Chapter 17 - The Arsonist's Dilemma|
The pungent smell of gasoline made Mateo’s eyes water. He took a slow step forward, raising his hands in a placating gesture.
"Sarah, please. Put the lighter down," Mateo pleaded, keeping his voice as steady as he could. "Who has your sister? We can help you. Vargas is right outside."
"The police can't stop them!" Sarah sobbed, her hand trembling violently over the soaked documents. The small flame danced, casting erratic shadows across the walls of the office. "Vance was just a middleman. The cartel your father owed money to... they bought Vance. They bought my sister. They want Mariana ruined so they can buy this property for their trafficking routes. They want you out on the streets!"
Mateo’s mind spun. His father had been a low-level enforcer, but Mateo never fully understood the depth of the criminal ties he had left behind.
"Burning this won't save her," Mateo said, taking another step. "Once they have what they want, they won't leave loose ends, Sarah. You know that. Mariana can protect her. She protects everyone."
"It's too late!" Sarah cried out, moving to drop the lighter.
Without thinking, Mateo lunged. He didn't go for the lighter; he tackled Sarah to the ground. The lighter slipped from her fingers, flying through the air and landing harmlessly on the thick carpet, inches away from the puddle of gasoline.
Mateo scrambled to grab it, clicking the flame off and shoving it into his pocket.
"No, no, no!" Sarah wailed, curling into a ball on the floor, tearing at her own hair. "They're going to kill her!"
Mariana burst into the room, followed closely by Detective Vargas. She took one look at the soaked documents and the hysterical girl on the floor and understood instantly.
"Vargas, get a fire extinguisher," Mariana ordered, dropping to her knees beside Sarah. She didn't yell. She didn't show anger. She simply wrapped her arms around the girl who had just tried to destroy her life's work.
"It's okay, Sarah. We've got you," Mariana soothed.
"They have Chloe," Sarah wept into Mariana's shoulder.
Vargas returned, ensuring the room was safe, then looked at Mateo. "You saved the foundation today, kid. But we need to act fast. Sarah, who contacted you? Where is your sister?"
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Before Sarah could answer, Mateo’s phone rang. It was Elena again.
"Mateo," his biological mother said, her voice shaking with adrenaline. "I followed Vance’s private security detail after he left the diner. They took a little girl into an abandoned warehouse near the docks."
