Calleigh walked into the shed clutching onto Esteban's arm. "Relax Leigh, he's in the other room. You'll hear some screaming but you won't see it, not directly at least. Come see…" he takes her arm and she can feel her chest tighten the closer they get. The shed was inconspicuous from outside and a lot bigger on the inside. The walls were bare white, it seems as if it were an incomplete project. Bleak and hopeless. Besides the bathroom was the room she and Papi would be working in. But down the hall was where the action happens.
"His name is Michael Trujilio, you might be familiar with that name. I played with one of his girls a month or so back."
"So that wasn't a random kill?" he shook his head.
"Both her and.. Barnes, I believe, were blamed for the missing money. But low and behold, turns out he was just using them as scapegoats. He'd have them purposely "mishandle' the money to throw the numbers off"
Calleigh's eyebrows shot up, the dump was made to look like a random killing. It makes her wonder how many other killings were spur of the moment or calculated. She's hesitant to enter the room. This is the first time she's ever had to witness this first hand. There was saving the victim at the last moment, arriving to late and hell, even her kidnapping. But this, this was something she was new to. She didn't know how to react.
"Leigh let up, you're cutting off the circulation in my arm." she looks down to see the white tight grip she had on his arm. "Sorry" she says as she grabs onto his shirt instead. "Do I really have to see this? Maybe I can go straight into the room and do the paperwork."
He turns to her slowly. "Este bien, mi amor. It won't take long. I know you have a knack for compartmentalizing and I need you to see me as I am. I don't want to tie you down but I will if you try and run. This is something you have to see. I want you to know what the punishment for any of your possible transgressions will be. You won't have to stay this time, but misbehave and expect to. Now, let's go."
Calleigh whimpers as he pushes the door open. What did he mean by tie me up?... OH. There were chains both attached higher up on the wall for hands and long ones attached lower to the ground for feet. The positioning of these chains were right in front of… "Oh my god" she gasps as she comes across the body.
The poor man wasn't even tied to the table anymore, it was clear he wouldn't be coming off it alive. There was blood head to toe and dripping onto the floor still. He'd been skinned alive from the legs down, their wasn't even any white meat showing. His hands looked like they had been bashed with a hammer, pieces of bone stuck out in places it shouldn't even be showing. The arms were thankfully still intact but looked as if they had been burned enough to cause pain but not numbness. Michael's face was what caused her to start crying finally. It was damn near untouched. Besides a black eye and bloody nose and lip, Esteban had spared the man any other affliction. What caused her to break was the tears leaving a clean path through the blood on his cheeks. Suddenly it felt as if the world was crashing down, her chest tightened and she felt dizzy.
The next thing she knew she was making eye contact with Esteban as he shook her awake. "Bebe you scared me, you okay?"
Looking around her she sees she had fainted. Making clear of her surroundings she eyes the body becoming transfixed again. "Is- is he dead?" she asks tentatively. Esteban forces her head and steps into her field of vision to break eye contact with the body and focus on him instead. "No, we're bringing in an accomplice in ten minutes. They'll watch from the wall when I do kill him. This pig has admitted to taking the money and let slip that he had help. So you and Papi will be tracing all his money movements to back up the confession. We'll see who gets the answers first, how 'bout it?" he chuckles at the challenge he just gave her. It seemed as if everything about this was a game to him.
He does refer to his torture of prostitutes as "playing" this must be along the same lines as well. Either way, I don't need him being reactionary and lashing out at Horatio or the team, he's done enough so far.
"Uhm… i'm not sure I want to partake in this competition of yours. But I will happily see myself out of this room." she grabs his hand so he can help her up and he leads her back outside the room to the "office". He sits first and drags her down on his lap. She feels his lips on her head for a brief moment.
"Don't worry Leigh, it'll be fine. I should've warned you how bad it was in there."
"Did you do all that because of the other day?" she looked up at his remorseful(?) eyes. His slight blush confirms her question but she still wants to hear it.
"Yea, a man can't call himself a man if his woman is disgusted or afraid of his touch. I just don't understand why it's taking you so long to come around. I'm just glad you're behaving, I can accept you taking a while as long as you're trying. I love that we cuddle before bed, but it seems the only time you can stand my touch is when you're not conscious enough to reject it."
Calleigh felt her breath hitch. So Papi really hasn't said anything about me attempting escape.
"I'm trying I promise. It's just a lot to wrap my head around. Give me another week or two and I'll be able to perfectly adjust. I will say, it won't take me long to get used to this. I like this." she chokes out, hoping it'll distract him away from the topic of her disobedience. "I do enjo our cuddling too. I'm sorry. I'm so used to having to shield my heart, I'm coming off cold and despondent."
"No need to have such barriers with me. I'm your husband. I'm here to love and cherish me the opportunity to. I used to watch Mami and Papi and couldn't wait to have that for myself."
Now why did he have to say that? Why couldn't he treat me like property or a second class citizen. I shouldn't be feeling bad like this. Is this Stockholm Syndrome? It sucks.
"We'll get there eventually. One day at a time." she lets out honestly. Hopefully you'll be caught long before then but we'll see.
Before he could respond the sound of a door slamming open and screaming could be heard. She jumps in his lap as he pulls her further onto it. "Relax Leigh, that's just the accomplice. You actually might find him familiar. O'Shay tells me you guys have him clocked as a known member of the upper echelons in the Mala Noche. Rayaz's cousin to be in fact, Ruiz I believe. Not that we should be surprised. That family is no good. Especially after Rayaz's campaign of revenge against Caine." he gets up and directs her towards the table she just noticed was there.
Placed in neat piles were bank statements both official and unofficial. "You want Papi and me to look through these and determine which transactions are the result of laundering?"
"Si Bebe, we've got to go through everything." Papi's voice came from the doorway. They both turn and Esteban smiles.
"Duty calls?" he asks and Papi nods his head. Esteban turns back to her and leans down. She meets him halfway for a quick kiss and she wishes him luck. He ducks out and Papi gives her a warm smile.
"Thanks you for that. I caught the end of your conversation by the way." she smiles shyly at him and the both dig in. The screams and mumbles of both men make their way to her ears and she can't help but cringe every time. The louder and more livelier screams of "no, you can't do this, i didn't do anything and i swear" must be from Ruiz. The weaker and more pathetic screams must be from Trujilio on the table.
The only solace she has is the work in front of her. And with every scream she finds herself lost in numbers. $85k here, $80k there, another account that has more money going to an offshore account there… a terrible scream, one that sounded supernatural disrupted her concentration. "Papi…" she didn't know how much she could take. He beckons her over and she grabs her work and practically crushes herself against him. His arms wrap around her and he kisses her head.
"It'll be okay Bebe, just focus on the work in front of you. I;m right here."
"Thank you for not saying anything about my little escapades." she looks up at him grateful.
He smiles back down at her. "The both of us have been introduced to a life we never wanted to be part of. Just know that while my hands are tied when it comes to Esteban's decisions over you, I'll still do my best to sway his opinion." he smiles at her softly. He was being more than genuine.
It didn't take long for Calleigh to regard the screaming the same way she would during an investigation. All she had to do was look for evidence, she could do that no problem. The sooner she finds what they need, the sooner she can was the only thing she can do to even get through the worst of evidence. Especially ones that include rape or children. Her field of work certainly helps.
"How long does it take for Esteban to get an answer? It's been 3 hours and Ruiz is still screaming as if he just got here." Calleigh didn't mean to sound detached or annoyed but she wasn't sure how much more she could take. PApi regarded her softly.
"Depends the person. Maybe you need a break. I'll call them to get lunch together and we can head out in 30. Is that okay?" she nodded her consent.
"You said you were forced into all this, how?" Papi put his highlighter down and his glasses off before turnign to her. Eyes glazed with sadness and remorse at the memory.
"My father had a heart of gold. He used to tell me his family was his most prized possession. That no matter how much money he could ever accrue, his family was worth more. He used to take us sailing, we'd be out fishing all day. Building model planes, teaching me how to steer. Mami, Mami has always been interested in this lifestyle. Loved the bells and whistles with immense wealth. The power. I was just a child when I had to bury his body. I- I don't want to speak on it anymore than that. It's a painful memory for me." the tears that threatened to fall suddenly disappeared and Calleigh found herself rushing over to him.
His arms came around her and they both relished in the closeness. "Thanks Bebe, I needed that. I always wanted a daughter, thank you for affording me this."
She smiled despite wanting not to. "I'm sorry for bringing it all up. And thank you for being here for me. I don't know what I would be like if you weren't. I don't like to speak on my father either but you're definitely more than what I was expecting." he palms her face before touching his forehead to hers. And with that, they dig back into the numbers for the time being.