The officer wrote down every word. What the girl described sounded dangerously similar to extortion by illegal loan sharks. It wasn’t uncommon: indebted families resorting to quick loans, with no contracts, no collateral, just threats.
Meanwhile, at the hospital, Sofia’s parents remained intubated and in critical condition. Doctors confirmed that the poisoning had been severe and prolonged, meaning the leak had occurred several hours before the report.
In the mid-afternoon, the investigation took a turn when they reviewed the security camera footage from the residential complex. At 11:46 p.m., a hooded man was captured on camera walking toward the family’s house. His face wasn’t visible, but his build and the slight limp on his right foot were.
What was most unsettling was his departure: barely five minutes later, the man hurriedly left the area. Too little time to tamper with a boiler and block a vent… but enough for someone who already knew exactly what to do.
That night, Morales returned to the house to check minor details.
Upon entering his parents’ bedroom, he noticed something he had previously overlooked: a small mark on the doorknob, as if someone had held it with a rough glove. There were no signs of forced entry, but there was evidence of outside interference.
