have killed
the prostitute at the bachelor party he will automatically get life
without parole. That may very well drive him to suicide. He isn't
Carlos, so he will not be able to handle this.
That
much is almost certain. He was a son of privilege even without his
family being truly wealthy. He had ridden on Carlos' coat tails for
a long time. When that final truth is revealed Carlos will wash his
hands of him and hope that none of the dirt falls on his firm.
However, his association with El Ciego leaves too much dirt on
himself and his guard is down now. It will be interesting to see how
that is revealed. Until next we meet Behind the Walls of Justice,
I'm Christopher Mason.
Labels: ley2
Permalink posted by Urban Anthropologist
@ 8:50 AM
© Caray, Caray! 2006-2022. Duplication of this material for use on any other site is strictly prohibited.