Chapter 6 - The Package María Hid
María led Roberto to the staff wing.
At the back of her closet sat an old metal box.
She unlocked it with trembling hands.
Inside was a padded envelope with Argentine postage.
“I received it ten months ago.”
“Why didn’t you show me?”
“Because there was no letter.”
“Only this.”
She removed a flash drive.
“And a photograph.”
The photograph showed Elena standing outside the mansion three weeks before the crash.
Beside her stood María.
Behind them, barely visible through a window, was Vanessa.
Roberto stared at it.
“She was here.”
María nodded.
“I remember the day now.”
“Why didn’t you recognize her when I introduced Vanessa years later?”
“She looked different.”
“Different hair.”
“Different last name.”
“And I saw her for maybe thirty seconds.”
Roberto’s voice cracked.
“What was she doing here?”
“Elena met with several charity consultants.”
“Vanessa must have been one.”
María plugged in the flash drive.
There was only one file.
An audio recording.
Luis Herrera’s voice sounded older and frightened.
“My name is Luis Herrera.”
“If you’re hearing this, I am probably dead or no longer able to speak.”
Roberto felt the room close around him.
Luis continued.
“Three years ago, I was paid to inspect a Mercedes belonging to Elena Morales.”
“I was ordered to report that the braking system was functioning normally.”
María gripped the edge of the desk.
“In truth, I found deliberate damage to the hydraulic line.”
Roberto stopped breathing.
The crash had not been an accident.
Luis continued.
“I accepted money because I was afraid.”
“The payment came through Alvarez Strategic Consulting.”
“I later met Vanessa Alvarez.”
“She told me to disappear.”
“She said the woman in the car was not supposed to survive long enough to talk.”
Roberto slammed both hands onto the desk.
María flinched.
“I’m sorry.”
“No.”
He stepped back.
“I’m sorry.”
He forced himself to breathe.
The recording continued.
Luis said Elena had discovered millions missing from a charitable foundation affiliated with Roberto’s company.
Vanessa and her older brother Gabriel Alvarez controlled several vendors receiving the money.
Elena planned to expose them.
The day before the crash, she confronted Vanessa.
Then came the part Roberto could barely process.
“I do not know who damaged the brakes.”
“I only know Vanessa paid me to hide it.”
The recording ended.
Roberto stood completely still.
María whispered.
“That means she knew.”
“Yes.”
“Before you married her.”
“Yes.”
“You married the woman who helped cover up Elena’s death.”
Roberto closed his eyes.
He thought of Vanessa comforting him at charity events.
Listening while he spoke about Elena.
Telling him that grief had made him too protective of Sofía.
She had kissed his daughter goodnight.
She had worn Elena’s jewelry after their wedding.
And all along, she knew.
His phone rang.
It was Vanessa.
He answered.
“You found Herrera’s recording.”
It was not a question.
Roberto felt cold.
“How do you know?”
Vanessa laughed softly.
“Because María was never as clever as she thought.”
“Where are you?”
“Somewhere you can’t order me around.”
“You covered up Elena’s murder.”
“Careful.”
“She died in an accident.”
“Not according to Herrera.”
“Herrera was a liar.”
Roberto clenched the phone.
“You’re finished.”
Vanessa’s voice became colder.
“No, Roberto.”
“You’re finally beginning.”
Then she hung up.
Seconds later, every television in the mansion switched on automatically.
A breaking-news banner appeared.
ROBerto Morales Accused of Abusing Blind Daughter’s Trust.
May you like
Vanessa had gone public.
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