Chapter 9 - the party that could not be canceled
By morning, the estate appeared ready for celebration.
White flowers lined the courtyard. Musicians tested their instruments beneath the eastern balcony. Caterers moved silver trays through the kitchen while photographers arranged lights near Octavio’s birthday table.
No guest knew that the family had spent the night searching for missing trust documents and a captive man.
No one knew that Bruno had escaped.
Daniel discovered the empty guest room at 5:40. The window remained locked from the inside, but a section of the wall panel had been removed, revealing a maintenance passage.
Only someone familiar with the estate’s original construction could have shown him the route.
Octavio wanted to cancel the event.
Daniel refused.
“If we cancel now, Esteban knows we found the plan. Rafael disappears, the original documents disappear, and every person helping him goes underground.”
“You expect us to continue smiling while someone prepares to lock down my house?”
“I expect you to give them the party they planned for.”
Camila stood near the courtyard doors with Sofia in her arms.
“And what happens when Mariela is ordered to break the cup?”
“We let her.”
Mariela looked at him.
“The coffee will be cold,” Daniel continued. “Sofia stays several feet away. The cup falls in a marked location. The hidden camera records everything.”
“And the official camera?” Camila asked.
“Esteban believes he can erase it through Teresa’s tablet.”
Rosa placed a replacement tablet on the table.
“He’ll be deleting a duplicate archive.”
Octavio’s concern remained.
“What about the lockdown?”
“I rewired the gate controls. Esteban’s command will appear successful, but Daniel and I will retain access.”
Camila looked toward Rosa.
“You have prepared this for years.”
“I prepared to expose Elena’s killer. I did not expect Sofia to become part of the plan.”
“She is not part of it,” Camila said. “She is the reason we end it.”
Daniel walked with Camila to the nursery.
Sofia was sitting on the floor beside Iker. The red truck rested between them.
Iker had removed the tracking device and replaced it with a small piece of red paper.
“I fixed it,” he said.
Daniel smiled.
“You did.”
Mariela watched her son from the doorway.
“He hasn’t asked for his father this morning.”
“He’s afraid the answer will hurt,” Camila said.
Mariela looked at her.
“I treated you terribly even before they threatened Rafael.”
“Yes.”
“I thought if Octavio loved you less, there would be more left for Iker.”
“Love doesn’t work that way.”
“In this family, everything has always been divided like money.”
Camila looked toward the children.
“Then we teach them something different.”
At 2:00, the guests began arriving.
At 3:20, Esteban Rivas entered the courtyard wearing a charcoal suit and an expression of polite concern.
“Camila,” he said. “I heard you had returned.”
“You prepared the trust. You knew I would.”
Esteban smiled.
“I prepare many documents. I do not always know when families choose to honor them.”
His left hand rested against his jacket.
On his finger was no Valdés signet ring.
Daniel approached.
“Were you here at 6:22 yesterday morning?”
“I arrived shortly before breakfast.”
“Was anyone in your car?”
“My driver.”
“The camera could not see the rear seat.”
“Then perhaps you should repair your camera.”
He walked away before Daniel could reply.
Rosa spoke through the small receiver in Daniel’s ear.
“He knows you suspect him.”
“Good.”
At 3:58, Octavio began his birthday speech.
At 4:05, Mariela’s phone vibrated.
PLACE THE CUP.
At 4:08, Sofia asked to be put down.
At 4:10, Mariela carried a cup of cold coffee toward the white table.
Her hand trembled.
At 4:11, Esteban moved closer to the courtyard gate.
At 4:12, Iker placed the red truck on the stone beside Sofia.
Sofia reached for it.
At 4:13, Mariela lifted the cup.
Camila watched her.
May you like
Mariela whispered, “I’m sorry.”
Then she let it fall.
