Chapter 11 - The Betrayal
Beatriz had disappeared.
Her office was empty.
Her house was empty.
Her car was gone.
But we found her passport missing.
Daniel traced her last known location.
A private airport.
She was preparing to leave Mexico.
We arrived too late.
Or so we thought.
A message arrived.
Come to the old factory.
Alone.
I went.
This time, Daniel stayed close.
Inside the factory, I found Beatriz sitting at a table.
She looked exhausted.
“You betrayed me.”
She nodded.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
She began crying.
“Because Mauricio threatened my son.”
I stared.
“He had evidence against him.”
“What evidence?”
“Nothing real. He manufactured it.”
“So you helped him.”
“I thought I was protecting my child.”
“What did you do?”
She gave him access to company accounts.
She helped alter financial records.
She helped hide information about the accident.
But she insisted she never knew Sofía survived.
“When did you learn?”
“Tonight.”
She handed me a folder.
Inside were documents proving Mauricio's fraud.
There was also a recording.
Mauricio speaking.
“I need the girl hidden until the trust transfers.”
Another voice answered.
Beatriz.
“What about Alejandro?”
“He will break himself.”
I closed the folder.
“Where is Mauricio?”
Beatriz shook her head.
“He has another plan.”
“What?”
“He wants Sofía.”
“For the inheritance?”
“No.”
She looked at me.
“He wants her to sign away the trust.”
Sofía was nearly eighteen.
If Mauricio forced her to sign, he could control the money.
I called Daniel.
We moved Sofía to a secure location.
But Mauricio was already ahead of us.
The security cameras went dark.
The doors locked.
Then a message appeared on my phone.
You can't protect her forever.
A second message followed.
Check the nursery.
I froze.
We returned to my house.
The old room was empty.
Except for one thing.
A small wooden giraffe.
Sofía's giraffe.
It had been placed on the bed.
I picked it up.
A hidden compartment opened.
Inside was another note.
I know where you are.
Then the lights went out.
Sofía grabbed my hand.
“Dad?”
I heard footsteps.
Slow.
Heavy.
Coming down the hallway.
I pulled her behind me.
The door handle moved.
Once.
Twice.
Then a man's voice whispered from the other side.
“Open the door, Alejandro.”
May you like
It was Mauricio.
And he wasn't alone.
