Chapter 4: The Brother Who Was Buried Twice
“My brother is dead.””
Alejandro's words came out so quietly that Daniel almost failed to hear them.
On the security room monitor, Elena's photograph remained frozen beside the image of the little girl holding a red balloon. Outside, the first light of dawn crept over the mansion's gardens, illuminating the white roses Isabella had ordered for a wedding that would never happen.
Daniel lowered his phone.
“The caller knew the private transfer code used by your father's office. He also knew the clinic had photographed Elena six days ago.””
“That's not possible.””
“I checked the number. It was registered through a prepaid phone, but the call originated from somewhere near Puerto Azul.””
Alejandro turned toward him.
“Show me my brother's death certificate.””
Daniel hesitated.
“Sir, I've already requested the archived records.””
“Then show me what we have.””
Daniel opened the family database. Sebastián Villaseñor's official file appeared on the screen, complete with a photograph of Alejandro's older brother wearing a navy suit and the same confident smile that had once made every room seem smaller.
According to the report, Sebastián had died in a boating accident four years earlier. His body had been recovered from the water, identified by a medical examiner, and cremated according to the family's wishes.
Alejandro remembered the phone call that had shattered his life.
He remembered his father sitting alone in the library, refusing to speak to anyone for two days.
He remembered the closed casket at the memorial service.
But there had never been a body to see.
His father had said the remains were too damaged.
Alejandro had been twenty-nine, drowning in business obligations and grief. He had accepted the explanation because he couldn't imagine his father inventing the death of his own son.
Now, he wondered how many lies his family had buried beneath expensive marble.
“Call the medical examiner,” Alejandro ordered.
“It's barely six in the morning.””
“Then he can have his breakfast while explaining why my dead brother is calling hospitals.””
Daniel immediately began dialing.
Alejandro walked to the window.
His hands shook as he pulled out the photograph of Elena and their newborn daughter.
He had once believed his brother was the only person in the family who might have accepted Elena. Sebastián had teased Alejandro mercilessly about being in love, but he had also helped them meet secretly when their father tried to keep them apart.
If Sebastián had survived, why had he remained silent?
And why was he now claiming Elena as his wife?
A soft knock sounded.
Marisol entered with Valentina, who wore a yellow cardigan and carried her stuffed rabbit.
“I'm sorry, señor,” Marisol said.
“She wouldn't eat breakfast until she saw you.””
Alejandro crouched immediately.
“Good morning, princesa.””
Valentina examined his face.
“You look tired.””
“I didn't sleep very well.””
“Did you have a bad dream too?””
He managed a small smile.
“Something like that.””
She reached into her pocket and offered him a tiny cracker.
“Here. It helps.””
Alejandro accepted it solemnly.
“Thank you. I think I needed this more than you did.””
Valentina giggled.
For a few seconds, the world became simple again.
Then she noticed the photograph in his hand.
“That's Mommy!””
“Yes.””
“Why is she outside?””
Alejandro looked at the image.
“Because someone took a picture of her.””
Valentina's smile faded.
“Is Mommy coming home?””
He swallowed.
“I'm trying to find her.””
“Then why don't you call her?””
The question was so innocent that it hurt.
Alejandro glanced at Marisol, who looked away.
“I don't have her number, sweetheart.””
Valentina considered this.
Then she slipped her hand into the pocket of her cardigan and produced a folded piece of paper.
“Mommy gave me this before she went away.””
Alejandro unfolded it carefully.
Three numbers had been written in blue ink. Beneath them was a short note in Elena's handwriting.
If someone says I am gone, ask the man with the silver watch.
Alejandro's blood ran cold.
His father had worn a silver watch every day for more than thirty years.
He took out his phone and photographed the note.
“Valentina, did Mommy tell you who the man was?””
She shook her head.
“She said he was bad because he made Daddy sad.””
Alejandro stared at the words.
His father had died eighteen months earlier.
Yet Elena had apparently left this message knowing that someone might try to erase her existence.
He called Daniel over.
“Check these numbers. Every one of them.””
Daniel took the paper.
“Yes, sir.””
“And find out who has my father's silver watch.””
Marisol frowned.
“Your father's watch?””
Alejandro turned toward her.
“Did Elena ever mention it?””
Marisol's face changed.
“She said a man came to her apartment wearing a silver watch. He told her you had chosen another woman.””
“Did she describe him?””
“She couldn't see his face clearly. She said he wore gloves, even though it wasn't cold.””
Alejandro thought of his father's personal secretary, Arthur Bennett, who had served the family for nearly twenty years.
Arthur always wore gloves when handling archival documents, claiming the paper dust irritated his skin.
He also wore a silver watch Alejandro had seen countless times.
“Where is Arthur now?”” Alejandro asked.
Daniel answered from the doorway.
“Retired. Living in Puerto Azul.””
The same coastal town.
Alejandro grabbed his jacket.
“Get the car.””
Marisol stepped forward.
“Señor, please be careful. Elena was terrified of those people. If they discover you're looking for her, they might take Valentina away.””
Alejandro looked at the little girl beside him.
“They won't get near her.””
He knelt and held Valentina's hands.
“I'm going away for a little while. Marisol will stay with you, and Daniel will make sure you're safe.””
Valentina's eyes filled with tears.
“You said you wouldn't leave.””
The words struck deeper than any threat.
Alejandro pulled her into his arms.
“I know. And I'm sorry. But I'm going to find your mommy.””
She pressed her face into his shoulder.
“Bring her home.””
“I will.””
He kissed the top of her head and stood.
As he reached the doorway, Valentina called after him.
“Daddy?””
He turned.
“Mommy said if you ever found me, I should tell you something.””
Alejandro walked back to her.
“What did she say?””
Valentina leaned close and whispered the words Elena had apparently taught her.
“Don't trust the man who cries at funerals.””
Alejandro froze.
His father had cried at Sebastián's funeral.
And at Elena's.
But his father was dead.
Which meant the warning could not have been about him alone.
Two hours later, Alejandro's SUV crossed the coastal highway toward Puerto Azul.
Daniel sat beside him with a tablet open on his knees.
“The medical examiner's office found a discrepancy,” Daniel reported.
“Sebastián's death certificate was issued two days before the supposed accident.””
Alejandro slowly turned his head.
“Two days before?””
“Yes. The document was digitally altered after the fact, but the original registration date remains in the archive.””
Alejandro looked through the windshield.
The ocean flashed between the trees.
“Someone planned his death before the boat ever left the harbor.””
Daniel nodded.
“And there's something else. Arthur Bennett's house was searched by local police this morning.””
“Why?””
“An anonymous caller reported a burglary.””
“Was anything stolen?””
“The police haven't released details.””
Alejandro's phone vibrated.
An unknown number.
He answered.
“Who is this?””
For several seconds, there was only static.
Then a familiar voice whispered, “Alejandro, if you're listening, it's already too late.””
His heart stopped.
“Sebastián?””
A breathless laugh came through the speaker.
“You always were the slow one, little brother.””
Alejandro gripped the phone.
“Where is Elena?””
The line went silent.
Then Sebastián said something that turned Alejandro's blood to ice.
“Ask your daughter what her mother buried beneath the old chapel.””
The call disconnected.
May you like
And for the first time in four years, Alejandro realized that his brother might not have escaped death.
He might have been running from something far worse.
