Chapter 10: The Counter attack
906 Words
The ride back from the Ministry was silent for most of the way.
Emilio stared out the window, watching the gray streets blur into a city he barely recognized.
Finally, Jorge broke the quiet.
“Mendez thinks he has you cornered. He’s wrong. But we have to move fast.”
“How?” Emilio asked.
Jorge’s tone was low, deliberate. “By making sure the panel sees the kind of man Mendez really is. We don’t just defend—you counterattack.”
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The First Step: Gathering Shadows
That night, Jorge arranged a meeting in a small, dimly lit café in Colonia Roma. Emilio arrived to find two people already waiting:
Diego, a wiry man in his early forties, wearing a leather jacket and a sly smile.
Lucia, a former Ministry clerk, nervous and fidgeting, her eyes scanning the room.
Jorge introduced them.
“Diego’s an investigative journalist—independent, not afraid of powerful enemies. Lucia worked in the Ministry for six years… until she was forced out for asking too many questions.”
Lucia leaned forward. “I know how Mendez operates. He’s got a network of inspectors who falsify reports, then bury the originals. He pays them through ghost contracts.”
“Can you prove it?” Emilio asked.
“Not yet,” she admitted. “But I can show you where he hides the paper trail.”
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Following the Money
The next day, the four of them met in Jorge’s small office. Diego had brought a battered laptop, its screen covered in digital maps and spreadsheets.
“Everything dirty in Mexico City leaves a footprint,” Diego said. “Bank transfers, property records, shell companies. Mendez isn’t as careful as he thinks.”
He pulled up a diagram of interconnected accounts.
“This here,” he said, pointing to a series of nodes, “is a dummy construction firm registered in Oaxaca. On paper, they ‘consult’ for the Ministry. In reality, they funnel kickbacks to Mendez.”
Jorge leaned in. “If we can tie this company to him before the hearing, we can not only destroy his case, but also put him under investigation.”
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Dangerous Territory
But digging into Mendez’s finances wasn’t without risk.
On the third night of their investigation, Diego called Emilio in a whisper.
“I think we’re being followed.”
Emilio’s gut tightened. “By who?”
“Black SUV. Tinted windows. No plates.”
Jorge wasn’t surprised. “That’s Mendez’s style. He’s letting us know he’s watching.”
Lucia, visibly shaken, suggested stopping the investigation.
“If we push too far, he’ll come after our families,” she said.
Emilio’s voice was steady but cold. “He already came after mine.”
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The Breakthrough
On the fourth night, they hit gold.
Diego intercepted an internal memo from the dummy firm to Mendez’s private email account, marked Confidencial. It discussed “finalizing disbursements for expedited approvals” and listed payment amounts to three inspectors—the same inspectors who had filed reports against Emilio.
Jorge grinned for the first time in days. “That’s direct evidence of bribery. If we get this authenticated, it’s over for him.”
But there was one problem—the document wasn’t enough on its own. They needed a witness.
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The Unexpected Ally
That witness came in the form of Rafael Ortega, a former inspector who had recently been fired for “insubordination.” Diego tracked him down in a cramped apartment in Iztapalapa.
At first, Rafael was reluctant.
“I have a family. Mendez still has people in the Ministry. If I testify, I disappear.”
Emilio understood the fear. “I know what it’s like to have your life dismantled. But this isn’t just about me—it’s about stopping him from doing this to anyone else.”
Rafael was silent for a long time before finally nodding. “I’ll testify. But I want full legal protection.”
Jorge agreed. “Done. I’ll arrange it.”
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The Warning
Two nights before the hearing, Emilio returned home to find his apartment door slightly open. Inside, nothing was stolen—but on his kitchen table sat a single envelope.
Inside was a photo of Cynthia… leaving a café with Mendez. The message was clear: I still own the people you love.
Emilio’s first reaction was fury, but Jorge urged restraint.
“This is bait. He wants you to react, to lose your temper at the hearing.”
Emilio’s voice was low. “I’m not going to lose my temper. I’m going to win.”
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The Final Move
The night before the hearing, they gathered in Jorge’s office to review the plan.
Step 1: Present expert analysis proving the audio against Emilio had been spliced.
Step 2: Introduce the intercepted memo, authenticated by a digital forensics specialist.
Step 3: Call Rafael as a surprise witness to detail Mendez’s bribery schemes.
“If all goes well,” Jorge said, “the panel will see this case for what it is—a vendetta.”
Diego smirked. “And the press will eat it alive.”
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As they prepared to leave, Emilio lingered at the window, staring at the lights of the city.
“This time tomorrow,” he said quietly, “either I walk free… or I lose everything.”
Jorge clapped him on the shoulder. “Then we make sure it’s the first one.”
- Writer
