Chapter 7: The Enemy Inside My House
The threat arrived at 2:41 a.m.
Tell your wife to stop digging. Next time, we won't leave her alive.
I read it three times before showing Alejandro.
He studied the message, then photographed the screen with his own phone.
“Don't delete this,” he said.
“And don't respond.””
“Someone broke into my house and threatened my wife. I'm not going to sit here doing nothing.””
“Then stop shouting and start thinking.””
I stepped toward him.
“You don't get to tell me what to do.””
“Really?”” Alejandro's voice remained quiet.
“Because the last time you made all the decisions, Camila ended up bleeding on your marble floor while you celebrated with your mistress.””
I recoiled as if he had struck me.
He didn't apologize.
“Call the police,” he continued.
“Give them the message. Secure the property records and the surveillance footage. And if you discover that someone you trust is involved, don't warn them before the investigators can reach them.””
I looked at the message again.
Someone knew about the blue folder.
Someone knew Camila had been investigating the financial fraud.
And someone had entered my home while I was sitting in a hospital corridor, helpless to protect the people I claimed to love.
I called Detective Méndez.
She answered on the fourth ring.
“Mr. Villarreal?””
“Someone broke into my residence. They searched my wife's study, stole documents, and sent a death threat.””
“Have you preserved the message?””
“Yes.””
“Don't touch anything else at the property. Officers are on their way. I'll need to speak with you and your security staff.””
“What if the person is still inside?””
“Your security team should stay outside until officers clear the building. Don't attempt to confront anyone yourself.””
I ended the call.
Alejandro was already speaking to his assistant, instructing him to secure copies of the hospital's visitor records and preserve any messages Camila had sent him.
I watched him for a moment.
Five years ago, he would have called me first. We would have argued over the details, developed a plan, and divided the work between us.
Now he was protecting my wife while I stood nearby wondering whether he thought I was a fool.
Perhaps I was.
My phone rang.
Ricardo.
I answered immediately.
“Did you send someone to my house?””
Silence.
Then Ricardo said, “What are you talking about?””
“Someone broke into Camila's study. The blue folder is missing.””
“Which folder?””
“Don't play games with me.””
“I don't know anything about a break-in.””
“Someone is threatening my wife because of the financial records. You know about the records. You know about the transfer. Tell me what you know.””
Ricardo exhaled shakily.
“Mateo, you need to understand something. I didn't create that offshore company. I didn't choose where the money went. You told me to prepare the transfer.””
“I know what I told you.””
“And you told me to make sure Alejandro took the blame. I did what you asked because I thought you had everything under control.””
“You signed the statements.””
“Because you threatened to destroy my career if I refused!””
His voice cracked.
For the first time, I heard something other than the smooth confidence he usually brought to a negotiation.
Fear.
“Where are you?”” I asked.
“At home.””
“Stay there. The police may want to speak with you.””
“Mateo, I think someone has been following me.””
My stomach tightened.
“Who?””
“I don't know. A black SUV was parked outside my building twice this week. Yesterday, someone called my wife and asked whether I still kept old company files.””
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“Because I don't trust you anymore.””
The words stung because I had no right to dispute them.
“Ricardo, listen to me. If someone is trying to silence you, you need to tell the police everything.””
He went quiet.
Then he whispered, “There's another person you need to investigate.””
“Who?””
“Your uncle.””
The call disconnected.
I stared at the screen.
My father's younger brother, Esteban Villarreal, had been the chairman of our company before I took control. He had helped introduce me to our largest investors and had spent years advising me on acquisitions.
He had also been the person who first told me that Alejandro might be stealing from us.
I remembered the conversation vividly.
Esteban had summoned me to his office, closed the blinds, and placed a stack of financial statements on his desk.
“Your friend is moving money through accounts you don't control,” he had said.
I had argued that Alejandro would never betray me.
Esteban had leaned back in his chair.
“Family is the only thing you can trust, Mateo. Business partners will smile while they empty your pockets.””
At the time, I had considered it wisdom.
Now, standing in a hospital corridor with a death threat on my phone, I wondered whether it had been a confession disguised as advice.
I called Esteban.
He answered with the irritated tone of a man who believed the world should never interrupt his sleep.
“Mateo? Do you know what time it is?””
“Someone broke into my house.””
“What?””
“They searched Camila's study. They stole documents related to the Serrano investigation.””
A pause followed.
Then Esteban asked, “Were the documents important?””
The question was too quick.
Too specific.
I felt my pulse accelerate.
“How do you know what documents they were looking for?””
“I didn't say I knew.””
“You asked whether they were important.””
“Mateo, use your head. If someone breaks into your house, obviously they're looking for something.””
I stared at Alejandro, who had turned toward me.
“Where were you tonight, Uncle?””
“Home.””
“Can anyone confirm that?””
His voice hardened.
“Are you accusing me of something?””
“I'm asking a question.””
“Then ask your security staff. Ask your wife. Ask that miserable Serrano if you like. But don't call me in the middle of the night and interrogate me like a criminal.””
He ended the call.
Alejandro approached.
“What did he say?””
I told him.
He considered the information carefully.
“Your uncle was chairman when the money disappeared?””
“Yes.””
“Did he have access to the company's accounts?””
“He had access to everything.””
“Then don't assume the only person who benefited from the fraud was you.””
I looked at him.
“You think he took the money?””
“I think you spent five years looking at the man you wanted to blame. You never looked at the people who helped you choose him.””
Before I could respond, Detective Méndez entered the corridor with another officer.
“Mr. Villarreal, we've secured your property. The intruder appears to have entered through the service entrance using a valid access code.””
“Who has that code?””
“Your security supervisor, household manager, maintenance staff, and several senior employees.””
She opened a folder.
“We also found that the internal security system was disabled for eleven minutes.””
“Can you identify who did it?””
“We're reviewing the access logs.””
She paused.
“One more thing. Your security supervisor says your uncle called the estate at 11:32 p.m. last night.””
I stared at her.
“What did he want?””
“He asked whether your wife was home alone.””
The corridor seemed to grow colder.
Alejandro stepped beside me.
“Did the supervisor tell him?””
“He said he confirmed Mrs. Villarreal was in the house and that you were out.””
I closed my eyes.
At 11:32 p.m., Camila had already fallen.
At 11:32 p.m., she had been trying to reach me.
And someone had been asking whether she was alone.
The detective continued.
“We'll need to speak with your uncle. In the meantime, I'd advise you to ensure your wife has appropriate security.””
I turned toward Camila's room.
She was awake, watching us through the partly open door.
I went inside.
“Camila, I need to ask you something.””
She looked exhausted.
“What now?””
“Did Esteban ever visit you while I was away?””
Her eyes shifted toward the window.
“Yes.””
“When?””
“Three days ago.””
My heartbeat quickened.
“What did he want?””
She swallowed.
“He asked me to give him the blue folder.””
“Did you?””
“No.””
“What did he say?””
Camila's fingers tightened around the blanket.
“He said that if I cared about you, I would stop investigating. He said some secrets were dangerous because they could destroy entire families.””
I sat beside her.
“Why didn't you tell me?””
She gave me a tired look.
“Because I didn't know whether you were protecting him or whether he was protecting you.””
I couldn't speak.
She turned toward the window again.
“Mateo, there's something else.””
“What?””
“When Esteban left, he said the money wasn't the only thing that had been stolen five years ago.””
My stomach tightened.
“What else?””
Camila looked at me.
“He said your father had left behind a second will.””
I stared at her.
“My father had one will.””
“No,” she whispered.
“He had two.””
And before I could ask another question, my phone rang again.
This time, it was the hospital's neonatal unit.
May you like
The nurse's voice was urgent.
“Mr. Villarreal, you need to come immediately. Your son has taken a sudden turn for the worse.””
