Next to him, lawyers by trade.
Back, federal agents.
Attorney General Adrián Montes was presiding over the meeting.
“We’re not here to negotiate,” he said. We are here to show you what you did and what comes next.
Elena attached a laptop to the screen.
The park appeared.
Several shots.
The municipal chamber.
Neighbors' motives.
The recording of a retired judge filming his granddaughter without knowing he was catching a full abuse.
Javier's body camera.
Sergio approaching.
The broken newspaper.
The push.
Don Manuel on his knees.
The crying girl.
Sergio’s voice sounded clear:
People like you always think you can sit where you want.
Sergio lowered his head.
Click the button below to read the next part of the story.
Elena changed her image.
The identification room.
The red screen.
Ricardo closing the laptop at once.
“At 16:44,” Elena said, “the system identified Director Rivas. Inspector Cruz suppressed the alert. He ordered to delete the notice. That action was recorded on federal servers.
Richard squeezed his eyes.
Elena opened a sheet with names.
“Now, the pattern.
Twenty-three files appeared on the screen.
Thomas Medina.
Maria Santos.
Luis Herrera.
Jaime Murillo.
And nineteen others.
—Cripted complaints. Hidden videos. False reports. Manipulated evidence. Unjustified injuries. Families destroyed.
Prosecutor Montes spoke in a lower voice.
The figures matter. But the numbers don't cry. People are.
The door opened.
Four victims came in.
Tomás Medina, former accountant.
Maria Santos, mother of two children.
Luis Herrera, construction worker.
Jaime Murillo, veteran with a medal on the jacket.
Sergio recognized Thomas immediately.
Thomas stood in front of him.
You put a bag in my car. He looked me in the eye while I screamed that it was not mine. I spent eight months locked up. I lost my job. I lost custody of my daughter. All for you to meet a fee.
Sergio couldn't hold his gaze.
Mary spoke later.
He handcuffed me in front of my children at the school door. My child was six years old. He still wakes up screaming at night. You didn't just humiliate me. He stole the peace of mind from my children.
Luis lifted his shirt and showed a scar.
“He broke a kidney with my baton while in handcuffs. I can't go back to work like I used to. My family went into debt for an operation I never should have needed.
