— What about Pinocchio?
— Thanks for coming, Claire. If that's all, you can go.
— Oh, really? You're still very sensitive about that topic.
Tadeus steps away from the door when he sees one of the bodyguards coming down the hallway with a duffel bag — From the laundry.
— Thanks — he says, taking it.
— By the way, a letter arrived for you. I picked it up at the front desk in the hotel.
— Oh… thanks. Um, could you take the bag inside instead? — Tadeus orders, handing him the duffel.
Inside the envelope is a number written on the back of it and a Polaroid photo of Egan and Gustaph. — Stupidity — he whispers as he pulls out his phone.
— Who?
Tadeus notices a word written on the back of the photo — Dandelion.
— I was surprised not to see you — Egan answers.
— I'm in a delicate situation right now — he murmurs as he sees the bodyguard leave the room. He decides to move a little further away from the door and starts walking toward the other end of the hallway, rounding the corner where there's a vending machine.
— I heard they arrested the Coyote, but on the international news they've put an old man's picture up instead of yours. You can imagine my surprise.
— Not many people know what I look like under that alias.
— HA! hahahahahaha.
Tadeus hears noises as if the phone had fallen and the sound of what he assumes is water being poured into a glass — Young man — says a voice that sends a tingling sensation through his ears and the bridge of his nose.
— Are you safe?
— For now.
— Thank goodness — Tadeus sighs — What about your daughter?
— I know where she is. I have to go back for her. Give me a week?
— I'll have everything ready by then.
— We have a second chance; we can't make the same mistakes.
— Take care — says Tadeus before hanging up. When he returns to the office, the doctor is telling the patient that he'll be discharged, but he must continue taking antibiotics for a while.
<><><> AUGUST <><><>
And we're back at this hour with more details on the video obtained by the news channel showing the police raid at a nightclub in the city. The footage was recorded by a police security camera and is in the possession of the district attorney's office, which is moving forward with the investigation to determine its possible connection to criminal gangs.
- In the video, you can see a man, who we have been told is an undercover officer, entering the nightclub. After that, the video jumps forward half an hour, showing several police patrol cars and officers preparing to enter the premises. Following this, the officers take into custody three alleged pimps and thirty-four people, including women and minors, who are presumed to be sex enslaved at the nightclub. The video ends there.
We continue with the audio of one of the women in police custody, who volunteered to give part of her testimony anonymously. She reports that after being recruited through a modeling agency for a well-known clothing brand in the country, she was taken to another country to be sexually exploited —"Every day they told me that if I didn't take clients, my family would suffer the consequences of my disobedience. They told me not to cry; sometimes they even hit me if I didn't have a happy expression on my face."
Just then, there's a knock at the door — Good afternoon, officers. It's a pleasure to see you. How can I help you?
— Good afternoon, Miss Yenedith — replies Officer Rafael. Catalina, who is standing next to him, smiles at her — Is Elena Montaño at the residence?
— Give me a moment — she replies with a smile. She goes up to the woman's room, where she sees Lucille handing her a glass of water and a couple of capsules — How are you feeling?
— A little better — Elena sighs and lies back down.
— You should change that bandage over your eye — Yenedith searches the nightstand and pulls out a box of eye patches. She sits down on the edge of the bed and begins to remove the one covering her face — Lucille, please bring the lady some more appropriate clothes, we're going out.
— Where are we going? I already got some sun this morning.
— The police are downstairs — Yenedith says, wiping the woman's eye with a damp cotton ball and gesturing for her to look up.
— What does the police want?
— I think it's about the domestic abuse report.
— What? — Elena takes Yenedith's hand, which is holding the eye drops, and looks down — No, I'm not going to testify against my husband.
— For God's sake, Elena. I didn't think you'd want to be this pathetic.
— I didn't file that complaint — says the woman, stretching out her feet to slip on her sandals — I'm not going to play the victim in family court, that's more pathetic.
— Do you think your life is going to get better now that you've delayed paying his bail? You should take advantage of this opportunity to get some kind of protection.
— I ironed this shirt for you, ma'am. It goes well with the pantone suit — says Lucille.
Yenedith looks at Elena, who sighs and nods. She puts on a pair of thick-heeled pointed-toe shoes in the same color, combs her hair, and applies some makeup.
— Do you think she's actually going to come out? — asks Rafael.
— I don't know; we've already been waiting twenty minutes. Let's wait ten more and…
— Good afternoon, officers — they hear the woman say.
— Are you Elena Montaño? — asks Rafael.
— Yes, sir.
— Please come with us.
— Ma'am, would you like me to accompany you? — asks one of the bodyguards standing by the SUV at the entrance to the house.
— I'll go with the officers; don't worry — the woman replies.
Elena walks with them to the edge of the front yard; she hesitates to continue, but when she sees the young woman close the gate and come toward her, she decides to keep going. Then, Catalina steps behind the woman and takes both her hands — You are under arrest for the crimes of human trafficking, illegal drug trafficking, and the kidnapping of Tadeus and Yenedith Windmill, aiding Edwin Singer.
— Hey, hey, hey, put your weapons down right now! — Rafael orders the bodyguards.
— You have the right to make a phone call; you have the right to remain silent; anything you say may be used against you in a criminal court; you are not required to testify against your spouse or any relative by blood or marriage, or a second-degree relative by marriage. You also have the right to request a lawyer as soon as you wish; if you are unable to do so, the national public defender's office will provide your defense. Did you hear that clearly and do you understand your rights?
Elena looks at Yenedith, who approaches as soon as their eyes meet — Do you have anything to do with this?
— Yes — she nods as she wipes Elena's cheek — Don't talk to anyone other than me or a lawyer. Do you understand? — she murmurs.
— Do you understand your rights, Ms. Elena? — Catalina asks.
— Yes, I understand my rights; I'll speak only with my lawyer. Please make sure to call him.
At that moment, another pair of police patrol cars arrive with a search warrant for the property, and the bodyguards are also arrested on charges of participating in organized crime. Yenedith returns to the house to grab the suitcase she has packed and stashed under the bed; she lets the officers search it and signals to Lucille to do the same. She calls a taxi from her phone and drops Lina off at a hotel — Are you sure I'll be okay?
— In cases like these involving financial crimes, they'll most likely freeze my father's accounts. I wrote you a check for your severance pay and a little extra so you can do whatever you want; it's okay if you don't want to testify out of fear of what might happen. Cash the check first thing tomorrow morning and get a new phone. — she orders. Before leaving, she steps out of the taxi to give him a hug.
— Take care of yourself, too, miss.