CHAPTER 2: THE MAN EVERYONE JUDGED
By the next morning, the story had spread across the town.
Social media was flooded with angry comments.
“Lock him up.”
“How could a father abandon his sick daughter?”
“Some people don’t deserve children.”
Carlos Mendoza had become the villain before anyone knew the truth.
Meanwhile, Sofía lay in a hospital bed connected to an IV.
Officer Mariana sat beside her.
The little girl finally opened her eyes.
“Where’s my daddy?”
Mariana forced a smile.
“We’re looking for him, sweetheart.”
Sofía nodded weakly.
“He promised he'd come back.”
The certainty in her voice made Mariana pause.
“Are you sure?”
Sofía looked offended.
“My daddy never lies.”
That answer stayed with Mariana.
Something felt wrong.
Carlos had no criminal record.
No history of violence.
No reports of neglect.
In fact, everyone who actually knew him described the same man.
Hardworking.
Quiet.
Devoted to his daughter.
A single father who worked construction during the day and delivered food at night.
A man exhausted by life but fiercely protective of his child.
So why would he suddenly disappear?
Mariana requested access to traffic cameras.
Phone records.
Bank transactions.
Anything.
Hours later, a detective rushed into the station.
“We found his truck.”
The room froze.
“Where?”
“Off Highway 119. Hidden in a ravine.”
Mariana's heart sank.
The search team immediately headed to the location.
Heavy rain had washed away most evidence.
The truck was crushed against a group of rocks nearly fifty feet below the road.
The driver's door was open.
But Carlos wasn't inside.
Only one thing remained.
A torn pharmacy receipt.
Dated four days earlier.
The same day he disappeared.
Mariana stared at it.
Medicine.
Chicken broth.
Electrolyte solution.
Everything from the shopping list.
Everything Carlos had gone out to buy for Sofía.
The man had been telling the truth.
He had never intended to leave his daughter.
Now the question was even worse.
Where was he?