Chapter 4
Police found Mateo that night.
He was hiding in a roadside motel thirty miles outside the city.
When Ricardo arrived with Detective Alvarez, Mateo looked terrible.
Unshaven.
Exhausted.
Terrified.
Ricardo wanted to punch him.
He also wanted to hug him.
Instead, he asked, “Why did you let Bia believe another man was her father?”
Mateo looked away.
“Because Gabriel was her father.”
“Not biologically.”
“That didn’t matter to him.”
“It matters now.”
“I know.”
Ricardo stepped closer.
“Camila is dead.”
Mateo’s face collapsed.
“I know.”
“And Bia has lost everyone she thought belonged to her.”
“I know.”
“So stop saying that and tell me everything.”
Mateo sat on the edge of the motel bed.
He explained that Camila and Gabriel’s marriage had been real.
Gabriel knew about Mateo.
He knew Bia’s biological identity.
But Gabriel had insisted on raising her as his daughter.
Then Gabriel died.
After that, Helena became more involved in Camila’s life.
Too involved.
“She controlled her money,” Mateo said.
“How?”
“Camila inherited money from her father.”
Ricardo frowned.
“Helena told us Camila’s father left nothing.”
“That was another lie.”
Mateo pulled an old email from his phone.
Camila’s biological father had left her nearly two million dollars in a trust.
Ricardo stared at the number.
“Where is it?”
“Mostly gone.”
“H.S. Consulting?”
Mateo nodded.
“Helena.”
Detective Alvarez leaned forward.
“You know that company belongs to her?”
“Not directly.”
Mateo swallowed.
“It belongs to her boyfriend.”
Ricardo stared.
“Boyfriend?”
“His name is Victor Salazar.”
The name meant nothing to Ricardo.
Alvarez reacted differently.
“You’re certain?”
Mateo nodded.
The detective stood.
“Victor Salazar has prior fraud investigations.”
Ricardo felt another piece move into place.
“So Helena took Camila’s money.”
“Camila discovered the transfers last year.”
“And threatened to expose her?”
“Yes.”
“Then why didn’t she go to police?”
“Bia.”
Ricardo’s fists tightened.
“What about Bia?”
“Helena threatened to reveal the paternity secret publicly.”
Ricardo almost laughed from disbelief.
“That was enough?”
“You don’t know Camila.”
“No, apparently I didn’t.”
Mateo stood.
“She was terrified Bia would lose the memory of Gabriel as her father.”
Ricardo understood that.
He hated that he understood it.
Then Mateo added, “There was something worse.”
Detective Alvarez looked at him.
“What?”
“Gabriel’s accident.”
The room went silent.
Ricardo’s stomach turned.
“What about it?”
“Camila stopped believing it was an accident.”
Ricardo stared.
“Why?”
“Two weeks before he died, Gabriel confronted Helena about missing trust money.”
Alvarez immediately started taking notes.
“What evidence did Camila have?”
“Emails. Maybe recordings.”
“The flash drive,” Ricardo said.
They returned to the police station.
The flash drive from box 317 contained dozens of files.
Bank records.
Screenshots.
Audio.
Then Alvarez opened a folder named GABRIEL.
Inside was a recording dated nine days before Gabriel’s death.
Gabriel’s voice came first.
“You stole from Camila.”
Helena answered.
“You have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“I have the transfers.”
“You should think carefully about what kind of future you want.”
“Is that a threat?”
Helena laughed softly.
“No. It’s advice.”
The recording ended.
Mateo covered his face.
Ricardo stared at the computer.
Then another file appeared.
A photograph of Victor Salazar standing beside Gabriel’s car.
The timestamp showed it had been taken the evening before Gabriel died.
Alvarez stood immediately.
“I need to reopen the accident file.”
Ricardo whispered, “You think Helena killed Gabriel too?”
“I think we don’t make that conclusion until evidence supports it.”
Before anyone could continue, Alvarez’s phone rang.
He answered.
His expression changed.
“What?”
Everyone watched him.
He hung up slowly.
Ricardo stepped forward.
“What happened?”
Alvarez looked at Mateo.
“Helena has been released pending further investigation.”
Mateo went pale.
“How?”
“Her attorney challenged the initial detention.”
Ricardo immediately reached for his phone.
He called Sofia.
No answer.
He called again.
Still nothing.
Then his phone buzzed.
A message from Sofia appeared.
RICARDO, SOMEONE IS INSIDE THE HOUSE.
May you like
And underneath it:
BIA IS MISSING.
