In the evening, Melissa was on the balcony of the penthouse wearing her pink robe, with a cup of hot milk in her hand, listening to the music coming from the living room, "By My Side" by INXS. Just like the lyrics, Melissa wished Josias was on her side. How much she missed him!
"I love you, Josias Rocha." Melissa murmurs before taking a sip.
Meanwhile, as if they were connected by thought, Josias was driving to Lagoon City listening to the same song on the car's tape player.
"I love you, Melissa Campos." He declares smiling.
Josias lets himself be lulled by the enveloping music. He is pleased with the outcome of his visit to Angela. She and the child they are expecting will never enjoy the glory and wealth that Josias has battled to have.
During his moment of relaxation, Josias makes a turn on the BR 101 and comes across an unusual situation.
There were two heavy trucks parallel on the road, one trying to overtake the other. The truck that w
Since the accident was closer to the capital, Angela learned the story in front of the others.She was doing laundry in the living room while listening to the song "Love to Hate You" by Erasure when the music is interrupted by the announcer."We regret the interruption of our programming for urgent news: a Fiat Tempra has been found crashed on the side of the BR 101 highway, on the outskirts of Viana. Firefighters didn't find the occupants, but the driver's license was left behind... and the driver's license belonged to Josias Rocha, the businessman who owns Rocha Constructions."Angela's eyes widen and she interrupts the household chore.What? Josias was in a car accident? And the body was not found?"The road police and the ambulance paramedics have made a round around the thicket in search of the businessman, as they deduced that Josias crawled for help, but nothing so far."Angela begins to think fast. If Josias died before returning to
João Paulo is using Josias's studio to do his homework. The Portuguese teacher has been demanding after realizing that he has an aptitude for Letters."I hope to become a renowned writer or journalist to make up for all the extra work the teacher applies to me." João Paulo grumbles while solving syntax and semantics exercises.To help him concentrate, he put his walkman headphones in his ears. The radio station was playing "You're in Love" by Wilson Phillips.Until the announcer makes the same interruption as earlier this morning, "We regret the interruption of our programming to announce urgent news: a crashed red Fiat Tempra was found on the banks of the BR 101 highway. The fire department did not find the occupants, only the driver's documents. The documents belonged to Josias Rocha, the owner of Rocha Constructions.João Paulo immediately gets up and rushes to the living room, where Melissa was having tea with Dora, Elza, and Vani
Vania returns to Rocha Constructions. Shirley is serving Carmen her afternoon snack."We can't live without your buttery cookies, Shirley." Carmen praises her."Why, it's not that much either, my dear." Shirley can barely contain herself with pride."Tiago told me that it's the company that pays you for all the ingredients." Carmen pours herself some lemongrass tea."Yes, at first I did it at my own expense, but Josias decided to be generous..."The mention of Josias makes Vania turn pale. The two ladies notice her."Vania, what happened?" Carmen asks with her cup in hand."Ladies...I was in the Rocha penthouse when João Paulo informed us that Josias was in an automobile accident.""Oh, but is he okay?" Shirley asks her."We don't know." Vania sits down on the coffee-colored couch, "The paramedics from the ambulance plus the highway police couldn't find Josias... only his driver's license...""Oh my God!" C
Melissa is now awake, still lying in bed, staring at the ceiling without saying anything. Her face expresses no emotion whatsoever, it is as if she is hypnotized. Dora is sitting on the bed next to her, holding her hand."Have faith in God, dear. Everything is going to be all right. Josias will be found and returned home."Melissa does not respond.The door opens and Simeon enters worriedly, "Daughter! I came running as soon as I heard. How are you?"Why does Simeon keep asking absurd questions? Melissa is catatonic in bed and he still asks how she is?Dora realizes the ridiculousness and answers for her, "Our daughter is heartbroken, dear."Simeon takes Dora's hand and pulls his wife close to the dressing table, "Any news?""No, the afternoon news just repeated what they said in the morning.""Tiago said we need to contact the police to identify the car to confirm the documents found," Simeon speaks in a lower tone.Dor
Beto is having a drink at the Crystal Blue bar. Adrian shows up and meets his client by coincidence."Rough day, buddy?" Adrian greets him."Just a drink to strengthen me." Beto replies, "Tough day is being for someone else.""Yeah, everyone I know is talking about the idiot's death," Adrian speaks with a psychotic smile.Kevin frowns and walks away from the bar so Adrian doesn't order any drinks."I didn't know you hated Josias to this extent." Beto finishes swallowing his drink."The guy has been a rock in my shoe for nine years." Adrian begins the litany again, "Since 1982, when he accused my father of being one of the underlings of that loan shark who terrorized Rainbow Garden. Strangely, my father has forgiven him and holds him in high esteem. He prefers him as a son to me.""Gee, I'm sorry." Beto opines. Without knowing the whole story, that is all he can say."Now my father is mourning the imbecile instead of making peac
The next day, Josias wakes up in another room that he has never been in before. So he is even startled and narrows his eyes, scrutinizing the place. The walls were plastered and painted light blue. The window was varnished and the linen curtains were cleaner than a cloud. He tried his body on the sheets and the soft, fragrant blanket.Where was he, on a farm or in a hotel?Josias tried to get up, but he still felt a horrible pain in his hips and back. He had probably broken some bone, and being in a stranger's house is not going to fix that."Hello?" he tries calling out to someone.The door opens and a sweet girl with no vanities enters, ready to attend to him."Good morning, sir. Did you sleep well?""Where am I?" Josias asks anxiously."My name is Katherine." She replies looking down, "My father brought you in to help you recover.""Well, I'm certainly not fully recovered." Josias grumbles, "I am feeling a very strong pain i
Katherine opens the door to Josias's room carefully, for she was balancing a tray in her hands.Josias smiles as he sees lunch coming and leans against the headboard of the bed, being careful not to expose himself."Hey, where are my clothes?" He gives a cheeky grin, "It's not decent for a country girl to stay in a naked man's room."Katherine turns extremely red and almost drops the tray. Josias holds out his hands and saves his lunch."Whoa, watch out! It was just a joke!"Too late. Katherine no longer faces Josias."Our maid is sewing new clothes for you." She explains in a low, chaste tone, "Your previous clothes were dirty and had clotted blood on them.""Kate, I'm sorry, I forgot that you country folk have more decency than us, city folk." Josias looks at the tray and sees lamb loin with beans, sausage, and manioc flour."You don't have to apologize, sir.""Although my wife was just as decent as you," Josias props
Tiago strides into the existing police precinct in Viana where Josias's disappearance is being handled.Upon arriving at the entrance, he asks for information from the policeman who acts as secretary.“Excuse me, I'm Tiago Bento and I was here the other day to speak with—”“With Official Fontes, I know.” He picks up the phone from the desk, “Commander, Mr. Bento is here.”After a few seconds of listening to the answer, the policeman hangs up, “Come in, you already know where his office is.”Yes, Tiago already knew, and he goes there with large strides.When he enters, he finds Commander Fontes along with Ephraim. In the commander's hand, is a transparent bag containing dirty and bloody clothes.“Mr. Bento, glad you arrived.” Commander Fontes speaks in a worrying tone, “This is Ephraim Bezerra, the owner of the Bezerra farm in the remote countryside of Viana.&rdquo