Chapter 3
Mateo was Ricardo’s younger brother.
For thirty-eight years, Ricardo had believed he knew everything important about him.
Apparently, he knew nothing.
Detective Alvarez took the DNA report.
“Are you certain this is your brother?”
“Yes.”
“Was he involved with Camila?”
“They were step-siblings.”
Alvarez looked up.
“Explain.”
Ricardo rubbed his forehead.
Helena was their father’s second wife.
Camila was Helena’s daughter from an earlier marriage.
When Helena married Ricardo’s father, Camila was sixteen.
Mateo was seventeen.
They had grown up under the same roof for less than two years.
“They weren’t biologically related,” Ricardo said.
“But they were raised as family?”
“For a short time.”
“And nobody knew they had a relationship?”
“Apparently not.”
Ricardo called Mateo.
No answer.
He called again.
Still nothing.
Then Sofia called.
“Ricardo?”
Something in her voice made him stand.
“What happened?”
“Someone came to the house.”
“Who?”
“I don’t know.”
His blood ran cold.
“Where’s Bia?”
“With me.”
“Lock everything.”
“I already did.”
“Call the police.”
“There’s more.”
“What?”
“The person left an envelope on our porch.”
“Don’t touch it.”
Sofia lowered her voice.
“It has Bia’s name on it.”
Ricardo and Alvarez left the bank immediately.
By the time they reached the house, two patrol officers were already outside.
The envelope was collected.
No fingerprints were visible.
Inside was a single photograph.
Bia at school.
It had been taken from across the street.
On the back were seven words.
THE CHILD DOES NOT BELONG TO RICARDO.
Sofia covered her mouth.
“Who would photograph her?”
Ricardo looked at Alvarez.
“Helena is in custody.”
Alvarez nodded.
“Which means either she had help, or this has nothing to do with her.”
Bia appeared at the top of the staircase.
“Uncle Ricardo?”
Everyone turned.
She held something in her hand.
Ricardo’s heart stopped.
“What is that?”
“A necklace.”
“Where did you get it?”
“It was in Mommy’s doll.”
Ricardo walked slowly toward her.
The necklace had a silver pendant.
A small letter M was engraved on the front.
Mateo.
“Did your mother ever tell you who gave her that?”
Bia shook her head.
“But she told me never to show Grandma Helena.”
Ricardo closed his eyes.
The evidence was growing.
So were the lies.
That afternoon, Mateo finally called.
Ricardo answered immediately.
“Where are you?”
Silence.
“Mateo.”
“I know you found the box.”
Ricardo’s stomach dropped.
“How?”
“Camila told me it existed.”
“Is Bia your daughter?”
Another silence.
Then Mateo whispered, “Yes.”
Ricardo stood motionless.
Sofia stared at him.
“Why didn’t you tell anyone?”
“Because Camila begged me not to.”
“For eight years?”
“You don’t understand.”
“Then explain it!”
Mateo breathed heavily.
“We were together before she married Gabriel.”
“Did Gabriel know?”
“Yes.”
Ricardo nearly dropped the phone.
“What?”
“Gabriel knew Bia wasn’t his biological daughter.”
“And he raised her anyway?”
“He loved Camila.”
Ricardo sat down.
“Why hide you?”
“Because Helena found out.”
Everything suddenly circled back to her.
“What did Helena do?”
Mateo’s voice changed.
“She threatened Camila.”
“With what?”
“She said she would destroy both of us.”
“How?”
“She had photographs. Messages. She told Dad that Camila seduced me.”
Ricardo felt sick.
“You were both teenagers.”
“I know.”
“Where are you now?”
“I can’t tell you.”
“Why?”
“Because someone followed me after the funeral.”
Ricardo looked toward Alvarez.
“Who?”
“I don’t know.”
“Come to the police.”
“I tried.”
“What happened?”
Mateo’s voice dropped.
“My apartment was broken into before I got there.”
Ricardo stood.
“What was taken?”
“Nothing obvious.”
“Then why are you hiding?”
“Because they left something.”
“What?”
Mateo hesitated.
“A copy of Camila’s death certificate.”
May you like
Ricardo’s blood turned cold.
“And underneath her name, someone wrote mine.”
