Chapter 8 - Someone Was Watching the Clinic
Alejandro immediately called Samuel.
"Move her."
Samuel did not ask why.
"How soon?"
"Now."
"Someone photographed Valeria entering the clinic."
Samuel cursed.
"I'll arrange another site."
"Do not tell me where over the phone."
Alejandro called Rafael next.
"I want the vehicle that took that photograph identified."
"Already working on it."
"No police contact through family channels."
"Understood."
Alejandro stared at Marcela's message.
The threat had not come from an unknown number.
That was either arrogance or panic.
He called her.
She answered immediately.
"Finally."
"Who took the picture?"
"What picture?"
Alejandro almost smiled.
"You just sent it to me."
"Oh."
A pause.
"I received it from someone."
"Who?"
"I don't know."
"That's becoming your favorite answer."
Marcela's tone changed.
"Come home."
"Why?"
"Mother wants to speak with you."
"Mother can call me."
"She doesn't want to discuss this over the phone."
"What is this?"
Silence.
Then Marcela whispered.
"Dad."
Alejandro stopped breathing.
"What about him?"
"Come home and we'll tell you."
"We?"
"Mother and me."
"Tell me now."
"I can't."
"Then I'll learn it somewhere else."
"Alejandro."
He hung up.
At five minutes before five, he arrived near the church in San Angel.
Rafael had insisted on remaining within sight, despite Tomas's demand that Alejandro come alone.
The church courtyard was nearly empty.
Tomas Velasco stood beside a fountain holding a brown envelope.
He looked around thirty-five.
Thin.
Nervous.
He walked toward Alejandro.
"My father doesn't know I took these."
"Where is he?"
"At home."
"Is he safe?"
"I don't know."
Tomas handed over the envelope.
Inside were copies of medical records dated twelve years earlier.
Eduardo Aranda.
Alejandro read the results.
Platelet count.
Abnormal clotting.
Unexplained bruising.
Bleeding.
The same pattern.
His hands began shaking.
"There is more."
Tomas handed him a handwritten note.
It was signed by Dr. Javier Velasco.
PATIENT REPORTS WIFE ADMINISTERS DAILY HERBAL PREPARATION.
RECOMMEND IMMEDIATE TOXICOLOGY SCREEN.
Alejandro looked up.
"Was the screen done?"
Tomas shook his head.
"The next morning, my father was ordered to stop treating Eduardo."
"Ordered by whom?"
Tomas looked terrified.
"Your mother."
Alejandro folded the paper carefully.
"And then?"
"Three days later your father died."
Alejandro felt the courtyard move around him.
"Why did your father stay silent?"
"Because Esther threatened him."
"With what?"
"My father had been using medication from the clinic for my mother's cancer treatment."
"She was dying."
"He broke hospital rules."
"Esther found out."
"So she blackmailed him."
Tomas nodded.
"My father signed a death certificate listing cardiac failure."
"He has hated himself ever since."
"Why help treat Valeria now?"
"Because your mother called him."
"What did she ask him to do?"
Tomas looked away.
"Keep telling everyone Valeria's symptoms were normal."
Alejandro's expression hardened.
Tomas continued.
"My father refused to do more than that."
"That's when she began using another physician."
"Who?"
"I don't know."
Suddenly Rafael shouted from across the courtyard.
"Alejandro!"
A motorcycle accelerated near the gate.
The rider wore a black helmet.
He headed directly toward Tomas.
Rafael moved first.
He pulled Alejandro backward.
The motorcycle missed them by inches.
Tomas was not as lucky.
The bike struck his shoulder and threw him onto the stone pavement.
The rider sped away.
People screamed.
Alejandro dropped beside Tomas.
Blood ran from the younger man's forehead.
Tomas grabbed Alejandro's sleeve.
"The key."
Alejandro froze.
"What key?"
"Your father."
"Locker 317."
Alejandro stared at him.
"You know about it?"
Tomas struggled to breathe.
"He gave my father the matching number."
"Where?"
May you like
"Banco Nacional."
Then Tomas lost consciousness.
