If Aurelio finds out about this too soon, he’ll pull out all the stops to destroy it. We need to act in secret until the very last moment. So, let’s act.
Fernanda picked up her phone. Prepare courtroom 5, closed hearing, maximum security, and make sure no one, absolutely no one, knows who is involved.
Final flashback. The night of the crime from Sara’s perspective.
Sara was in the kitchen when she heard the front door open.
She thought it was Ramiro who had forgotten something, but the footsteps were different, heavier, more purposeful. Gonzalo appeared in the doorway of the kitchen. His expression was cold, calculated.
I warned you not to get involved, Sara. Gonzalo, we can talk about this. It doesn’t have to end badly. It already did.
Things ended badly when you decided to threaten me. Aurelio says you’re a loose end, and loose ends get cut. He lunged at her.
Sara tried to defend herself, but Gonzalo was stronger. He hit her. She fell against the table. Her vision blurred. The last thing she saw before losing consciousness was her daughter.
Salomé stood in the hallway, her eyes wide with terror. Sara gathered her last bit of strength and signaled her. Silence.
Hide. Don’t make a sound. Salome obeyed. She hid in the hallway closet. The next thing Sara remembered was waking up in a moving car.
Martin was taking her somewhere safe. “My daughter,” she murmured. “My husband. We can’t go back,” Martin said.
“Gonalo thinks you’re dead. If you come back, he’ll finish killing you and kill the girl as a witness.”
Sara wept all the way to San Jerónimo, but a resolve was forming in her mind. Someday, when it was safe, she would return and destroy those who had stolen her life.
That day had arrived. The emergency hearing began at 10 a.m.
Eight hours remained until Ramiro’s scheduled execution. The courtroom was empty, except for those involved.
Judge Fernanda Torres, Dolores Medina, Sara Fuentes, Martín Reyes and a representative of the Public Ministry who had no connection with Aurelio Sánchez.
“Proceed, Attorney Medina,” the judge ordered. Dolores presented the evidence methodically. First, the DNA analysis confirming Sara’s identity.
Then the original will of the parents was compared with the one forged by Aurelio.
After the recording of the night of the attack, when the voices of Gonzalo and Aurelio filled the courtroom, the representative of the Public Ministry turned pale.
“This involves a sitting judge,” he murmured. “Do you have any idea what that means? It means an innocent man is hours away from being executed for a crime he didn’t commit.”
Dolores replied. It means that the system that was supposed to protect him was corrupted from within.
This means we need to act now. Judge Torres heard Sara’s testimony, then Martín’s.
He examined Salomé’s drawing with the analysis of the forensic psychologist. He reviewed the records of real estate transactions between Gonzalo and Aurelio.
Finally, he spoke. The evidence presented is sufficient to order the immediate suspension of the execution and the reopening of the Fuentes case.
I issue an arrest warrant against Aurelio Sánchez for conspiracy, obstruction of justice, and complicity in attempted homicide.
Notify the penitentiary immediately. Dolores felt her legs tremble. They had done it.
Aurelio Sánchez knew something had gone wrong when four judicial agents arrived at his office. “Wés Sánchez needs to come with us,” said the agent in charge.
“Under what charges? This is ridiculous.”
Do you know who I am? We know perfectly well, sir. That’s why we’re here.” Aurelio tried to negotiate. He offered information about other corrupt officials.
He promised to hand over documents that would implicate senators, governors, and businessmen, but the agents had specific orders and no negotiations. As they handcuffed him, Aurelio made one last call from his personal phone.
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