Chapter 23 - THE FIRST-AID BOX HELD ONLY BANDAGESMateo turned sixteen before the evidence department returned Rafael’s first-aid box.
The red paint had chipped.
The false bottom remained.
The magnetic key strip had been removed and archived.
Mateo cleaned the box with Elena.
They placed fresh gauze inside.
Antiseptic.
Tape.
Small scissors.
No recordings.
No secrets.
No instructions for surviving powerful men.
Mateo volunteered at the Rafael Cruz Center.
He taught younger children basic first aid.
Ruby joined him during summers.
She wanted to become a structural engineer.
“Railings should fail on paper before they fail beneath children,” she said.
Mateo studied emergency medicine.
People assumed the balcony made him want to rescue others.
He corrected them.
“I want fewer children to need a rescue.”
Their friendship survived adolescence without becoming an automatic romance.
Shared trauma was not a promise of marriage.
They dated other people.
Argued.
Spent months apart.
Returned because they chose to.
At eighteen, Ruby visited Vincent alone.
He had served ten years and approached release eligibility.
“Mom says you may come home next year.”
“Only if the court approves.”
“Where is home?”
Vincent did not answer immediately.
“Not the estate.”
“Good.”
“Your mother and I are not married anymore.”
“I know.”
“She may never want that again.”
“I know.”
Vincent looked at his daughter.
“What do you want?”
“I want you to live somewhere with no armed guards.”
He smiled.
“I think I can manage that.”
“And I want you to stop calling consequences protection.”
His smile disappeared.
“I will try.”
“No.”
May you like
Ruby sounded like Isabella.
“Do it.”
