"How'd you get out so fast?"

We followed Jamal, underwear, shoeless, money bag, Jamal.

"A magician doesn't reveal his secrets, especially to traitors!"

"We're sorry Jamal." I told him.

"Yeah, clearly not sorry enough. And clearly, you haven't learned about abandonment, because you didn't watch my back or my sneaks." He turns around and points at me. "You had one job!"

"Technically two." Cesar corrected him.

"Okay, im looking for results, not excuses."

"Yeah yeah yeah. Lets see it." Monse grabs the bag from Jamal.

"No, you dont get to see my money!" He grabs the bag back.

"You mean our money?" Monse snatches it back.

"Im the one who found it." Then it was just a pattern of snatching bags.

"And you lost it."

"And we helped you find it again."

"Its not your money. Give it back!" Jamal yelled at them.

"Fine. Then give me back my hoodie." Jamal tales it off and revealing his underwear. Monse, for the love of god, please let him have it. "Hmm too bad. I want to see it."

"No!" Jamal and Monse started fighting over the bag. Cesar helped Monse and I helped Jamal.

"Let go! Give it back!" There was the sound of sirens. We stopped and looked. Ah shit. We got in the car and they took us to the station. Cesar called Ruby not to come. Hammel called Cesar. I cant even believe im here right now. If Willy comes, im so dead. Hammel called Monse. It was just me and Jamal.

"Valeria!" Hammel told me to walk to the desk. "Sister of Wilfredo Zapata, a Santos gang member, charged with murder and-"

"Yeah, thats me." I stood behind Cesar.

"Whats going on?" My eyes widen.

"I plead the 5th, and dont try to deport me, i was born here." I shook my head, crossing my arms.

"Fine! Jamal, get over here." We are gathered around his desk.

"I plead the fifth, the eighth and the black." Jamal told him.

"The black?"

"Yeah. Everybody knows you guys have a quota. And im-im more than a number, a stat, a notch on your belt! Make sure youre getting all this, okay?" Jamal turns to Monse, who was recording the whole thing. Hammel stand up and leaves. "You know, snitches dont get riches."

"You should've shown us the money." We heard a cough. We slowly turned and saw Jasmine. How in the hell?

"My my my! What do we have here?" She sings.

"What are you doing here?" I asked her.

"Girl, stop playing. Like you dont know." We really didnt know why she was here.

"The explorer program. Im third gen." We didnt know what that was. "Law enforcement is in my blood, along with glitter and dreams." Yeah, that is true. "So let me guess, yall want a recommendation to join right?"

"Yeah, you got us." Monse lied.

"Am I detective material or what?"

"Can I ask you a question?" Monse asked Jasmine.

"Evidence. Apply to work in evidence. Good shit goes missing..." she winks. But wouldn't that be a crime? What if they really need it? "All the time."

"So... is officer Hammel a good cop or a bad cop?"

"Hes a sad cop. With a temper." Well, i can see it.

"A sad cop?"

"I cant get into it. I dont wanna betray the shield." Okay miss agent. She looks away. "Off the record, homeboy was stepping out on his girl Ellen in evidence, with miss he put a ring on it Eileen." She spilled.

"So he's cheating on his wife?"

"No, he was cheating on his new ex girlfriend with his old ex wife. Jamal, you gotta keep ip if you want to be an explorer. Anyways, its all good because Ellen is mah gurl. And the last thing she needs is more drama from Senor mad mustache." She quickly gets up. "Which is exactly why being an explorer should not be taken lightly! Because every time I wear this badge, I represent a legacy of fine men and women, like officer Hammel here." Okay girl, i see you. "They're all yours." Jasmine walks away. Hammel sits down.

"Okay. My patience is wearing thin. So i need to know right now whats in the goddamn bag!" He grabs the bag. We all jumped.

"Okay okay okay." Jamal calms him down. "Ill tell you." I shook my head. "Its $200,000. Its the Rollerworld loot. I found it. No one thought I could, but I did. Now Im here, wish i wasn't." Jamal told Hammel. We snapped at Hammel.

"Kid... if you keep BSing me, i will make that quota. Im trying to do you a favor. Now whats in the bag?"

"Officer, whats with all the hostility? You look like you're about to pop a vein." I told him. He looks at us. Is he gonna cry?

"I do?" I nodded.

"Shit!" He swore. "Give me a minute." We gave him a minute. "Im working through some issues."

"Hell, this is getting good." Jamal said as he ate some snacks.

"We get it. You have a hard job to do. But honestly, you don't need to give yourself a heart attack. For the sake of your family, please, dont take that anger home." I continued.

"Thats what Ellen says... when shes not riding me about something."

"I know the feeling." Cesar said as he looks at Monse.

"Maybe shes riding you because she cares about you." Monse said but looking at Cesar. Now these two, great! "And maybe you should appreciate her concern."

"I do. I do appreciate it i just feel-"

"Smothered?" Cesar, Monse! Really?!

"Totally. She wants me to move in, but not ready. And thats why I snapped at her. I don't know." Hammel started to open and close the bag. We followed the zipper, left and right. "All im trying to do is figure my shit out."

"Maybe if you let her in a bit more, she'd let you do that." Monse continues.

"Thats what my ex wife said." Okay man, what? Im so lost now.

"Ellen." Jamal comes in.

"No, Eileen. Still, theres something thats...holding back." He opens the bag. Our eyes widen. Oh no. He stops and stares.

"What? What is it?"

"Money." Hammel said.

"Are you gonna keep it?"

"I wish. But it's California and she gets half." Jamal sighs from relief. Okay but that sucks. "My divorce cost me a fortune...which is why im scared to totally commit. I dont want it to happen again. How could I miss what was right in front of me?" He slams his hands on the bag. We all jumped.

"Just, uh, hey, listen." Cesar grabs his shoulders. "Remember last year when you helped me out with my shit? Let me help you out this time. You need to go to her. Now."

"Now?"

"If not now, when?" Monse tells him. "If not you, who? Dont walk, run! Show her you're the man she knows you can be!" Hammel nods and runs off. We hid the bag on our sides and walked out of the station. We ran a few blocks away from the station. It was already night, my phone was blowing up like crazy, 51 messages from Willy. I sighed. What am I going to do?

"Okay. Ive had adequate time to calm down, done some reflecting, meditated my BP down to 110 over 77." Jamal turns back to us. "So you can see it now."

"Your money?"

"Our money." The three of us smirked. "Look, who am i kidding? This is a whole lot of money and a whole lot of responsibility. I need fo figure out what to do with it, and I need your help. So what do you say?"

"We got you J." I smiled.

"Can we see it?" Jamal gives in and showed us. Our faces were at awe. Wow, so much money! I cant believe it. We all laughed.

"Okay. Im going to be late for dinner. Catch you guys later?"

"Yeah." We said. We said out goodbyes. I walked home and snuck in. I quietly tip toe to my room, but the lamp in the living room turned on. Oh no.

"Where have you been? I called Ruby, no answer, Spooky, nothing, Cesar, nothing. I had to drive around and nothing!"

"Im okay." I rolled my eyes. I walked pasted him. He grabbed my arm. "Let me go!"

"What the hell is going on with you!?"

"Nothing! This is me!" Willy shakes his head.

"Not its not."

"Why wont you stop treating me like a child!" I yelled at him. I got him to let me go.

"Because you're still one!"

"No! The day I stopped was when dad died! Let me live!" I stomped to my room.

"It's dangerous! Latrelle is still out there and can hurt you! Im trying to protect you!" I slammed my door in his face. I locked it. "Valeria!"

"Protect me?!" I faked a laugh. "How are going to protect me? You're a Santo, you always bring trouble no matter what!"

"Unlock this door now!" The knob jiggle violently.

"You're not dad! Just stop acting like him! You'll never be him!" I cried. I couldn't believe I said that. Everything went silent. I waited a couple minutes for us to calm down. I came out of my room and went outside. Willy was having a smoke. I sat next to him. We didnt say a word. "I didnt mean that." I sighed. "I just dont know what's happening to me. Im sorry." He flicks his cigarette out. "With everything happening, Ruby, Cesar, Im just trying to-"

"Make them feel better." He finished.

"Yeah. And everyday, i put on this fake smile. And i feel like im losing myself. That day, I thought i was gonna lose Ruby. Everyday, i can see the blood on my hands, I can hear Olivias screams, the gunshot. I just want to be happy again." A tear slid down my cheek. "And now, Celia is back, you putting me on a leash, its making me choke."

"You're focused on other peoples happiness, while you lose yourself." Willy looks at me. "Why didnt you say anything?"

"I just dont want you guys to worry." I referred to him, Jacky, and the crew.

"Its my job to take care of you." He gives me a hug. "Its okay not to be okay. It'll take some time to find yourself again."

"Whenever im with Ruby, i feel me again."

"Hes your rock." I sniffed. "Ill give you the space you need. Just, just keep me updated where youre at. Please dont ever lie to me again. I cant lose you."

"You wont."