We Were Written in Blood

er fingers digging into the surface, grounding herself. Surrounding her, the room vibrated with tension, reporters clustering, the ju

ve? This

His dark eyes were hooded, his expression unreadable, but there was something about the way he

that unwarranted ease, he knew somethin

riminals he defended. Valdez rolled up his cuffs and leaned forwar

case was not just about Luis Ortega. It was about El Reino Os

t upon discovering that Luke might have had someth

ngering for justice, revenge. Now, fo

been doing something more than I had ever im

ppressed it. She didn't need distractions at

-

he judge entered into the courtroom, a

, smoothing

ned the judge, sitting. "Th

a breath.

nly a violent criminal but also a prime player in El Reino Oscuro, who coordinated

s have broken up families, eroded institutions, and put this great

s not a victim of circumstance. He is a pr

sat

prosecution would like you to believe my client is a monster, a man deeply entangled in some criminal empire." He chuckled as if the very idea were preposterous. "Wh

tega is a businessman. A family

stomach chu

ly to himself. The judge look

itness, "Detective Samue

for over a decade and had spent most of it chasing El Reino Oscuro. Eve appr

" he replied, adjus

time, what ha

money transfers, drug shipments, and arranges arms deals. We

ur expert estimation, is Luis Orte

dded.

p. "Objection.

Sustained. Stick to

me that we have phone records putting Ortega in cont

es

indicate conversations

es

ore stepping away. "

ive Rivera, these phone records-do they contai

tated. "

" Valdez settled in

turn. She needed s

egal activity linked to the defendant, Ortega. She was picking up

se quicke

rds of direct links between the defen

are from an unauthorized source. They are at best

he talking abou

u have a sworn witness who can authentica

Oscuro had people everywhere. This judge wasn't s

e upon her. This wasn't justice, this was a rigge

away but the system had already started to turn against her. She needed a new play. She needed someone who wou

e emerged from the building,

re on the opposite side of the street. He disapp

ing followed, and she knew what