CHAPTER 4 – The Police Didn't Come for the Affair… They Came for a Crime That Started Years Earlier
The entire street went silent.
Even the neighbors who had been whispering moments before stopped talking.
The police officer looked directly at Diego.
"Are you Diego Salcedo?"
Diego swallowed.
"...Yes."
The officer nodded once.
"Good."
He held up a sealed envelope bearing the logo of the State Attorney General's Office.
"We've been looking for you."
A murmur spread through the crowd.
Renata felt her stomach tighten.
Looking for him?
Diego forced an awkward smile.
"There must be some misunderstanding."
The officer didn't smile back.
"There have been several misunderstandings."
"That's why we're here."
The second officer stepped forward carrying a slim briefcase.
He opened it carefully and removed a stack of documents.
Arturo frowned as he recognized the official seals.
These weren't ordinary police papers.
They were financial investigation records.
The first officer looked at Renata.
"Mrs. Salcedo?"
"Yes."
"I'm sorry you have to hear this in front of everyone."
He paused.
"But based on the evidence we've collected, you're also a victim."
Renata stared at him.
"What evidence?"
The officer turned another page.
"For the past fourteen months, our Financial Crimes Unit has been investigating multiple fraudulent construction contracts connected to a company called Salcedo Urban Solutions."
Renata blinked.
"That's Diego's company."
The officer nodded.
"On paper."
She frowned.
"What does that mean?"
"It means your husband wasn't the only person signing documents."
A chill ran down her spine.
"What are you talking about?"
The officer looked at her with genuine sympathy.
"Mrs. Salcedo..."
"Many of the contracts were signed under your name."
Her face went completely blank.
"My..."
"...name?"
"Yes."
She shook her head immediately.
"No."
"I never signed any contracts."
The officer slowly opened another folder.
Inside were dozens of photocopied signatures.
Each one carried her full legal name.
Renata Salcedo Morales.
Page after page.
Loan agreements.
Supplier approvals.
Bank guarantees.
Property authorizations.
Renata stared in disbelief.
"They're fake."
The officer nodded.
"We believe so."
"But they're convincing enough that several banks accepted them."
She suddenly remembered something.
Three years earlier.
Diego had asked her to sign a stack of "routine tax papers" late one night while she was exhausted after work.
She hadn't even read them.
She trusted him.
"Oh my God..."
she whispered.
Diego interrupted.
"She's overreacting."
The officer immediately turned toward him.
"No."
"You are."
Another document appeared.
"This warrant was approved yesterday."
Diego's knees nearly gave out.
The officer continued.
"We have evidence suggesting that more than twenty-seven million pesos were obtained through fraudulent invoices, forged signatures, shell companies, and falsified investment reports."
The neighbors gasped.
Twenty-seven million pesos.
Arturo slowly closed his eyes.
"So that's where it all went."
Renata looked at Diego.
Every expensive vacation.
Every luxury watch.
Every new business celebration.
Every speech about "hard work."
Every sacrifice she thought they were making together.
None of it had been real.
Sofia stepped back as if she no longer recognized the man standing before her.
Camila wiped fresh tears from her face.
Neither woman spoke.
The officer wasn't finished.
"We also have evidence that money from those contracts was transferred into personal accounts under different names."
He looked directly at Diego.
"Some belong to women you were romantically involved with."
Camila's eyes widened.
"What?"
The officer flipped through another report.
"Apartment rent."
"Designer handbags."
"Luxury vacations."
"Vehicle payments."
"Monthly cash transfers."
He looked toward Sofia.
"Miss..."
Sofia quietly answered.
"Sofia Bennett."
The officer checked his paperwork.
"Ms. Bennett."
She nodded.
"Did Mr. Salcedo ever help you purchase a condominium?"
She hesitated.
"Yes..."
"He said it was an investment for our future."
The officer made another note.
"Who actually owns the property?"
She answered softly.
"He does."
Another silence fell over the backyard.
The officer closed the folder.
"We believe he used several relationships to hide assets."
Arturo looked at Diego with visible disgust.
"You weren't building a future."
"You were building hiding places."
Diego finally exploded.
"Enough!"
Everyone turned toward him.
"You all think you're perfect?"
"You think I'm the villain?"
"You have no idea what pressure I've been under!"
Renata folded her arms.
"Then tell us."
"For once..."
"Tell the truth."
His breathing became heavy.
"You wanted a better house."
"You wanted vacations."
"You wanted security."
"I gave you everything!"
Renata shook her head.
"No."
"I wanted honesty."
"You offered luxury."
"They aren't the same thing."
The words hit harder than any slap.
The officer stepped closer.
"Mr. Salcedo."
"I'm placing you under investigation."
"You are not under arrest at this moment."
"But you may not leave the state."
"You must surrender your passport within twenty-four hours."
Diego looked around desperately.
Every exit seemed blocked.
The neighbors.
The police.
Arturo.
The women.
His perfect life had collapsed in less than an hour.
Then...
A young detective hurried through the gate carrying a tablet.
"Sir."
"You need to see this."
The officer looked down at the screen.
His expression changed instantly.
"What is it?"
The detective looked at Diego.
Then at Renata.
"This changes everything."
He turned the tablet around.
A paused security video filled the screen.
The timestamp read:
Two years earlier.
The location wasn't the Salcedo house.
It was a private underground parking garage.
The footage showed Diego meeting another man beside the trunk of a black sedan.
The trunk opened.
Inside...
were several large black duffel bags.
The second man handed Diego a thick envelope.
Then something else.
A small metal flash drive.
The detective spoke quietly.
"We've finally identified the man in the video."
Arturo leaned forward.
"So who is he?"
The detective looked around the silent backyard before answering.
"He's been missing for eighteen months."
Another pause.
"And according to yesterday's forensic report..."
"...he didn't disappear."
"He was murdered."
Every face turned slowly toward Diego.
He didn't say a word.
But for the first time that evening...
He looked genuinely terrified.
Not of losing his marriage.
Not of losing his money.
May you like
But of a secret far darker than anyone had imagined.
To Be Continued...
