Chapter 5 - The Web Untangles
Natalia Torres used the incident with the lawyer to file an additional charge of witness intimidation against Don Ramiro. The federal authorities, seeing the undeniable evidence of bribery involving public contracts on Mariana’s SD card, officially stepped in, bypassing the corrupt local officials who had protected the family for a generation.
Federal agents raided the corporate headquarters of Hale Construction Supplies. They seized computers, ledgers, and froze every bank account associated with Adrian, Beatriz, and Don Ramiro.
In a secure conference room at the federal prosecutor's office, Mariana sat with Natalia, reviewing the fallout.
"They are completely frozen," Natalia explained, showing Mariana the freezing orders. "They can't even pay their high-priced lawyers anymore. The defense firm dropped them this morning because their retainers bounced. The court has appointed them public defenders."
"Where are they staying?" Mariana asked.
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"The Juriquilla mansion has a federal seizure seal on the front door," Natalia smiled faintly. "Beatriz tried to fight the agents who put up the tape. She’s currently staying in a cheap motel near the highway, using cash she had hidden in her purses. The empire they built on your inheritance has completely collapsed."
Mariana looked out the window at the city. It was the first time she realized that the power Adrian used to hold over her was entirely artificial. It was built on her silence, her money, and her fear. Once those were gone, he was nothing but a weak man in a orange jumpsuit.
