Wednesday, November 06, 2019
Cuna de Lobos, Capitulo 12 Martes 11/5/19: Sabrina Full of Grace
Lies
and long-term deceptions are the poisons of life. It doesn't matter
whether people are rich or poor as long as they are honest with
themselves as well as others. No monster ever wants to know that is
what they are and many are not born to this, but become so because of
what they do to others. Too many of them do not see this happening. – D.D.
Ámbar
fired several times, aiming just a half meter beyond Catalina's left
shoulder. Catalina – as cold-blooded as ever – barely flinched.
“No,
no,” said Francisco.
“Tell
me the truth,” Ámbar said. “Tell me.”
Francisco
got in front of Catalina. He did not take his eyes off his wife as
he tried to get her to calm down. The security personnel in the
Larios' employ approached and were in a position for him and Catalina
to see them.
“Please
listen,” Francisco said.
Ámbar
moved her gun hand from left to right as if to aim at a moving
target. She did not hear the security men who by then were behind
her.
“Give
it to me,” Francisco almost whispered. “Give me the weapon.”
“No.”
“Ámbar,
my love --”
“'My
love?' I am 'your love'? How do you have the nerve to call me that
when you cavorted in my bed with her? Did you think I was dead? But
I'm here and you will pay for everything you've done.”
“You
are very disturbed,” said Catalina. She did not take her eyes off
her.
“We
are going to finish this. I want Francisco to listen.” She
continued to wave the pistol, still pointing it in their direction.
“I want him to listen!” She began to yell. “I want him to
listen to me!”
By
then she was shrieking, possibly because Francisco and Catalina
remained as calm as sharks in deep water.
“Everything
you said, everything you did to me!”
“I
only tried to help you.” Catalina was calm. Too calm to be
anything close to normal.
“You
kidnapped me. You tortured me. You tried to kill me! Tell me
how you made him think I disappeared?”
Two
security men rushed in from behind and grabbed her. Francisco came
forward and the three men wrestled Ámbar to the ground.
Luis
was sitting at the bar alone, finishing what had not been his first
or even his second drink when Pedro came in looking for him. He went
over the sad events in his recent past – having to send his child
to his in-laws' for his safety, Leonora getting married, he lied
about her work to their boss, and ending his professional partnership
with her. Pedro tried to convince him to leave and asked the
bartender for the bill. Luis tried to stop him but Pedro knew he had
to take control of the situation.
“The
only idiot who is in love with someone who doesn't love them is you,”
he said to his friend. “Leonora has to get on with her life.”
Luis grabbed a drink and Pedro took it out of his hand. “Hey, what
are you doing?. Come on, let's go.”
Pedro
paid the bill as Luis drank the last sip from his glass.
José
Carlos ran into the gate at the sight of emergency services.
“What
happened?” He saw Ámbar strapped to a gurney and being put into
the vehicle. “Aunt!” Alejandro pulled him back. “What
happened? Where was she?”
“Calm
down.”
“She
attacked. She's having a crisis. She's very sick,” Francisco
said, almost in a trance. “She tried to kill us, José Carlos.”
“Calm
down. We have to leave her alone,” Catalina said with her usual
unnatural calm. “We will take care of you,” she said to Ámbar.
“Everything will be alright.”
“Where
are they taking her?” José Carlos asked.
“To
a psychiatric facility,” Catalina answered.
“Why
are you allowing that, Uncle?”
“There
is no other solution.” Catalina told him. “Her condition is
dangerous to others, also for herself.”
Francisco
climbed into the ambulance. The EMT personnel closed the door behind
him and drove off.
The
next morning Leonora waited for Baldessari to come in.
“Leonora,
why are you in the office so early?”
“I'm
here to tender my resignation,” she said.
“You're
doing the right thing, taking care of your pregnancy.”
“I
accepted a job offer at Gothier.”
“Very
good. It's what I always told you. You aren't a reporter; you're a
fashion photographer. Yes, very good.”
“I
am a photographer, period.”
“I
never denied that. But to be a reporter needs something you don't
have.”
“Yes,
that's right. Fucking the head of editorial. I'd rather be a
fashion photographer for the rest of my life.” Baldessari stood
up.
“I'm
sorry things turned out this way. If you regret this or change your
mind, call me and we'll talk.”
Leonora
stood up, gave him a look that would have made Clint Eastwood proud,
and left. If I were a betting man I would say that Baldessari was
the one she had once flipped off.
Catalina
confronted Diego in the office. He tried to defend himself.
“You
told me she was dead when I arrived in Acapulco.”
“No,
no, no. Don't try to make me guilty of your error.”
“It
wasn't a mistake, but at least it wasn't my mistake.”
“What
are you trying to say?”
“It
was Ámbar... it wasn't an overdose.”
“Then
you will be accused of something.”
“I
never did anything to her.”
“On
the other hand, I have various doubts. Ámbar managed to escape
without assistance. She survived and remained hidden all this time
without assistance. She found a way to stalk me, attack me,
humiliate me, get into my house and shoot me... without assistance.”
“Never
would I betray you. You know that.”
“I
don't know that.”
“The
only thing Ámbar can be accused of is disappearing.”
“Yes,
but that's your fault because she escaped from you. But don't worry.
I don't believe anyone will believe a single word from her. She is
crazy.”
“Do
you want me to take charge of her?”
“I
don't want to take a chance on another mistake.” She returned to
her desk. “Anything else?”
“The
new shipment arrives this afternoon.”
“In
that you continue to be efficient.” She picked up her cell phone
and made a dismissal gesture with it in hand. After he left she
called Francisco and asked him how Ámbar was. He was at the
facility.
“She
hasn't woken up since the first time. They told me she continues to
be in shock.”
“Would
you like me to be there with you? I would like to see her.”
“No;
don't bother. They're prohibiting visitors; it wouldn't do any good
for her to see them.”
“What
you say sounds unfair, but I understand. Keep me informed, please.”
“Yes,
of course.”
Catalina
ended the call.
Clarita,
Baldessari's secretary, called Luis to tell him that Leonora had
resigned. He had had a hangover and was going to be late to the
paper.
Francisco
sat by Ámbar's bedside. He was exhausted from not having slept all
night. She woke up and became slightly agitated.
“Why?
Tell me why?”
“I'm
sorry. I'm sorry for everything I did.”
“Catalina...”
Her breathing became faster and more shallow.
“It
didn't happen. Nothing will happen. Not anymore.”
“No.
Catalina wanted to kill me.”
“You
have to calm down.”
“I'm
not inventing this, Francisco. I am not crazy. Catalina killed
Carlos. She killed Gloria. She tried to kill me. She locked me
up.” She became more agitated. “I'm not crazy. She tried to
kill me. She killed Gloria. She will try to kill you. Don't treat
me like this. I'm not crazy.”
She
continued like this. Francisco was stunned and did not know what to
do.
Leonora
looked at the new subject for her camera, the diamond necklace with
the ruby pendant first shown on the night of the gala.
That
meeting had just ended when José Carlos arrived at the office. He
greeted Leonora and as they went upstairs he warned her about their
“harpy of a boss” and Leonora laughed, saying that Catalina had
treated her well. “Like a serpent,” he said. “Would you like
to come see my office? I have some great coffee and some really good
chat if you have time.”
“I
don't have the time right now, thanks.”
“Leonora,
I'm glad you're here. This office will be much less difficult
because of your presence.”
“Thanks.”
As
she turned toward her office José Carlos' phone rang. It was
Vicky, telling him she needed to see the gynecologist. She had test
results to go over and she was a little anxious.
Dora
asked Francisco about Ámbar. He explained that she was very sick
and disturbed.
“Bad,
very disturbed. They have to keep her drugged up. It hurt badly to
see her that way.”
“I
have a lot of guilt in this, sir,” she said.
“What?”
“Madame
came to my house one day. She was dirty, injured. She asked me to
help her and not tell anyone. I, well, she was my boss, so I
listened, and I took her into my house. She was there since.”
“All
this time she was at your house?”
“Yes.
Poor woman. She told me that someone had tried to kill her.” She
almost started to panic. “I know I was wrong not to tell you but I
was most worried for her. I tried to take care of her all this time.
All. I did the best I could to take care of her but yesterday she
escaped. Forgive me, sir.”
“And
you took money to her, didn't you?”
“Yes.
She told me to look for some and I brought it to her. I gave it all
to her and didn't take anything for myself. I swear.”
“All
this time she was here,” he said to himself. “Nearby all this
time. You did this but didn't tell me.”
“Forgive
me, sir.”
“That
was very bad.”
Vicky
came out of the doctor's office with a copy of her test results. The
doctor's voice echoed in her mind. The manner of the clots and
bleeding pointed to her abortion having been induced. She told Vicky
that the symptoms typically lasted forty-eight hours.
“But
Doctor, my abortion was spontaneous,” Vicky said. “I didn't
provoke it.”
“That
is contradicted in the report,” the doctor said. “These symptoms
were severe and the result of a very strong abortifacient.”
José
Carlos arrived and asked how she was.
“Yes,
I'm alright,” she said, but not in a voice that implied that. She
looked as frightened as a baby rabbit staring into the eyes of a
wolf.
“I'm
glad. Do you want me to take you home?”
“No.”
“Please,
let me help.”
He
reached for her hand and she backed away. She then left without
another word.
Leonora
was setting up the photo shoot. Alejandro and Alvaro were both in
the room while she sat on a ladder looking down at the table where
the necklace was. Alejandro stood near her out of concern for her
safety.
“I'm
just up here for a different perspective,” she said.
“I'll
just make sure you don't fall,” he said.
“That's
alright. If you don't catch me Alvaro will.”
“Of
course,” Alvaro said, looking at Alejandro.
Someone
came in to tell Leonora someone was there to see her. A young man.
Alejandro helped her down, she put the camera on the table, and
followed the secretary out.
“Your
wife is very agreeable,” Alvaro said.
“Yes,
and what did you talk about?”
“My
photography and stuff we both like. It's my birthday. If you want,
we could see each other tonight.”
“I
don't think so.”
He
left the conference room. Alvaro was not pleased.
Catalina
massaged Francisco's shoulders as he talked. He looked as though he
were still in a trance.
“When
she shot I thought I was afraid you were hurt. With each shot it was
worse.”
“I
was afraid, too,” she said, staring straight ahead. “Never have
I seen her that bad.”
“She
went on about other deaths. I knew about the others but not about my
brother.”
Catalina
was shocked, but he was facing away from her and didn't see her left
eye betray this.
“It
was because of the photos,” she said.
“Surely
that was what killed him. She repeated what she said yesterday.”
“She
said she was kidnapped?”
“No.
That you intended to kill her.”
“Poor
Ámbar.” She gulped slightly. “Truly, I understand how she
could feel. All this is going around in her head and tormenting
her.”
Francisco
stood up and looked at her.
“She
won't recover from this. She can never recover.”
“Perhaps
it would be convenient to know where she had been all this time.”
“She
was with Dora.”
“Her
employee?”
“She
arrived at her house dirty, injured, saying that someone tried to
kill her. She is crazy.”
Leonora
talked to Luis, who hadn't believed she was serious when she had
threatened to resign.
“I
guess that was my problem with you,” she said. “You never take
me seriously.”
“Don't
say that. You know I'd never do anything to hurt your career.”
“Then
why did you do it?”
“I
just told Baldessari that you shouldn't be working with me.”
“And
the rest were lies? That I should only work the society page? That
my work didn't come up to standard?”
“I
had to do that.”
“Why?”
“The
motorcycle accident wasn't an accident. The brake lines were cut in
order to kill me.”
“I
was with you.”
“They
didn't know you would be with me.”
Catalina
appeared behind her just inside the doorway.
“'They?'
Who?”
“Leonora,
I've been looking for you,” Catalina said. “Luis. How nice to
see you. You look recovered.”
“I'm
much better. Fortunately nothing happened to me.”
“Yes.
Fortunately. Because motorcycle accidents can be fatal. Take care
of yourself. Leonora, Alvaro said you walked out of the photography
session. You can't do that. The jewelry is worth millions.”
“I'm
sorry,” Leonora said, coming back inside.
“Don't
worry. Nothing happened and it's your first day. Just remember this
from now on.”
“I'll
call before I come over from now on,” Luis said.
“Please,”
Leonora said. “I'm sorry,” she said again to Catalina before
going back to her task.
“It's
good to see you again,” Luis said to Catalina before he left.
She
stared after him with subtle smile as he walked away. She may or may
not have been thinking that this was another of Diego's blunders.
Diego
was at the airport watching his computer screen as he spoke over his
bluetooth with assistants. The shipment was half an hour late.
“They could have left via other exits.”
“I
will look, sir,” said a bald man standing nearby. As he walked
away three African women came out of the gate, going past an airport
security guard. One was bent over slightly and clutching her
stomach.
“Are
you alright?” asked the guard.
“I'm
fine,” she said in English.
“Yes,
they're here,” Diego said.
“I'll
be right there,” said the bald man. Another of Diego's men, one in
a a grey cap and dark jacket, also turned back in his direction. A
federal policeman noticed the ailing woman and stopped her; she told
him she was alright. He looked for her luggage.
Diego
was getting impatient, whispering to get this woman out of the area.
He packed up his laptop and stood. The woman told one of the others
she needed to see a doctor and collapsed into a chair. Diego went
over in the guise of Good Samaritan, telling her he was going to take
her to a doctor.
At
the mental health facility a doctor told Catalina that normally
visitors were not allowed in such cases but he would make an
exception for her; perhaps the Larios Foundation had helped the
facility. He told her that the patient was unfit to receive
visitors. She said she understood and was grateful.
Ámbar
woke up as soon as Catalina sat on the chair in her room.
“Hello,
dear,” Catalina said in a near-whisper, then pursed her lips for
shushing. “Calm down. Don't be alarmed.”
“Francisco
will believe me.”
“Don't
be so sure, dear. How many years has he been deceiving you with
me? How many?”
“Why?
Why him?”
“Because
he pleases me. Because he drives me crazy. Because from the moment
we started making love we did so all over the place. It was your
fault. You were always drugged up. It made him sick. On the other
hand with me he could feel.” She made a creepy stroke down Ámbar's
cheek. “We'd come back into the living room and you didn't suspect
a thing. You didn't even suspect tha Francisco made me pregnant.”
Ámbar
suddenly grabbed Catalina's head, wrapping her left arm around it and
screamed.
“Nurse,
nurse, help! She is going to kill me!”
A
nurse cam running in, freeing Catalina. She then restrained Ámbar's
left arm
“She
was perfectly calm and suddenly she went crazy,” Catalina said.
Ámbar
continued to protest as the nurse injected something into the IV,
telling Catalina she would be alright. Catalina said something to
the effect that she had never seen Ámbar like this.
Alejandro
skyped with Miguel, who chided him for not having taken or returned
his calls.
“How
are you?” Alejandro asked.
“Very
well. Lots of work.”
“Good.”
“How
is it going with Leonora? Her pregnancy?”
“Well.
It's going well.” He noticed someone passing behind Miguel in the
background. “You're not alone.”
“What
do you expect?”
Miguel
then cut off the call. Alejandro closed the computer in frustration.
As he got up from the couch in his office Leonora came in.
“Well,
officially it's the end of my first day here,” she said.
“Really?”
He looked at his watch. “Time passes quickly.”
“Can
we leave together?” She clearly wanted him all to herself at that
moment.
“I
have a meeting,” he said. “It's in a restaurant in another part
of town.”
They
kissed, she left his office, and he sat at the desk, trying to think
of the next thing to do.
Diego
had the ailing woman in the back seat of his car and was driving as
fast as he could while talking on his cell. He was telling the
other person where he was going and that they needed a doctor there
immediately. “We will be there in ten minutes,” he said, ending
the call. He glanced in the interior rear view mirror and saw her
slumped against the back seat. “Sabrina, Sabrina, don't fall
asleep.” She did not react. “Sabrina. Sabrina!” he shouted.
He stopped the car, opened the door, and pulled the driver's seat
forward. He shook her gently. “Wake up. Wake up!” There was
still no reaction.
He
removed the seat belt and laid her out on the back seat. He shook
her a few more times before realizing the horrible truth. He then
pulled back to take a deep breath.
Gélica
entered the kitchen to find Leonora chopping onions on the main
counter space.
“What
are you doing?”
“Sonia
told me that lasagna is Alejandro's favorite, so I'm making some.”
“I
don't think Catalina would like this.”
“If
she doesn't like lasagna I could make something else.”
“I'm
not referring to lasagna; it's that you are here in the kitchen. If
you want to have lasagna all you have to do is say so and Sonia will
prepare it.”
“I
see. But I love to cook and I don't believe Catalina would be so
annoyed about it –” She took something that looked heavy from
the other counter and Gélica took it out of her hands.
“Allow
me,” she said. “Let Sonia do her work.”
Leonora
took a can of tomato sauce out of Gélica's hand.
“This
is the last time I will do anything.”
Catalina
came into the kitchen and asked what happened.
“I
was preparing a surprise for Alejandro, but Gélica tried to run me
out of the kitchen.”
Gélica
owned up to it.
“Gélica,
didn't you see that Leonora was doing something nice for her husband?
Let her. Sonia, help her in any way she needs you.” She breathed
in. “Hmm. Delicious. What are you making?”
“Lasangna.”
“Oh,
it's Alejandro's favorite meal. It's too bad he's at a meeting
tonight. Gélica, dear, would you make me some tea? I'd like some
right away. Good night.”
“Good
night,” said Leonora before Catalina was out of the kitchen.
Gélica
gave Leonora an “I told you so” look that also seemed to have
another shade of meaning.
Catalina
spoke with Diego on her cell.
“Then,
we have the shipment?”
“We
lost a mule. Sabrina. Toxic shock. She didn't survive the trip.”
“How
is this possible? These women are your responsibility, Diego.
You're supposed to take care of them.”
“She
was very sick upon arrival; I couldn't have done anything. This
happens at times.”
“Can
you recover what she had?”
“I
have it here; don't worry.” He looked at the cloth bag in his
other hand.
“Good.
You must take charge of the body and advise me when you're done.”
“Already
doing so.”
He
ended the call, then unwrapped the cloth to look at the diamonds he
retrieved. They were covered in fresh blood. He then got out of the
car, looked around to make sure there were no witnesses, and opened
the trunk of his car.
Gélica
massaged Catalina's shoulders as she drank her evening tea.
“How
awful. You're very tense tonight.”
“Ámbar
tried to kill me,” Catalina said. “On top of that I had to put
up with José Carlos being in the house all day.”
“José
Carlos --”
“Don't
defend him to me. We may be facing another upset, another scandal
about that girl. It's all too much. It's Ámbar, it's José Carlos,
the business, it's everything.” She raised her cup.
“Just
drink your tea and relax.”
“It's
delicious. What's in it?”
“Flowers,
manzanilla, and much affection.”
“Thanks,”
Catalina said, drinking the last sip of the night.
“Get
some rest,” Gélica said as she got to the door. She turned around
to watch Catalina remove the dressing gown of her black negligee.
Downstairs
Leonora waited in a sleeveless red velvet dress. The table was set
for dinner, complete with wine glasses. She texted Alejandro “Are
you still at the meeting?”
She
had no way of knowing he was in a gay club, possibly the same one he
went with Miguel to.
Gélica
entered the room, offering to clear the table. Leonora thanked her,
saying she would wait a little longer. After Gélica noted the
lateness of the hour Leonora agreed and suggested she go to bed. She
then sent another text, possibly thinking that living in this
household would be continually annoying. She seemed to be thinking
of going to bed herself when José Carlos came home. He looked into
the room and asked “What is this?”
“That
was supposed to be a romantic dinner but Alejandro had a meeting and
now it's late.” She picked up the wine glasses to put them away
but he stopped her.
“I
haven't eaten and you look like you haven't, so why don't we eat
together?”
He
held her chair out and she sat down, with a polite laugh.
“Did
you cook this?” he asked.
“I
attempted to make lasagna.”
“The
attempt looks pretty good. May I?”
He
picked up the serving utensils and put food on their plates.
“Made
with a lot of love,” she said. “And how is Vicky?”
“I
talked to her this afternoon. She's recovering. She told me she
wants to go back to work. She was a waitress in a casino.”
“A
casino?”
“Yes.
If you like lies I could say I met her at mass when I was
confessing.”
“That
sounds interesting. But I prefer the truth.”
“Your
attempt at lasagna is good.” He contined to eat what he had
served himself.
Leonora
laughed, something she seemed to have little opportunity for in the
Larios household.
“Tell
me, do you not have or like to be in a serious relationship? To meet
someone.”
“No,
that's not for me.”
“No?
Or is it that you just have never really been in love?”
“How
do you know? Perhaps I'm in love right now.”
There
was a slightly awkward pause as she looked at him and finally said
“How mysterious. What would you say to the press. Let's pretend
I'm interviewing you..”
“That's
a great question that deserves a great answer and I don't have one.
For many years I've asked myself what my feeling is about it.”
“How
about 'life is like a dance.'?”
“Yes.
It has rhythm and melody. We dance in it, sometimes alone,
sometimes accompanied.”
“I
like that.”
“Life
changes, and we change with it. We look for what we're missing to
feel complete and happy. Who knows? Perhaps the secret of life is
to stop running and let ourselves be surprised, for good or ill.
Because in the end all we do and feel is worth the pain.”
After
a brief pause, Leonora said “That was a great answer.”
“Well,
sometimes I can be a little profound.” He then caught himself.
“That's a joke.”
It
may have even occurred to him that the joke was on himself.
Alejandro
walked across the dance floor, probably past some familiar faces. He
spotted Alvaro at the other end of the room, dancing without his
jacket on and seemingly oblivious to the rest of the room. He was
not particularly graceful. He finally noticed his prey.
“Happy
Birthday,” Alejandro said, without feeling.
“Can't
I at least have a hug?”
Alejandro
embraced him briefly, not really wanting to.
“You
said you weren't going to come.”
“But
I did.”
“What
excuse did you give your wife?”
“Hey,
hey, hey; don't interfere.”
“No,
no, no, no, no. You aren't my boss here. You can't scold me.”
His smile would have gotten him terminated in a nanosecond if this
had taken place at the office. “Let's dance.”
“I
don't like to dance.” By this time Alejandro looked as though he
wanted to be anywhere else.
“That's
the only gift I'm asking for.”
“The
only one?”
“For
now, anyway. Dance with me.”
Alejandro
began moving to the music, but without enthusiasm. Alvaro seemed to
enjoy his victory, but it was very brief.
“Seriously,
I had good grades. I'm a lawyer,” José Carlos laughed. “Enough
about me. Tell me about yourself. How is the baby?”
“The
baby is doing well enough. I'd love to know if it's a boy or a girl.
I'd love for it to be a girl; there are enough men in this family.”
This made José Carlos smile.
“Have
you thought about a name?”
“Gloria.
I've loved that name since I was little.”
José
Carlos became more serious.
“It's
a beautiful name. It was my mother's.”
“Really?”
José
Carlos' phone rang. He glanced at it.
“Excuse
me,” he said.
“No,
stay there. I'll get the dessert.”
She
got up from the table. He waited until she was in the next room
before answering sotto voce.
“Alejandro,
where are you?” He got up from the table and walked toward the
door, saying he would be there right away. Leonora came out with a
fruit tart.
“That
looks delicious. Vicky called,” he said. “She's not feeling
well, so I'm going over to see her.”
“Oh,
by all means, go to her.”
“Thanks
for dinner. It was delicious. For those moments, life is worth the
pain. I have to go. Bye.”
He
left and she looked out at the empty room.
Gélica
was sitting at Catalina's bedside, caressing her sleeping boss. She looked up
guiltily at the knock on the door.
“Is
everything alright?” Leonora asked.
“I'm
taking care of things,” she replied.
“Alright.
Good night.”
“Good
night.”
Leonora
left. Gélica closed and locked the door, then sat down. She was
afraid of her own secret coming out.
José
Carlos scolded Alejandro as he escorted him out of the police
station.
“You're
an imbecile. Leonora prepared a romantic surprise for you, full of
illusions and you go to a gay bar?”
“Enough,
enough! Lower your voice. The police invaded a dance club. It was
a mistake.”
“No.
The mistake was you not telling Leonora who you really are and are
still deceiving her.”
“How
do you have the nerve to sermonize me, brother?”
“It's
not a sermon. You have the right to enjoy yourself any way you like
as long as you don't lie to anybody. You have to understand also
that this has been your life.”
“José
Carlos, you have to promise me. Nobody is to find out about this.”
José
Carlos made a subtle sigh of frustration.
“I
won't tell anyone but you have to make a decision.”
When
Alejandro got home Leonora was in bed, but still awake. He got into
bed next to her without having removed his clothes. She pointedly
tried to ignore him by saying nothing and turning away.
“I'm
sorry, really,” he said, embracing her. He kissed her shoulder,
then her cheek, then her lips. She then was not inclined to anger.
José
Carlos also couldn't sleep that night. He tossed and turned on the
couch in his room. He heard sounds in the corridor and got up to
investigate. Alejandro and Leonora's room was across the corridor
and Alejandro had left the door open. José Carlos saw their bare
legs under the sheet and realized exactly what he had heard.
Labels: cuna
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Alright, amigos, it's up. So here are the questions:
-- Did Catalina kill Carlos' first wife? Is that the real trauma Jose Carlos hasn't remembered yet?
-- How long has Catalina been buying blood diamonds and how many mules have died in the process?
-- How much of Vicky's case does the Larios family doctor know about?
Tonight is the Hump or the halfway mark episode.
-- Did Catalina kill Carlos' first wife? Is that the real trauma Jose Carlos hasn't remembered yet?
-- How long has Catalina been buying blood diamonds and how many mules have died in the process?
-- How much of Vicky's case does the Larios family doctor know about?
Tonight is the Hump or the halfway mark episode.
Thanks, Urban, for your outstanding recap.
Well, well, well, it looks like Catalina has one too many plates to juggle and things are starting to spiral out of her control.
Good old Diego’s days could be numbered with the second strike on his record with the death of the poor smuggler,
So glad Vicky found out about the “induced” abortion. Time for her to tell JC.
Loved Ambar taking one last crack at Catalina in spite of being in constraints.
Well, well, well, it looks like Catalina has one too many plates to juggle and things are starting to spiral out of her control.
Good old Diego’s days could be numbered with the second strike on his record with the death of the poor smuggler,
So glad Vicky found out about the “induced” abortion. Time for her to tell JC.
Loved Ambar taking one last crack at Catalina in spite of being in constraints.
Thanks UA! Your inclusion of dialogue was helpful.
Despite that final scene it seems like Leonora and JC are getting closer. Leonora may have caught on when JC said "Perhaps I'm in love right now.". There is no way that Alejandro can keep his secret forever. Either he will have to tell Leonora or someone else will let it slip or Leonora will see it with her own eyes. If JC continues to prove himself to everyone including viewerville maybe he and Leonora could end up together. Just a thought.....
Hopefully Vicky uses her brain to realize what happened. Catalina made her out to be a fool. She could now rectify that.
I agree that Diego is definitely in trouble. I don't much about the history of blood diamonds (whether in real life or a fictional story) but it obviously has its risks and casualties.
Ámbar isn't going down without a fight but how long will that last?
Despite that final scene it seems like Leonora and JC are getting closer. Leonora may have caught on when JC said "Perhaps I'm in love right now.". There is no way that Alejandro can keep his secret forever. Either he will have to tell Leonora or someone else will let it slip or Leonora will see it with her own eyes. If JC continues to prove himself to everyone including viewerville maybe he and Leonora could end up together. Just a thought.....
Hopefully Vicky uses her brain to realize what happened. Catalina made her out to be a fool. She could now rectify that.
I agree that Diego is definitely in trouble. I don't much about the history of blood diamonds (whether in real life or a fictional story) but it obviously has its risks and casualties.
Ámbar isn't going down without a fight but how long will that last?
Another simply amazing recap UA! Wonderful. Your screen shots were incredible.
There are many levels of cruelty but Catalina ascended the ladder quickly in her taunting of Ambar. In her fragile and captive state, frantic to tell the truth who on earth will believe her now? I do suspect there is a troublesome bit of truth that has pricked Francisco's conscious. If our hopes rest on Luis, we may be gravely disappointed.
Poor Vicky! I guess Catalina had to throw caution to the wind as time was of the essence. She needed to give Vicky something quick acting that would do the filthy deed. Jarifa, I fear she intends to tell JC. She likely thinks Cat did it for JC. i hope I am wrong!
I enjoyed JC and Leonora TF. I would like them to get together once JC grows up.
Alvaro turns my stomach. Alejandro needs to stay with Leonora or go to Miguel. Alvara's insinuating himself into his life is very bad news.
So, Gélica has been drugging Catalina. I mistakenly thought Catalina was aware of the secretive groping. It appears she was indeed sleeping. Heaven knows what is in that tea.
Karen, glad you are back and watching this!
Urban, thank you, thank you.
Diana
There are many levels of cruelty but Catalina ascended the ladder quickly in her taunting of Ambar. In her fragile and captive state, frantic to tell the truth who on earth will believe her now? I do suspect there is a troublesome bit of truth that has pricked Francisco's conscious. If our hopes rest on Luis, we may be gravely disappointed.
Poor Vicky! I guess Catalina had to throw caution to the wind as time was of the essence. She needed to give Vicky something quick acting that would do the filthy deed. Jarifa, I fear she intends to tell JC. She likely thinks Cat did it for JC. i hope I am wrong!
I enjoyed JC and Leonora TF. I would like them to get together once JC grows up.
Alvaro turns my stomach. Alejandro needs to stay with Leonora or go to Miguel. Alvara's insinuating himself into his life is very bad news.
So, Gélica has been drugging Catalina. I mistakenly thought Catalina was aware of the secretive groping. It appears she was indeed sleeping. Heaven knows what is in that tea.
Karen, glad you are back and watching this!
Urban, thank you, thank you.
Diana
Permalink posted by 
: Wednesday, November 6, 2019 at 1:52:00 PM EST
: Wednesday, November 6, 2019 at 1:52:00 PM EST
Jarifa, I fear Vicky does NOT intend to tell JC...
Diana
Diana
Permalink posted by : Wednesday, November 6, 2019 at 1:54:00 PM EST
: Wednesday, November 6, 2019 at 1:54:00 PM EST
Unless JC was completely drunk, stoned, or both I doubt that Vicky would have known anything about the will or its codicil. This is not something to broadcast except to a group of lawyers and judges during probate. Or to tell a shrink.
The writers are telling us that irrespective of whatever she's done for a living Vicky is a pure-hearted Mexican girl who wants babies, with or without a husband. I hope she remembers what the "Vitamin B" pill looked like.
Alvaro is pure poison. He could destroy Alejandro and all he would have to do is send pictures to Leonora's cell phone. He has been looking to get Alejandro found out from the get go.
The writers are telling us that irrespective of whatever she's done for a living Vicky is a pure-hearted Mexican girl who wants babies, with or without a husband. I hope she remembers what the "Vitamin B" pill looked like.
Alvaro is pure poison. He could destroy Alejandro and all he would have to do is send pictures to Leonora's cell phone. He has been looking to get Alejandro found out from the get go.
Your usual superb recap, Urban! Love the visuals and I also loved "as calm as sharks in deep water" and "subtle smirk." So Gloria, Juan Carlos's mother, might have been Catalina's first homicide? We had a literal case of "blood diamonds" here as well. Could the drug mule's body end up being Catalina's undoing? One can only hope!
One way or another, Catalina is responsible for Sabrina's death. While Diego would not have been able to do anything about what happened to Sabrina, he is responsible and by extension so is Catalina.
Diamonds are artificially valuable because one family has a virtual monopoly on them. If that were not the case they would be priced far lower than they are. In and of themselves they don't kill. However, the blood diamond conflict was about how they were used as currency in funding ugly wars in those areas. The Clean Diamond Trade Act of 2003 was to regulate the international sale of diamonds to prohibit the importation of diamonds whose mining fuels conflict in the country of origin.
Smuggling is an international crime. I suspect that penalties for smuggling vary depending on the value of the goods in addition to being more severe with each successive offense.
In this case Catalina, Diego, and Francisco could go to prison for a very long time.
Diamonds are artificially valuable because one family has a virtual monopoly on them. If that were not the case they would be priced far lower than they are. In and of themselves they don't kill. However, the blood diamond conflict was about how they were used as currency in funding ugly wars in those areas. The Clean Diamond Trade Act of 2003 was to regulate the international sale of diamonds to prohibit the importation of diamonds whose mining fuels conflict in the country of origin.
Smuggling is an international crime. I suspect that penalties for smuggling vary depending on the value of the goods in addition to being more severe with each successive offense.
In this case Catalina, Diego, and Francisco could go to prison for a very long time.
Thanks for that very enlightening information on the diamond industry UA and on the "wars"....and also for that lovely title. Had I not watched the movie Sabrina a gazillion times I wouldn't have known the poem.
The work you put into these with the screencaps and translations of the dialogue is simply amazing. You are a treasure.
The work you put into these with the screencaps and translations of the dialogue is simply amazing. You are a treasure.
UA..thank you .
I am interested in seeing what Catalina's anvil will be and who will finally cause her undoing. Gelica (who is a little creepy herself) perhaps.
I am interested in seeing what Catalina's anvil will be and who will finally cause her undoing. Gelica (who is a little creepy herself) perhaps.
Permalink posted by : Wednesday, November 6, 2019 at 5:16:00 PM EST
: Wednesday, November 6, 2019 at 5:16:00 PM EST
Sorry this is so late, Urban. Was doing yard work--in preparation for doing El Dragon recap tonight! The dialog for this episode is just amazing. Thank you.
I'm actually finding Cuna much more fascinating than El Dragon, but who am I to turn down a gaze or two at Seb Rulli.
I'm still convinced Alvaro sent pictures of himself to Alejandro. It was hard to tell from the photos themselves, but later in that episode, Alva tells Ale that he just wanted Ale to know that he's the one good for him. He wouldn't have sent him photos of Miguel to achieve that end. Only my opinion, though.
If Catalina has this big secret about Ale's origins and the threat JC posed to his succession, she had YEARS to plot and plan how to get rid of him and make it look like an accident. Then she wouldn't have needed all the subsequent murders, haha. It's just a story, it's just a story.
I'm actually finding Cuna much more fascinating than El Dragon, but who am I to turn down a gaze or two at Seb Rulli.
I'm still convinced Alvaro sent pictures of himself to Alejandro. It was hard to tell from the photos themselves, but later in that episode, Alva tells Ale that he just wanted Ale to know that he's the one good for him. He wouldn't have sent him photos of Miguel to achieve that end. Only my opinion, though.
If Catalina has this big secret about Ale's origins and the threat JC posed to his succession, she had YEARS to plot and plan how to get rid of him and make it look like an accident. Then she wouldn't have needed all the subsequent murders, haha. It's just a story, it's just a story.
Thanks for another great recap UA. I don't know if any of you are on the west coast but it seems my broadcast are edited from what is posted. The brief scene with Gelica trying to clear the dinner wasn't there and couple enjoying one another was edited as well. Weird and this isn't the first time I've noticed slight differences.
UA, ITA Alvaro is pure poison. If someone else doesn't spill the beans on Alex, he surely will. As Diana noted, he makes me ill. It's obvious he's horrible.
Diana, sadly ITA that Vicky won't JC her concerns. This probably makes her susceptible as another person Catalina may kill.
UA, ITA Alvaro is pure poison. If someone else doesn't spill the beans on Alex, he surely will. As Diana noted, he makes me ill. It's obvious he's horrible.
Diana, sadly ITA that Vicky won't JC her concerns. This probably makes her susceptible as another person Catalina may kill.
Whoa... I was thinking of Maria Full of Grace about Colombian drug mules.
Anita, I blew up the photo and it seems to be Alvaro's face but it was photoshopped onto a body I don't think is his, one that looks more like Miguel's. Either way, what he is doing is disgusting and not likely to get him anything he wants. More likely to get a bite from a golden lancehead viper: Catalina.
We don't know when Carlos made out his will or when Catalina found out about its contents. We also don't know what he would have changed it to. And if she killed JC's mother, how does that get proven now, all these years later?
I doubt that Carlos knew about the blood diamonds. I also doubt that he knew about Alejandro's sex life. Catalina can tell any lie she wants to about that since he isn't alive to correct her.
Where we are now is that there are two guys who genuinely want Leonora: Luis and JC. I hope the authors didn't go Caridad Bravo Adams on that for the finale.
Anita, I blew up the photo and it seems to be Alvaro's face but it was photoshopped onto a body I don't think is his, one that looks more like Miguel's. Either way, what he is doing is disgusting and not likely to get him anything he wants. More likely to get a bite from a golden lancehead viper: Catalina.
We don't know when Carlos made out his will or when Catalina found out about its contents. We also don't know what he would have changed it to. And if she killed JC's mother, how does that get proven now, all these years later?
I doubt that Carlos knew about the blood diamonds. I also doubt that he knew about Alejandro's sex life. Catalina can tell any lie she wants to about that since he isn't alive to correct her.
Where we are now is that there are two guys who genuinely want Leonora: Luis and JC. I hope the authors didn't go Caridad Bravo Adams on that for the finale.
UA—Thanks for doing the research for me. Of course he would have to have photoshopped the body. He’s not very buff, even through his shirts you can see that!!!
Maria Full of Grace! Oh my, thanks for clearing that up, UA. Anyway, the scene was a very sad portrayal of the collateral damage of being a drug mule. However I did enjoy the realism of Diego having a very difficult time dragging the poor woman into the car. Usually we have these buff hunks lifting up women with no trouble. For Diego, maneuvering her was darn nigh impossible.
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