Chapter 4 - RAFAEL'S WARNING
The man refused to identify himself.
Police arrived twenty minutes later.
Paloma stood behind Gustavo while an officer opened the envelope.
Inside was a photograph.
Rafael.
Alive.
Paloma gasped.
The photograph had been taken recently.
Rafael looked thinner.
His beard was longer.
But it was him.
On the back, someone had written:
Stop looking.
Paloma grabbed Gustavo's arm.
"He's alive."
"We don't know when this was taken."
"He's alive."
Her voice broke.
For the first time in three months, hope became more painful than grief.
Police questioned the messenger.
Eventually, he admitted someone had paid him two hundred dollars to deliver the envelope.
He didn't know who.
The instructions had arrived anonymously.
But Daniel found something useful.
A gas station camera had captured the messenger meeting another man.
The image was blurry.
Gustavo recognized him anyway.
"Victor."
Paloma looked at him.
"Who?"
"My chief financial officer."
Daniel stared at Gustavo.
"Victor Salazar?"
Gustavo nodded.
Victor had worked beside him for eleven years.
He attended company Christmas parties.
He knew Gustavo's family.
He had access to nearly every major financial account.
Paloma understood immediately.
"You trusted him."
"Completely."
"Then he knew Rafael tried to contact you."
Gustavo's face hardened.
"Yes."
The next morning, Gustavo walked into Almeida Development Group as though nothing had happened.
Victor was already waiting.
"You're late."
"Long night."
Victor smiled.
"Anything interesting?"
Gustavo removed his coat.
"Not particularly."
For three hours, Gustavo sat across from the man he now suspected had destroyed Rafael's life.
He said nothing.
He watched.
Victor was calm.
Too calm.
At lunch, Gustavo deliberately mentioned Rafael.
"You remember an employee named Rafael Mendes?"
Victor paused for half a second.
"No."
"Inventory supervisor."
"We employ hundreds of people."
"His file disappeared."
Victor shrugged.
"Computer error?"
"Maybe."
Gustavo smiled.
"Daniel's looking into it."
For the first time, Victor's expression tightened.
That was enough.
Meanwhile, Paloma remained at the guesthouse.
She spent the afternoon holding the photograph.
She wanted to forgive Rafael.
Then she remembered the hunger.
The nights sleeping in a church basement.
The day she had mixed formula thinner than recommended because there wasn't enough.
Love and anger fought inside her.
If Rafael was alive, why hadn't he come back?
That evening, Gustavo returned.
"I think Victor knows something."
"Then call the police."
"We need proof."
"While you collect proof, my husband could disappear again."
"I know."
"No, Gustavo."
Paloma stepped closer.
"You don't know."
"You went home every night."
"I didn't have a home."
"You ate dinner."
"I counted bottles."
"You slept."
"I listened to four babies cry because I couldn't give them what they needed."
Her voice softened.
"I need answers."
Gustavo nodded.
"You deserve them."
Before either could speak again, Paloma's phone rang.
It was a new phone Gustavo had bought her.
Unknown number.
She answered.
"Hello?"
Silence.
Then breathing.
"Who is this?"
A man's voice whispered.
"Paloma."
Her knees nearly collapsed.
She knew that voice.
"Rafael?"
Gustavo froze.
Paloma gripped the phone with both hands.
"Rafael, where are you?"
"I'm sorry."
"Where are you?"
"Listen to me."
She started crying.
"You left us."
"I know."
"Four babies, Rafael."
"I know."
"I had nothing."
His breathing became uneven.
"I thought they'd leave you alone if I disappeared."
"Who?"
"Victor."
Gustavo moved closer.
Rafael continued.
"He knows Gustavo found you."
"Where are you?"
"I can't tell you."
"Come home."
"I can't."
"Why?"
Silence.
Then Rafael whispered something that changed everything.
"Because Victor isn't working alone."
The call disconnected.
Paloma stared at Gustavo.
"What did he mean?"
Gustavo already knew the answer was going to hurt.
May you like
Someone else inside his company was involved.
And whoever it was had known exactly where to find Paloma.
