CHAPTER 4 — The Woman Who Finally Broke Her Silence
The black SUVs remained parked across the street until sunrise.
No one got out.
No one knocked.
They simply waited.
Alexander watched from behind the curtains without speaking.
Elena finally lost her patience.
"Tell me who they are."
He kept his eyes on the vehicles.
"People I hoped Sofia would never have to know existed."
Before Elena could press further, Sofia slowly walked into the living room.
She looked exhausted, but the fear in her eyes had changed.
It was no longer panic.
It was determination.
"I want to testify."
Elena immediately stood.
"Sofia, you're still injured."
"I know."
"But if I stay silent, they'll do this to another woman."
Alexander looked at his daughter with quiet pride.
"Then we do it the right way."
Within an hour, Sofia was giving a recorded statement at a secure office rather than a public police station. Every bruise was photographed. Every injury documented. Every detail preserved.
The detective interviewing her suddenly paused.
"Miss Hale... are you certain there were six women?"
Sofia nodded.
"Yes."
He slid a photograph across the table.
"Was this woman one of them?"
Sofia's face turned white.
"No."
"She never touched me."
"She just watched."
"Who is she?"
The detective exchanged a glance with Alexander.
"Her name is Isabel Navarro."
"She's a licensed notary."
Sofia frowned.
"A notary?"
Alexander's expression darkened.
"They weren't planning only to scare you."
"They expected you to sign legal documents."
The detective carefully placed a burned corner of a document onto the table.
It had been recovered from the hotel suite's fireplace.
Only a few words remained visible.
Transfer of Property...
Uptown Dallas Condominium...
Irrevocable...
Elena felt sick.
"They planned every step."
Alexander nodded.
"No."
"They planned far more than we realized."
That afternoon, news broke across Texas.
Carmen Robles had officially been charged.
But another headline shocked everyone.
Bride's Husband Missing After Criminal Investigation Begins.
Javier had vanished.
His phone was off.
His bank cards had not been used.
Even his own attorney could not find him.
Everyone assumed he was running.
Alexander wasn't convinced.
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"He didn't disappear."
"He was removed."
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