Chapter 4 - Shadows in Puerta de Hierro
Monday arrived with a heavy, gray mist rolling off the hills surrounding Zapopan.
Before heading to the corporate headquarters, Santiago and Mariela shared a quiet breakfast with Sofía, who was busy coloring a picture of three stick figures—a tall man with glasses, a smiling woman, and a little girl holding a golden watch crossed out with a giant red X.
"Is the bad man gone forever?" Sofía asked, biting her lower lip.
"He's going to a very small room where he can't hurt anyone ever again," Santiago answered, smoothing her hair. "And when we get back tonight, we're going to celebrate with ice cream."
By 9:00 AM, Santiago walked through the double glass doors of the Alcázar Technologies executive boardroom. The room was packed. Chairman Roberto Garza, an aging investor bought off by Julián’s faction, sat at the head of the mahogany table flanked by three senior directors.
"Santiago," Garza said with a veneer of false sympathy. "We regret that it had to come to this. Given your recent health struggles—and your erratic hiring practices—the board has voted unanimously to suspend your executive privileges."
Santiago didn't flinch. He walked slowly to his seat, pulled out the chair, and sat down with absolute composure.
"Health struggles, Roberto?" Santiago asked smoothly. "Or are you more concerned about the federal investigation into the offshore accounts you and Julián set up in the Cayman Islands?"
The color drained from Garza’s face. He slammed his hands on the table. "That is an outrageous slander! You have no proof!"
"Proof?" Santiago snapped his fingers.
The heavy boardroom doors swung open. Two federal investigators walked in, flanked by state police officers. In their hands were thick binders containing Mariela’s recovered ledger and digital backups of every wire transfer connecting Garza and Julián.
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"Roberto Garza, you are under arrest for corporate conspiracy, securities fraud, and money laundering," the lead investigator announced, reading the warrant aloud as handcuffs clicked around the chairman’s wrists.
The remaining conspirators in the room froze, paralyzed by terror, realizing their coup had completely imploded. Within ten minutes, the boardroom was cleared of corruption, leaving only Santiago and his loyal legal counsel.
