July 2012 – Washington, D.C.
The sun was rising slowly over the white marble monuments of the capital. The city breathed an almost symbolic formality, as if each street carried a piece of the United States Constitution. The black taxi stopped in front of a building that bore no flashy signs. No glamour. Just a discreet coat of arms engraved in stainless steel:
United States Department of Justice
Gustavo got out of the car wearing his impeccable navy blue suit, a leather briefcase under his arm, breathing steadily. His shoes echoed on the light marble of the sidewalk as he approached the entrance. That morning marked the beginning of something that went far beyond a simple technical visit. It was an informal introduction to a world where justice was a matter of national security, diplomacy, intelligence... and absolute precision.
The invitation came with an unusual formality: a letter signed by a federal judge, on letterhead, with a gold seal.
"Mr. Gustavo Silva, after evaluating your academic performance, contributions in Moot Courts, and your outstanding participation in negotiation and body language workshops, we consider your presence in our Strategic Observation Program to be valuable. The technical visit will take place in Washington, D.C., with special access to internal sectors and meetings with key members of the DOJ."
It was rare. It was honorable. And it was real.
First Contact – The Briefing Room
Upon entering, he was led by an agent to a modern, minimalist room with rectangular glass tables and built-in digital screens. Six other students were present, all from elite schools: Yale, Columbia, Stanford... But he, with a slight Brazilian accent and attentive eyes, stood out for something less visible: presence.
An elegant woman entered the room.
"I am Dr. Margaret Vallen, special assistant to the deputy attorney general. If you are here today, it is because you represent more than academic excellence. You represent the future of strategic justice in the United States. And yes, that sounds grand, because it is.
She walked slowly in front of them.
"Today you will meet federal prosecutors, circuit judges, FBI agents, and Department of Defense analysts. Most importantly, you will see how justice operates outside the classroom. Welcome to the invisible machine."
The group was led through interior hallways to a floor with controlled access. There, they were met by a senior prosecutor—David Hanley, known for prosecuting money laundering cases involving international networks.
"A federal prosecutor's job is not just to charge. It's to decide when not to charge. Selective justice is flawed. Blind justice is dangerous. The balance between the two is what we do here."
Gustavo listened with fascination. When there was room for questions, he raised his hand.
"You mentioned non-prosecution decisions. How do you define that ethical boundary between protecting and punishing?"
Hanley smiled, intrigued.
"Excellent question. That comes with experience." But I'll give you a piece of advice: never protect a reputation, protect a principle. The rest will fall by itself.
At the end of the presentation, Hanley approached Gustavo.
— Harvard, right? Brazilian? Fluent in several languages?
— Yes, sir.
— Send me an email. I want to follow your progress. I have a friend in the Transnational Crimes Unit who will like your profile.
In the east wing of the building, the group met Agent Leon Trager, responsible for counterintelligence operations. He was different from the prosecutors — he spoke less, observed more.
Trager presented a real case (without confidential data), where it was necessary to set up an infiltration operation in a criminal network that laundered money through cryptocurrencies. They used undercover agents, fake profiles and cross-referencing data with lawyers without knowing they were being observed.
— What do you think prevented this operation from failing? — Trager asked.
— Equipment? — a Yale student ventured.
— Legal strategy? — said another from Columbia.
Gustavo looked directly at Trager.
— Time. You waited longer than your emotions would allow. Patience was the deciding factor.
Trager smiled for the first time.
— You would have made a good field analyst.
After the session, Trager took Gustavo aside and handed him a card:
"If you want to do a summer internship at the DOJ, you can use this contact as a reference. It's not a promise. But it's a door."
In the last part of the day, the students were taken to a small federal courthouse to observe a session and then talk to Judge Rainer Moss, a man with a calm look and a firm voice.
"The power to judge someone doesn't come from the gavel. It comes from the silence before deciding," he said.
After the session, Moss walked with the group in the building's lobby. When he said goodbye to each student, he stopped in front of Gustavo.
"You observe like a judge. But he speaks like a lawyer. One day, he will have to choose between the two. And when that happens... remember: neither side has the whole truth. But only one side can save a life at a time.
That evening, a formal dinner concluded the day of visiting. Gustavo was surrounded by retired generals, Navy lawyers, and members of the NSA. The food was good, but the tension was palpable.
He was seated next to Talia Rourke, a civilian attorney who worked in military courts.
"Gustavo, I heard you took a workshop with Eleanor Voss."
"Yes. One of the most intense experiences of my life."
"She only accepts students with a field mentality. Do you think you'll get involved in international law?"
"Maybe. But I'm still passionate about domestic criminal law. I want to join the LAPD later."
Talia's eyebrows rose.
"A man who could go to the State Department wants to be a cop?"
— I want to be where the decisions are made before the court. In the middle of the street. At the moment when someone can still be saved from crime or not.
She held out her hand.
— If you ever change your mind, come to international defense. Someone with your mind would make a huge difference in the Middle East.
Before Gustavo left, Margaret Vallen called him.
She took him to a small room with mirrored windows. She placed an envelope on the table.
— Gustavo, you will go far. Everyone has noticed. But here is a final piece of advice: the system loves to mold those with talent to think like it. Don't allow yourself to be molded. Ask uncomfortable questions.
He nodded respectfully.
— Thank you. This wasn't just a visit. It was a mirror.
She smiled.
— The next time you come here... maybe it won't be as a guest.
On the way back to the hotel, Gustavo walked alone through the streets of Washington. The city seemed more alive. The buildings were taller. The sky, wider. He opened his notebook, sitting on a park bench, and wrote:
"Today I understood that justice is not only about punishing. It is also about negotiating, listening, knowing when to act and when to wait. It is about entering cold rooms, with steel doors, and leaving with contacts that can change lives. Including mine."
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