Chapter 4 - The Sentence in the Notebook
Mateo opened the notebook to the page about the accident. "Did Sofia ever say she saw something the night Mariana died?"
Elena frowned. "She had nightmares after the crash. Once she said there was a red light outside the car, but we thought she meant the emergency lights."
He remembered the crash report: heavy rain, a sharp curve, Mariana's car against a drainage barrier. No other vehicle found. He had accepted the explanation because he had nothing else to hold on to.
Ricardo entered through the back door without knocking. When he saw the notebook, his expression changed before he could hide it.
"That's old junk," he said.
"You recognize it?" Mateo asked.
"No."
"You answered too fast."
Ricardo shook his head. "You're turning grief into a conspiracy."
Mateo put the evidence in his office cabinet and called his attorney. While he spoke, Ricardo moved toward the kitchen table. An old phone beside a stack of mail lit up with a message preview.
Vanessa's name appeared above the words: "Did you delete the messages from the night Mariana died?"
Ricardo snatched the phone.
Mateo stared at him. "What messages?"
Ricardo shoved the phone into his jacket. "Nothing you need to worry about."
"Then why did you take it like it was on fire?"
Vanessa stepped between them. "Mateo, you're frightening Sofia."
He looked toward the stairs. Sofia stood there barefoot, clutching the empty bag that had held her doll.
Mateo asked Elena to take Sofia outside, then turned back to Ricardo. "Give me the phone."
"It's mine."
"And this is my house. Leave."
Ricardo's face hardened. "You don't want the truth about that night. You want someone to blame because you weren't there when Mariana needed you."
May you like
The words found Mateo's oldest wound. But guilt was not proof, and it was not permission.
Ricardo left. Mateo watched him go, then called the police. He was done letting the people who frightened his daughter decide what could be discussed.
