Mercedes sat perfectly upright, her handbag clutched against her stomach.
Inspector Salazar approached them first.
"We need to ask some additional questions."
Javier glanced at me.
"What did you tell her?"
"The truth."
His eyes narrowed.
"Clara, whatever you think you've found—"
I held up the envelope.
He stopped speaking.
Mercedes's hand flew toward her necklace.
For one extraordinary second, neither of them seemed capable of moving.
Then Javier lunged forward.
"Give me that."
One of the officers stepped between us.
"Sir, step back."
"It's mine!"
"Step back."
Javier obeyed, breathing heavily.
Mercedes stood.
"That is confidential family paperwork."
I looked directly at her.
"Why does confidential family paperwork include my business?"
She opened her mouth.
Closed it.
Javier spoke instead.
"Because we were trying to protect you."
"From what?"
"From making mistakes. You're good with clients, Clara, but you don't understand how to build something substantial."
I felt something inside me go very still.
