Page 113 of Faded Gray Lines

Mayor’s estranged daughter forced to marry into killer cartel.

“As you all know from the press conference yesterday, my daughter is deeply troubled. The Carrera Cartel has bought their way out of a murder charge once again, and this time they’ve infiltrated my own family, convincing my child their evil is justified. If this kind of brainwashing could happen to my family, it could happen to anyone.” Pausing for dramatic effect, she broke down in tears and waved her hand for a bodyguard to escort her off the podium.

“She’s laying it on kind of thick, isn’t she?” Mateo asked beside me.

I shrugged. “Press porn is her specialty.”

Having had enough, I pressed a button on the remote and darkened the screen. Glancing at Mateo, I watched him flip his cell phone over and over in his palm.

“Did she ever visit you in San Marcos?” he asked.

“No. I said all I had to say when I walked out. Why?”

He stared at his phone like he wished it wasn’t there. When he finally looked up at me, I saw regret in his eyes.

“Mateo, you’re scaring me.”

“I have something to show you. I should’ve shown you days ago, but I wanted to spare you. I thought maybe it was just Emilio being an asshole, but after what he said, and especially after what she did to a Muñoz informant...” His voice trailed off.

“Who?”

Setting the phone on the coffee table, he tapped a button on the screen. Sounds no daughter should ever hear from her own mother filled the room, followed by a visual I’d never forget. I wanted to look away. The scene unfolding before my eyes was depraved. It was nauseating and vile, but I couldn’t stop watching.

When it was over, Mateo tucked his phone back in his hand. I didn’t know if he had any answers, but I asked anyway.

“Where did you get this?”

“Hector’s apartment. Someone wanted this bad enough to kill him for it.”

“And you found it?

“Yes. It was encrypted, but let’s just say I know a certain IT professor who’s good at his job.”

I wanted to ask for more information, but my mind swam with more important questions. “Why would Emilio have a sex tape with my mother, and why would Hector have it?”

“The answer to both? Insurance.” Shifting toward me, he took my hand. “Think back, Leighton. What do you remember about the night Luis died?”

I was confused. “What does that have to do with my mother?”

“Just humor me.”

As if on autopilot, I recounted everything from the moment Alex accosted me in the quad until I showed up on Brody’s doorstep, surprised at how calm I sounded.

Mateo’s eyes narrowed. “He said, ‘get rid of her’and not, ‘kill her’?”

“Yes, I’m positive.” I nodded. “Everything’s a blur after that though. Brody told me to run, and that’s what I did. Next thing I knew, the DEA showed up.”

“When did Brody tell your mother about Stella?” The caution in his voice worried me.

“I’m not sure. Why?”

“Luis started acting strange out of the blue, right?”

“Yes,” I said, dread gripping my chest. “What are you getting at?”

“Leighton, Emilio said Brody put a target on Stella’s back when he opened his mouth.” Frustrated, he scraped his hands down his face. “I think he was implying she was the target instead of you.”

My breath came quick and shallow. “My brother wouldn’t hurt his niece.”