Chapter 6: The Night Someone Tried to Erase the Evidence
Daniel called the police that evening.
Not because he knew everything.
Because he finally understood he knew enough.
The officer who arrived was older, experienced, and careful.
Detective Marcus Hill listened without interrupting.
He looked through the letter.
The photograph.
The threatening note.
Then he looked at Daniel.
"You should have contacted someone sooner.""
Daniel accepted the criticism.
"I know.""
"Why didn't you?""
Daniel looked toward the living room.
Where Sofia sat beside Dolores.
"Because I trusted the wrong person.""
Detective Hill followed his gaze.
"Renata?""
Daniel nodded.
The detective wrote something down.
"Where is she now?""
Daniel looked around.
The house was too quiet.
"She was here.""
A strange feeling moved through him.
He walked upstairs.
The detective followed.
Renata's room was empty.
The closet doors were open.
Drawers had been pulled out.
"She's gone," Daniel whispered.
But then he saw something.
The window.
Open.
Rain blew inside.
And on the floor were papers.
Burned papers.
Someone had tried to destroy evidence.
Detective Hill carefully picked one up.
"What is this?""
Daniel moved closer.
It was part of a document.
Only a few words remained.
"Vehicle inspection...""
Daniel's face changed.
The detective noticed.
"You know what that is?""
Daniel swallowed.
"Elena's accident.""
The detective looked at him.
"You think she was involved?""
Daniel stared at the burned paper.
"I think my wife was trying to warn me.""
Outside, a car engine suddenly started.
Daniel rushed to the window.
A black vehicle was speeding away from the driveway.
"Renata!""
He ran downstairs.
But by the time he reached the front door, the car was already disappearing into the darkness.
Sofia stood in the hallway.
"Daddy?""
He stopped.
Because he saw the fear on her face.
Not because Renata left.
Because she thought Renata might come back.
He walked to her.
"No one is taking you anywhere.""
"But what if she comes back?""
Daniel knelt.
"Then she will have to face me.""
Sofia looked at him.
"Promise?""
Daniel held her hand.
"I promise.""
But as he said it, his phone rang.
Unknown number.
He answered.
No one spoke.
Only silence.
Then a woman's voice.
Renata.
"You found the papers.""
Daniel's jaw tightened.
"Where are you?""
"You still don't understand.""
"Understand what?""
A quiet laugh came through the phone.
"Elena wasn't trying to protect you from me.""
Daniel froze.
"Then who was she protecting me from?""
The line went silent.
Then Renata whispered:
"She was protecting you from the person who helped her die.""
The call ended.
Daniel stood frozen.
Because suddenly, the truth became much bigger than Renata.
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And somewhere in the darkness outside the house...
Someone else was still watching.
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