Nobody
in the world tells the truth all the time; life would be intolerable.
However, too many lies told too long are time bombs waiting to
explode. Nobody even thinks about the fallout until it's too late. –
D.D.
Catalina
removed the plastic bag and said “We still have much to talk
about.” She sat down. “What did you tell José Carlos? What
information did you give him?”
Dora
was with Ámbar when she awakened again sometime after the
convulsions. “Señora, it's good to see you awake. I thought you
wouldn't wake up again.” She watched Ámbar try to speak. “Don't
try now. It was so much effort for you to try to talk.”
“Ca--,
ca--, Catalina – wanted to kill me.”
“What
you want me to do? How can I help you?”
José
Carlos listened to GPS instructions while stopping for a traffic
light at the same time that Diego apparently refused to talk. Catalina got up and returned to the spot behind him. “You're not going to
talk? Tell me.” He laughed through gritted teeth. “Therefore,
shut up forever.” She put the bag back on his head and tightened
it. She pulled it with all her strength until he slumped forward.
José
Carlos arrived at the building and walked around. He called out to
Diego but got no answer. He heard a motor running and smelled
something bad, so he coughed and covered his nose and mouth as he
walked around. He found a car with its motor running and Diego dead
behind the wheel.
A little later he called Luis and told him “This
just got more complicated.”
A
few days later Alvaro had the gall to visit Leonora at home. A maid
served coffee on the terrace area just outside of the library.
“Why
didn't you visit me in the hospital?”
“I'm
sorry but since your mother-in-law fired me I didn't want to be near
her. I'm taking a chance even driving down this street.”
“But
you're my friend, aren't you? You're welcome here anytime you want.”
Gélica
came out to find Leonora.
“Someone
is here to see you.”
“Who?”
“Luis.
Should I have him come in or would you prefer to see him outside
since he is a journalist?”
“I'll
see him there.” She told Alvaro she wouldn't be long. She got up
and handed baby Edgar to Gélica.
She went out and found Luis near
the young trees. They hugged. He said he needed to tell her
something.
“You,
José Carlos, and I need to talk so you can tell me what's going on.
I need to know who or what you are protecting.”
Alejandro
arrived at home and was very displeased to see Alvaro.
“Hello.
I was looking for the bathroom and look who I found?” Alvaro
asked.
“How do you have the nerve to come here?”
“You
don't want me to make a public scandal, I guess. Leonora is just
outside. If you open your mouth I will cry out. The door is open.”
He
did not know that Gélica was just outside the door.
“I
have no idea what you think you're doing.”
“It's
a shame that Leonora doesn't know that you and I had a relationship
that went beyond boss and employee. Besides that there's whom you really
love. I saw you. Very handsome, isn't he? Don't worry. I'm
disposed to keeping silent as long as you –”
Alejandro
punched him in the soar plexus. He coughed.
“You
have no idea whom you are messing with. Get out of this house this
instant. If you come near my family ever again I will destroy you.
Do you understand?”
Alvaro
looked at him with the most guarded look of pure hatred.
Leonora
returned to the terrace and relieved Gélica of the baby. She asked
about Alvaro and Gélica said she would look for him. Alejandro was
seeing him to the door since he couldn't trust him to leave on his
own. Alvaro tried to touch him and Alejandro grabbed his lapels and
shoved him against the wall.
“Don't
touch me and don't go near my wife,” he said.
Leonora
and Gélica came up the stairs. Both men stopped short.
“I
thought you left without saying goodbye,” said Leonora.
“No,
no,” said Alvaro. “I was going to wait, then Alejandro got home
--”
“I
see.”
Gélica
watched this exchange carefully.
“I
have to go,” Alvaro said. Alejandro loooked back at him.
“I'll
see you out,”Gélica said. She escorted him out of the house.
Alejandro
gently touched the baby's face.
“Do
you know why Catalina fired Alvaro?” Leonora asked. “He seemed
good at his work and things he did looked very [???]”
“Yes,
you have a point.”
Catalina
met with Commandante Vega behind a closed door.
“We
have a few things to resolve starting with excluding ourselves
regarding the murder of Diego.”
“But
we have nothing to do with it. The forensics have stated that his
death was a suicide.”
“There
is also the dead woman and that was Diego's fault. The
investigation can't go there.”
“So
that's what you want to discuss with me. The prosecutor on
that case is named Bustamante.
“Bustamante...
Who is he?”
Francisco
came in.
“Catalina,
I didn't know you were in a meeting.” He acknowledged Vega.
“You
arrived just in time for the formal presentation. I have just
engaged Commandante Vega to take Diego's place. Effective
immediately he is in charge of the security of our international
operations.”
“Very
good,” he said, with no real enthusiasm. “Welcome to the
company.”
“Thank
you. At your service, Francisco.” He looked at Catalina. “I
hope I live up to the confidence you have in me.”
“Good.
Maybe we should go back to our office.”
“Not
yet,” Catalina said. “For the moment we should be seen to be
working with the police. It's better to have someone there
especially after everything that's happened.”
“Of
course,” said Francisco. “Good idea.”
“And
you have to accept that the Commandante is an excellent choice.”
Francisco
was definitely not pleased with the situation and Catalina must have
known this. Omar Vega was far more attractive than himself.
José
Carlos and Luis met at the latter's apartment. Luis mentioned
visiting Leonora. José Carlos told him “Someone killed Diego,”
as he tossed him his cell.
Luis
looked at the screen and saw the news story. He handed it back.
“There
wasn't even time for him to talk to you. Whatever information he was
going to give you must be very dangerous.”
“He
sounded alright when I talked to him.”
“Bustamante
located the mule who then ended up dead. Whose names came into it?
Diego and Gothier.” José Carlos' phone signaled a message.
“It's
a message from Yohari.” He looked at it and didn't say a word.
“What
is it?”
José
Carlos handed Luis his cell. It was a photo of their contact. What
the Victorians would call a mortuary photo. Both men said nothing
but were horrified.
Francisco
felt he could not convince the company that taking on Vega was a good
decision.
“You're
not convinced or it bothers you that I made this decision without
you?” Catalina asked.
“You
could at least have consulted me, Catalina.”
“You
weren't available like you were in the decision about Diego. You
were busy with Ámbar.”
“Police?
Especially why the police?”
“He
outranks the local police. And he's worked with us on another
occasion.”
“It's
convenient today. Tomorrow, who knows?”
“What's
up with you?” She smiled slightly. “Are you jealous?”
“Jealous?
No. I'm simply saying what I think of this commandante. Hopefully
I'm wrong.”
“Very
well. I'll take that into account. Anything else?”
“No;
nothing else.”
Luis
opened up the back of the phone and remove the memory card José
Carlos was alarmed.
“Do
you want anyone to locate you who did this to Yohari?”
“I
want to talk to Bustamante right away.”
Luis
wasn't sure this was the right thing to do.
José
Carlos showed photos of Yohari to Bustamante.
“He
is... was my contact in Sierra Leone. His name was Yohari. He was
found out and killed.”
“He
worked for you?”
“Yes.
We worked together more or less for five months.” He took out the
photos he had taken. “We were investigating the diamond business.
That is what is going on in that place. Children working like
slaves.”
He took out head shots of three women. “These women
are how they were getting the diamonds out of the country. I'm sure
that perhaps one or more of these women met with the same fate as the
one you found in the canal. This is the one negotiating with my
family.”
Gélica
called Catalina to tell her the events of the day and what she
overheard in Alejandro's bedroom between Alvaro and Alejandro. Catalina
thanked her, then made another call.
“Commandante,
I need a favor.”
“Are
you aware that this investigation could mean the end of Gothier?”
“Yes,
but my father would never have permitted any of this. I had my
differences with him but he was an honest man. That is what he
taught me. I don't want money that's soaked in blood.
“I'm
going to analyze all these documents and we can discuss it later.”
He got up and they shook hands.
“Thanks.”
Alvaro
was thrown down on some stone steps. He was bloodied on the face and
he was spitting blood.
Two thugs who could have been fugitives from
a drug cartel picked him up and roughed him up some more. He was
warned that the next time he went near Gothier he would be dead.
They kicked him several times on both sides of his rib cage, then
walked off, probably to the nearest biker bar.
Miriam
informed Catalina that two policemen wanted to see her. The one in
black leather presented an order to appear at the station to make a
statement about the death of Diego Solórzano. Will you come with
us, please?”
“Yes,
but let me call my lawyers.”
“Of
course.”
She
slithered past them in her clingy green dress, knowing that they were
watching her every move. She opened the door to the staircase and
paused.
For the first time she seemed to feel fear.
Alejandro
sat at Ámbar's bedside and tried to get her to wake up.
“Ámbar,
I don't know if you can hear me. It's me, Alejandro. You know I've
never been good at expressing my feelings but I'm here with you. We
want you to wake up. We want you to know little Edgar. Aunt, do you
hear me?”
He
held her left hand in his and put his right hand over her arm to
detect any movement.
“Hey,
I'm here. Be calm.”
She
was waking up and breathing more deeply. He kept talking and she
finally opened her eyes.
“Do
you recognize me?” he asked.
She
nodded as he stroked her hair. Then she became agitated again.
'Aunt,
be calm. Don't exert yourself. Francisco will be here soon.”
Ámbar
tried to speak but was struggling. Her frustration was obvious.
“Your
father, your father --”
“What
about my father? Breathe, breathe. Don't exert yourself.”
The
nurse came in and checked the machine, noting that Ámbar's blood
pressure was elevated. She was going to administer a medication.
“Nurse,
please leave us alone,” Alejandro said.
She
reluctantly left the room, saying she would be just outside and not
to upset her more. Alejandro went back to Ámbar's bed.
“She's
gone. We're alone. What did you want to say about my father?”
With
some coaching he got her to “Carlos is not my father; you told me
that. What is the rest? Calm down, breathe. What else?”
“Fran
– Fran –“
“Francisco.
Francisco. What did he do?”
After
some further struggle she said “is your father.”
Alejandro
left the room in shock. Francisco arrived and approached him.
Alejandro shook him off.
“Don't
touch me!” he said. Then he left.
“What
happened?” Francisco asked.
Dora
appeared in the corridor and followed him into Ámbar's room. He
looked down at Ámbar and asked what happened.
“He
now knows the truth. That you are his real father.”
“That
what?” He looked genuinely confused.
“That
you are Alejandro's father.”
He
was stunned.
Alejandro
was out of the gate as fast as he could move. As soon as he was in
his car his phone rang.
It was Miguel.
Catalina
sat opposite Bustamante in his office with her lawyer, who reminded
him that she came voluntarily. She said she wanted to give a
statement and had nothing to hide.
“We
are grateful for your assistance in this investigation, Señora,”
said Bustamante. We would like your answers to a few questions
regarding the death of Diego Solórzano.”
“Yes.
I read that he committed suicide. Is that true?”
“The
circumstances and the obvious point to a possible suicide.”
“Yes,
well, the truth is that I haven't much to report. When his death
occurred it had been some time since he worked for us.”
“I
understand that he was a very trusted employee.”
“He
worked for Gothier. My husband hired him some years ago. Yes, you
could say he was a trusted employee.”
“Would
it be fair to say that you knew him very well?”
“My
relationship with Diego was strictly professional.”
“Tell
me, Señora, where were you at the time of the death of Diego
Solórzano?”
“What
are you insinuating?”
“I
will reiterate the question. Where were you at the time of the death
of Diego Solórzano?”
“I
was at home. I have various witnesses who can confirm that.”
“I
need to understand why Señor Solórzano no longer worked for you.”
“We
discovered that he was not an honest man and decided to dispense with
his services.”
“Can
you be a little more specific? What made you decide he was
dishonest?”
“He... defrauded us.”
“Why
didn't you press charges?”
“I
didn't because I don't like scandals. I spoke directly to
Commandante Vega.”
“I
thought you knew him.”
“Believe
me, I'm sorry about Diego's death. I don't like that he robbed us
but that doesn't mean I like what happened.”
Her
lawyer started to intervene, but Bustamante thanked her for coming.
She stood up and said “It was a pleasure to collaborate with you.
Excuse me.”
She
smiled as she spoke and shook his hand.
When
she got back to the atelier she found José Carlos waiting for her on
the couch in her office.
“What
are you doing here?” she said.
“Waiting
to find out how it went with Bustamante.”
She
closed the door before speaking.
“Just
some unimportant questions. You know about Diego.”
“Yes,
but Diego wasn't just any employee. He was your right hand man, and
one who kidnapped you. And you killed him because he knew too much.”
This
caught her slightly off-guard but she recovered quickly. She turned
around to face him.
“That's
what you think. Your father hired him and I paid the consequences.”
“You
have a lot of things to explain.”
“I
don't have to explain. How I elevated this business from the
bullshit that was your father's.”
“Unintentionally.”
“Yes.
I gave up Diego. That's what I do with all that gets in my way.”
“I
won't stop until you are in prison.”
He
left her office. Just as she picked up her cell Miriam came in and
she shouted not to bother her.
“I
need to see you,” she finally told the person she called.
She
met Vega at a restaurant. He could see that she was angry.
“How
did it go? What did you tell Bustamante?”
“It
wasn't what I told him. It's your attitude. I don't like it.”
He
laughed slightly.
“I
know what you're talking about. I understand perfectly.”
“It
also appears that [???]”
“Yes,
but I know what I want. Bustamante is looking to become a judge. He
has an impeccable record but that's not enough. Because of that he
needs a major case to elevate his campaign.”
“I
see, so he has decided to use me as his trampoline. I know men like
Bustamante very well. They want to look incorruptable, but it's all
a facade.”
“I
am certain that nothing about this is a facade.:
“Everyone
has a price, Commandante. Some higher than others, but all end in a
deal.” She leaned forward. “I want Bustamante on our side. If
he doesn't accept it will be worse for him.” Vega nodded without
saying a word. “There is another matter I have to arrange with
you, but not here. I will send you a message.”
She
rose and left the table. He watched her.
The
reason for Francisco's jealousy was confirmed that night. Omar zipped
up Catalina's dress afterward.
“You
drove me mad,” he said.
“How
much?” she asked.
“Too
much.”
“Show
me.”
“Whatever
you desire.”
“If
you are capable of killing for me, you will kill for me.”
“I
will do as you told me. You have only to say and José Carlos is a
dead man.”
“There
is someone I'm more worried about at the moment than José Carlos.
Bustamante. Diego had many damning things. If he investigates --”
“He
had evidence to offer?”
“No;
it's more serious. Bustamante is a hindrance.”
“We're
talking about a federal prosecutor.”
“No.
We're talking about a man. A human being like all others. Someone
who can have an accident. Unattended.”
Alejandro
arrived home in a foul mood, demanding to know his mother's
whereabouts. Neither Gélica nor Leonora knew. He started going
through all the rooms.
Luis
entered a church where he met Ignacio Vasco's widow, who chided him
for usually being late.
“I
know I have failed you, but I was worried for my son, my family.”
“I
understand. I too am afraid. You don't have to do anything. Where
is your family?”
“Where
they can't be followed. I didn't want to leave them alone.” He
looked at her. “Did they threaten you?” She nodded subtly.
“I
asked about the investigation. They told me to forget this matter.
That 'it isn't good to ask so many questions.' Because of that it's
better to let this rest in peace. I don't want the same to happen to
you as Ignacio.”
“We
can't live in fear. That isn't living. I don't want that for
Matias, for your children, or you.”
“What
can we do? How do we face this?”
“Before
Vasco died he gave me some proof. The preliminary autopsy report on
Carlos Larios.”
“For
that they killed my husband?”
“Because
of that his death can't go unpunished.” They both began crying.
“Nacho
trusted you.”
“You
know, the day he died I felt something at the moment.”
“Luis,
look at me. Look at me.” He turned toward her. “Are you doing
this now? Be very careful. I couldn't take it if anything
happened to you.”
“I'm
not alone. There is a prosecutor who's behind us. He has the need
to do justice.”
“Us?
Who is this?”
“I
can't tell you and it's better you don't know. Trust me. The person
who killed your husband will pay.”
Francisco
stood on the terrace at the mansion. Catalina was not pleased to see
him.
“I
didn't know you were here.”
“I've
been waiting. I think you owe me some explanations.”
“Commandante
Vega is a done deal and believe me, he will be much more efficient
than you.”
He
stepped forward but before he could get to his purpose, Alejandro
arrived, followed by José Carlos, Gélica, and Leonora.
“Ah,
here you are. The Queen of the house,” he said, sarcastically.
“What
happened?” asked Francisco.
“I
wanted you here above all others,” Alejandro said.
“What
happened?” Catalina asked, looking behind him.
“Very
well, now that we're all here as a family, it's a matter that
concerns all of us.”
“What
is it?” Catalina was getting impatient. “What do you want to
say?”
“Carlos
wasn't my father,” Alejandro said, looking at José Carlos. “You
heard it, brother and you are the only heir to Imperio Larios.”
Catalina
looked at Francisco for a moment but Alejandro didn't give her a
chance to speak.
“Don't
give me that surprised look like you know nothing,” Alejandro
addressed Francisco. “You fucked my mother and you have no idea?”
“Alejandro,
let's go in and talk,” Catalina said.
“No,
no. If you have anything to say we're going to talk about this in
front of everyone here.” Francisco tried to say something but
Alejandro shouted him down, telling him to shut his mouth. Alejandro
then addressed his mother. “You are going to explain right now why
you had a son with your husband's brother.”
“I
have a lot to explain, but not here. Let's go into the den –”
“Where
you can fill me with lies? No. In front of everyone you have the
ability to ruin the life of your own son and you won't talk in front
of everyone. Why?”
“Because
you have to listen to me. Stop shouting.”
“I'm
not interested in talking to you, Mother.” He went inside.
Leonora followed him. José Carlos looked at his stepmother and uncle
in disbelief.
Alejandro
told Leonora to please leave him alone. He left the house.
He
went to meet Miguel and told him everything.
“Francisco
didn't know and none of this is your fault,” Miguel said to him.
“That changes everything.”
“Thanks
to my mother we ended up in a triangle none of us deserved. You don't
deserve this, Miguel. Why don't you go? Why don't you start your
life over –”
Miguel
held Alejandro's face in his hands. “Are you crazy? I'm not going
to leave you.”
“Then,
let's go.”
“Then
what happens to Edgar?”
“I
don't know. I can't think about that right now. Let's go.”
“Catch
your breath.”
Leonora
put Edgar in his bassinet and sat down. She was shocked and tired.
José Carlos was with her.
“You
have to be strong. For yourself and for Edgar.”
“I
thought of that many times. But I never thought Catalina would do
anything like this to her son.”
“Neither
did I know anything about this.”
“I
don't know what I'm going to do. What happens to us or Alejandro?”
José
Carlos sat down near her.
“Leonora,
I'm going to be very honest with you. This will not get better. On
the contrary, every time it will get worse. But I want you to know
that I will be here for you and for Edgar. All the time.” He took
her hand.
“I
know,” she said, touching his face.
“Remember
my trip?”
“To
Las Vegas?”
“It
wasn't Vegas and it wasn't with Vicky.”
“Therefore?”
“Remember
the last thing I told you?”
“That
you were in love?”
He
nodded. “I want you to know --”
It
then dawned on Leonora.
“José
Carlos --” She started to cry.
“Leonora,
it's the most I have ever felt. I am in love with you. I know I
couldn't see how things got to this point, but now I see I am doing
the right thing because I think we both feel the same.”
He
was about to kiss her when his cell phone rang. He glanced at the
screen.
“I
have to go, but we'll see each other in a little while.”
Leonora
nodded, still in shock.
Catalina
dealt calmly and coldly with Francisco.
“And
you with your moral authority would condemn me.”
“You
are despicable.”
“We're
both despicable. You fucked your brother's wife.”
“You
hid this all this time. That Alejandro is my son!”
“What
was I going to do?”
“Why
didn't you tell me?”
“Because
I had to protect Alejandro.”
“No.
Because you had to protect yourself.”
“José
Carlos knows it all now. What becomes of my son? What becomes of
us? What becomes of you? You are a hypocrite.”
“You
are... you are...” He was not only insulted but disgusted.
“I
am the woman you hid behind the backs of your brother and your wife
to make love.”
“If
you want to provoke something with your words...” He walked away.
Leonora's
phone rang. She answered. It was Alvaro, disguising his voice once
again.
“Hello,
Leonora.”
“You
again? I don't know who you are and it's not important.”
“Did
your husband tell you what is happening tonight?”
“Who
are you?” She became insistent.
“As
I said, I am your friend.”
“If
you call me again or come near us again –”
“Your
husband is with his lover. If you want my number I can tell you
where to find him.”
A
short while later Leonora pulled up in her car near the same gate
Alvaro called her from. A security guard on the other side came out. She
asked if he was the one in charge. Alvaro watched from a short
distance.
“That
would Architect Terranova, wouldn't it?” he asked. “But
it's not the hour for visitors, Señorita.”
“Uh,
yes. My husband asked me to pick him up. Is he with him?”
“Your
husband? Who is your husband?”
“Alejandro
Larios.”
Another
car pulled up, honking a horn. The security guard went for a look.
Leonora looked for the opening in the gate. Alvaro came up from
behind. She went inside.
“From
now on everything changes,” Alejandro said.
“Are
you afraid?” Miguel asked.
“Yes,
a little.”
“It
won't be easy.”
They
did not realize that Leonora was in the building. She climbed the
steps to the level they were standing on.
“Doing
this isn't easy.”
“I
know, but if we leave together --”
“We
can do it without any doubt. Let's go.”
“Let's
go. Then we'll do it the right way. Talk to Leonora.”
“I've
thought many times that it would be better but now, no. With
everything that's happened it's not the best time. With everything
with my mother and Uncle Francisco --”
“I
know.”
“I
have to recover.”
“I
know, but the more time passes the worse it will be. More things
could happen.”
“No.
It's worse to not deal with things now. Believe me.”
“It's
better that they know the truth. Alejandro, your mother manipulated
you. She obligated you to marry her. You were both victims.”
“The
three of us,” said Alejandro. “Because of my mother we couldn't
be together. Let's live our lives far from all this.”
Leonora
finally saw the truth that had been hidden from her.
Labels: cuna
Permalink posted by Urban Anthropologist
@ 11:46 PM
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