And in the five years since the murder, Judge Victor Salazar and Javier Vargas had quietly become partners in several real-estate transactions—properties that once belonged to Mateo and Laura’s family.
Clara picked up her phone.
“Carlos, I need everything on Javier Vargas’s business dealings. Every property transfer, every loan, every partner. And I need to know exactly what Laura discovered in the weeks before she died.”
The next morning Javier Vargas arrived at the Santa Rosa Home in a gleaming black SUV that looked wildly out of place.
He wore a tailored suit and—Clara noticed when she later reviewed the security footage—a navy blue tie.
Rosa met him at the door, arms folded.
“I’ve come for my niece,” Javier said smoothly. “Circumstances have changed. With everything happening to my brother, Elena needs real family.”
“You voluntarily relinquished guardianship six months ago when you left her here,” Rosa answered. “She’s under state protection now.”
Javier’s smile didn’t reach his eyes.
“I have new papers. I have connections. I can make things difficult for this place if I choose.”
At that moment, Elena appeared in the hallway behind Rosa.
She saw her uncle.
The color drained from her face.