Chapter 3 - The Doctor Who Came at Midnight
Samuel arrived forty minutes later in an ordinary gray sedan.
Alejandro had ordered Rafael to open the service gate and admit no one else.
Samuel was younger than Alejandro expected.
He carried a black medical bag and wore no expensive watch, no tailored suit, and none of the symbols the Arandas normally used to measure importance.
He entered the bedroom and ignored Alejandro completely at first.
His attention went to Valeria.
"Any bleeding?"
"No."
"Headache?"
"Some."
"Blurred vision?"
"Last night."
Samuel's expression tightened.
"We're leaving."
Alejandro nodded.
"I'll arrange the hospital."
Samuel turned toward him.
"No."
Alejandro's pride reacted instinctively.
Then he remembered why the doctor distrusted him.
Samuel continued.
"I've arranged a private clinic under another patient's administrative code."
"Only three people know she is coming."
"One of them is me."
Alejandro looked at Valeria.
"If that's what you want."
"It is."
Samuel helped her sit up.
When Valeria's feet touched the floor, she cried out.
Alejandro moved toward her.
She flinched again.
He stopped.
Samuel noticed.
"She isn't only bruised."
"Her left ankle is badly inflamed."
"How?"
Valeria looked down.
"I fell."
Samuel's eyes narrowed.
"You told me you hit the bathroom cabinet."
She said nothing.
Alejandro felt a terrible certainty forming.
"Who made you fall?"
Valeria did not answer.
Samuel glanced between them.
"This conversation can wait."
"No."
Alejandro's voice was quiet.
"It can't."
Valeria finally looked at him.
"Your mother grabbed my arm."
The words were barely audible.
Alejandro's face went blank.
"When?"
"Four days ago."
"Why?"
"Because I said I was leaving the mansion to stay with my friend Camila."
"And?"
"She told me an Aranda heir wasn't going anywhere without permission."
Alejandro's hands curled into fists.
"Then what happened?"
"I pulled away."
"She grabbed harder."
"I slipped."
"I hit the edge of the bathroom step."
"Did anyone see it?"
Valeria hesitated.
"Teresa."
Alejandro reached for his phone.
Samuel stopped him.
"Later."
"Your wife needs treatment first."
They moved toward the door.
Halfway down the corridor, Esther appeared at the top of the staircase.
She wore a cream silk robe and held a rosary in one hand.
Her expression was calm.
Almost maternal.
"Where are you taking her?"
Alejandro stepped in front of Valeria.
"To a hospital."
Esther's gaze shifted to Samuel.
"So the midnight visitor finally introduces himself."
Samuel said nothing.
Esther smiled.
"Doctor, you have caused enough confusion."
"You may leave."
Alejandro stared at his mother.
"He stays."
Esther looked back at her son.
"You don't know what you're doing."
"I know Valeria has been sick."
"I know appointments were canceled."
"I know someone deleted security recordings."
"And I know you stopped Teresa from calling an ambulance."
For the first time, Esther's calm expression cracked.
Only slightly.
"Who told you that?"
Alejandro almost laughed.
Not because anything was funny.
Because she had asked the wrong question.
"You didn't deny it."
Esther stepped closer.
"Alejandro, your wife is emotionally unstable."
"Pregnancy has made her suspicious."
"Dr. Velasco has explained this."
Samuel spoke.
"Dr. Velasco hasn't reviewed the latest bloodwork."
Esther turned toward him.
"And you have?"
"Yes."
"What did you find?"
Samuel watched her carefully.
"Something interesting."
Esther's fingers tightened around the rosary.
Samuel continued.
"Interesting enough that someone stole the samples before I could complete testing."
The color drained from Esther's face.
It returned almost immediately.
"You are making a serious accusation."
"No."
"I'm describing a crime."
Alejandro looked at his mother.
She looked at him.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Esther's eyes moved toward the stairs behind them.
Alejandro followed her gaze.
A uniformed maid stood there carrying a tray.
On it was another cup of the herbal tea.
Esther smiled.
"This has gone far enough."
Alejandro took Valeria's hand.
She did not pull away this time.
"We agree on something."
He led her downstairs.
As they reached the front door, Rafael approached quickly.
His face was tense.
"Mr. Aranda."
"I found out who deleted the recordings."
Alejandro stopped.
"Who?"
Rafael looked past him toward Esther.
Then back at Alejandro.
"The authorization came from your personal office."
Alejandro frowned.
"That's impossible."
May you like
Rafael lowered his voice.
"The request used your access code."
