Chapter 11 - THEY TOOK MATEO
Alejandro became terrifyingly calm.
That scared Valeria more than shouting would have.
He called the mansion.
No answer.
Again.
Nothing.
Finally one guard picked up.
His voice was weak.
“They came through the service tunnel.”
“Where is my son?”
“I’m sorry, señor.”
Alejandro closed his eyes.
Valeria grabbed his arm.
“We’ll find him.”
Rafael sent an address.
An abandoned medical clinic outside Monterrey.
Then a message.
Bring the flash drive.
Come alone.
Valeria shook her head.
“It’s a trap.”
Alejandro checked the magazine in his weapon.
“Of course it is.”
“You can’t go alone.”
“He has my son.”
“And if you die, Mateo loses both parents.”
Alejandro looked at her.
“What do you want me to do?”
“Think like a father, not like a boss.”
His jaw tightened.
Again, she had struck the truth.
They contacted a federal prosecutor whose name was inside Lucía’s documents.
For years Alejandro had avoided law enforcement.
Now he handed over the flash drive.
“All of it?”
“All of it.”
“You understand what is on here could implicate you too.”
“Yes.”
Valeria looked at him.
Alejandro didn’t hesitate.
“My son comes first.”
The prosecutor agreed to send a tactical team, but Alejandro insisted on entering the clinic before them.
“He won’t keep Mateo alive if he sees police.”
Valeria said, “Then I’m coming.”
“No.”
“Mateo trusts me.”
“No.”
“He may not come out for you.”
Alejandro hated that she was right.
Twenty minutes later they approached the abandoned clinic.
Inside, fluorescent lights flickered.
Dr. Vega waited in the hallway.
“You should have listened to me,” he said.
Alejandro raised his hands.
“No weapon.”
Vega searched him.
Nothing.
Valeria stepped forward.
“Where is Mateo?”
Vega looked at her.
“You caused a great deal of trouble.”
“I asked questions.”
“That’s usually how trouble begins.”
A child screamed somewhere deeper inside.
Valeria ran.
Vega grabbed her.
Alejandro punched him.
They struggled.
Valeria broke free.
She followed Mateo’s screams to an examination room.
The boy was strapped into a chair.
Rafael stood beside him.
Silver lighter in his hand.
Click.
Click.
Click.
Mateo sobbed.
“Stop!”
Valeria stepped inside.
Rafael smiled.
“The maid.”
She looked at Mateo.
“Hey.”
His eyes found hers.
“Look at me.”
Rafael clicked the lighter.
Mateo flinched.
Valeria moved closer.
“You’re not in that room anymore.”
Click.
“Look at me, Mateo.”
His breathing slowed slightly.
Rafael frowned.
“You think you understand him?”
“No.”
Valeria took another step.
“But I believe him.”
Mateo stopped crying.
Rafael’s face changed.
Valeria looked directly at the boy.
“You told the truth.”
Mateo stared at her.
“Your mommy believed you.”
His lip trembled.
“Your papa believes you.”
Rafael reached for him.
Mateo screamed.
But this time he did something different.
He kicked Rafael’s hand away.
The lighter fell.
Mateo shouted with every bit of strength in his tiny body.
“YOU KILLED MOMMY!”
May you like
Alejandro appeared in the doorway.
And he heard every word.
