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— You've had a good recovery, but we need to wait a little longer to be sure — says Mauricio. — You can go home now.
— Thanks — says Gem.
Yenedith, who is sitting in an armchair, stands up to help her friend get off the stretcher. — You know we're going to my place; you can take a shower there if you want.
— Yes, that's better — Gem replies. The door opens, followed by the footsteps of Officer Villa. — I was just thinking about going to the police station.
— Good afternoon, ladies, and Dr. Fajardo — says Catalina. — I'm sorry to hear what happened with your mother. I assure you that the report you filed through Yenedith is already being processed.
— I imagine you're not here just to tell me that — says Gem.
— Finally, I have some good news. We've arrested two of the men involved that day.
— Did you arrest William?
— Yes, and Hunter Sears; the other man you managed to identify. Right now we're in the process of running DNA tests on the evidence from your house and… the samples we found on your body.
— There's another piece of evidence I think will be useful for the case — says Gem, lifting her shirt to reveal her abdomen — No amount of water can wash away the traces of the harm they did to me because I carry them inside me.
— We can perform a minimally invasive DNA test to avoid any risks — says the doctor — I'll send you the lab order.
— Let's not get ahead of ourselves; first I need to get a warrant for the DNA test — says Catalina — I also came to tell you there will be a hearing on September 25th. Make sure you get a lawyer.
— Why so far away? I won't be able to have an abortion if it takes that long.
— Once it's confirmed that the pregnancy resulted from the rape, you'll have the right to an abortion whenever you want — says the officer — For now, we can only wait.
— Remember to avoid strenuous physical activity and stressful situations. I understand you have no interest in keeping the fetus, but it is still part of your body, and until then, you must be very careful to avoid further complications — says the doctor.
— Thank you, Mauricio — says Gem and offers him a hug.
— It's best if you stay with me — says Yenedith, to which her friend agrees.
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Tadeus goes to one of his father's nightclubs, where he is introduced to the hostesses as Coyote, their new boss. Some of them smile when they see how young he is, but most keep a neutral expression, they're all between eighteen and thirty-five years old.
Tadeus approaches one of them to get a closer look at her face. A rather slender young woman with long brown hair and light brown eyes — She looks too young — he says, noticing she barely has any breasts.
— She just turned nineteen — says the pimp.
— I don't like her. Get rid of her — orders Tadeus. At that, a couple of bodyguards grab her by the arms to escort her out of the room.
— She can serve drinks, if you'd like, sir.
— She's no use here, Germain. No teenagers, only women over twenty-one — Tadeus says as he walks around, taking a look at each of them — Why are they so skinny?
Germain opens his mouth to speak, but Tadeus raises his hand — Don't they pay you enough to eat?
— We don't get paid, sir. Germain told us he sends money to our families at the end of every month — replies one of the older women.
— I suppose you eat here, then — says the Gray Coyote.
— Yes, sir. Breakfast and lunch. We don't get breaks while we're working.
Tadeus shoots an angry glance at Germain, but says nothing until he leaves the women's room — So you're starving them.
— That's how they maintain a more youthful appearance.
— I'm not interested in feeding the fantasies of degenerate pedophiles. This is a place for businessmen, and to change things here, we'll start with them.
The three walk to an office where they take a seat — How many men do they serve daily?
— During the day, maybe five or seven, but the number can double at night — says Germain.
— Where are the receipts for the money you've sent to their families? — asks Gustaph.
— Don't you have them, or have you broken your word? — asks Tadeus after a long silence.
Germain shakes his head and smiles, saying — All the profits go to the organization. They're just whores.
Tadeus smiles at this statement, stands up, walks around the desk, and kicks the man in the chest, sending him crashing to the floor, then stomps on his face with his heel until his eyes are no longer visible and blood splatters onto his pants. — No whores, no profits; no profits, no organization. You're going to treat my women the way I want you to treat them from now on — says Tadeus. He bends down, pulls a handkerchief from inside his jacket to wipe the blood from the man's face — No clients during the day until further notice. You're going to give them three meals a day and one at midnight. One client per hour and no drugs. Understood?
— Yes, sir — Germain exhales with difficulty.
Tadeus stands up — Does this place have a basement?
— It's used as a storage room — Gustaph replies. — It's full of old furniture from when they last redecorated the place.
— Clear it all out. I want the women's rooms built during the day. They look too crammed in that room — Tadeus orders. — Maybe five or six girls per room. Build a sauna and a gym with a pool. We need them to look alive, fresh, and well-nourished so they don't lose their appeal.
— As you wish, sir — Gustaph replies. Once in the car, he adds — I'll contact an architect to look over the plans.
— Maybe we could expand the place or add another floor — says Tadeus. — We need to take advantage of the tolerance zone.
— What guilt does to a person — says Gustaph.
— I'm just trying to do the best I can for them, since I can't get them out of that hole.
— I don't think Edwin will be too keen on the idea of investing money in…
— Edwin can go to hell with all his plans. He's crazy if he thinks I'll ever set foot outside the country again to launder his money if he doesn't let me do this.
— Speaking of travel, what did you do all month?
— I was at Alexander's house helping to decorate the place. It was depressing — comments Tadeus — Amid all that, I think I found the perfect reason to break his heart.
— How poetic.
— He's still sleeping with his trusted prostitute, the bastard. He even had the nerve to tell me no, when his face was buried between that woman's breasts — Tadeus sighs in a mirthless smile — "'Secretary.'" Yeah, right, and I'm a butler.
— Are you talking about Claire, the one who was with him in the Maldives? asks Gustaph, to which Tadeus nods — She's ahead of Leonard in the Animal's business dealings. I was tailing her in Scotland a couple of months ago.
— And what did you find out?
— Nothing. The woman shot my informant, but apparently she couldn't get anything out of him, or they would've already put a bullet in my head.
— Even if that's true, I still have a good reason. I have no idea what business he has with Greece. He already knows that Leonard and Dove were murdered because of his slut, and hopefully he won't discover the videos that incriminate me. I think I'm finally going to take your advice.
— So the whole 'broken heart' thing is just your grudge? Just keep him distracted while our partner sows doubt among the Raptis brothers.
— I don't understand how I can call you my friend after the slap in the face you gave me with the comment you did to my father — says Tadeus — You'll have to wait for the blood to cool on my corpse before I'll take part in your conspiracy to kill him.
— Play along with him until…
— I'm going to finish him, and that's it. With the nightclubs and the casino, I've got enough to deal with.
As soon as they walk through the front door, Tadeus notices the flower arrangements and balloon decorations in the foyer, all the way to the main living room, where he sees several young people he recognizes as some of his sister's friends. — Damn it, I forgot her birthday — Tadeus mutters to himself.
— I bought her a Polaroid camera. It'll surely make her happier to know her brother gave it to her instead of that nosy uncle — says Gustaph.
— Welcome, you're right on time. We're waiting for the birthday girl — says Elena.
— Thanks for organizing this for her — replies Tadeus.
— It's nice to see you, Tadeus. I think you should go change your clothes — Elena says, looking down.
After taking a shower, Tadeus goes downstairs to greet his sister with a surprised shout when they see her walk through the door. He's the first to hug her and leads her by the hand to the center of the table so she's facing the cake. Elena lights the candles, and everyone sings and claps. Yenedith can't stop smiling, and tears roll down her cheeks as she blows out the candles.
Lucille, along with a couple of the maids, takes the cake to cut it in the kitchen while the young woman opens her gifts.