Chapter 12 - The Messages
Gabriel’s proof was on his phone.
Esther had told him to prepare the guardianship petition, find someone to reproduce Alejandro’s signature, and bring Daniel to the house after Valeria fell.
Keep him outside until she signs, one message read.
Valeria put down the printed copy.
“Daniel was there to treat me,” she said. “Esther wanted him to say I was well enough to sign.”
Gabriel sat across the table with his attorney. “Yes.”
“And when he refused?”
“Esther threatened to revive the old complaint against him.”
Daniel had already told them about it, but hearing Gabriel confirm it did not make Valeria feel better. He could have stopped Esther. Instead, he had helped her arrange every step.
“You watched me lying at the bottom of the stairs,” Valeria told him.
Gabriel looked at the table. “I did.”
“I want you to remember that when you tell the police you were afraid of her.”
“I will.”
Before he left, Gabriel handed Tessa a folder. It contained a list of Northside patients and their families, along with payments Lucia had marked as missing.
“There’s enough money in the trust to repay them,” he said.
Alejandro opened the folder. “You helped put it there.”
“Yes.”
“You waited fifteen years to bring us this.”
“Yes.”
He offered no excuse.
Valeria rested a hand on her belly. “Those families get paid before anyone decides what belongs to our daughter.”
Alejandro nodded. “Agreed.”
Outside, a reporter stood across the street. Someone had learned about the guardianship hearing and the reopened clinic investigation.
Alejandro helped Valeria into the car. His phone buzzed.
May you like
Marisol had sent a photograph of an old company document.
I found where they took your signature. Esther still has the original page.
