Chapter 7 - The Flash Drive

"Mateo!"

Camila yanked at the trunk.

Locked.

Nolan arrived with security seconds later. One guard smashed the rear passenger window, climbed in, and hit the release.

The trunk popped open.

Mateo lay curled inside, wrists zip-tied, blood running from a cut over his eyebrow.

Camila's heart slammed against her ribs.

"Oh my God."

"I'm okay," he groaned.

"You are literally in a trunk."

"Still okay-ish."

That stupid joke nearly made her cry.

She helped him sit up while the guard cut the ties.

"Who did this?" Nolan asked.

Mateo shook his head. "Guy in a black jacket. Baseball cap. He came up behind me."

"Bianca?" Camila asked.

"I saw her near the elevator before it happened. She told me I was making a mistake."

Nolan called police.

Camila searched Mateo's pockets. "The flash drive?"

He gave her a tired smile. "Not in my pockets."

He reached down, pulled off his remaining shoe, and peeled back the insole.

Taped underneath was a tiny blue drive.

Camila laughed despite herself. "You watch too many crime shows."

"Those shows just saved eighty-four grand."

"Maybe more," Nolan said.

Mateo's smile vanished. "A lot more."

Back downstairs, police officers began taking statements while Elena's guests filled the ballroom, unaware that the celebration had nearly turned into a crime scene.

Rafael wanted to cancel everything.

Elena refused.

"I beat cancer," she said. "I am not letting a crooked event planner steal my birthday too."

Camila admired her instantly for that.

The plan became simple: keep the party moving, keep Bianca inside the hotel, copy the flash drive, and wait for detectives to review the evidence.

Bianca had disappeared from the prep hall.

But her purse was still in the event office.

"She won't go far without her phone," Victoria said.

Camila glanced at her. "You helping now?"

Victoria looked ashamed. "I was awful to you."

"That's not an apology."

"I know."

"Then don't use it like one."

Victoria swallowed.

Fair.

Mateo inserted the flash drive into Nolan's secure office laptop.

Folders opened across the screen.

VENUE.

FLORAL.

LIGHTING.

BAKERY.

VALET.

ENTERTAINMENT.

Every one contained two invoices: the real vendor invoice and a second inflated copy sent to the Salazar family office.

Rafael stood behind them with both hands gripping the back of a chair.

Then Mateo opened a folder marked PRIVATE.

Inside were bank transfer receipts.

The money flowed from Salazar event accounts to Vela Hospitality Consulting.

Then from Vela to several personal accounts.

One belonged to Bianca.

One belonged to someone named D. Salazar.

Rafael stopped breathing.

Victoria stared at the screen.

"D. Salazar?"

Camila looked at Mateo.

He whispered, "That's why I called you."

Rafael's oldest son, Daniel Salazar - the family CFO - had approved every payment.

And according to the transfer records, he had taken a cut.

Behind them, the office door clicked shut.

Daniel Salazar stood there.

And he was holding the blue flash drive's missing twin.

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