Chapter 5 - THE ROAD BACK TO MARISSA
Martin’s truck stopped transmitting near the same highway exit where Marissa died.
Police units searched the area.
Alejandro remained at the hospital.
He wanted to join the search, but Sophie woke and asked for him.
Her fever had begun to fall.
The doctors said the antibiotics were working.
Alejandro sat beside her.
“Did Valerie ever mention Martin?”
Sophie nodded.
“He came to the house when you were working.”
“How many times?”
“A lot.”
“What did they do?”
“They talked in the kitchen.”
“Sometimes they went into your office.”
“Did they tell you to keep it secret?”
Sophie looked ashamed.
“Valerie said grown-up business would worry you.”
Alejandro held her hand.
“You never have to keep an adult’s secret from me.”
Sophie’s eyes filled with tears.
“She said you would stop loving me if I made trouble.”
“That was a lie.”
“She said I was not really yours.”
Alejandro leaned closer.
“You are my daughter because I chose you and because you chose me.”
“No one can change that.”
Rosa stood near the window with the tablet.
She had found another hidden folder.
Marissa had recorded several voice notes before her death.
The first described missing insurance money.
The second described Valerie following her.
The third mentioned Martin Wells.
The final recording was made inside Marissa’s car.
Her breathing sounded fast.
“If anything happens to me, Alejandro needs to know Martin changed the beneficiary records.”
“He says Daniel’s policy was small.”
“It was not.”
“Daniel left Sophie a trust worth twelve million dollars.”
Alejandro stared at the tablet.
He had never heard of the trust.
Marissa continued.
“Martin told me the trust disappeared because Daniel’s signature was invalid.”
“I found the original documents.”
“Valerie Lane witnessed them.”
“She knows the money exists.”
The recording ended abruptly.
Rosa looked at Alejandro.
“They were not after your company first.”
“They were after Sophie’s inheritance.”
A call came from Detective Brooks.
Police found Martin’s truck abandoned near the highway.
Blood was visible on the driver’s seat.
The duffel bag was gone.
Footprints led toward an old roadside motel.
Inside one room, officers found Martin’s phone and several accounting drives.
Martin was missing.
A message had been written across the mirror.
May you like
MARISSA SHOULD HAVE STAYED QUIET.
The handwriting appeared to belong to Valerie.
