The Judge Who Had Already Decided
"No..."
I whispered.
"That's impossible."
"It should be," Helena answered.
"But it isn't."
She flipped through the court documents.
Every page carried official seals.
Medical opinions.
Psychiatric evaluations.
Witness statements.
My signature.
Every single one...
Forged.
Santiago smiled again.
"There are advantages to knowing the right people."
Ricardo's expression hardened.
"Which judge?"
Santiago stayed silent.
Helena scanned the final page.
Her breathing stopped.
"...Judge Esteban Vargas."
Even Ricardo looked surprised.
One of the most respected judges in the country.
A man famous for refusing bribes.
"Interesting," Ricardo murmured.
"I attended his daughter's wedding."
Santiago laughed.
"Then you know exactly why he ruled against your daughter."
Ricardo slowly looked up.
"No."
"I know his daughter died five years ago."
The smile disappeared from Santiago's face.
"You've just made your first mistake tonight."
Helena immediately called the courthouse.
Ten agonizing minutes passed.
Finally...
Someone answered.
She listened.
Didn't speak.
Then slowly lowered the phone.
"Judge Vargas never signed these."
"What?"
"The clerk confirmed his digital certificate was stolen last month."
Silence.
Ricardo looked directly at Santiago.
"So."
"You didn't bribe a judge."
"You forged an entire court order."
For the first time...
Santiago looked genuinely frightened.
Then...
A deep voice echoed from the entrance.
"Actually..."
Everyone turned.
A man wearing the uniform of the Federal Prosecutor's Office walked inside.
"We've been investigating this forgery network for eight months."
Behind him came six investigators.
One by one.
They surrounded Santiago.
The prosecutor opened a thick case file.
"Mr. Santiago Rivas..."
"You're under arrest for conspiracy, fraud, judicial corruption, attempted unlawful imprisonment, and domestic violence."
Officers stepped forward.
Handcuffs clicked open.
Then—
"Wait."
The prosecutor suddenly stopped.
His phone vibrated.
He answered.
His face changed immediately.
"...Yes, sir."
A long silence.
When he hung up...
He looked directly at Ricardo.
"I'm sorry."
"The arrest has been suspended."
"What?"
"The order came from someone above my office."
Ricardo's eyes narrowed.
"There is no one above the law."
The prosecutor swallowed.
"There is above me."
Outside...
A black convoy slowly rolled through the gates.
Every vehicle carried the same government insignia.
May you like
Ricardo stared through the window.
For the first time in decades...
