—What’s going on here? Why are there police officers at my house?
It was Gabriel Reyes, two years older than Mateo, impeccably dressed in a white shirt and dark pants. In one hand he carried a bag from a toy store. In the other, the keys to his truck.
Sofia hid behind Elena.
Gabriel noticed it.
“What’s wrong, princess?” he asked, leaning forward with a smile. “I brought you something.”
The girl shook her head.
—I don’t want your gifts.
Gabriel’s smile disappeared for a fraction of a second.
Matthew walked towards him.
—What are you doing here?
—I came to see my niece. As always.
“Like always?” Mateo pointed to the basement door. “My wife was just rescued from down there.”
Vanessa is in police custody. And my daughter says you used to go down to see her.
Gabriel let out an incredulous laugh.
—Was Elena in the basement? Mateo, please. What kind of madness is this?
An officer approached.
—Sir, we need you to stay here while we sort some things out.
Gabriel raised his hands.
—Of course. I have nothing to hide.
Elena stood up with difficulty. One of the paramedics had arrived and was examining her wrists, but she didn’t take her eyes off Gabriel.
“Are you still carrying the lemon drops?” he asked.
Gabriel stopped smiling.
Mateo looked at his wife.
—What candies?
Elena swallowed.
—The ones he brought me when I went down to the basement.
Gabriel dropped the bag of toys onto a chair.
—She’s confused. She’s been locked up for too long. She doesn’t know what she’s saying.
—Then you won’t mind them checking your truck —Elena replied.
Gabriel’s expression changed.
Just a little.
But Matthew saw it.
“Why would they need to search my truck?” Gabriel asked.
Elena squeezed her daughter’s hand.
—Because the last time you came, you dropped something. Something Mateo should acknowledge.
Gabriel turned to his brother.
—Don’t listen to him. He’s always known how to turn you against me.
That phrase struck Mateo with an unpleasant familiarity.
From childhood, Gabriel had used the same words whenever someone questioned his decisions. When money disappeared from his parents’ house, he blamed Mateo. When he messed something up, he found someone else to blame.
Mateo had been justifying it for years.
He was her older brother.
His family.
But now Elena trembled every time Gabriel approached.
“Agent,” Mateo said, “I want you to check it.”
Gabriel looked at him in disbelief.
—Are you accusing me of something based on the word of a woman who has been missing for months?
“No,” Mateo replied. “I’m asking you a question. Why is my daughter afraid of you?”
Gabriel looked at Sofia.
—Come here, little one. Tell your dad you’re confused.
The girl started to cry.
—Don’t call me little!
The silence that followed was absolute.
Elena hugged Sofia and whispered something in her ear.
Mateo felt a cold rage, unlike any anger he had ever experienced before.
—Don’t you ever come near my daughter again.
Gabriel gritted his teeth.
—You’re going to regret this.
An officer asked him to step back and informed him that he had to accompany them to answer some questions. Gabriel protested, but ended up leaving the house escorted by two officers.
Before crossing the threshold, he turned towards Mateo.
—Ask him what he signed before he disappeared. Ask him why he needed so much money. Then we’ll talk.
The door closed.
Mateo stared at the place where his brother had come out.
Elena lowered her head.
—Don’t believe him.
—What did you sign?
She did not answer.
—Elena, I need to know.
The woman pressed her lips together. The paramedic offered her a blanket, but she barely seemed to notice.
“Six months ago I discovered some bank transfers,” he finally said. “They were coming from our joint account and going to a company I didn’t recognize.”
Mateo felt a void in his stomach.
—Which company?
—A real estate company. The same one that was buying houses in our neighborhood.
—I never told you I wanted to sell our house.
—I know. That’s why I reviewed the documents.
Elena looked towards the desk in the study.
—I found a copy of your signature on a sales contract. There was also a power of attorney that supposedly authorized me to act on your behalf.
Matthew shook his head.
—I never signed that.
—That’s exactly what I told Vanessa.
—And what did he do?
Elena breathed shakily.
“First he told me to keep quiet. Then he told me that Gabriel was involved and that if I spoke, I would lose my job, my house, and custody of Sofia.”
Mateo ran a hand over his face.
