Jubal stands in the center of the JOC as information appears on the screens, while Ian and Eliza take turns explaining the case information. Maggie and OA are watching the screens closely.
The body of a young man was found, according to the documents it was possible to establish the identity, this is Rafe Alvarez. He is 27 years old. Headshot. Killed with a 9mm gun. According to Eliza, he was involved in the Philadelphia and Newark murders of drug dealers when he was a teenager. He was a witness for the prosecution against the Vella cartel. That's childhood in Mexico. This gives them their first clue.
He turns around just as Isobel enters the center. She is wearing a dark green knee-length dress and is in a good mood. Until she sees the screen. She freezes in place. Jubal glares at her with a frown, a shadow of fear and sadness in her eyes. In fact, he sees many shades of emotion on her face, but he's more concerned that she let them come out and be seen. Isobel never lets her emotions show, she keeps everything inside. She turns abruptly and walks into her office. The shutters of her office are closing, which brings Jubal out of his daze, he quickly issues orders to agents, and also asks Eliza to look for information about this cartel and, most importantly, this boy.
Rafe Alvarez was already killing at the age of 15 for the Vella cartel. In 2010, he was involved in the cartel case and testified against Eddie Blanco. This child was brought to Mexico, taught to kill and "fed" with drugs. Poor boy. Here it is. He sees in the case the name of Isobel Castille. After quickly reading the rest of the file, he closes his eyes. He needs to speak to Isobel urgently.
He briefly explains, to the best of his knowledge, Eliza's situation, that Isobel will not be involved in the case due to a conflict of interest. After explaining, he walks up to their SAC door and knocks softly. There is no answer at first, but Jubal repeats. Finally, he hears a soft "Come in."
- Isobel…- Jubal starts, no longer quite sure how to start the conversation. She is sitting at her desk, her head resting on her hands. Her eyes are closed. Isobel lifts her head and opens her eyes. And remaining herself, she takes the conversation into her own hands:
- I know, I know. I won't be in this case, but I want to know everything. Every move, every suspect... The Vello Cartel, Eddie Blanco's henchmen - they need to be checked first, - she quickly activates agent mode, but Jubal interrupts her:
- Isobel, - the agent says firmly, - your team knows what to do, they can handle it, I didn't come for this, - all his confidence and severity in his voice begin to disappear, - I wanted to check how you are?
The woman did not expect this. She sits with her mouth slightly open, not knowing what to say. How is she? She does not know. Isobel looks at the man in front of her, who only radiates sympathy and concern.
- I don't know, - she says honestly, - I ... haven't seen him for a long time. We met over ten years ago. He was a little boy who was forced to kill, Jubal! - exclaims Isobel, - His whole family was in danger because of his testimony against the cartel, I did everything to keep them safe, but he was still afraid. And I understand it, really. We spent a lot of time with him and in the end everything worked out: he and his family were safe, and Eddie Blanco was put in jail for a long time.
Isobel pauses, remembering later years.
- I helped him get into college where he turned out to be good at football. He graduated from college with a scholarship. Later he got a job, he became a programmer or something related to computers. I rarely understood when Rafe talked about all his iron things, - Isobel smiles. Jubal looks at her fascinated as she talks about the boy and his family. He discovers a new Isobel.
- We dined several times with all his family after they were free and released from witness protection. His mother, Isabel Alvarez, cooked amazing Birria, - Isobel smiles at the memory. This time, Jubal can't help but smile when he sees Isobel like this.
- The case summary says something about songs, - Jubal prods her. He doesn't want to interrupt her good memories, but he needs to know.
Isobel freezes and nods slowly.
- I have a song dedicated to me in Spanish, - the corners of her lips lift a little at the look Jubal gives her, - not something I would brag about. It was about a detective leading the fight against the Vello cartel. About the dead detective.
Jubal waits for her to continue, not daring to interrupt her. Isobel rarely says anything about herself.
- There were many songs in that case and quite a few murders were committed because of what and about whom the songs were sung about.
- Do they ever... - Jubal can't finish the sentence.
- They were...close, - Isobel nods slightly, as if agreeing with herself and her choice of words, - but I couldn't give up, this boy and his family deserved a good end, they needed security and...he was still a child, Jubal! - she repeats, as if trying to justify herself.
Jubal nods. They sit in silence for a while, each thinking about what happened.
He understands her, but that doesn't mean he doesn't care. Maybe Rafe Alvarez wasn't killed by the Vello cartel, but he knows one thing for sure: he won't let Isobel out of his sight. For all the time that they have known each other, the woman has always shown that she is ready to risk her life and career for the sake of others. Jubal won't let anything happen to her, and she'll need all of his support as well. Yes, he will always be with her.
