Chapter 11 - THE BLUE LEDGER
Sebastián opened his father’s letter inside the nursery.
The paper had yellowed slightly.
Alejandro’s handwriting remained firm.
My son, if you are reading this, then your mother has done what I feared.
Sebastián stopped.
Mariana stood beside him.
“She knew?”
“Your father discovered the transfers shortly before he died.”
The letter explained everything.
Rebeca and Octavio had created shell companies to steal money from Alcázar International.
They inflated construction contracts, redirected pension funds, and paid public officials through consulting agreements.
Alejandro planned to remove them from the company.
Before he could act, he suffered the heart attack that killed him.
He changed the trust because he no longer believed Sebastián was prepared to resist his mother.
He hoped the birth of a child would force Sebastián to choose a different future.
The letter ended with one warning.
Do not confuse loyalty with obedience.
Sebastián folded the paper.
For years, Rebeca had told him that his father died believing he was weak.
The truth was worse.
Alejandro died hoping Sebastián would become strong enough to protect his own child.
Mateo entered the nursery.
“Octavio escaped through the lower garage.”
“Did you recover the documents?”
“Some.”
Sebastián handed him the trust and the letter.
Mariana removed the blue ledger from behind a loose wall panel.
Valeria had hidden it there after copying several pages.
The ledger contained account numbers, dates, payments, and initials.
One set of initials appeared beside dozens of transfers.
R.A.
Rebeca Alcázar.
Another appeared beside payments to Hospital San Gabriel and Dr. Mena.
O.A.
Octavio Alcázar.
Mateo turned to a page near the back.
A payment had been made two days before Alejandro’s death.
The recipient was Dr. Esteban Mena.
The description read PRIVATE CARDIAC CONSULTATION.
Sebastián felt cold.
“Mena was not my father’s doctor.”
“No,” Mariana said.
“But he visited the mansion the night before your father died.”
Sebastián looked at her.
“You saw him?”
“I let him through the service entrance.”
“Your mother said your father didn’t want anyone to know he was ill.”
Mateo closed the ledger.
“This may connect to Alejandro’s death.”
A federal agent called from downstairs.
They had discovered a hidden safe behind the fireplace.
Inside were passports, cash, and medical records.
One passport carried Valeria’s photograph.
But the name printed beneath it was not hers.
It was the identity they planned to give her after sending her to Switzerland.
Then Mateo received another call.
The emergency custody hearing had been moved forward.
Valeria would have to appear in court at eight that morning.
May you like
And Rebeca had already found a new witness.
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