Chapter 4 - The Cleaning of the HouseTwo days later, the morning air in Colonia Del Valle was crisp and clear.
A large commercial moving van was parked in front of Doña Teresa’s house. The front heavy wooden doors were wide open, allowing the scent of fresh pine cleaner, floor wax, and blooming jasmine to fill the high-ceilinged rooms.
Doña Teresa stood in the center of the spacious living room, wearing a simple apron over her clothes. Beside her stood Rosa, holding a feather duster and a stack of clean linen towels. Standing near the hallway were two professional locksmiths, who had just finished installing a state-of-the-art biometric security system on every exterior door of the residence.
“All done, Doña Teresa,” the head locksmith said, handing her two heavy brass keys and showing her the digital keypad. “Only fingerprints registered by you can open these doors now. The security cameras along the perimeter are live twenty-four hours a day, connected directly to Commander Mendoza’s station.”
“Thank you, young man,” Teresa said warmly, handing him a generous tip. “You have given me back my peace.”
As the locksmiths departed, Attorney Verónica Salazar stepped into the living room, holding a freshly sealed manila envelope.
“Good morning, Teresa! Good morning, Rosa!” Verónica called out cheerfully, inhaling the crisp, clean air of the house. “It smells wonderful in here.”
“It smells like a home again, Licensed Salazar,” Rosa said with a wide, proud smile. “We spent all morning throwing out the trash.”
By 'trash,' Rosa meant the luxury suits, expensive shoes, imported wine bottles, and designer magazines that Patricia and Alejandro had accumulated during their months of squatting in the house. Everything had been packed into cardboard boxes and placed in storage under legal impoundment.
Verónica sat down at the pristine dining table, opening her envelope.
“I have updates from the prosecutor’s office,” Verónica reported. “Patricia’s luxury event agency has officially declared bankruptcy under judicial supervision. The bankruptcy judge found evidence of massive tax fraud and illegal diversion of client deposits. The federal tax authority has joined the criminal prosecution against her.”
Doña Teresa sat across from her lawyer, pouring three glasses of fresh orange juice. “And Alejandro?”
Verónica’s expression softened slightly into a professional, realistic calm. “Alejandro’s legal situation is dire, Teresa. Because he signed several of the forged corporate documents alongside Patricia, he is facing charges of corporate fraud in addition to elder abuse. His defense lawyer tried to negotiate a plea deal yesterday, offering to testify fully against Patricia in exchange for a reduced sentence.”
Teresa paused, her glass halfway to her lips. “Did the prosecutor accept?”
“Commander Mendoza and the lead prosecutor agreed to consider it, but only if Alejandro signs a full, irrevocable legal renunciation of any future claim to this property or your estate,” Verónica explained carefully. “He would also have to pay full court costs and complete mandatory rehabilitation while serving a reduced five-year sentence.”
Doña Teresa looked around her beautiful living room—at the sunbeams hitting the polished wooden furniture, at the portraits of her ancestors hanging on the wall, and at Rosa happily dusting the crystal chandelier.
“Tell the prosecutor to accept the deal, Verónica,” Teresa said calmly.
Verónica raised an eyebrow slightly. “Are you sure, Teresa? After everything he let her do to you?”
“I am not doing it out of weakness, Verónica,” Teresa said, her voice steady and wise. “I am doing it because justice without mercy is just another form of cruelty. Alejandro needs to pay for his crimes in prison, but he also needs a chance to realize the foolishness of his life. Once he signs the renunciation of this home, his tether to my life is severed. He will have to build his own future from the ground up when he steps out of that cell.”
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Rosa nodded solemnly from across the room. “Doña Teresa is right. A tree cannot grow fresh leaves until the rotten branches are cut away.”
Verónica smiled warmly, pulling out a document. “I will draft the renunciation order today. Within forty-eight hours, this house will be legally untouchable forever.”
