CHAPTER 5 — The Hidden Recording
Police searched Patricia's house from top to bottom.
Most of it appeared ordinary.
Until a forensic technician removed the decorative fireplace.
Behind the brick facade sat a hidden steel safe.
Inside...
there was no cash.
No jewelry.
Only dozens of memory cards.
Hours later investigators watched the first recording.
A masked man stood in front of the camera.
"If you're seeing this..."
"...Patricia finally lost her nerve."
The room fell silent.
The man slowly removed one glove.
A raven tattoo covered the back of his hand.
"You think this was about one child?"
He laughed.
"There were never one."
Photographs flashed across the screen.
Children.
Dozens of them.
Different cities.
Different years.
Some smiling.
Some terrified.
Then another photograph appeared.
Daniel nearly stopped breathing.
It showed Leo...
standing beside another little girl.
"Inés..."
Mariana whispered.
"No..."
The date on the image shocked everyone.
It had been taken...
two weeks before Leo disappeared.
Someone had been watching both children long before the kidnapping.
Detective Ramos closed the laptop.
"This family wasn't chosen by accident."
Daniel looked at his daughter.
For the first time...
he wondered whether Leo had never been the real target.
May you like
Maybe...
they had always wanted Inés.
