Chapter 9 - MATEO VÉLEZ
Everyone dropped.
Glass rained across the floor.
Julian pulled Patricia behind a wall.
Nurses screamed.
Security alarms exploded through the building.
Officer Torres ran toward the window.
“Stay down!”
Another shot hit the frame.
Then silence.
Minutes later, police found an abandoned rifle on a rooftop across the street.
No shooter.
Patricia shook uncontrollably.
Julian looked at her.
“Now you tell me everything.”
She nodded.
Mateo Vélez was forty-two.
Arturo’s older brother.
Unlike Arturo, Mateo stayed out of family photographs.
No social media.
No flashy clothes.
No public business.
He handled collection.
Threats.
People.
“He came to Mom about three years ago,” Patricia said.
“He said Dad’s debt had never been fully settled.”
Julian stared.
“Dad paid them everything.”
“I know.”
“Then why did Mom believe him?”
“Because Mateo had something.”
“What?”
“A recording.”
Julian went still.
“Of what?”
“Mom talking to César before Dad died.”
Mariana’s face changed.
Patricia continued.
“In the recording, Mom said she wanted Dad gone.”
Julian felt sick.
“What?”
“She said she couldn’t live with his gambling anymore.”
“She said César could ‘handle him’ if that’s what it took.”
Julian looked away.
His mother.
His father.
The highway.
The insurance money.
It all connected.
Patricia sobbed.
“Mom said she didn’t mean kill him.”
“She said she was angry.”
“But Mateo threatened to give the recording to police.”
“So she paid him?”
“For years.”
“With my money.”
“Yes.”
Julian closed his eyes.
Every month.
Every transfer.
His money had been paying blackmail tied to his father’s death.
Patricia continued.
“Then Mateo wanted the mansion.”
“He said property values had gone up.”
“He told Mom if she transferred it, everything would end.”
“Why involve Mariana?”
“Because the house was legally yours.”
“Until they forged my signature.”
Patricia nodded.
“Arturo arranged it.”
Mariana asked, “And the life insurance?”
Patricia looked at Julian.
“That was Mateo’s idea.”
Silence.
Julian’s stomach turned.
“He planned to kill me?”
“No.”
“Then why insure me?”
“Because he believed your work was dangerous.”
“And if you had an accident…”
Julian stepped forward.
Patricia flinched.
“Did they create the accident?”
“I don’t know.”
“Patricia.”
“I swear.”
Julian stared into her eyes.
For the first time, he believed she didn’t know.
Then she whispered something worse.
“But Mom thought they might.”
Julian stopped.
“What do you mean?”
“Two months ago, she heard Mateo telling Arturo that accidents happen on construction sites.”
“That’s when she started panicking.”
Mariana said, “Then why didn’t she warn Julian?”
Patricia looked down.
“Because if Julian came home alive, Mateo said he’d release the recording about Dad.”
Julian whispered, “So my mother chose herself.”
Patricia cried.
“Yes.”
A nurse entered.
“Mr. Mendoza?”
Julian turned.
“Your uncle is awake.”
Ernesto was pale but conscious.
Julian sat beside him.
“Tío.”
Ernesto opened his eyes.
“The tape.”
“We have it.”
“No.”
He struggled to speak.
“The rest.”
“What rest?”
“Rafael made two tapes.”
Julian leaned closer.
“Where is the second?”
May you like
Ernesto swallowed.
“Your mother has it.”
