Part 5: The Trap and the Unraveling
Tomás knew that simply accusing Valeria wouldn't be enough. Her family had deep roots in the political and judicial system of Jalisco. If he attacked her directly, her lawyers would destroy Rosa and bury the case. He had to make Valeria destroy herself.
Tomás returned to the mansion, pretending to be completely devastated and fully supportive of his wife. He found Valeria in the master bedroom, packing an expensive designer suitcase.
"Valeria, what are you doing?" he asked, keeping his voice smooth and neutral.
"Oh, darling, this house feels so tainted now after what that awful maid did," Valeria sighed, not looking at him as she packed her silk dresses. "I think I should take a trip to Paris for a few weeks to clear my mind and recover from the trauma. You can stay here and handle the business and the baby."
"Actually, Valeria, we have a problem," Tomás said, sitting on the edge of the bed. "The police called. They said the forensic team found fingerprints on the chemical bottle that Rosa brought to the hospital. They are running a high-precision digital scan on it tomorrow morning to see if anyone else handled it."
Valeria stopped mid-motion. Her shoulders went completely rigid. "Fingerprints? But... didn't they say she confessed?"
"No, she’s denying everything," Tomás lied smoothly, watching her reflection in the vanity mirror. "But the police commander said that if anyone else’s prints are on that bottle—like yours, for instance, from when you cooked or touched the counters—it could complicate the case. He suggested we pay a small bribe of five million pesos to the evidence locker clerk tonight to have the bottle 'accidentally' destroyed before the scan."
Valeria turned around, her face pale, a desperate sweat breaking through her thick makeup. "Five million? Tomás, we have to do it! We can't let some stupid clerical error ruin our family's reputation! Give me the money from the corporate account, I'll go meet the clerk myself tonight! I'll make sure that bottle disappears!"
"Why are you so worried, Valeria?" Tomás asked, his voice dropping to a dangerously quiet whisper. "If you never touched the bottle, your prints won't be on it."
Valeria panicked, her aristocratic composure completely shattering. "You don't understand, Tomás! That bitch Rosa probably wiped my hands on it while I was sleeping or... or it's a setup! Just give me the money!"
"I don't need to give you anything," Tomás said, standing up slowly.
He pulled a small, active recording device from his breast pocket. At the same moment, the bedroom doors flew open. It wasn't the corrupt police commander who walked in, but federal agents from the Mexican anti-corruption unit, accompanied by Dr. Mendez and a federal prosecutor whom Tomás had contacted privately using his elite business network.
"Valeria Montiel, you are under arrest for the attempted murder of Santiago Montiel, illegal possession of controlled substances, and corporate extortion via false reporting," the federal agent announced, stepping forward with heavy handcuffs.
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Valeria screamed, kicking and scratching as the agents dragged her out of the luxurious bedroom she had used as a throne. "Tomás! You traitor! You're ruining our lives for a worthless maid! I hate you! I hate that crying little brat!"
Tomás watched her get dragged down the grand marble staircase, feeling nothing but a profound sense of relief. The ghost in the hallway was finally gone.
