Chapter 5 - THE WOMAN WITH THE GUN
No one moved.
The mansion became so quiet that the soft ticking of the grandfather clock sounded deafening.
Paulina stood near the front doors.
Her right hand held the pistol.
Her left hand shook uncontrollably.
Diego remained in the center of the hall.
He did not look afraid.
That frightened Paulina more than anger would have.
“Put it down.”
His voice was calm.
Paulina laughed nervously.
“You are in no position to give orders.”
“You are pointing a gun toward a three-year-old.”
“I am pointing it toward a doorway.”
“My daughter is behind that doorway.”
“Then open the gates.”
Diego glanced toward Ramón.
Only once.
It was enough.
Ramón slowly moved his good hand toward the security panel hidden behind a column.
Paulina noticed.
“Stop.”
She pointed the pistol at him.
Ramón froze.
“I said open the gates.”
Diego took one step forward.
Paulina swung the weapon back toward him.
“Do not come closer.”
“You are not leaving.”
“My family will tear this place apart before they let you hold me here.”
“Your family is already finished.”
Paulina’s face tightened.
“You think one recording will destroy us?”
“There are dozens.”
“Recorded illegally.”
“Hidden inside a child’s toy.”
“Placed there by someone working for you.”
Paulina’s eyes flickered.
Diego caught it.
“You did not put the device inside the rabbit.”
She said nothing.
“You had someone else do it.”
Paulina raised the gun higher.
“Open the gates.”
Diego looked toward the library.
Valentina was still unconscious.
Marisol sat beside her.
Dr. Salazar continued monitoring her breathing.
Diego could see them through the narrow opening in the door.
Marisol’s eyes met his.
She was terrified.
But she gave him a small shake of her head.
Do not surrender.
Diego turned back toward Paulina.
“Who was the man in the recordings?”
“No one.”
“He drugged Valentina.”
“I said I do not know.”
“He was there when my father died.”
Paulina’s jaw tightened.
“Your father died from heart failure.”
“That is what you paid the doctor to write.”
“You are guessing.”
“No.”
“I am finally seeing the pattern.”
Paulina’s face twisted.
“You always thought you were smarter than everyone.”
“You inherited money.”
“You inherited a name.”
“You inherited men who obey you.”
“But you never understood power.”
Diego took another step.
Paulina pulled the trigger.
The gunshot exploded through the hall.
The bullet struck the marble floor inches from Diego’s shoe.
Servants screamed.
Valentina stirred weakly inside the library.
Marisol shielded her body.
Diego did not flinch.
Paulina stared at the smoking barrel.
Her own face showed shock.
She had not expected herself to fire.
Diego spoke quietly.
“You missed.”
“Next time I won’t.”
“You do not want to shoot me.”
“You do not know what I want.”
“I know you want to survive.”
Paulina’s eyes filled with rage.
“You ruined everything.”
“I ruined nothing.”
“You exposed yourself.”
“You were supposed to marry me.”
“You were supposed to sign the merger.”
“You were supposed to move the company shares into the joint trust.”
Diego stared at her.
“And then what?”
Paulina said nothing.
“And then my father’s death would happen to me?”
Her face changed.
Only slightly.
But enough.
Diego’s stomach turned.
“That was the plan.”
Paulina shook her head.
“No.”
“You were going to kill me.”
“I never said that.”
“You did not have to.”
From the library, Dr. Salazar called out.
“She is waking up.”
Diego instinctively turned his head.
Paulina moved.
She grabbed Teresa by the hair and dragged her forward.
Teresa cried out.
Paulina pressed the pistol against the old woman’s temple.
“Open the gates.”
Diego’s body went rigid.
Teresa’s legs shook.
Paulina tightened her grip.
“You have ten seconds.”
Ramón stared at Diego.
Diego gave a tiny nod.
Ramón entered a code.
The front locks clicked.
Paulina backed toward the door with Teresa in front of her.
“Move away.”
Diego stepped aside.
Paulina opened one door.
Cool morning air rushed inside.
A black SUV was waiting near the fountain.
Its engine was already running.
Diego saw it.
“You arranged an escape before you came downstairs.”
Paulina smiled faintly.
“I always arrange an escape.”
The driver stepped out.
He wore a gray suit.
A scar ran beside his right ear.
Marisol saw him from the library.
Her face went white.
“That is him.”
Diego looked toward her.
Marisol pointed at the man.
“He delivered the letter.”
The driver raised his head.
Arturo Cárdenas.
The man everyone believed had died three years earlier.
Teresa gasped.
“Señor Cárdenas?”
Arturo’s expression did not change.
Diego stared at him.
“My father attended your funeral.”
Arturo opened the rear door of the SUV.
“Your father attended many performances.”
Paulina dragged Teresa outside.
Diego followed slowly.
Ramón moved along the opposite wall.
Arturo noticed him.
“Tell your man to stop.”
Diego raised a hand.
Ramón stopped.
Paulina reached the SUV.
Then Teresa suddenly drove her elbow backward.
It struck Paulina in the ribs.
Paulina gasped.
Teresa dropped to the ground.
Ramón rushed forward.
Arturo pulled a second weapon.
He fired.
The bullet shattered a window beside Ramón.
Diego grabbed Teresa and dragged her behind a stone planter.
Paulina jumped into the SUV.
Arturo climbed behind the wheel.
The vehicle accelerated toward the gates.
Security guards moved to block it.
Arturo did not slow down.
The SUV smashed through the metal barrier.
The front grille folded inward.
The gates tore open.
Then the vehicle disappeared down the private road.
Ramón reached for his radio.
“Close every exit from Las Lomas.”
“Send the license plate to the police.”
Diego turned toward him.
“No.”
Ramón looked confused.
“No police?”
“Not yet.”
“Sir, she fired a gun.”
“She attempted to abduct Teresa.”
“She admitted involvement in your father’s death.”
“I know.”
“Then why wait?”
Diego looked toward the torn gates.
“Because someone inside the police helped Arturo disappear.”
Ramón understood.
If Arturo had been declared dead, he had needed documents.
A body.
A death certificate.
Official cooperation.
Diego looked toward the mansion.
“And we do not know who else inside this house is working for them.”
A servant stepped out carrying Valentina.
Marisol followed.
The child was awake.
Barely.
Her eyes found Diego.
He walked toward her immediately.
Valentina stared at the shattered window.
Then at the blood on Ramón’s sleeve.
“Is the bad lady gone?”
Diego stopped in front of her.
“Yes.”
“Will she come back?”
He wanted to promise she would not.
But he could no longer lie to her.
“I will not let her reach you.”
Valentina studied his face.
Then lifted one small hand.
Diego took it.
Her fingers curled around his thumb.
It was the first time she had touched him willingly.
His eyes filled.
Valentina whispered.
“Papá?”
Diego stopped breathing.
Marisol covered her mouth.
“Yes.”
His voice broke.
“I am here.”
Valentina leaned toward him.
He took her carefully into his arms.
She rested her head against his chest.
For one brief moment, everything else disappeared.
Then Valentina whispered something only Diego could hear.
“The man with the scar came into our room.”
Diego’s body went rigid.
“When?”
“Last night.”
“What did he do?”
Valentina closed her eyes.
“He took Mamá’s red box.”
Marisol stared at her.
“What red box?”
Valentina pointed weakly toward the servant wing.
“The one under the floor.”
Marisol’s face changed.
She set down the blanket in her hands.
“There is no red box under the floor.”
Valentina looked frightened.
“Yes, Mamá.”
May you like
“The man opened it.”
“He said the papers would prove you killed the old man.”
