MAX'S JUDGEMENT DAY ROUND THE CORNER...

Max called Pam again, telling her to indicate if someone was with her, yes or no. Pam said he had the wrong number and hung up again. Andres and Pablo arrive; Andres and Tonio exchange joyful, brotherly hugs- Pablo received one, too. They sat down and immediately exchanged information. Andres assured him Raquel had been loyal and faithful and missed him very much when Tonio voiced his anger at Raquel for allowing Evil Max to live at the mansion and handle the company. Tonio just wanted to know who was on his side and who wasn't. He also told Andres what Maura had said about his wife, but of course hadn’t believed a word.

(I think?) 

Andres told him Gabriel had told Raquel Max was Robert Aguirre.  Tonio listened as Andres also revealed how Raquel was rushed to the hospital after confronting Max. Then her hysteria and insistence the police to be called until Oscar gave her a sedative. 

The phone rang and Pam picked it up. It was Raquel, demanding to know what the hell was going on. Meche was with her, sobbing. Andres urged him to talk to Raquel but Tonio shook his head; their reunion wasn’t going to be over the phone. (I should THINK not)

Pablo took the receiver; Raquel informed him that Meche had changed her story; Max was Roberto Aguirre and had kidnapped Gabriel, and she was certain Luis Trejo- his henchman- was involved in the abduction.  

Martha listened to the conversation before slipping away. Pablo promised to see to it. Raquel hung up and consoled Meche. Andres told Tonio about Gabriel and what Meche told Raquel. The men now knew both Gato and Max had used the name. Tonio vowed to make Max and his friends pay for trying to kill him... they will pay!

Evil Max informed Rod that Pablo and Andres had been acting strangely lately. Rod mentioned Maura; she, too, had been acting strangely, taking off on a trip all of a sudden. He suspected that Gato had wanted to give Raquel some info and probably went to someone else since Raquel was unavailable when he called. Max mumbled he would be finished if it turned out Tonio was alive.

 Oh...yes Evil Max. 

Martha went to speak to Luis again and, after some clever manoeuvring,  got the info she needed: Max was behind Tonio’s murder.  She suddenly fled from the flat, Luis chasing her. Gabriel heard her voice and banged on the door. Martha stopped when she heard Gabriel’s yelling her name and alas, despite a struggle, Luis dragged her back into the flat.

THE LION'S BACK IN TOWN!!!

A few days later, Raquel came home, still weak and supported by Camilla's hand on her shoulder; Daniel carrying her vanity case. Vicky warmly welcomed her back and she and Daniel helped her up the stairs. According to Oscar, Minerva will be home in 2 weeks as she was getting stronger in the incubator. Max sarcastically comments on how Camilla was all chummy with her sister-in-law. Camilla’s cold reply, she now liked Raquelas much as she now hated him. Max asks her if it was because of Raquel’s wild stories. Camilla said it was because of all his atrocities, calling him a coward and a murderer before storming out. Max realises Camilla is no longer his ally.  

Claudio is very fortunate; in Guadalajara, the judge had just returned from a long vacation! Claudio gets down to business.

Back in Acapulco, Pamela is startled at the sudden loud pounding on the door and goes to answer it, gasping at the bearded, sweaty stranger. It was Tonio! She lets him in after he identifies himself, telling him Pablo isn’t home when he asks for him. 

Claudio tells the judge he needs him to conduct a false wedding as he’d done before. The judge was offended at the insinuation until Claudio told him it was to take place in Acapulco and assured him the reward was very huge. The judge agreed to do it!

At the mansion, Andres and Pablo go up to Raquel’s room to see her and inform her of the recent developments, including Claudio’s trip but not the phone call, not wanting to raise her hopes. Andres advised them not to call the police, at least until Claudio got back with enough evidence- the judge. Raquel is worried about Gabriel, who is still missing, but alas, they have no proof that Max was holding him. When Raquel suggests she go to the police and tell them everything about Max,  Andres refuses. He reminds her Tonio didn't report Max in the first place, to protect her. If she went to the station now, she might end up detained there. Tonio will not forgive him and Pablo when he gets back, for letting her so much as set foot in a jail cell. 

Raquel sat up, frowning and was like, hold up... they speak as if Tonio is alive. 

Washed and shaved, his arm redressed, and in a borrowed robe, Tonio and Pamela waited for Pablo to get home; Pam served him coffee, offering to call a doctor since he still seemed to be in pain, but Tonio refused.  He asked for news about Raquel, and Pamela told him Raquel had given birth via caesarean, but the baby girl was in the incubator for now.

Tonio is overjoyed to hear he is now a father. ‘A  girl?’ he asked, stunned but very happy. 

(To tell the truth, I was very surprised at his reaction, I thought he was the typical rich guy who preferred sons).

 He was also pleased to hear that Andres was still around but NOT pleased that Max was living at the mansion, under the same roof with his precious Raquel and handling the business! He asked Pam to call the house, he had to speak with Pablo. Ramón answered the phone, Max nearby. Pam asked to speak with her brother. Pablo was still upstairs with Raquel and Andres, so Ramón dialled Raquel’s extension. Max asked who was calling but Ramón ignored him. He told his mistress that someone wanted to talk to Pablo. Pablo picked the other receiver when Raquel told him to. Max wanted to listen in but Ramón violently turned off the extension- it was none of his business who was calling Pablo! Max glared at him.

Pablo asked Pamela what was wrong and she handed the phone to Tonio. Tonio identified himself, warning him not to react if Raquel was nearby and to come over immediately with no one except Andres. Pablo managed to control himself- somehow-  and hung up. Pablo told Raquel it was Claudio, he had some news but needed to talk to him in private. Raquel was puzzled- why private? Pablo assured her all would be explained to her in time and dragged Andres out of the room, whispering that Tonio was waiting for him at his apartment! They hurried out; Max and Ramón watching them. After Ramón went back to the kitchen, Max phoned Pam to find out if she’d be the one to call Pablo, and why. But Pam,  wiser now,  hung up on him. 

Raquel slowly came down the stairs and confronted Max again; he had killed her husband, Gabriel probably too. He couldn’t insult her intelligence, she also knew why he wanted her locked up in a mental home- to get everything! She should never have given in to his foolish mother’s emotions but she was rectifying THAT mistake. She was calling a meeting of the board of directors very soon- she was bouncing him out of the company and hiring someone else to represent her. And she wanted him out of her house. Max warned her she could go to jail for Tonio’s murder if he decided to accuse her. Raquel, however, gave him a nasty smile;  and dared him to.   She walked away, leaving Max burning with fury.

Raquel is puzzled when Ramón tells her Pablo’s sister, Pam, has called to speak with Pablo, not Claudio. What were they playing at?

MORE PIECES OF THE PUZZLE

Andres and Claudio listened in amazement; Pam was almost sure it was Tonio’s voice but he’d hung up all of a sudden. Ramón then told them about the conversation he’d heard between Max and Luis about Gato; Pablo had already pierced together the pieces- Gato was Rod’s employee, suspected of being the one who’d been making the crank calls to Mrs. Raquel. Ramón also told them about the jewellery Raquel had found in Martha’s room; jewellery given to her by Luis.
Which obviously meant Luis was a paid accomplice to be able to afford such gifts. Ramón finally mentioned how Max grabbed the phone that morning when it rang and had looked shocked at whoever was on the other line; he had asked, ‘is this Gato?’

It was finally clear; Max, Rod and Luis were accomplices in Tonio’s disappearance; it also proved beyond reasonable doubt that Raquel’s earlier accusation about Max pretending to be Tonio in Guadalajara was true- and Max’s second attempt on Tonio’s life. Ramón tentatively asked, did it mean that Tonio and Raquel weren’t married? Andres firmly set him straight- Raquel WAS Tonio’s wife, and as her husband’s best friend, he was going to do all he could to help her. Claudio finally told him the secret he’d been keeping out of fear; Rod’s proposal to him and how he’d planned on framing Raquel.

Andres is furious with him but Claudio insisted he would never have done it and asked what he could do to put things right.

Vicky of course cannot believe Raquel’s accusations so Raquel desperately turned to Camilla; begging her to believe her. Andrea, Claudio and Pablo convey at Pablo’s flat and Pam told them again about the phone conversation. Maura kept giving sleeping drugs to render him too weak to escape. Daniel entered the room as Vicky, Oscar and Max discusses Raquel’s admission into a mental hospital and he’s outraged. His daughter was not crazy! Vicky assured him it was to help Raquel but he angrily brushed her excuse off, he guessed it was Max’s doing. Max tried talking to him but for once the old man refused to fall for it. At the bungalow, Meche cried over Gabriel, afraid for her brother. Daniel realised they were both tied to a corner; Raquel and Gabriel were in danger. Camilla told Claudio about what Gabriel had told Raquel.

Oscar’s son and Raquel’s friend, Humberto is against the idea of Raquel placed in a mental hospital, he knew she wasn’t crazy and argued with Oscar about it, it was absurd! Oscar said it was for her own good and she’s upsetting Vicky with her accusations and he wasn't going to let Raquel continue. Humberto leaves in disgust, seeing how Oscar was far more focused on Victoria's feelings. 

Daniel cautions Raquel to play for time, warning her that Evil Max could have her put in an asylum if she opens her mouth. Humberto enters and assures Raquel he's on her side; but it was best she let the matter rest, at least until she's discharged. He  promised her once she's strong enough to go to the police to give her statement, he’ll go with her. She thanks him.

Claudio s given the task of going to Guadalajara and see if the judge that Max paid to conduct the false wedding was back and lure him to Acapulco to confront Max once and for all. Claudio willingly agreed as it was a chance to redeem himself and help his sister-in-law. He tells Camilla but warns her to be careful of what she says around Max.