The Narrator:
At that same moment, in Paradise Island, Reyner Medina, was being arrested for the death of Milko Zambrano. He was in one of the most luxurious restaurants on the island, eating with some friends, when they came for him.
-Let me go, you assholes! Don’t you know who I am? I am one of the most powerful men on the island,” he replied.
Leaving aside this exclamation on Reyner’s part, as well as his complaints and claims, the group of officials who went for him to Paradise Island, lifted him from his chair and handcuffed him.
-It will be your turn in the Prosecutor’s Office to prove who you really are! -the officer who was handcuffing him growled.
-But what is the reason for my arrest? -he asked, totally bewildered.
-You are accused of being the intellectual author of the death of citizen Milko Zambrano, a native of Ciudad La Rosa,” answered the officer, leaving him dumbfounded for a few seconds and his friends astonished at this statement….
-I have nothing to do with that, I don’t know that person,” he replied, “Let me go, you’re confusing me! I don’t know anyone by that name,” he said. So his friends began to intercede with the officials to get them to let him go.
-That will have to be proved before the respective authorities! -answered the official, putting him in the patrol car.
-I’m telling you I don’t know who he is,” insisted Reyner, refusing to move.
While his arrest was being carried out, a scandal broke out in the restaurant, going viral on the networks. First, his friends, claiming in his defense that it was surely a mistake, that he was a very respected man on the island, to which the official did not respond.
Second, the people who were in the restaurant, who knew him but were not his friends, murmured in astonishment. For some, he was overbearing and arrogant, for others he was an honest man of prestige, which was surely a mistake.
The officials transferred Reyner and presented him before the prosecutor, who had been part of these investigations at the request of Rafael Corner. Once this formality was completed, he was transferred to Ciudad La Rosa, where the authorities were waiting for him to be judged, together with his accomplices.
(***)
Simultaneously, at the Zambrano mansion, totally desperate for the disappearance of her only daughter, in the boat accident, Josefina Rondon, Zambrano’s widow, was being detained for the death of her late husband, Milko Zambrano.
She wanted to escape when she noticed the police presence around the mansion. However, the same personnel who had testified against her, facilitated the entrance to the commission. They had always distrusted her because of the death of her boss.
When she wanted to escape through the back door, where the garbage is taken out, two officials were waiting for her, who had been informed about her exit. Once they caught her, she cursed and shouted at the officials.
-You wretched dogs! Let me go! I am a lady, I am a distinguished lady, the widow of Mr. Milko Zambrano,” she said, struggling with the two officials.
-Lady? Distinguished? -questioned one of the officials, smiling.
-Aren’t you Josefina Rondon, alias Chepa Rondon? -asked another of the officials, who was part of the commission that came in for her and who apparently could not handle her.
–I am Josefina Rondon, Zambrano’s widow! The one you are looking for, I don’t know who she is. I think you were wrong,” she said, trying to control the timbre of her voice and the fury that overwhelmed her.
-We’ll see about that at the police station! When we trace her fingerprints,” answered the official, with a biting smile.
-And what is this woman they are confusing me with being accused of? -she asked.
-Of the death of her late husband, the tycoon Milko Zambrano.
-How dare they accuse me of such an atrocity? -She replied, trembling with rage and reasoning that she had just given herself away, because she had alleged that she was not the one they were looking for.
-She wanted to surprise him with a blow to her crotch, but he dodged her, throwing her to the floor.
Knowing that she was discovered, she demanded to be allowed to make a phone call to contact her lawyer, because she would not declare anything until she had her lawyer. They informed her of all her rights and took her into custody.
(***)
That night, the networks were saturated by the arrest of Reyner Medina, but made no reference to the arrest of Josefina Rondon. She was presented, in the early hours of the morning, before the prosecutor’s office on duty, to declare her misdeeds, something that, at no time, she accepted.
The detectives in charge of this case, having the four suspects behind bars, proceeded to instigate among them. They alleged before the detainees that the other one was pointing out that he was the culprit.
Hours before…
The Narrator:
When Rafael arrived with his family to Ciudad La Rosa, he called his friend, Martin Elias, to warn him about the arrest of his father and asked him not to intervene, for now. The latter, astonished, demanded explanations.
-Martin, I cannot explain anything to you yet, by order of the team we have in this investigation process. However, tomorrow at ten o’clock we will meet, but I can’t assure you that it will be in my office, since we may be asked to go to the delegation.
“Upon confirming the exact time and place he called you. So please, my friend, trust me and wait for my call,” he added.
-I have always trusted you, more than my family! -he assured him. They talked for a while and then said goodbye. When Martin hung up his cell phone, a call came in from an unknown number.
-Hello, who is this? -Martin Elias asked.
-Brother, it’s me, Jose David! They have me in custody at the fourteenth police station here in Ciudad La Rosa, please come and get me out. Hire the best lawyer, I’ll pay his fees when I leave,” he said.
-Why did they detain you? -Martin asked, worried and holding his hands to his head, presuming that it was for the same reason as his father, and that Rafael would surely not want me to help him.
-Because of your little friend Rafael Corner, who is pressuring them to arrest me for arguing with Shayla. I don’t agree that she has a child, which she says is mine. However, I’m not sure,” he lied.
-How dare you ask someone to commit a crime? Because if you don’t know, it’s a crime here,” he said.
-Now you’re coming with your cheesy stuff! Are you going to help me or not? In any case, I’ve already exhausted the only call I’m allowed to make, so call any of our lawyers on the Island, have them come and look for me at the fourteenth precinct.
“At least that, if you can do it? -he asked, angrily, angry with Martin.
-I’ll call him back! -was Martin’s answer, who would wait until the next day to decipher everything that was happening around him and that apparently was the work of his friend.
When he hung up, he called one of the lawyers his father always has on the Island. However, he did not answer the call and so did the other one. In any case, Martin insisted until he received an answer from one of them.
-What is it, Martin? -Martin asked, without mentioning at all that he was there in Ciudad La Rosa, representing his father.
-Jose David is being held at the fourteenth police station, here in Ciudad La Rosa, and he needs your services. I will cover all your travel and per diem expenses, because he has told me that he will take care of your fees,” he explained.
-No problem! -answered the lawyer, without giving any further explanation, since Reyner did not want him to know what was going on.
-So, we’ll be in touch and if you need anything, don’t hesitate to call me,” Martin offered.
“Wow, family, mine!” pondered Martin, leaving for his date with Sheyli…