Chapter 11 - Elena’s Secret
Arthur ended the call and turned toward Elena.
She was standing near the hospital door.
“What did you take?” he asked.
Her expression answered before she spoke.
“Elena.”
She looked at Leo, then motioned Arthur into the hallway.
“I found another envelope under the desk before police searched the room,” she said. “I kept it.”
Arthur stared at her. “Why?”
“Because I didn’t know who to trust.”
“You could trust me.”
“Could I?”
The question hit cleanly.
Elena continued. “For months, Victoria told the staff you didn’t want to be bothered. You barely saw Leo. You signed whatever people put in front of you. Then I find pictures of me in a secret room and threats against my brother. I was supposed to hand the only evidence I had to people I didn’t know?”
Arthur’s anger faded into something heavier.
“What’s in the envelope?”
“A notarized copy of the trust amendment and a flash drive.”
“Where is it?”
“Not here.”
Arthur almost smiled despite everything. “You really don’t trust anyone.”
“I trust Leo.”
That answer ended the argument.
Detective Kim joined them. Elena told her everything.
Kim did not look happy, but she did not waste time scolding. “Where’s the envelope?”
“My brother has it.”
A patrol unit was sent to Mateo’s shop.
Five minutes later, the officer called back.
The shop was empty.
The front door had been kicked in.
Elena’s face drained.
They raced there.
Inside, tools were scattered across the floor. A car lift stood raised. Mateo’s phone lay smashed beneath it.
On the workbench sat the missing envelope.
Untouched.
Elena grabbed it.
Arthur looked around. “If they took Mateo, why leave this?”
Kim pointed at a handwritten note under the envelope.
The message was short.
BRING THE DRIVE. COME WITHOUT POLICE.
Elena read it twice.
Then her phone rang.
Mateo’s voice came through, shaking.
“Lena, don’t do what they say.”
May you like
A man shouted in the background.
The line went dead.
