PART 4
The blue progress bar crept across the laptop screen.
Uploading files… 7%
Paola's hands trembled so violently she almost dropped the computer.
Outside the locked bedroom door, fists pounded against the wood.
"Paola! Open the door!" Emiliano shouted.
She ignored him.
Her eyes remained fixed on the screen.
Years of lies...
Years of stolen properties...
Years of secrets...
Everything was inside that laptop.
If the files reached the cloud, there would be no deleting them.
No burning evidence.
No bribing officials.
Nothing.
Daniel Ortega's voice cut through the hallway.
"Move!"
One of the officers rammed his shoulder into the door.
BANG!
The old frame shook but held.
Again.
BANG!
A crack split the wood.
Inside, the upload reached 18%.
Paola whispered to herself,
"Come on... come on..."
She wasn't trying to save Ramón.
She wasn't trying to save Emiliano.
She was trying to save herself.
Three years earlier, before marrying Emiliano, Paola had worked as a receptionist in a small real estate office.
That office belonged to Ricardo Fuentes, a charming businessman who specialized in "helping" elderly people sell inherited homes.
It took Paola less than two months to realize the company wasn't legitimate.
The elderly owners never understood the contracts they signed.
Some signatures were forged.
Others were obtained after threats, deception, or false promises.
When the police began asking questions, Ricardo quietly shut down the company.
Everyone disappeared.
Except one client.
Ramón Salgado.
Instead of walking away...
He copied the business.
And improved it.
The third strike shattered the bedroom door.
Officers rushed inside.
Paola slammed the laptop shut and hugged it against her chest.
"No!"
"This belongs to me!"
Two officers restrained her while Daniel carefully took the computer.
The upload had stopped.
41% Complete
Daniel frowned.
"Too late."
"What do you mean?" Abril asked.
He opened the screen again.
A notification flashed.
Files successfully synchronized to remote server.
Only part of the upload had finished.
But that part was enough.
Someone else now possessed copies.
Someone unknown.
Just then, Daniel's phone rang.
He answered.
Within seconds, the color drained from his face.
"Are you sure?"
...
"When?"
...
"I'll be there."
He hung up.
Abril immediately noticed.
"What happened?"
Daniel looked around the room before answering.
"The notary."
"The one who transferred your house."
"What about him?"
"He was found dead."
Silence.
The investigators exchanged uneasy glances.
"He died less than thirty minutes ago."
"Car explosion."
"No witnesses."
"No survivors."
Abril felt a chill crawl down her spine.
The timing wasn't a coincidence.
Someone had silenced him.
Before he could testify.
One detective hurried into the room carrying another evidence bag.
"We searched Ramón's office."
He placed several folders on the dining table.
Daniel opened the first one.
Inside were photographs.
Not of houses.
Not of contracts.
Of people.
Dozens of them.
Every victim whose property had been stolen.
Each photo had handwritten notes beside it.
Lives alone.
No children.
Poor eyesight.
Easy target.
Abril covered her mouth.
Her father hadn't become greedy.
He had become a predator.
Ramón finally broke his silence.
"You don't understand."
His voice sounded strangely calm.
"I never forced anyone."
Daniel looked up.
"No?"
Ramón nodded toward the notebook.
"Read the last page."
Daniel flipped to the back.
His expression froze.
Written in thick black ink were six words.
I only collected for the boss.
Everyone stared.
"The boss?" one detective asked.
Ramón slowly smiled.
"You think I created this?"
"I was just an employee."
The room fell silent.
Daniel leaned closer.
"Who is the boss?"
Ramón laughed.
"You really want that answer?"
"You'll never leave this house alive if I tell you."
One of the detectives slammed his hand on the table.
"Enough games!"
But Ramón wasn't looking at the police.
He was looking at the front window.
Smiling.
Almost...
Relieved.
Outside, a black SUV slowly rolled to a stop across the street.
Its windows were completely tinted.
The engine remained running.
No one got out.
An officer noticed it immediately.
"Whose vehicle is that?"
No answer.
The SUV remained perfectly still.
Watching.
Waiting.
Daniel's instincts screamed that something was wrong.
He turned toward the officers.
"Clear the civilians."
"Now."
Before anyone could move...
A single text message appeared on Daniel's phone from an unknown number.
You opened the wrong door.
A second message arrived three seconds later.
The woman with the laptop dies first.
Daniel looked toward Paola.
She had gone completely pale.
Then—
CRACK!
The front window exploded inward as a sniper's bullet shattered the glass, missing Paola's head by less than an inch and burying itself deep into the living room wall.
Everyone screamed.
The officers drew their weapons.
Outside...
The black SUV accelerated away at full speed.
And lying on the floor beneath the shattered window...
Paola whispered four words that changed everything.
May you like
"I know who ordered it."
To Be Continued...
