Chapter 5 - THE FOUNDATION OF LIES
The Martin Foundation had been celebrated for decades.
Its annual gala raised millions.
Its board included politicians, executives, and religious leaders.
Its brochures showed smiling children standing beneath bright banners.
But the financial records told another story.
Navy met Diego in his study the following afternoon.
She carried a small black notebook.
He stood when she entered.
She placed it on the desk.
"This is the index."
Diego stared.
"Index?"
"I didn't keep everything in one place."
He looked up.
"Why?"
"Because my father searched my room."
Her voice remained calm.
"He searched it often."
Diego said nothing.
Navy opened the notebook.
Inside were dates.
Account numbers.
Names.
And references to documents stored elsewhere.
Diego leaned closer.
"These payments—"
"Correspond to transfers between foundation facilities."
He frowned.
"Why are some names crossed out?"
Navy looked away.
"Because those children disappeared from the records."
Diego stared at the page.
His uncle Emilio had once told him that some crimes were worse than murder.
At the time, Diego had thought the old man was being dramatic.
Now he understood.
"Who else knows?" he asked.
Navy hesitated.
"My father's former accountant."
"Name?"
"Margaret Ellis."
Diego wrote it down.
"Anyone else?"
Navy looked at him.
"Thomas."
His expression hardened.
"Your brother?"
She nodded.
"He knew enough to understand something was wrong."
"Why didn't he stop it?"
Navy laughed bitterly.
"Because Thomas never stopped anything that threatened his inheritance."
Diego looked at her.
"Why didn't you go to the police?"
Navy's face changed.
For a moment, she looked younger.
Much younger.
"Because when I tried to tell someone, my father found out."
Diego's eyes moved toward her covered shoulders.
Navy nodded once.
"That was the winter I turned thirteen."
He closed his eyes.
For the first time, Diego understood that the scars weren't simply evidence of cruelty.
They were evidence of silence enforced through fear.
He looked at Navy.
"We need to take this to the authorities."
She stared.
"You?"
"Yes."
She laughed without humor.
"The head of the Ramos syndicate wants to cooperate with the police?"
Diego nodded.
"On this, yes."
Navy studied him.
Then said:
"Then you'll have to accept that they may investigate you too."
Diego looked at the notebook.
"I know."
She held his gaze.
"Good."
May you like
Because she wasn't interested in replacing one powerful man with another.
She wanted the truth.
