Chapter 9 - The Hotel Room Evidence
Natalia directed the taxi driver to a modest, unassuming hotel on Avenida México. It was the kind of establishment known for its absolute discretion, staffed by quiet receptionists who had witnessed enough shattered marriages and midnight escapes to know better than to ask probing questions.
Throughout the quiet ride, Doña Refugio kept her face buried in her hands, her eyes fixed blankly on the colorful city lights of Guadalajara blurring against the rain-streaked window.
Once safely inside their modest room, Natalia guided her mother to the bathroom. She wet a clean washcloth with warm water and gently cleaned her mother’s face. Then, she pulled out her phone and carefully took several high-resolution photographs of the angry red mark on Doña Refugio's cheek, which was already beginning to bloom into an ugly, dark purple bruise.
“This is nothing to be ashamed of, Mom,” Natalia said softly, seeing her mother flinch away from the camera lens. “This isn't your shame. This is our evidence.”
Doña Refugio closed her eyes tightly, a fresh tear escaping. “I just wanted to help them. I just wanted to be useful.”
“And they just wanted to find someone they could trample on to feel important,” Natalia replied fiercely.
At exactly 12:18 AM, Javier sent a furious text message: “You completely humiliated me in front of my entire family.”
Natalia read the glowing text without blinking. Her husband had brutally assaulted a sixty-two-year-old woman in his own dining room, but the only thing that actually caused him pain was the perceived damage to his fragile reputation.
May you like
More messages flooded in rapidly. “We need to talk about this when you calm down.” “My mother is crying because of you.” “Jimena is very upset that her cream is broken.”
Natalia turned her phone face down on the small desk. She didn't need to read anymore. She unzipped the suitcase and pulled out the heavy black folder. It was time to go to work.
