Chapter 21 - THREE FATHERS
Arturo Cordova chose a private dining room in a Midtown hotel where the carpet was thick enough to swallow footsteps.
Park wanted to wire me.
Arturo's lawyer refused the meeting if police equipment was present.
Grace told me not to go.
I went anyway.
That was my mistake.
I knew it was a mistake before I entered the elevator.
I went because Santiago had broken my daughter's face.
Sometimes knowing why you are making a bad decision only makes it more embarrassing.
Arturo stood when I entered.
He was shorter than I expected.
Perfect gray suit.
Wedding ring.
A father who had probably attended school plays and complained about tuition bills while paying people to erase his son's violence.
"Daniel."
"Arturo."
"It has been a long time."
"Not long enough."
He gestured to the table.
Food had been ordered.
I did not sit.
"Talk."
Arturo sighed.
"You always did hate ceremony."
"You always hid behind it."
His lawyer started to object.
Arturo lifted a hand.
"Leave us."
"Mr. Cordova—"
"Leave."
The lawyer left reluctantly.
Arturo poured water.
"Santiago is sick."
"No."
His hand stopped.
"You don't know him."
"I know what he did to my daughter."
"He has had anger problems since childhood."
"Then you had nineteen years to get him help."
Arturo looked down.
"I did."
"Did you? Or did you pay people?"
His face tightened.
"Both."
There it was.
A small piece of honesty in an expensive room.
"He hurt another student three years ago," I said.
"Yes."
"You paid the family."
"Yes."
"He threatened a woman."
"Yes."
"You protected him."
"Yes."
I finally sat.
"Then don't call him sick like illness signed the checks."
Arturo looked older.
"You think I don't know what I did?"
"I think you knew every time."
He flinched.
Good.
Then I hated myself for enjoying it.
"Why am I here?"
Arturo slid a folder across the table.
"Marcus has represented my family for years."
"I know."
"He told Santiago your daughter had stolen material belonging to us."
"When?"
"Two days before the party."
"You knew?"
"I knew Marcus wanted the material recovered. I did not know Santiago would confront her."
"Convenient."
"True."
"Those words are not the same."
"I know."
I opened the folder.
Invoices from Vale Crisis Management.
One line item read: REPUTATIONAL CONTAINMENT - MARQUEZ ARCHIVE.
"What is this?"
"Marcus billed us for locating Elena's copies."
"Us?"
"Cordova Construction. Varela Foundation. Beltran affiliates."
"For how long?"
"Years."
"And you paid."
"Yes."
"Because you knew what Elena had."
Arturo's eyes moved away.
"Some of it."
"Did you order Luis Marron to follow her?"
He went still.
I leaned forward.
"Answer."
"I told Luis to frighten her."
The room became very quiet.
"Did you order the crash?"
"No."
"Did you know Marcus's car was there?"
"No."
"Why frighten her?"
"She was about to give prosecutors documents that would destroy my company."
"So you threatened my wife."
"Yes."
I thought I would want to kill him when I heard it.
Instead, I felt something colder.
"And after she died?"
"Marcus said silence protected everyone."
"Including you."
"Especially me."
I closed the folder.
"Give this to Park."
"I will give it to you."
"No."
"Why?"
"Because if I walk out carrying it, your lawyer will say I altered it."
Arturo studied me.
"The Ghost wouldn't care."
"The Ghost is why Elena was afraid to tell me."
That shut him up.
Then Arturo did something I did not expect.
He offered money.
"Every surgery Renata needs. Every treatment. Graduate school. Housing. Whatever number makes her whole."
I stared at him.
"You think there is a number?"
"No."
"Then why say it?"
"Because I don't know how else to fix what my son did."
"You don't fix it."
His face tightened.
"Then what do I do?"
"Stop buying exits."
I stood.
"Walk into the DA's office and tell the truth."
"That could send me to prison."
"Yes."
He looked at me like the answer was unfair.
I almost laughed.
Outside, Grace was waiting.
"Did you record it?"
"No."
She stared at me.
"Did Park?"
"No. Arturo refused."
"So you just obtained a confession to witness intimidation and failed to preserve it."
"He gave me invoices."
"Did you take them?"
"No."
Grace closed her eyes.
"I need a less exhausting client."
My phone rang.
Park.
"Daniel, Santiago's ankle monitor appointment was moved up."
"Good."
"He didn't show."
"What?"
"His house is empty. His phone is off. Driver gone."
"Arturo is upstairs."
Park went silent.
"Do not let him leave."
I turned toward the elevator.
The doors opened.
Arturo stood inside alone.
His face had changed.
"Santiago called me," he said.
"Where is he?"
Arturo shook his head.
"He said if I cooperate, he'll make sure I bury another child."
---
(To be continued)
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