Chapter 11 - The Man Who Never Died
For twenty years, everyone believed Daniel Mendoza was dead.
But Sofia had never seen a body.
There had been no funeral.
No grave.
Only an empty room and a story repeated until everyone accepted it.
Elena had never discussed the details.
Now she finally did.
“Daniel disappeared after meeting Richard Vale.”
Sofia stared at her.
“You knew?”
“I suspected.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because I thought he was dead.”
“You weren't sure.”
“No.”
Javier listened silently.
Sofia asked,
“Where did he go?”
Elena shook her head.
“I don't know.”
The security officer interrupted.
“We found the vehicles.”
“Who owns them?”
“Several companies.”
Sofia asked,
“Connected to Richard?”
“No.”
“To Teresa?”
“No.”
Elena looked at Sofia.
“Then who?”
The officer hesitated.
“One company is registered to an address in Vermont.”
Sofia's face changed.
“What address?”
He gave it.
Sofia recognized it immediately.
She had seen it in her father's documents.
“That's where he kept his private office.”
Elena grabbed her coat.
“We're going.”
Teresa appeared at the top of the stairs.
“No.”
Everyone looked up.
Teresa descended slowly.
“You cannot go there.”
Sofia stared at her.
“Why?”
“Because if Daniel is alive…”
Teresa stopped.
Sofia stepped closer.
“If?”
Teresa's face cracked.
“I never wanted you to know.”
“Know what?”
Teresa whispered,
“Your father didn't disappear.”
Sofia's breathing slowed.
“Then where is he?”
Teresa looked at Elena.
Elena said nothing.
Teresa closed her eyes.
“He was taken.”
“By whom?”
Teresa opened her eyes.
“By someone who wanted the Mendoza company.”
Sofia asked,
“Who?”
May you like
Teresa looked at her.
“The person who taught me how to destroy it.”
