Chapter 12 - The Criminal IndictmentTwo weeks after the family court ruling, the State District Attorney formally filed criminal charges against Daniel and Carmen Gutierrez.
Grand Larceny. Wire Fraud. Corporate Embezzlement. Felony Child Endangerment.
Because they couldn't afford to post the 250,000-peso bail set by the criminal court judge, both Daniel and Carmen were remanded directly to the County Detention Center to await trial.
Valeria, desperate to avoid being dragged down into prison alongside them, cut all ties with her mother and brother. She dropped out of university, took a job as a waitress at a diner on the outskirts of the city, and moved into a cramped studio apartment with three roommates.
The luxury lifestyle she had boasted about on social media had vanished overnight, replaced by twelve-hour shifts, minimum wage, and aching feet.
One rainy Friday afternoon, Victoria called me into her office to review the final settlement paperwork for the Puerto Vallarta condo.
"We just finalized the sale of the condo, Mariana," Victoria said, sliding a bank confirmation slip across her mahogany desk. "A resort developer purchased it for 1.1 million pesos—twenty percent above market value."
I looked at the confirmation slip. $1,100,000 Pesos.
"What do you want to do with the money?" Victoria asked, leaning back in her leather chair.
I didn't hesitate. "Create a private, irrevocable educational trust fund for Camila. Put the entire amount into high-yield investment bonds. When she turns eighteen, she will have enough to attend any university in the world, start her own business, or buy her own home."
Victoria smiled, her eyes shining with warmth. "Done. Camila is officially set for life."
"And what about Daniel and Carmen’s trial?" I asked.
"Their public defender offered a plea bargain yesterday," Victoria revealed, pulling up a court document on her computer screen. "Carmen is taking a three-year sentence in state prison to avoid the felony child abuse charge. Daniel accepted a plea deal for eighteen months in county jail followed by three years of supervised probation and mandatory community service."
I took a slow breath, letting the feeling of absolute justice wash over me.
Eighteen months in a concrete cell. Plenty of time for Daniel to think about what happens when a man sells his daughter's safety for his mother's greed.
"And what about Roberto?" I asked softly.
"He settled into his brother's farm in the countryside," Victoria said. "He sent a postcard to my office yesterday thanking you again for paying for his heart medication. He said he prays for you and Camila every night."
May you like
I nodded, feeling a quiet sense of peace. "Good. He deserves to live his remaining years in peace."
I stood up, shook Victoria's hand, and walked out of the law firm into the crisp afternoon air.
