Chapter 16 - Victoria's Choice
Rafael stared at his granddaughter.
"Tori?"
Victoria looked like she wanted the floor to open.
"I can explain."
Camila almost laughed at the phrase.
Tonight was full of people who could explain.
"Start with the box," Camila said.
Victoria hugged it tighter. "My dad texted me before police took his phone."
Rafael's face hardened. "What did he say?"
"He said Grandma had something upstairs that could ruin the family. He told me to get it before Bianca's people did."
"Bianca's people?" Mateo asked.
Victoria nodded. "He said Bianca wasn't working alone."
"Then why involve Noah?" Nolan demanded.
"I needed someone who knew the service corridors."
Noah spoke quickly. "She told me the truth this time. Mostly."
Victoria looked at Camila. "I wasn't going to destroy it."
"You stole my mother's box."
"I was bringing it to you."
"Through a hidden hallway?"
"I didn't know who to trust."
Camila held out her hand. "Trust starts now."
Victoria looked at the box.
Then gave it to her.
The brass key fit perfectly.
Camila turned it.
The lid opened with a soft click.
Inside lay recipe cards wrapped in a faded dish towel, an old one-dollar bill in a plastic sleeve, and a black notebook.
Marisol's handwriting filled the pages.
Dates.
Names.
Companies.
Amounts.
The first entries were harmless business notes.
Then came Rising Table Foundation.
Followed by Vela Business Strategies.
Then names of eight small businesses that had received grants and later been pressured into selling below market value.
A tortilla factory.
A florist.
A family-owned grocery.
Two restaurants.
A cleaning company.
A print shop.
A bakery in Austin.
Beside each was the name of the developer that eventually acquired the property.
SALAZAR URBAN PARTNERS.
Rafael sat heavily on a service bench.
"That division belonged to Daniel."
Victoria's face crumpled. "Grandpa..."
Rafael looked twenty years older.
Camila kept reading.
On the last written page, Marisol had underlined one sentence three times.
Daniel says his father doesn't know.
Camila looked at Rafael.
His eyes filled with fury and grief.
Then Mateo turned the page.
One final note was tucked inside the back cover.
If something happens to me, Elena Salazar has the original audio recording.
Everyone looked at Rafael.
He whispered, "Elena never told me."
Nolan's phone rang.
He answered.
His face drained of color.
"What do you mean she's gone?"
Camila's heart stopped.
Nolan lowered the phone.
"Elena disappeared from the ballroom."
On the table beside her empty chair, someone had left a single blue sugar rose.
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