Chapter 8 - The Dead Man at the Warehouse
Santiago watched the footage without speaking.
Vincent Rojas walked across the warehouse loading dock with the stiff, confident stride Santiago remembered.
The scar.
The shoulders.
The manner of reaching into his coat.
It was him.
"How?" Santiago whispered.
Tomas enlarged the photograph.
"I verified it against older security images."
"His body was identified."
"By Lieutenant Keene."
Santiago shut his eyes.
Of course.
Keene.
Julian's friend in the police department.
The officer who had authenticated the evidence against Vincent.
The officer who had verified his death.
"Who was buried?" Santiago asked.
"We don't know."
Ruby stood several feet away, listening.
She had not wanted to become involved in the Moretti family's criminal affairs.
But Vincent Rojas was the name on the report that had explained her husband's and daughter's deaths.
The realization that he might still be alive struck her with a force she could barely contain.
"That man was blamed for killing my family," she said.
Santiago turned toward her.
"I know."
"And you've been living as though his death settled the matter."
"Yes."
Ruby's voice hardened.
"Then it appears you were wrong about more than one thing."
He didn't defend himself.
Outside, Tomas's security team began quietly locking down the estate.
Elena Ward arrived forty minutes later.
She examined Isabella's ledger but refused to remove anything until evidence technicians could document the discovery.
Ruby explained the drawings.
Sophia identified the hiding place through sign language.
Elena arranged for an independent certified interpreter, someone with no connection to the family, to assist with a formal interview later.
Sophia listened closely.
Then signed a question to Ruby.
Will they believe me?
Ruby's eyes softened.
Your memories deserve to be heard.
Sophia considered that.
Then asked:
Even without speaking?
Ruby squeezed her hand.
Especially when people have spent years refusing to listen.
Elena stayed with them while Santiago and Tomas moved into the study.
Santiago placed the warehouse photograph on his desk.
"I want Rojas found."
Tomas shook his head.
"Not by your men."
Santiago looked up sharply.
"Explain."
"If Julian is setting a trap, sending our people gives him exactly what he wants."
"Then what do you suggest?"
"Let Ward and the federal investigators handle it."
Santiago stared.
For twenty years, Tomas had solved problems through the Moretti organization.
He was the last person Santiago expected to suggest cooperation with law enforcement.
"You've changed your mind about a lot of things lately," Santiago said.
Tomas met his gaze.
"So have you."
"Why?"
Tomas was silent for a long moment.
Then he sat down.
"Because your father tried to change things before he died."
Santiago felt his stomach tighten.
"What?"
"Your father wanted to dismantle the trafficking network Julian built behind the foundation."
Santiago stared.
"You knew?"
"Not everything."
"How much?"
"Enough to know Isabella found payments she couldn't explain."
Santiago rose.
"And you said nothing?"
Tomas looked ashamed.
"Your father made me promise to keep you out of it until he had evidence."
"My father is dead."
"I know."
"My mother is dead."
"I know."
"And Sophia has spent seven years terrified of the man you suspected?"
Tomas lowered his head.
Santiago slammed his palm against the desk.
"You should have told me!"
"Yes."
The simple admission stopped him.
Tomas looked up.
"I should have."
Santiago struggled to control his breathing.
"What else?"
Tomas hesitated.
Then removed a folded photograph from his wallet.
It showed Santiago's father, Lorenzo, outside a restaurant.
Beside him stood Vincent Rojas.
And behind them, partially obscured, was Patrick Keene.
The photograph had been taken two days before the invasion.
"Your father arranged a meeting with federal investigators," Tomas said.
Santiago felt a chill.
"About Julian?"
Tomas nodded.
"He never reached the meeting."
Santiago sat down slowly.
"And you kept this for seven years?"
"I was afraid Julian had people everywhere."
"Apparently he did."
Tomas's voice lowered.
"There's one more thing."
Santiago looked at him.
"The night your parents died, your father called me."
"What did he say?"
"He told me that if anything happened, I should protect Sophia."
"Not me?"
"He said you were already old enough to survive."
Santiago looked away.
Tomas continued.
"He said Sophia had seen something she didn't understand."
"What?"
"I don't know."
Santiago stared at the photograph.
Then his phone rang.
Unknown number.
He answered.
A familiar voice greeted him.
"Hello, Santiago."
Vincent Rojas.
Santiago stood so quickly his chair struck the wall.
"Where are you?"
Vincent laughed softly.
"Still giving orders, I see."
"What do you want?"
"Something your mother stole."
Santiago's gaze shifted toward the greenhouse.
"The ledger?"
"Part of it."
"What part?"
Vincent paused.
"The page that identifies who really ordered the playground shooting."
Santiago's mouth went dry.
Vincent continued.
May you like
"Ask your maid why her husband was at that playground."
Then the call disconnected.
