El Dragón #77, 1/13/20: The Face of Cowardly Betrayal

Jorge came face to face with Tacho, who dragged him inside before the Sow. Both treated him like he was a pipsqueak, especially when he demanded to see the Pig. When Tacho called the Pig to tell him Jorge insisted on seeing him, he was told to bring him to his other sty using their usual security measures. He was to leave the Sow behind.

Edna and Carlos' current assistant reviewed Duarte's bank accounts and the transactions regarding Natalia Rios' apartment. He had paid everything directly out of his own personal account. They discussed evidence that pointed at him having murdered Natalia Rios.

Tacho brought Jorge to the Pig, head covered with a black bag so he could not see the way there. He told the Pig he wanted to help him... to kill Miguel for revenge. Pig was incredulous at first and finally was curious about this and Jorge explained his motive. Pig had no trouble establishing that Jorge didn't have the cojones to do this himself. He offered his help because Pig would need it to get on the property.

Chisca tried calling Jorge after she couldn't find him in the house or the garden, but he didn't answer his phone. Miguel and Ishiro entered the room and Ishiro said he would search for Jorge.

The Pig and his Taco drank to their situation. They told Jorge he would have to help and Jorge agreed to provided that they do not touch the rest of his family. The Pig promised he wouldn't, then gave Jorge a shot of tequila. The boy looked deranged [more that than the stupid for this admission to a psycho predator].

Flaco tried tracking Jorge by searching for the cell phone but was unable to. The Taco had the phone, but the battery had been removed. He returned both to Jorge as he dropped him off near his home, telling him to wait until he was out of the area. The plan was for Pig, Taco, and reinforcements to attack at 2AM. He warned him that there would be consequences if this was a trap. Jorge got out of the car and Taco drove away.

Jorge and Pilar put flowers on Kenia's grave, which had her new name on it. Pilar cried and told Jorge how much Kenia had loved him.

Gary watched them from behind a nearby tree and left before they could spot him.

Pig, Taco, and Jaramillo discussed this latest development. Taco began laying out the plan. They would have three units of men. Pig called Duarte to take advantage of his connexions to dirty cops. He was lucky that those owed Duarte favors.

Edna and Gary looked over Natalia's digs for any evidence that had previously been overlooked. She took a call from forensics which confirmed Braulio's account of Natalia's death.they had their little black light party and found blood that had not been successfully washed out.

Jorge went back to Kenia's grave to tell her he was getting revenge. He took out his cell, turned it on, and placed it on the grave in front of himself. Flaco identified the location and Miguel called Ishiro to tell him.

Duarte met with a forensic expert who told him that DNA was obtainable from old blood stains.

Ishiro went to the cemetery and told Jorge that his family was worried about him. He expressed his condolences to him but Jorge was not receptive, saying he couldn't possibly understand. “Your woman sleeps beside you, mine is alone under the earth and it's my brother's fault.” This hit something in Ishiro, who bowed and said (in Japanese) that he was sorry for his loss. He explained that death is something too large for words in Japan. Jorge was petulant toward him.

Duarte emptied a safe full of cash and documents, put on a baseball cap [WTF?] and split.

Jorge went home, followed by Ishiro. He told Miguel in front of everyone else that he would hate him forever no matter what he would say or do.

Taco went back to the sty. Carmen wanted Adela dead, but Taco reminded them of the Pig's promise. [If we flies on the wall were watching the Pig's expression, there was no doubt that he would not keep his word to Jorge.]

Miguel explained to Adela and Ishiro that he wanted to fix the efelina so that nobody else would die from its use. Tadamichi would then be taking over the production of efelina and everything would go back to normal. Chisca looked worried.

Edna took a call that told her that the blood found in the apartment was Natalia's. She told Gary that once they have dealt with Duarte they would close in on Miguel and see him imprisoned for his white collar crimes. Gary said it was better to do so in the US, where the sentence would be more harsh.

Miguel was meditating. He told Adela that things would soon be back to normal. She seemed somewhat doubtful on that.

The Pig's forces approached to check positions. Taco told Jaramillo over the radio units he wanted better visibility. They were fifteen meters away when the Taco checked the length of the shot by aiming at a guard. He was satisfied.

That night Chisca told Ishiro how Miguel was naïvely trying to perfect the formula “no matter the cost”, but it wasn't that easy. Ishiro talked about the end of the age of the samurai and how difficult it was for his people. He seemed a little depressed and didn't want to talk about such things. He kissed her and they began to so the horizontal mambo.

Jorge looked at the reunion photo of himself and his siblings,

then recalled the horrible death of his parents.

Ishiro thought about Chisca's false alarm ad told her how he would like to have a baby with her. She said she felt ready for this. He said nothing would make him happier than to have a family with her. [He had no clue what a curse this declaration had been for Miguel and Asya].

Jorge left his room and went downstairs. Adela was in the kitchen getting a glass of water. She said it had a few drops in it to help her sleep. She offered some of it to him because he said he had insomnia but he declined.

A guard was outside but so were Jaramillo, Taco, and the rest of their forces.

Adela tried to talk about Kenia but Jorge kept looking at his watch. She asked if he was expecting anyone. He wiggled out of answering her and walked away from her. Taco and his sniper rifle had Peligros in his sights but stopped as he remembered Pig's orders.

Adela told Jorge his feelings were normal and that he could count on her. He was more nervous than ever as she handed the water glass to him before going back upstairs to bed, saying he needed it more than she did. He sat down at the computer and looked at his watch again before logging on.

Jaramillo choked a guard and went over to the security panel.

Jorge had unlocked it, letting him in, Jaramillo gave the order. Taco shot a guard,

and they invaded with machine-gun fire. Peligros was in the kitchen; he drew his pistol as he stepped outside. He fired until he was out of ammunition then withdrew to reload. Jorge went back to his room to cower. Miguel heard the shots, got up, and pulled Adela away from the window.

Ishiro did the same with Chisca.

Miguel took Adela into the bathroom and told her to stay in there. Rosario came out of the kitchen shooting and was shot himself.

Peligros picked off his shooter. Ishiro told Chisca to wait for him in her room and for the moment she stayed on the floor.

Miguel and Ishiro took their samurai swords.

The enemy was visible outside the ground floor picture windows.

Chisca took a pistol out of the dresser

while Jorge cowered on the floor of his room.

Miguel looked carefully out the window, then went upstairs and told Jorge and Chisca to stay in their rooms.

He and Ishiro took down two of the enemy with their swords.

Peligros came in shooting, then Miguel got Jaramillo. Chisca went downstairs while Jorge continued to cower. Ishiro yelled at her to go back. Ishiro got in some kicks at one of the enemy

but was shot and when Chisca ran up to him to check his wound

she was shot in the back by the Taco, who entered through the open front door.

He reentered through another door and shot Miguel a few seconds later. Miguel fell against the wall. We did not see exactly where he was hit, but it was not in the head.