Thiago and Aline are standing next to the car waiting impatiently for Vera to continue their journey to the last town of the caravan. The candidate looks at his wristwatch once more, annoyed:
—We're too late. – he grumbles. —That way we'll have to postpone today's speech.
—Did something happen to her? – Asks Aline, worried — She's always the first to get here.
—Let's go in and ask the reception to call the room – proposes Thiago.
Aline nods in agreement and the two walk back to the hotel until they reach the reception, being attended by a young man:
— Good morning – greets the receptionist — How can I help you?
— Good morning, could you call room 202, where my public relations person, Vera Lúcia, is and inform you that the team is already waiting for you. – Ask Thiago.
— Room 202? – asks the receptionist looking at his monitor — The person who was in room 202 already checked–out yesterday afternoon.
— How it is? – Asks Aline, shocked — There must be some mistake, Vera is with our team, we are on campaign... You can check once more.
— Of course you do, ma'am – replies the receptionist — That's right, she closed her room yesterday afternoon.
— Why would she do that?– asks Thiago taking his cell phone —I'll call her and clarify this story.
Thiago dials Vera's phone, who after four calls, finally answers:
— Hi, Thiago.
—Vera, where are you? – asks Thiago, nervous. —We just found out that you've already left...
— Yes... Sorry for not letting you know, but I received news yesterday... overwhelming about the death of my dear aunt...
— Aunt? What aunt, Vera? – asks Thiago, suspiciously. During all the years he was with Graziela, he had never seen any close relatives of them.
— The aunt... Viridiana, who took care of Graziela and me when our father died.
—I thought you hated her – asks Thiago.
— Well, you thought wrong. She was strict yes, but deep down she had a good heart. Anyway, I had to travel in a hurry...
— What about Grazi? – asks Thiago.
— What's up with Graziela?
—She went too, right? – asks Thiago.
— Oh no, Graziela is on a retreat because of your breakup. I don't want to make your condition worse by telling you about our aunt's death.
— I'm sorry for your lost. Take your time and know that we all miss you and are rooting for you.
— Thank you for your understanding, Thiago. See you in Curitiba. I'm sure he's well supported by the whole team. In addition to having a powerful weapon by your side.
— My condolences. See you soon – Thiago says goodbye, hanging up the phone under Aline's worried gaze — Vera's aunt died and that's why she left. But he said he will meet us in Curitiba, when we return.
—Wow, that's sad – comments Aline — Do you have any idea where Vera's aunt lives? I think we could send some flowers in solidarity.
—No, I even forgot to ask. But anyway, wherever Vera is, she said she has our support – comments Thiago. — We will?
—Well, wherever she is, I hope she's okay. – Aline comments walking beside Thiago.
***
Sao Jose dos Campos, Sao Paulo.
Vera hangs up the phone and then finishes her cup of coffee handing the maid back. She gets up and looks closely at the luxurious living room of the Buarque de Melo family, admiring the family photographs mirrored throughout the room. One of them catches her attention and Vera takes it from the top of the shelf with some difficulty: The official portrait of the Buarque de Melo family, with Aline sitting next to her mother in a burgundy dress, her father and brother standing right behind them in a black suit.
— The perfect family – Vera comments to herself, touching Aline's face.
—Yes, we were. – says the voice on the phone behind Vera, who drops the picture frame onto the burgundy carpet. —Or we knew how to fake it very well.
Vera turns around, finding a lady with long, disheveled, gray hair with a brown tone only in the dry ends that fall to the waist of the black dress she wears. His face is composed of wrinkles, deep dark circles and a bitter expression. And even so, it reminds a lot of Aline.
— You must be Vera – concludes the lady looking at the blonde.
— Yes – confirms Vera, extending her hand towards her — And you are...
—Regina Buarque de Melo, Aline's mother – completes Regina, ignoring Vera's hand — Please sit down.
—Thank you – thanks Vera, sitting in front of the woman who is watching her. I am the campaign manager and I would like you to know that the accusation you made surprised me, especially when it comes to Aline, a very important figure for all of us.
—It was not a mere accusation. Aline is a murderer and her image will harm your campaign – explodes Regina. She takes a deep breath, smoothing her hair and continues, —Do you think it's easy for a mother to accuse her own daughter, blood of her blood, of something like that?
—No, I don't think so. – Vera answers, intimidated by Regina's posture — It's just hard to believe...
— And everything gets harder to believe when your own daughter was able to kill her brother – reveals Regina, leaving Vera shocked — I never imagined that something like this could happen in my family... She seemed to like her brother. But... Deep down, deep down, I knew that Aline was... Different.
— Different? – Vera repeats, curious.
— Aline was a surprise in our lives... Eduardo was almost eight years old when she was born. While Eduardo was a boy with exemplary behavior, excellent grades and medals... I was a constant visitor in the school psychologist's room. Aline was quarrelsome, haughty and outspoken. She never behaved as she should have and my husband was very supportive of that wild side of her. I did everything to make Aline a respectable girl. But she ended up growing up without limits... She cut her hair and dyed it every week, those demonic songs, the black clothes, she only hung out with boys and we were always fighting.
But my house became a real battlefield when Eduardo finished medical school. He returned home and his relationship with his sister changed dramatically. One day, they were fighting a lot in Aline's room and I went to intervene... I opened the door and saw Aline and a bag of white powder. At the time I discovered the reason for so much fight: Aline was taking drugs. I searched Aline's room over Aline's protests and found a box of syringes, marijuana, and all kinds of drugs. I questioned her and she tried to deny it, but Aline was an addict.
We admitted Aline several times, even though Eduardo was against him, he always made excuses for his sister's behavior... Always with a good heart... He was the only one who could talk to her. The clinic always released her saying she was clean and ready for society, but I always found her on drugs. We didn't know what else to do... Then Eduardo got married and magically, Aline changed. He decided to focus on his studies, he even seemed like a different person, he said he would follow in his father's footsteps. She even dated my son's work friend Lucas. Everything was going the way it should be... until that night.
Eduardo was on duty along with Lucas and then they got a call from Aline. She was on the other side of town... She had a relapse. Eduardo didn't think twice and went after his sister... They discussed her relapse... She took his car, but he managed to get into the passenger seat. Aline started to run a lot with the car, drugged... Then... She crashed the car into a wall... And that's how my son died. That's how she killed her brother, my treasure.
—But the reports that came out proved that your son was alone in the car – says Vera.
— We manipulated the reports – Regina confesses in tears — We didn't want them to discover this horrible thing and arrest Aline. So we pay for the reports. In the real reports, the two were... She had the injection mark on her left arm, the syringe was under the seat and there were cocaine packets in the vehicle as well. After that, we hospitalized Aline one more time... Only she ran away. My husband couldn't stand so much pain and committed suicide two years later. And I didn't hear from my daughter anymore... Until my ex –daughter–in–law, my son's widow, sent me a picture of her appearing on television happy... As if we didn't exist, as if our pain was nothing . She destroyed our family and now she's out there living like nothing ever happened.
—And do you have these real reports? – Vera asks — Can I take them to show the candidate?
— Of course yes. I saved it all these years... – Regina answers, getting up. She goes to the bookcase and takes a black folder, handing it to Vera — Here they are.
— This story you told me is tragic and know that you have my support – assures Vera, holding the folder.
— I'm doing this so you don't condone this murder – explains Regina. ─ I want Aline to understand that what she did will not be forgotten.
Vera opens the folder and there is all the evidence she needs against Aline. Finally, luck is on your side .