Laws of Attraction

Under Arrest

TW // presented ptsd symptoms

Rizos' relief doesn't last very long.

Not even a full day passes before she's back in police custody. The officers on the scene find a bloody letter opener with Rizos' fingerprints on them. This time, Castillo makes sure he charges her with felony murder, and she's held until a bail hearing can be scheduled.

She is processed through the system once more, and it's not her first time. The last time she was fingerprinted and photographed from every angle, it was the product of her own choices, but she paid her debt to society and became a changed woman. Now, though, as her tattoos are being photographed, she wants to cry. None of this makes sense.

She replays the night in her head as a horrid yellow uniform is thrown her way.

All Rizos had done was cut his face. When she escaped, Valbuena was alive and chasing her through the office, probably trying to finish what he started.

She does cry, then, as the overwhelming events of that night smash through the wall she's built up trying to keep them at bay. What's worse is that as she relives the traumatic experience mentally, she is commanded to strip before two female officers. She faces the wall and is poked and prodded to see if she's carrying any contraband. When they're satisfied that she isn't, she's allowed to dress and is herded along with two other new inmates to the holding cells designated for those still awaiting a preliminary hearing.

Two days pass before her paperwork allows her to see Macarena. When she does, Rizos breaks down again. She's only known Maca for a couple of days, but the blonde's encouraging smile is so comforting.

"I've got good news. Tomorrow morning we'll meet before Judge Altagracia Guerrero. She's tough, but fair and more often than not, she grants bail to keep the prisons from overcrowding."

Rizos nods. "Doesn't matter. I can't afford bail."

"Don't worry about that. Baby steps."

It's the second time Macarena dismisses Rizos' worry over money.

If she's such a good lawyer, then why isn't she worried about getting paid?

"Why are you doing this? What's in it for you? I'm sure you've read my file by now."

"I have, but what does that have to do with anything? Your past is your past. We all deserve a second chance."

There's a reason Maca became a solicitor. She genuinely wants to make a difference. To champion the underdog. And right now, Rizos is as disadvantaged as it gets.

"I'm not sure the judge will see it that way."

Maca gives her a sad smile. "Rizos, I only represent good people. The best. The ones who deserve to know that their story matters just as much as the other guy's."

"Yeah, but in this case, the other guy is dead and my fingerprints are on a letter opener that I cut him with."

"Hey," Maca says, trying to stop her from spiraling, "we worry about the facts at trial. For now, we just focus on getting you out of here so that we can start building our defense."

Rizos nods again and Maca notes that it's a little less hesitant this time. Progress. Hopefully, Rizos is

"Try to get some rest, and I'll see you at nine sharp."

It's easier said than done: resting in this place. Everything is foreign and all Rizos wants is to be in her own bed with her head under the covers, blocking out the entire world. She hasn't had time to deal with what happened to her, let alone come to terms with the fact that her former boss is dead and what that now means for her.