<><><> JANUARY <><><>
Yenedith returns from grocery shopping, prepares a beef stew, and eats dinner while watching a movie, then slips into the bathtub. She stares at the ceiling until the water has cooled, puts on a robe, and looks at herself in the mirror. She doesn't recognize herself with the dark eyes, fake freckles, and bronze-colored hair. She fantasizes about maybe getting some Botox in her lips to complete that unfamiliar face.
Lying in her mother's bed doesn't feel the same. She imagined that perhaps the house had been inhabited by other people all this time, but it's overwhelming to see that everything is in its place, terrifying that it no longer feels like a refuge.
In the morning, after a quick shower, he's having breakfast in the kitchen when four sets of three knocks on the door are heard — Good morning, Boris — she says after opening the door.
— Good morning — he says, closing the door behind him — I know you're running low on food.
— Thanks — says Yenedith. The man opens the grocery bags, but she insists he sit down for breakfast.
— I told you it's forbidden to leave the house! — says Boris as he opens the fridge.
— There was nothing left.
— The money I give you is for emergencies! What if someone recognizes you? — the man scolds her, making her step back — Do you really think you have another choice?
"I don't even have anywhere to go," she thinks — I'm not thinking about running away — Yenedith says — Please, tell me where my brother is. Tell me what you know about him.
— Well, it doesn't matter anymore. We're leaving in a week — Boris says. He heads up to the second floor of the house, ignoring the young woman's questions until he slams the bedroom door in her face.
<><><>
Alexander is glued to his chair next to that stretcher, holding his beloved's hand with both of his. The man wakes up when he hears the door to the room open and feels relieved to see that it's the nurse — Good afternoon — he whispers. He takes a deep breath and runs a hand over his face — Do you think he'll wake up today?
— Mr. Windmill is likely to wake up at any moment. We stopped sedating him a couple of days ago — she replies in a friendly tone, but this brings him no relief. He helps the nurse move Tadeus to change his sheets and clothes and keep his muscles moving for a few minutes.
Claire waits for the nurse to leave before entering the room — How's it going?
— Just spit it out.
— We found Miss Yenedith's boyfriend. He's a bodyguard the senator hired through a private security firm. He's in the warehouse on the outskirts of town in case he isn't very cooperative with you.
— I'm not interested in talking to him; you handle that.
— He's been silent for a week. Maybe you could get him to talk — the woman says. Alexander snorts and stands up to head for the door. Claire stops him by placing a hand on his chest — You should also know that Mrs. Lyft has been discharged from the hospital where she finished her recovery.
— Where is she? You should have brought her here immediately.
— She got into a taxi, and we lost track of her in the city traffic. I'm sorry.
— Let's hope he's at a relative's house — He sighs and closes his eyes as he recalls Tadeus' face covered in dirt — How did we end up like this?
— You can't feel guilty for wanting something other than loneliness, but getting involved with someone outside the organization…
— Seriously, now? — Alexander asks, moving her hand away from his face.
— It's just that I don't understand what happened. We were fine, and suddenly you dismissed me and blamed me for the GPS.
— I'm sorry. You know I don't tolerate doubts when it comes to my business.
— It hurt that after so many years, you didn't even blink to doubt me.
— It won't happen again — Alexander says listlessly and leaves the room.
The man heads to the outskirts of the city, where he finds Charles in one of the upper rooms of the warehouse. The bodyguard is tied hand and foot to a chair, staring at the ceiling. Traces of dried blood run from his face down to his chest.
— Weren't you my sister-in-law's bodyguard? — The young man looks straight ahead — Where did you leave her?
— I don't know what you're talking about. I think you've got the wrong person — he says, his voice trembling with exhaustion and fear.
— I'll tell you what I know, and we'll see if we agree on anything — says Animal — I know that a few weeks ago you took Yenedith to the airport and then drove to a vacant lot where you and your friends planned to bury her brother alive — says Alexander with a subtle smile as he notices his expression.
— Please, I need a doctor — says Charles with tears welling in his eyes.
— Where is Yenedith? — He steps closer and yanks the back of his hair — Answer me!
Charles remains silent. Alexander lets go of the young man's hair and pulls a cigar out of a small metal case in his jacket. He lights it, inhales deeply a couple of times, and blows the smoke in Charles' face — Isn't your job supposed to be protecting her? What are you going to tell your boss about her?
— I'm just a security guard, I…
— You're a thug who works for Gustaph — At that moment, he lifts his leg and kicks the back of the chair, causing Charles to hit the back of his head — I don't have time for this — says Strauss, drawing his gun.
A few seconds later, one of Animal's men enters — Sir, you have a call from the hospital.
— How many times do I have to tell you to knock? — he says, exhaling smoke as he speaks — Clean that up — he orders and leaves the room.
Fred Sadler opens the door wide to let his boss pass and then enters the room. As he approaches the chair, he sees Charles dying with a bullet hole in his cheekbone. Fred waits for the involuntary movements to stop before wrapping the body in industrial trash bags to prevent it from leaving a trail of blood on the way out. Afterward, he carries the lifeless body to the van, where Henry Botero is waiting, ready to drive to a canal where they'll dump the body.
— What a shame, so young — says Henry.
— I was his age when I started working for the previous boss — says Fred — I thought I was invincible, because no one ever messed with him — until I had to prove I was up to the job. By the end of my first year, my hands were already covered in blood, but that kid…
— He knew what he was getting into. Did you order the cleaners to go in?
— By now, there shouldn't be a single drop of blood on the walls — Fred replies.
<<<><> A week later <><>>>
— Are you sure, Miss Goldstein? — asks the officer.
— I'm sure. I remember seeing him with Humberto when I opened the door that day — says Gem. The officer nods at her statement and explains the steps she needs to take to proceed with the report.
Gem meets with her lawyer at a nearby café to discuss the case — The next step is to request a DNA test to see if it matches your baby. We can seek a thirty-year prison sentence to keep him from coming near you — says Bianca.
— What if he also gets twelve years in prison?
— We'll ask that his parental rights be revoked because he'll be on the sex offender registry once the trial is over.
— I'm planning to leave the country. Maybe if that man doesn't know he's related to the baby, he won't be able to demand that I give the baby his last name.
— That's impossible if it's our only proof that he abused you — says Bianca. Gem looks down, leans back in her chair, and hugs her belly, on the verge of tears — Don't worry, we can win this round.