<><><> APRIL <><><>
After a week of interviewing the families of the missing people and filming for the program, Tadeus returns to the mansion where his sister greets him with a hug. — How have you been? — she asks.
— I think I'm about to finish the job Edwin asked me to do. I assure you we'll be home soon — Tadeus says.
— I was referring to Mom's anniversary. I feel so guilty about what I said to you before — Yenedith says.
— That's a matter of the past. How has Grandma taken it?
— You should ask her that yourself. You haven't visited her in weeks — Yenedith says — I know this is our new life, but you yourself told me we should stick together, and it doesn't seem like you're doing your part. Your visits are becoming less and less frequent.
— I understand you feel lonely here, but it won't be for long.
— You should come live here.
— I meant to get out of here — Tadeus says.
— It's been months and you keep saying the same thing. I think you're trying to convince yourself we can get away from these people. We're hostages of people who aren't asking for a ransom. Besides, where would we go?
— Good morning, Tadeus. Are you coming to stay for the weekend? — Elena asks, approaching.
— Probably — he replies.
— That's great, we miss you here at home — the woman says with a smile.
— Where's Edwin — he asks listlessly.
— On the terrace — Elena says. Tadeus squeezes his sister's hand affectionately and walks toward the stairs.
— I heard you have good news — Edwin remarks when he sees him approaching.
— The other day I went to his house and planted the microphones. It's just a matter of time before you get all the information you want — Tadeus lies. — You can leave us alone now.
— Leave you alone? — Edwin asks — Yenedith is working at the company, your grandmother is having the vacation of her life, and you're spending all your time going on dates with this man you seem to like quite a lot. I don't understand why you're complaining — Edwin affirms. Tadeus is about to protest, but Coyote says — I need you to travel to Turkey and talk to the Greeks so they agree to make a deal with us.
— Do you want me killed? — Tadeus asks — Besides, I wouldn't know how to negotiate.
— I'll send someone with you. You just have to present a document I'll give you that specifies the nature of our agreement, sign it, and make sure they sign it too — Edwin says — Here are your plane tickets. You'll travel in two days.
— I don't intend to get involved in your business — Tadeus says.
— Fine, then don't — Edwin says. After a silence as they both begin to eat, he says — How's your grandmother? I heard she's been having a lot of trouble with her hands, that her wrists are burning, maybe she has carpal tunnel syndrome. Those discomforts that come with the age.
— You bastard — Tadeus says through gritted teeth, taking in the threat Edwin is trying to make.
— I'm just thinking about your comfort — Edwin says with a smile, even chuckling a little.
— What a beautiful day. What should we have for breakfast? — Elena asks, sitting down at the table next to Yenedith.
— We were talking about the possibility of changing your last names, Tadeus and Yenedith Singer. How does that sound? — Edwin says, addressing his daughter. Tadeus grimaces at the thought of that last name next to his own.
— It would be a lovely gesture if you agreed to do it — the woman says.
— Don't be ridiculous — Tadeus says.
— Ignore him — Edwin tells his wife — What do you think of the idea, Yen?
— I don't know. For now, I prefer to keep my last name — Yenedith says.
After lunch, Yenedith asks Charles to take her to her friend's house. All the way there, she tries to phone Gem to let her know she's coming, but she doesn't pick up.
As soon as they arrive at the house, the first thing they notice is that the door is open. Fearing the worst, Charles enters first, gun pointed, ready to pull the trigger on any attacker. They walk through the front hallway to the living room, where several food packages are scattered on the floor and sofas; the kitchen is a mess. Yenedith trips over a shoe, but Charles catches her — Don't leave my side, be careful — the bodyguard says after holstering his gun. They go upstairs, and with each step, they hear what sounds like panting more clearly. He opens the door to the bedroom on the left, but the sounds aren't coming from there. — Wait — Yenedith whispers, trying to get Charles to stop. Then she takes out her mobile phone and starts recording. She signals him to continue.
Upon opening the door, the first thing they see is a naked man with his hands on the headboard of the bed, moving back and forth over Gem. Yenedith covers her mouth to avoid making a sound and leave quietly, but she notices that her friend's eyes are closed; she isn't moving, she seems inert. Same as Yenedith, Charles concludes that the woman on the bed isn't participating in the act and enters the room to stop the man. Charles pushes him to the floor — You damned degenerate! — he yells, and chases him around the room until he catches him. — Call the police! — the bodyguard orders. At that moment, someone from the other room lunges at her, trying to grab her phone, but she manages to dodge him and kicks him, sending him tumbling down the stairs. Yenedith sees him get up, so she picks up her phone from the floor and focuses it, trying to capture his face.
Several minutes later, the police and an ambulance arrived to take charge of the scene. Charles stayed with Yenedith, who was crying after seeing her friend being taken out of the house by the paramedics. She overheard them saying that her pulse was weak and decided to call his parents to let them know where their daughter was.
At the hospital, her parents approach her to ask what has happened, but Yenedith just stares at them, bewildered, trying to put into words what she has seen. — Nice to meet you, I'm Charles — he said, seeing how distraught she was. — I know your daughter through Yenedith. We found Gem unconscious at her house.
— It can't be, not again — Gem's mother sighed, feeling a suffocating pressure in her chest and her eyes begin to fill with tears.
— We don't know exactly what happened, but there were other people with her in the house — Charles says — What I'm about to tell you might be hard to hear, but we believe she was raped.
— What are you saying? What did you see? — the father asks. The mother covers her mouth with one hand and places the other on her chest, at a loss by those words.
— When we arrived at the house, the front door was open, as we went inside Yenedith wanted to record something to have evidence in case there was any damage in the house prior to our arrival — Charles says. He takes a deep breath and clears his throat. — That's why we have a video —he says, turning his face toward Yenedith.
— I'll send it to you so you can give it to the police — Yenedith sighs with her voice cracking as tears stream down her cheeks. — I'm sorry. I hope she's alright — she says and walks toward the exit.
The bodyguard follows her to the car. — Would you like to go to your brother's? I can take you if you ask, or perhaps you'd like to go home — he comments, but she doesn't answer. Charles helps her into the vehicle and drives her to the mansion. He walks beside her until she reaches the top of the stairs.
— Thank you for what you did there — Yenedith says before stepping onto the last step to the second floor. Charles nods and watches her enter her room.
— What's going on? — Elena asks from the entrance, seeing the man at the bottom of the stairs.
— Good evening, Mrs. Singer — Charles says — It's best if you speak with Miss Yenedith.
Elena hurries past him and knocks on Yenedith's bedroom door. When she's allowed in, she sees the young woman lying on the bed, slumped under the covers. She can hear her sobbing, so she approaches her calmly. — Are you alright? What happened, child?
— Gem was raped right in front of me, and I couldn't do anything — Yenedith sobs — I couldn't even tell her parents what happened; a stranger had to do it — she says.
— Come here, it's okay — Elena says, opening her arms to hug her, which the young woman returns — I'm sure you did everything you could.