CHAPTER 9 — Patricia’s Real Motive
Patricia had refused to speak after her arrest.
When Daniel showed her the photograph of Inés marked “Phase Two,” she finally broke.
“The ledger is evidence,” Patricia said. “Names, payments, properties, police officers. Everything Esteban and Camila built.”
“Where is it?”
“Our father found out about them before he died.”
Daniel stared at her.
Their father’s death had been ruled a heart attack.
Patricia explained that Esteban had used the family construction company to build hidden rooms inside private properties.
Their father discovered suspicious invoices and confronted him.
Days later, he died.
Before his death, he copied Esteban’s records onto an encrypted drive and hid it somewhere on the Rivas family ranch.
Patricia had found the drive after the funeral.
Instead of going to police, she used it to control Esteban.
She threatened to expose him unless he helped her gain Daniel’s company shares.
That was why Leo had been taken.
Patricia believed Daniel would surrender anything to get his son back.
“You didn’t kidnap Leo because you wanted a child,” Daniel said.
Patricia lowered her head.
“At first, I wanted your shares.”
“At first?”
“After Leo was with me, I began pretending he was mine.”
Daniel turned away in disgust.
Patricia reached for his arm, but the handcuffs stopped her.
“Camila wants the ledger. Esteban wants me dead. And Reyes wants enough money to disappear.”
“Where did you hide it?”
Patricia hesitated.
“The family chapel.”
The old chapel stood on the abandoned Rivas ranch outside San Miguel. Daniel had not visited since his father’s funeral.
“There’s a compartment beneath the stone altar,” Patricia continued. “But it requires two keys.”
“Where are they?”
“I have one.”
“And the other?”
“Father gave it to you.”
Daniel remembered the small brass key his father had placed inside an old watch box.
He had never known what it opened.
Detective Valdés decided to use Patricia as bait.
She would call Esteban and offer the ledger in exchange for protection.
The call lasted less than one minute.
Esteban agreed to meet at the chapel before sunrise.
As police transported Patricia to the ranch, a truck suddenly crossed the highway and blocked the road.
The police driver slammed on the brakes.
Gunmen emerged from the trees.
Before Valdés could reach the transport van, an explosion filled the road with smoke.
When the smoke cleared, the van door stood open.
Two officers were injured.
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Patricia was gone.
On the ground beside the van lay a single brass key.
