Chapter 6 - The Accident Seven Years Ago
Alejandro had been thirty-one when his father died.
The official story was simple.
Ricardo Aranda left a late business dinner outside Querétaro.
His SUV lost control on a wet curve.
The vehicle struck a concrete barrier.
Ricardo died before paramedics arrived.
The family mourned publicly.
Privately, Esther took control.
Alejandro buried himself in work.
Marcela began assisting their mother with family investments.
Nobody questioned the accident.
Until now.
Tomás sat across from Alejandro in the hospital lounge.
“My father never believed Ricardo’s death was accidental.”
“Why didn’t he tell me?”
“He tried.”
Alejandro stared at him.
“When?”
“After the funeral.”
Tomás explained.
Ignacio Beltrán had called the Aranda office three times.
Each time, he was told Alejandro was unavailable.
Then he received a warning from a family attorney.
Stop contacting the Arandas.
Two weeks later, Ignacio’s private clinic was audited.
A month after that, his largest corporate contract disappeared.
He understood the message.
He stayed quiet.
Until his death.
Tomás pulled an old envelope from his medical bag.
“My father left this.”
Inside was a handwritten note.
R.A. believes E. and M. are moving stolen pieces through construction shipments.
Has photographs.
Says warehouse 14 contains records.
Meeting Friday.
If he does not come, do not trust family counsel.
Alejandro read it twice.
“E. and M.”
Tomás nodded.
“Esther and Marcela.”
Alejandro felt sick.
“My sister was twenty-six.”
“She could have been helping.”
Valeria spoke from the doorway.
Both men turned.
She had been allowed to walk briefly with a nurse.
“You shouldn’t be here.”
Alejandro immediately moved toward her.
Valeria almost smiled.
“I walked twenty feet.”
“I’m not made of glass.”
The joke lasted only a second.
She looked at the note.
“What is Warehouse 14?”
Alejandro knew.
One of Aranda Desarrollos’ oldest storage facilities near Naucalpan.
It had been used for imported stone, fixtures, and architectural materials.
His father personally supervised it years ago.
Alejandro called his chief operations officer.
“Who controls Warehouse 14?”
The answer came quickly.
“It was transferred to family holdings six years ago.”
“Who signed the transfer?”
There was typing on the other end.
“Doña Esther.”
Alejandro ended the call.
He looked at Valeria.
She understood immediately.
His company had once owned the warehouse.
His mother had removed it from corporate oversight shortly after Ricardo died.
Tomás looked between them.
“If there are still records there, they may answer what happened to your father.”
Alejandro shook his head.
“My mother will already know we’re looking.”
Valeria touched the memory card beneath her hospital bracelet.
“Then we stop doing this alone.”
Alejandro looked at her.
She continued.
“We need investigators.”
May you like
“Real ones.”
“Before your family has time to bury anything else.”
