Chapter 5
Ricardo did not remember leaving the police station.
He only remembered Alvarez shouting behind him.
Then the drive.
Then blue lights.
Then his own hands shaking on the steering wheel.
When they reached the house, the front door was open.
Sofia stood outside with two officers.
Her face was covered in tears.
“She was upstairs.”
Ricardo ran to her.
“Where?”
“I checked on her five minutes before.”
“Did you see anyone?”
“No.”
“How did they get in?”
“The kitchen window.”
Alvarez entered with officers.
Ricardo tried to follow.
One officer stopped him.
“Let us clear the house.”
“That’s my niece!”
“We need to make sure the person is gone.”
Ricardo felt helpless.
Mateo arrived minutes later.
The moment he heard Bia was missing, he nearly collapsed.
“This is my fault.”
Ricardo grabbed his shirt.
“No.”
Mateo looked at him.
“This happened because of me.”
“This happened because someone took a child.”
Ricardo released him.
“Do not make this about your guilt.”
Ten minutes later, police found Bia’s doll on the kitchen floor.
The pendant with the letter M was gone.
A handwritten note had been placed beneath the doll.
Ricardo recognized Helena’s handwriting.
STOP DIGGING OR THE GIRL LEARNS EVERYTHING.
Mateo read it.
His face turned white.
“What does that mean?”
Ricardo stared at him.
“You tell me.”
“I told you everything.”
“Did you?”
“Yes.”
“Did Camila ever tell Bia you were her father?”
“No.”
“Did Helena know?”
“Yes.”
“Who else?”
“Gabriel.”
“That’s three people.”
Mateo looked away.
Ricardo noticed.
“Who else?”
Mateo said nothing.
“Mateo.”
Finally, he whispered, “Victor.”
Ricardo’s anger exploded.
“Victor knew?”
“He found out from Helena.”
“So the criminal boyfriend knows Bia is your daughter?”
“Yes.”
Alvarez stepped between them.
“Enough.”
He looked at Mateo.
“When did Victor learn?”
“About three years ago.”
“Did he ever threaten Bia?”
“Not directly.”
“That isn’t what I asked.”
Mateo closed his eyes.
“He told Camila that family secrets are expensive.”
Alvarez’s jaw tightened.
A citywide search began.
Security footage from nearby homes was collected.
One camera showed a dark SUV leaving Ricardo’s street twelve minutes before Sofia discovered Bia missing.
The plate was partially visible.
It belonged to a vehicle registered to Victor’s company.
Police moved quickly.
Two hours later, they found the SUV abandoned behind an industrial warehouse.
No Bia.
No Victor.
But there was blood on the driver’s seat.
Ricardo stared at Alvarez.
“Whose?”
“We don’t know yet.”
Ricardo’s phone rang.
Unknown number.
Everyone froze.
Alvarez motioned for him to answer.
Ricardo pressed speaker.
“Hello?”
Bia’s voice came through.
“Uncle Ricardo?”
His knees weakened.
“Bia!”
“Don’t cry.”
“Where are you?”
“I don’t know.”
“Are you hurt?”
“No.”
A man’s voice interrupted.
“That’s enough.”
Ricardo shouted, “Victor!”
The man laughed.
“You’ve been opening doors that should have stayed closed.”
“Let her go.”
“You want her?”
“Yes.”
“Then bring the flash drive.”
Alvarez shook his head silently.
Ricardo ignored him.
“Where?”
Victor gave an address.
An abandoned farmhouse outside the city.
“No police.”
Ricardo looked at Alvarez.
Victor continued.
“And bring Mateo.”
Mateo went still.
“Why him?”
Victor laughed again.
“Because Helena isn’t the only person who lied about Gabriel.”
The line disconnected.
Ricardo turned toward his brother.
“What is he talking about?”
Mateo’s face changed.
Ricardo stepped closer.
“What did you lie about?”
Mateo whispered, “Gabriel knew more than I told you.”
“About what?”
Mateo looked toward the officers.
Then at Ricardo.
“The night Gabriel died…”
May you like
His voice broke.
“I was in the car with him.”
