CHAPTER 2 — THE CANDLES WENT OUT
CHAPTER 2 — THE CANDLES WENT OUT
No one reached for the birthday cake.
The candles burned quietly while the room filled with silence.
One of the investigators stepped forward.
"Mr. Julián Ortega?"
"Yes."
"We're here to execute a search warrant and preserve evidence relevant to an ongoing investigation."
Julián laughed nervously.
"This is ridiculous."
"My father-in-law is abusing his position."
Ernesto calmly folded his hands.
"I didn't request special treatment."
"I reported a crime."
The forensic examiner walked directly toward the kitchen cabinet.
Without hesitation, she pulled out the same black trash bag Ofelia had been crawling toward moments earlier.
Inside was a torn bank envelope.
Several property documents.
A loan application.
And a page bearing what appeared to be Valeria's signature.
The examiner compared it with identification documents already in her evidence folder.
She looked at the lead investigator.
May you like
"This will need forensic handwriting analysis."
Ofelia's shoulders collapsed.
