Chapter 2 - THE NAME ON THE CARD
Paloma didn't sleep.
At 2:17 in the morning, she sat beneath the yellow motel lamp and stared at the business card.
Gustavo Almeida.
Almeida Development Group.
The same name was printed on the paperwork her husband had hidden inside the envelope.
Her husband, Rafael, had once worked construction.
He had changed jobs constantly.
Some months he came home with cash.
Other months he came home angry.
During Paloma's pregnancy, he had started working for a subcontractor connected to Almeida Development Group.
At least, that was what he had told her.
Paloma picked up Rafael's letter.
There was no apology.
No explanation.
Only instructions.
Sell what you can.
Don't contact my family.
Don't look for me.
Then the final sentence.
Some things are bigger than us.
At the time, Paloma had believed it was cowardice disguised as mystery.
Now she wasn't sure.
A knock came at the door at seven the next morning.
Paloma quickly hid the papers.
"Who is it?"
"Gustavo."
She opened the door halfway.
He was carrying coffee and breakfast.
"How are the babies?"
"Sleeping."
"And you?"
"I'm fine."
Gustavo looked at her.
"No, you're not."
Paloma stiffened.
"I need to ask you something."
"Okay."
"Did you know my husband?"
Gustavo's expression remained neutral.
"What's his name?"
"Rafael Mendes."
The coffee tray shifted slightly in Gustavo's hand.
It was barely noticeable.
But Paloma saw it.
"You know him."
Gustavo walked inside.
"Where did you hear my company's name?"
Paloma pulled out the business card.
Gustavo stared at it.
"Where did you get that?"
"It was with the letter Rafael left me."
Gustavo slowly placed the coffee on the table.
"Paloma, what exactly did your husband tell you before he disappeared?"
"Nothing."
"Think."
"He said he was having problems at work."
"What kind?"
"He wouldn't tell me."
Gustavo's jaw tightened.
"Did anyone come to your home?"
Paloma's eyes narrowed.
"Why?"
"Did they?"
She remembered two men.
They had arrived four days before Rafael disappeared.
They never entered the house.
Rafael spoke to them outside.
That night, he barely touched dinner.
"Two men came."
"When?"
"About three months ago."
"What did they look like?"
"One was tall."
Gustavo leaned forward.
"The other?"
"Older."
"Gray hair?"
Paloma nodded.
Gustavo stood.
"What is happening?"
He walked toward the window.
"Rafael worked on one of my projects."
"You said you didn't know him."
"I didn't personally."
"That's not what I asked."
Gustavo turned around.
"You're right."
Paloma's voice hardened.
"Why did you stop yesterday?"
"Because I saw you."
"Was it really an accident?"
"Yes."
"Then why do you look scared?"
Gustavo didn't answer immediately.
That frightened her more.
Finally, he spoke.
"Three months ago, money disappeared from one of my construction projects."
"How much?"
"Nearly two million dollars."
Paloma stared at him.
"And you think Rafael stole it?"
"No."
"Then what?"
"I think he discovered who did."
The room became completely still.
One of the babies stirred.
Paloma instinctively moved closer to the bed.
Gustavo lowered his voice.
"Rafael contacted my office."
"When?"
"Four days before he disappeared."
Paloma's face drained of color.
"He said he had documents."
"What documents?"
"He wouldn't say over the phone."
"Did you meet him?"
"No."
"Why?"
"Because the message never reached me until later."
Paloma shook her head.
"I don't understand."
"Someone intercepted it."
"Who?"
Gustavo looked directly at her.
"That's what I've been trying to find out."
Paloma felt suddenly cold.
For three months, she had hated Rafael.
She had cursed his name while feeding four babies alone.
She had believed he had simply abandoned them.
"What if he didn't leave us?"
Gustavo didn't answer.
Then his phone rang.
He looked at the screen.
His expression changed.
He answered.
"Yes?"
A man's voice spoke rapidly.
Gustavo turned toward the window.
"When?"
Another pause.
"Are you certain?"
Paloma watched him.
Gustavo ended the call.
"What happened?"
He looked at her.
"My security director just found something."
"What?"
"Rafael's employee file."
Paloma waited.
May you like
Gustavo's next words made her grip the edge of the bed.
"Someone deleted it yesterday."
