Chapter 10 - The Betrayal of the Most Loyal Man
Ruby watched Daniel's recording four times.
Each time, she hoped the face on the screen would become someone else.
It never did.
Tomas Alvarez.
Santiago's oldest friend.
The man responsible for protecting Sophia.
The man who had stood beside Ruby in the greenhouse.
The man who had helped uncover Isabella Moretti's ledger.
Ruby immediately called Elena.
Within an hour, the detective was sitting beside her at the kitchen table.
"Could Daniel have been mistaken?" Ruby asked.
Elena paused the video.
"Tomas worked for Julian before he worked directly for Santiago."
Ruby looked up.
"How do you know?"
"Old financial records. Employment histories. Informants."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because a connection isn't proof of a crime."
Ruby looked at the screen.
"Daniel believed it was important enough to record."
"Yes."
Elena examined the metadata.
"The video was created six days before the playground shooting."
Ruby went still.
Six days.
Daniel had spent those final six days carrying a secret she knew nothing about.
Had he been frightened?
Had he considered telling her?
Had he lain awake at night while she slept beside him, wondering whether he had placed his family in danger?
The thought made her physically ill.
"We need to get Sophia away from Tomas," Ruby said.
Elena was already reaching for her phone.
At the Moretti estate, Santiago was learning a different piece of the same story.
He had summoned Tomas into the library and placed his mother's old photograph on the desk.
"Tell me about your relationship with Julian."
Tomas frowned.
"I've known him for decades."
"That's not what I asked."
Tomas said nothing.
Santiago leaned forward.
"Did you ever work for him?"
A long pause.
"Yes."
Santiago's expression hardened.
"When?"
"Before your father hired me."
"Doing what?"
"Security."
"For Bellweather?"
Tomas looked stunned.
Santiago nodded slowly.
"So that's a yes."
"It wasn't what you think."
"Then explain."
Tomas stared at the desk.
"When I first worked for Julian, Bellweather was presented as a legitimate youth charity."
"And when did you discover otherwise?"
"After I met your father."
Santiago's voice rose.
"Why did you never tell me?"
"Because I was ashamed of what I'd helped protect."
"What exactly did you protect?"
Tomas took a long breath.
"Buildings. Records. People."
"What people?"
"Administrators. Drivers. Contractors."
Santiago stared.
"And children?"
Tomas's face tightened.
"I never knowingly harmed a child."
"That's not the same as saying you didn't help the people who did."
Tomas lowered his head.
"No."
Santiago stood.
For twenty years, Tomas had been the man he called when someone betrayed the family.
Now Santiago could barely look at him.
"Did you tell Julian about my mother's investigation?"
"No."
"Did you tell him about my father's meeting with federal agents?"
Tomas hesitated.
The hesitation answered the question.
Santiago felt a painful pressure in his chest.
"You did."
"I thought Julian was helping protect your father."
"You gave him the information."
Tomas nodded.
Santiago stepped backward.
For one terrible moment, he wanted to reach for the gun in his desk.
To respond the way he always had.
Quickly.
Violently.
Without the inconvenience of doubt.
Then he pictured Ruby holding Ellie's broken necklace.
He pictured Sophia writing prove it.
And he kept his hands at his sides.
"You're relieved of all security duties," he said.
Tomas looked up.
"Santiago—"
"Your credentials will be revoked. Your devices preserved. You will be questioned by investigators."
"Julian still has people inside this house."
"Then tell me who."
Tomas swallowed.
"I don't know all of them."
"Start with the ones you do."
Before he could answer, the library door opened.
Sophia stood in the doorway.
Ruby was beside her.
Both looked pale.
Ruby held her phone in one hand.
"Santiago," she said, "you need to see this."
She played Daniel's recording.
Santiago watched without moving.
When Tomas appeared on screen, he closed his eyes.
The recording ended.
Ruby looked directly at Tomas.
"Did you know my husband?"
Tomas whispered, "Yes."
The room fell silent.
Ruby took one step closer.
"Did you know Daniel Brennan was going to die?"
Tomas looked at her.
His eyes were wet.
"No."
Ruby's voice trembled.
"Then tell me what you did know."
Tomas swallowed.
"Daniel found evidence that Julian was using the charity to move children illegally."
Ruby waited.
"He gave me copies because he thought I could get them to Lorenzo Moretti."
Santiago stared.
"My father?"
Tomas nodded.
"Your father had been trying to expose Julian for months."
Ruby felt sick.
"What happened to the copies?"
"I gave them to Julian."
She recoiled.
"Why?"
"Because he told me Lorenzo had authorized it."
Santiago turned away.
Ruby stared at Tomas.
"You handed my husband's evidence to the man he was investigating."
Tomas nodded.
"Yes."
"And six days later, my husband and daughter were dead."
He couldn't answer.
Sophia stepped between them.
Her hands began moving.
Ruby watched.
Then her expression changed.
"What is she saying?" Santiago asked.
Ruby swallowed.
"She says Tomas isn't telling us everything."
Tomas looked at Sophia.
The young woman signed again.
This time, more forcefully.
Ruby turned toward Santiago.
"She says Tomas was at the house the night your parents died."
Santiago stared at his oldest friend.
"Is that true?"
Tomas whispered, "Yes."
Sophia made one final sign.
May you like
Ruby's voice broke as she translated.
"He was holding the door open."
