Chapter 11 - The Last Missing Document

Mercedes stared at the empty safe.

Only four people knew the combination.

Herself.

Diego.

His father.

And Mateo.

Mateo was already in custody.

Or he was supposed to be.

Diego called the police station.

Mateo Vargas had escaped during transport.

The vehicle had been struck at an intersection.

Two officers were injured.

Mateo disappeared.

Diego immediately understood.

Rafael had been the architect.

Paulina had been the beneficiary.

But Mateo was still cleaning up the mess.

The original trust could destroy everything they had built.

Mercedes looked at Diego.

“There is another copy.”

“Where?”

“Your father kept a private ledger.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because I hoped you would never need it.”

Diego laughed bitterly.

“Secrets again.”

Mercedes lowered her eyes.

“Yes.”

“For once, Mother, tell me everything.”

She did.

Diego’s father had discovered Rafael’s scheme shortly before his death.

He had learned the twins survived.

He had secretly begun searching for them.

But before he could tell Diego, he suffered a fatal heart attack.

Mercedes had always believed it was natural.

Now she was no longer certain.

“Where’s the ledger?”

“At the old family chapel.”

They arrived before noon.

The chapel had not been used in years.

Behind the altar was a small compartment.

Inside rested a leather book.

Diego opened it.

There were dates.

Payments.

Names.

Rafael.

Paulina.

Mateo.

Hospital administrators.

Lawyers.

Private investigators.

Then Diego found the final page.

A payment made three days before his father died.

Recipient: M.V.

Purpose: medication substitution.

Diego stared at the initials.

Mateo Vargas.

His father had not died naturally.

He had been murdered.

A noise came from behind the altar.

Diego turned.

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Mateo stood in the doorway.

And this time, he was not running.