Chapter 37 – The Consecration of a Master
February 2015 – Harvard Law School
Snow fell gently on Harvard's century-old campus. The orange light from the streetlamps reflected off the flakes like little embers dancing in the frigid air. It was early February, and the university's hallways were quieter than usual. But in the heart of Harvard Law School, excitement was running high.
It was graduation day for the LL.M students the year-long program that brought together brilliant legal minds from around the world. And among them, dressed in a black gown with a navy blue and red sash across the chest, was Gustavo Silva. Brazilian. Son of Leandro and Carla. Former prodigy. Now, officially, a Master of Law.
He looked at himself in the mirror in his room, carefully adjusting the square cap on his head. His expression was serene, but his eyes betrayed the whirlwind of memories and emotions.
He had entered Harvard at the age of 18. Now, at 22, he was leaving the university with two of the most coveted degrees in the legal field.
He took a deep breath. He picked up his cell phone.
— "Mom?"
— "My God, son! Are you ready? Have you put on the sash yet? We're here, see? We're already seated!"
Carla's emotional voice on the other end of the line almost made Gustavo cry.
— "Yes, Mom. I'm leaving now. I just wanted to hear your voice before I go on stage."
— "You make us so proud. Go on, my boy!"
On the other end of the line, he heard Leandro:
— "Gustavo! Don't forget to smile when you receive your diploma, okay? And look at us!"
He laughed, hanging up the phone.
Sanders Theatre – Harvard Yard
The theater was full. Professors, family members, ambassadors from several countries and representatives from international law firms. The flags of dozens of nations were displayed on the stage. It was a classic auditorium, with tall stained glass windows and carved wooden chairs. Gustavo took his place in the center row of graduates.
Beside him was Lucía García, a Spanish woman he had befriended in 1L, who had also completed her LL.M.
— "Ready?" she asked in Spanish, nudging him with her elbow.
— "Preparadísimo." — he replied, smiling. "I can't believe it's over."
— "It's not over. It's just beginning." — she said, with a knowing look.
The dean of Harvard Law stepped up to the podium. He was a man with white hair and a firm voice.
— "Today we celebrate more than diplomas. We celebrate resilience, excellence, and the commitment to making Law a transformative force in the world."
Applause. Emotional looks. Parents wiping away tears. And among the names called out, came:
— "Gustavo Silva, Brazil."
He stood up. He marched down the aisle with firm steps. He went up to the stage, shook the dean's hand, and received the rolled-up diploma, sealed with red wax and a gold ribbon.
Click. Click. Click. Cameras recorded the moment.
A chorus could be heard from the audience:
— "It's Brazil!" — it was Haley, shouting with joy alongside his parents and the Dunphys.
Gustavo laughed as he stepped off the stage, holding back his laughter as he heard Jay Dunphy say:
— "This boy is like James Bond, only in a suit and with a diploma."
After the Ceremony – Harvard Yard
Snow covered the ground, but hearts were warmed. The graduates took group photos. Gustavo hugged his parents first, tightly.
— "You made all this possible," he whispered.
— "You're the one who made us dream big, my son." — Leandro said, holding back tears.
Haley came next, skipping through the snow in fuzzy boots, a pink scarf, and a big smile.
— "Dr. Gustavo Silva... you're officially too fancy for me."
— "You saw me sweating when I moved into the store. Fancy, Haley?" — he laughed.
— "Seriously! Look at you. Harvard. Two degrees. Worked with the DoD. Got an international internship. And you still have impeccable handwriting. You're like... a cliché of perfection."
— "But my rice still burns." — he winked.
She hugged him tightly, for real.
— "Seriously. I'm so proud of you. You have no idea."
Claire approached with Phil, Luke, and Alex.
— "Gustavo!" — Claire hugged him. "You're part of the family, you know? Hailey talks about you all the time."
— "No more than you talk about croissants from the French bakery." — he joked.
Phil shook his hand excitedly:
— "Have you ever thought about becoming a Supreme Court justice? Or even president? I can run your campaign for free."
Jay just nodded, with a rare sincere smile:
— "You're good, kid. If you keep up this pace, the world will take care of itself."
Dinner Night – Restaurant on the banks of the Charles River
The restaurant they chose was discreet, with brick walls, wide windows and low lighting. Gustavo's group occupied a large table in the corner, surrounded by candles and laughter.
The waiter brought a glass of champagne for each of them.
Leandro stood up with his glass raised.
— "To my son. Who not only earned two degrees from Harvard, but never forgot who he is, where he came from, and what really matters."
— "To Gustavo!" — everyone toasted.
Haley winked at him.
— "And now doctor... what are your next plans? Are you going straight to the FBI?"
He laughed.
— "Not yet. I'm going back to LA. Start the process to join the LAPD. I want to get my shoes dirty, step on the concrete, see the streets. I want to apply everything I studied."
— "You really are crazy," Alex said. "But... crazy genius."
From Dawn – Gustavo's Room, Harvard
Gustavo was sitting on the edge of the bed, barefoot, with his diploma open on his lap. The silence was profound. Through the window, he could see the frozen Charles River, reflecting the full moon.
He picked up his cell phone.
Voice message to Haley:
"Thank you for being with me today. You and your family made me feel at home even from so far away. Graduation was special, but knowing you were there was the most important thing. Good night, my best friend. Soon, LA."
Voice message to his father:
"Dad... I did it. Now the hard part begins. Real life. But I'm ready. Because you've always believed in me."
He closed his eyes for a moment.
And smiled.
Chapter 38 – A New Identity
February 2015 – Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
The metallic sound of the suitcase's wheels echoed through the terminal hallway. Gustavo Silva, now officially a US citizen, walked through the airport with firm steps, but with a racing heart.
It was strange to return to LA after so many years in Boston, after having lived a life that seemed to have come out of a movie script. The snow, the historic libraries, the corridors of Harvard Law School, the moot courts, the debates on terrorism and national security, the dinners with prosecutors and intelligence analysts. Now he was trading all that for the warm pavement of Los Angeles and a blue uniform.
"Gustavo Silva."
The name still sounded strange to him. The name that now appeared on his blue passport with gold letters. The name that had been officially issued after a highly confidential process during his internship at the US Department of Defense (DoD).
Flashback – September 2014
In the DoD office in Boston, a windowless conference room with cold light and white walls. A man in a dark suit, wearing a gold Security Clearance Top Secret pin, slid an envelope toward Gustavo.
— "This, Gustavo, is classified. You know that. But from the moment you crossed that line, when you agreed to work with us, it was clear that you would need to integrate completely."
— "Renounce my Brazilian citizenship?" he asked, a lump in his throat.
— "We can't risk it. Most of our national security lawyers are natural-born American citizens. You will have something even rarer: citizenship in the interest of national security. You, and by extension, your parents, if you accept."
— "And if I don't accept?"
— "You will end your participation in the DoD. And you will never again be able to see any classified government documents. But, Gustavo… you are more American than many here. You have already proven that."
Silence. Gustavo looked at the document. After almost two minutes of silence, he picked up the pen.
— "If that's what I need to do to keep protecting people… then so be it."
He signed.
Back to the present – Leaving the airport
Outside, he saw two parked cars.
In the first, Leandro and Carla, with excited smiles.
In the second, a familiar figure jumped out of the passenger seat: Haley Dunphy.
— "HE'S BACK!" — she screamed, running toward him.
Gustavo left his suitcase on the floor, opened his arms and welcomed her with a tight hug. She smelled of floral perfume and home. It felt like a chapter that had never fully closed.
— "You're stronger." — she said, taking a step back and looking at him.
— "I think carrying Criminal Law books and confidential files helps." — he joked.
Leandro hugged his son tightly. Carla wiped discreet tears with a tissue.
— "It's so good to have you back, my son." — her mother said.
— "Now as an American citizen." — Leandro added, proud.
Gustavo smiled.
— "Now I can vote, pay taxes even more and serve my new country."
— "You've always been a part of both worlds." — Carla said. "It's only now that it's official."
Days Later – LAPD Headquarters, Downtown LA
The imposing Los Angeles Police Department building seemed to observe everything around it. At the reception desk, a man in a navy blue suit was examining Gustavo's documents.
— "Gustavo Silva… is that really you?"
— "Yes, sir."
— "You know that naturalization normally prevents immediate entry into the LAPD. But… your file came straight from the DoD. It has more stamps than a diplomat's passport."
Gustavo smiled, maintaining his composure.
— "I made sure to follow all protocols. I passed the background check, physical and psychological exams, and officially renounced my previous citizenship."
The man watched him for a few seconds, then stood up and extended his hand.
— "Welcome to the LAPD Academy admissions process, Mr. Silva. You'll start training soon. But something tells me you're more than ready."
Gustavo shook his hand firmly. He was in.
At Home – Evening, dinner with his parents
The table at the Silva house was lovingly set: rice, beans, stewed meat, and farofa made by Carla with pride.
— "I don't think you ate this well even in the DoD." — Leandro said, putting more food on his son's plate.
— "Not even close." — Gustavo laughed. "Food from a military base tastes like wet paper."
— "And what are you feeling now?" — Carla asked. "You… renounced Brazil."
Gustavo looked down, thoughtful.
— "I feel that… my identity is more than a piece of paper. I'm still Brazilian. I always will be. Even if legally I'm no longer. But I've also learned that I can love this country where I am now. Serve it. Protect the people here. It's a new phase. But the essence is the same."
Reverent silence.
Leandro raised his glass of grape juice.
— "So… we'll toast to that. To the new citizen. To the future police officer. To the man you have become."
— "And to the son who has never stopped being our pride." — Carla added.
Next Day – Haley's Store
Gustavo showed up unexpectedly. The physical store, which had been open for a few months, was vibrant, full of mannequins, colorful clothes, and a pop soundtrack.
Haley was behind the counter, fiddling with her iPad. When she saw him, she let out a little scream.
— "Gustavo?!"
— "I heard this store is owned by the most famous designer in LA. I came to see if I could get a discounted t-shirt."
She ran over to him and pulled him inside the counter.
— "You're officially back. Oh my God. I still can't believe it. LAPD?"
— "All that's left is training. I start in two months. But I'm already accepted. And officially an American citizen."
She blinked.
— "Are you… a secret spy now?"
— "I can neither confirm nor deny." — he replied, imitating a federal agent.
They laughed.
— "I missed this." — she said, more seriously. "You. Here."
— "Me too."
Night – Walk to Santa Monica Beach
Gustavo walked alone, sneakers sinking into the sand, looking at the horizon. The sound of the waves was therapeutic. The cold night wind hit his face. He took out his cell phone and started recording an audio.
"Today was my first day back in LA. Haley's store is amazing. My parents are happy. I am… at peace. For the first time in a long time. It was hard to give up my country of birth. But I understood that home is where the people you love are… and where you can make a difference. LAPD awaits me. May the next challenges come."
He put the cell phone in his pocket. He took a deep breath.
And walked towards the ocean. With open arms.
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