Chapter 6 - WHAT ADRIAN WANTED
Adrian had left Roberto’s company eighteen months earlier. The missing money had been recovered, but Roberto had never been able to prove Adrian took it. He had cut all ties and thought the matter was over.
Now Adrian’s name was on papers concerning Sofía’s trust.
Claire called the administrator and canceled the morning appointment. Then she sent copies of the documents to a forensic examiner.
“Do you think Vanessa married me for this?” Roberto asked.
“I don’t know,” Claire said. “We have enough to investigate. Don’t give her a chance to destroy anything.”
Upstairs, Vanessa had stopped answering her phone. Daniel remained outside the guest suite while another guard checked the grounds.
At one in the morning, Sofía woke crying.
Roberto reached her room before María did. Sofía sat upright, her hands moving across the blanket.
“Dad?”
“I’m here.”
“I heard a car.”
“There were people outside. Daniel is taking care of it.”
“Is Vanessa still here?”
“For tonight. She can’t come into your room.”
Sofía nodded, but she didn’t lie down.
“Can María sleep here?” she asked.
“Of course.”
María brought a chair beside the bed. Roberto stayed until Sofía’s breathing slowed.
In the morning, a detective named Harris came to the house. She spoke to Roberto, then María, then Sofía with a child specialist present. Roberto sat nearby because Sofía asked him to.
Sofía told them about the moved furniture, the threats, and the glass.
“She said María would lose her job if I made trouble,” Sofía said. “I didn’t want that.”
“You did the right thing by telling us,” Harris replied.
After the interview, Roberto went to the guest suite. Vanessa had finally opened the door. A suitcase stood beside her.
“I’m leaving,” she said. “My attorney will contact Claire.”
Detective Harris stepped into view behind Roberto. “Mrs. Alvarez, I’d like to ask about these documents first.”
Vanessa looked from the detective to the folder in her hand.
“I know nothing about them.”
Harris turned one page. “The trust administrator has a recording of your call.”
Vanessa’s face drained of color.
Then her phone rang. She glanced at the screen, silenced it, and slid it into her pocket.
May you like
Roberto had seen the name before she hid it.
Adrian.
