Chapter 13 - THE WOMAN ON THE STAND
Judge Villarreal denied the accusation.
He called it an attempt to intimidate the court.
Mateo presented the bank transfer.
Three hundred thousand dollars had been deposited into a company owned by the judge’s brother.
The payment was made four days before the emergency custody order.
Federal agents entered the courtroom.
Villarreal was removed from the bench.
The hearing was reassigned to Judge Isabel Cárdenas.
Unlike Villarreal, Judge Cárdenas did not accept private conversations.
She ordered every document placed into evidence.
She also allowed Mariana to testify.
Mariana walked slowly toward the witness stand.
Rebeca stared at her.
For decades, Mariana had served meals, opened doors, and remained silent during family arguments.
Now every camera in the room pointed toward her.
Mariana described the wine room.
She described the sedative.
She described helping Valeria reach the bathroom after the guards released her.
“Why didn’t you contact the police?” Rebeca’s new attorney asked.
“Because Mrs. Alcázar threatened my son.”
“Do you have proof?”
Mariana looked at Mateo.
He played a voicemail.
Octavio’s voice filled the courtroom.
Your son works at our Veracruz facility.
Accidents happen there every day.
Mariana continued.
“Rebeca told me that if I spoke, my son would not return home.”
The attorney changed direction.
“You were fired for theft.”
“No.”
“You disappeared after jewelry was found in your room.”
“Jewelry Mrs. Alcázar placed there.”
“Can you prove that?”
Mariana removed a photograph.
It showed Rebeca entering Mariana’s room with a velvet jewelry case.
The image came from a small camera Mariana installed after Valeria warned her.
Rebeca leaned toward her attorney.
For the first time, she appeared uncertain.
Judge Cárdenas examined the image.
Then she reviewed the recording from the service corridor.
The court watched Rebeca order the guards forward.
They watched Valeria resist.
They watched Octavio take the ledger.
The judge looked toward Rebeca.
“Where is Mr. Octavio Alcázar?”
No one answered.
Mateo received a message.
Octavio’s car had been discovered near the private airfield.
The engine was running.
The driver’s door was open.
Inside the trunk, agents found the missing black folder.
They also found a laptop containing copies of every forged document.
But Octavio was gone.
A phone inside the folder began ringing.
Mateo answered.
Octavio’s voice came through the speaker.
May you like
“If Sebastián wants his daughter to remain alive, he will bring me the blue ledger.”
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