Chapter 16 - Sofía’s Song
Roberto did not tell Sofía she was responsible for finding evidence.
She had carried enough adult burdens.
Instead, he asked about memories of Elena.
“What did Mommy do when she was worried?”
Sofía smiled.
“She played piano.”
“What songs?”
“The moon song.”
Roberto frowned.
“What moon song?”
Sofía hummed a melody.
María stopped walking.
“I remember that.”
“Elena played it constantly before the crash.”
Roberto sat at the piano.
He searched the sheet music.
Nothing matched.
“It wasn’t a real song.”
Sofía said.
“Mommy made it.”
Roberto looked closer at the piano.
Elena had commissioned the instrument.
He had never examined it beyond the obvious compartments.
Mateo scanned the frame.
Inside a hollow section beneath the keyboard, they found a memory card taped behind a wooden panel.
Elena had hidden it where only someone who remembered the song might think to look.
The card contained everything.
Bank records.
Vendor contracts.
Emails.
Audio notes.
And a video addressed to Roberto.
He played it alone first.
Elena appeared on the screen sitting in the same study where he now watched.
“If you are seeing this, I was right to be afraid.”
Roberto covered his mouth.
Elena continued.
“Do not blame yourself.”
“You will want to.”
“You always think protecting people means controlling every possible danger.”
“But you cannot protect anyone from something you do not know exists.”
Roberto cried silently.
Then Elena smiled.
“Sofía will need you.”
“Not your money.”
“Not more doctors.”
“You.”
The sentence broke him.
He had spent three years doing exactly what Elena warned against.
He outsourced love.
Tutors.
Therapists.
Security.
Staff.
He provided everything except enough of himself.
Elena continued.
“And if María is still there, trust her.”
“She made a mistake.”
“But she told me the truth.”
Roberto froze.
Elena had known María repaid the stolen six thousand dollars.
She had already forgiven her.
Vanessa had blackmailed María with something Elena herself no longer held against her.
The video ended with Elena touching the camera.
“Tell Sofía I love her.”
“And tell her blindness will never make her less capable of seeing people clearly.”
Roberto replayed that sentence.
Then brought Sofía into the room.
He did not show her the entire video.
Only Elena’s final message.
Sofía listened.
Her face crumpled.
“Again.”
Roberto played it again.
“And again.”
He played it five times.
Eventually Sofía smiled through tears.
“Mommy knew.”
“Knew what?”
“That I see people.”
Roberto pulled her into his arms.
“Yes.”
“She did.”
The memory card gave prosecutors overwhelming evidence against Gabriel, Vanessa, Martin and Anthony for the financial crimes.
It also tied Gabriel directly to payments surrounding the crash.
The conspiracy that had survived three years was collapsing.
Then the prosecutor called.
“Roberto.”
“We need to prepare Sofía.”
His stomach tightened.
“For what?”
“Vanessa’s defense is challenging the child-endangerment charges.”
“They plan to claim Sofía’s memories are unreliable because of trauma.”
Roberto’s jaw hardened.
“She is not going into a courtroom for them.”
“She may not have to.”
The prosecutor paused.
“But the defense has requested the forensic interview.”
Vanessa was going to attack the credibility of a blind seven-year-old.
May you like
Roberto finally understood the kind of battle still ahead.
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