Chapter 13 - The Safe House
Back in Querétaro, the new apartment downtown was bathed in the warm, golden light of late afternoon. It was a spacious, modern flat located right across from the city park, with large windows overlooking green treetops and bustling pedestrian walkways.
Mariana stood by the kitchen island, unpacking a shipment of organic groceries, while Chloe sat at the dining table working on her homework, her dark curls growing back thick and healthy.
The intercom buzzer chimed softly.
Mariana froze, her hand hovering over a carton of milk. Ever since David’s arrest, her nervous system had been wired on high alert.
"Is it the courier with the medical files?" Chloe asked, looking up from her history textbook without a trace of fear in her eyes.
"I'll check," Mariana said, walking over to the video monitor.
Standing outside the lobby security gate was Alejandro Garza, holding a thick leather briefcase and a box of fresh pastries from the bakery down the street.
Mariana pressed the remote release button, letting him up into the building. A minute later, Garza walked through the front door, greeted Chloe with a warm nod, and placed the pastry box on the kitchen counter.
"Good news, ladies," Garza announced, unzipping his briefcase and pulling out a certified court document stamped with a bright red seal. "The Querétaro family court just finalized the emergency property transfer and divorce decree. The commercial rental property, the remaining assets of San Lucas Holdings, and full custody rights are now legally and permanently assigned to Mariana and Chloe."
Chloe let out a long, audible sigh of relief, dropping her pen and smiling broadly. "Does that mean... we never have to worry about him ever again?"
"Never again, sweetie," Mariana smiled, walking over to hug her daughter tightly. "His financial control over us is completely broken."
Just then, Mariana’s cell phone—lying right beside the pastry box—began to ring violently.
She glanced down at the screen. The caller ID showed a restricted, unknown extension originating from the Querétaro federal penitentiary system.
The room went instantly quiet.
May you like
Garza frowned, stepping closer to the counter. "Don't answer it directly, Mariana. Let it route to voicemail, or put it on speaker so we can record the audio."
Mariana swallowed hard, hit the speakerphone icon, and placed the phone flat on the marble countertop.
