Chapter 4 - THE BOX BENEATH THE FLOOR
Rey Alvarez had one rule.
Sadi was never allowed to enter the locked storage room behind their kitchen.
For nearly two years, she obeyed.
Then, one night, while Rey was away, she heard a phone ringing behind the door.
Not once.
Not twice.
Continuously.
She had found the key hidden beneath the refrigerator.
Inside the storage room stood three metal boxes.
The first contained burner phones.
The second held stacks of cash.
The third contained shipping documents and a small black notebook.
Sadi had opened the notebook.
Names.
Dates.
Container numbers.
And payments.
She did not understand everything she saw.
But she recognized one name.
Victor Serrano.
A week later, Rey discovered that the notebook had been moved.
He accused Sadi of stealing from him.
She denied it.
He threw her across the kitchen.
That was how her collarbone broke.
In the hospital, she told Leo everything.
He listened without interrupting.
When she finished, he looked toward the window.
"Victor Serrano."
Sadi nodded.
"You know him?"
"Unfortunately."
"Is he dangerous?"
Leo considered the question.
"Yes."
She swallowed.
"More dangerous than Rey?"
Leo looked at her.
"That depends on what he wants."
Sadi's eyes filled.
"I didn't take anything."
"Did you photograph the notebook?"
She hesitated.
"Yes."
Leo's pulse quickened.
"Where are the pictures?"
"On an old phone."
"Where?"
She looked at him.
"In my locker at Frankie's."
Leo stood.
Then stopped.
"Sadi, I need you to understand something."
She watched him.
"Whatever is on that phone could be important. But I don't want you to hand it to me because you're frightened."
"What should I do?"
"Talk to an attorney. Someone independent of me."
She looked confused.
"Why?"
"Because my organization may be connected to whatever Rey is hiding."
May you like
Sadi stared.
For the first time, Leo looked less like a rescuer and more like a man standing at the edge of his own reckoning.
