The courthouse felt like a pressure cooker, each step I took echoing in the quiet halls. The documents in my hand were heavier than ever, not just in weight but in consequence. I had everything—everything needed to bring them down. All the lies. All the manipulations.
It had been days since I met with Carlos, and the evidence from him had only solidified what I already knew: M. Torres was not just a lawyer or businessman. He was the kingpin in this entire web of corruption, and everyone in the system had a hand in it. From the highest judge to the lowest clerk, they were all involved.
As I stood in the courtroom, waiting for the judge to enter, I couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't right. I glanced over at Vega, who was sitting in the front row, his usual calm, calculating demeanor in place. And next to him, Aranda, the police chief—his eyes avoided mine as though he knew what was coming.
The doors to the courtroom opened. Judge Delgado walked in, his steps slow and deliberate. I watched him take his seat at the bench, his eyes briefly scanning the room, landing on me for just a moment before he turned away.
The prosecutor stood, adjusting his tie. "Your Honor, we've gathered all the necessary evidence to conclude this case. I believe the investigation is now closed."
I felt a chill in my spine. It was happening too fast. They were closing the case as if it was just another routine matter. But it wasn't just routine—it was life and death. It was everything.
Judge Delgado raised his hand, signaling for silence. "Yes, the investigation is concluded. Mr. Del Valle," he said, his eyes landing on me. "It seems you've solved the case."
I stood up, my heart pounding in my chest. "With all due respect, Your Honor, this case is far from over. We have uncovered a web of corruption that involves multiple people, and this doesn't even begin to scratch the surface."
The judge's expression didn't change. He looked down at the papers in front of him, flipping through them slowly. Then, he spoke, his voice cold. "I am well aware of what you've found, Santiago. But there is no need to pursue this any further. The case has been resolved, and I've made my decision."
My breath caught in my throat. "What do you mean? This is just the beginning. There are people—"
Judge Delgado held up his hand, cutting me off. "Enough. I've read the files. The evidence, as you claim, is not sufficient to bring anyone to trial. Therefore, I'm officially closing the case."
The room seemed to freeze. I could barely hear anything over the rushing sound in my ears. It was as if the ground had shifted beneath me. Was this really happening? Did he just close the case? Like it was nothing? Like all of my work was for nothing?
My voice barely trembled as I spoke. "You're making a mistake. You can't ignore this evidence."
"I've made my decision, Mr. Del Valle," the judge said, his tone final, devoid of any empathy. "The case is closed."
I stood there, unable to move, the weight of the moment pressing down on me. Everything I had worked for, everything I had risked, was being brushed aside.
I turned toward Vega, sitting across the courtroom, his eyes gleaming with a look of satisfaction. Aranda, too, watched me, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips. They had won. They were going to get away with it.
And then it hit me.
I wasn't done yet.
I had everything I needed. I had the evidence. I had the truth.
But they weren't going to stop me this time. The system might have closed its doors, but I knew exactly where I had to go next. I wasn't going to rely on the law. I would find my own way to bring them down.
I turned to the judge one last time. "This isn't over. Not by a long shot."
Judge Delgado didn't respond. He simply hit his gavel, signaling the end of the hearing. The case was closed, but I had a new mission now. I would expose the truth, no matter what it took.
I walked out of the courtroom with the weight of the world on my shoulders, but a fire burning in my chest. I had everything I needed to bring them down. It wasn't over. Not yet.