Olivia looked out of the towncar as they drove through the streets of New York. Quinn had found a client for them. A mayoral candidate named Alejandro Muñoz who, 5 days before the election was being brought up on charges of exchanging child pornography.
"Why are we taking this case?" Olivia asked.
"Because something about it is off." Quinn replied. "He's getting ready to change the city and actually help the urban poor and suddenly less than a week from the election he gets sandbagged by NYPD and the DA's office?"
As they drew close to the campaign headquarters the car was met with an army of reporters camped outside. Marcus instructed the driver to go around back. Olivia looked out the window. Though they were tinted and the reporters could not see who was inside she still felt exposed. Ever since she'd left Fitz and the White House people had been following her, trying to understand how she could have possibly left all that behind.
After being ushered inside by security, they were led into Muñoz's campaign office.
Olivia led her team through the door. Muñoz was sitting at his desk, talking to his wife. They fell silent, Muñoz stepped forward, a large politician's smile in place as he held out his hand. "I can't tell you how grateful I am that you took my case, Ms. Pope." He motioned behind him. "This is my wife, Yelina."
Yelina was looking at them suspiciously. "I'm not as grateful."
"Yelina." Muñoz warned. Yelina didn't look at him.
"We're dealing with an alleged sex scandal, so forgive me if hiring half of the most famous political sex scandal makes me upset." She met Olivia's eyes unflinchingly. Olivia smiled; she'd expected pushback.
"This is only going to work if we're honest with each other." She said. "So thank you for your honesty." She put her bag on Muñoz's desk. "I have 5 days to save your campaign. So for 5 days you will campaign directly to the people of New York. Absolutely no contact with anyone more influential than a bus driver. You want people to believe you're being targeted? Make sure you make them understand that they're being targeted as well." She looked down at his well-tailored suit. "You need to make them forget you're a state senator. From now on until the election, jeans. There are more poor people in this city than the elite. Show them that they have a voice and they have power." She looked back at Yelina. "As to your concerns about the optics of my being here, Marcus and Quinn will take point on this. They will accompany you to events to make sure you stay on script; this is the last time I'll be in the same borough as you. In addition, the account you're paying to does not have my name on it."
Yelina still seemed skeptical, but nodded. "My husband is going to do great things for this city." She said. Olivia grimaced and turned to Muñoz.
"I've been honest, your wife has been honest so now I need you to be honest. Is there any truth to these charges and before you say no, I'll remind you that I am not law enforcement, I'm not going to cuff you and send you to the DA's office. I'm here to help, so you need to tell me exactly what you've done."
Muñoz seemed weary, tired. "There's no truth to these allegations, Ms. Pope. I was framed."
Olivia bit her lip. "Alright." She picked up her bag. "Is there anything you know that Huck and I can leak to the press to substantiate this claim?"
"Yes." Muñoz's eyes flashed. "The ADA who lead the charge and set the NYPD after me. He's a former friend from the neighborhood. He's jealous of my success."
Olivia raised an eyebrow and crossed her arms. "ADA is an influential position; why would he be jealous?"
"Because of me." Yelina said.
"Mi amor." Muñoz murmured, putting his hand on her arm, but Yelina shoved him off.
"He doesn't get to get away with this, Alex." She growled, her eyes flashing. "He's always been jealous and he went too far." She looked back at Olivia. "You want to know who's behind this? Ask ADA Rafael Barba why he had his personal police squad go after my husband."
Olivia blinked, forcing her expression to remain neutral. It couldn't be the same person. "Rafael Barba?" She asked, as if looking for confirmation. Yelina nodded.
"He grew up in the same neighborhood, but went off to Harvard and now has ideas as to who should make it and who shouldn't."
Olivia nodded. "I'll set up a meeting with him, it might be helpful."
She swept out of the office with the others following her.
"I'll take the ADA." Marcus began.
"No." Olivia cut him off. The team looked at her in surprise. "I'll take the ADA." She said.
"Are you sure that's-" Marcus began.
"You guys handle the campaign and Muñoz." Olivia shouldered her bag and walked out of the building. "I'll go speak to Rafael."
Huck frowned, following her out of the building. "Do you know him?" He asked.
"Hm?" She asked.
"The assistant district attorney. You called him Rafael, not ADA, or Barba or Rafael Barba. You used his first name. It's personal which makes me think you know him personally."
Olivia paused at the street corner, glaring back at Huck. "What are you trying to say?"
"Is Yelina Muñoz the only person who has a history with Rafael Barba?" Huck asked. Olivia held up her hand signalling for a cab.
"I knew Rafael back in law school." She said as the cab pulled up. "Focus on Muñoz." She got in, instructing the cab driver to take her to the court house. Rafael being involved was a complication. The man she'd known had been righteous, believing in justice and the protection of the law. It was difficult to think he'd let personal issues cloud that dedication. Difficult, but not impossible. She knew better than anyone that people weren't always what they appeared.