Chapter 5 - The Handcuffs of Truth
"Actually, Mrs. Harlan," Licenciado Torres smiled coldly, "it can. In the state of Mexico, recordings of criminal acts, including elder abuse, corporate extortion, and conspiracy to commit fraud, are fully admissible when one party consents to the recording. And as the sole owner of the property where the device was installed, Alejandro gave full consent."
Just then, the heavy double doors of the notary’s office were pushed open.
Three federal police officers stepped into the room, accompanied by an investigator from the District Attorney’s office.
"Renata Vance-Harlan? Hugo Mendez?" the investigator asked, presenting a warrant. "You are under arrest for domestic abuse of an elderly person, corporate extortion, and grand larceny of Harlan Logistics."
"No! This is a mistake! Alejandro, tell them!" Renata screamed, her perfect facade completely shattering as an officer grabbed her wrists and pulled her arms behind her back. The cold metal of the handcuffs clicked around her delicate wrists. "You are nothing without me! I made you! I will ruin you!"
"You didn't make me, Renata," I said, standing up and walking over to my mother. I gently placed my hand on Doña Carmen's shoulder. "My mother made me. You just tried to steal what she built."
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Hugo didn't even fight. He went limp as the officers cuffed him, staring at the floor in utter defeat.
As they were led out of the Polanco office building in handcuffs, a crowd of reporters—whom Licenciado Torres had discreetly tipped off—flashed their cameras. By afternoon, the video of the "socialite abuser" was the number one trending topic in the country. Her family's connections couldn't save her; the public outrage was too great.
