Amara sat in the dimly lit interrogation room, her fingers slightly shaking as she opened the sealed envelope one last time. The judge, standing silently across from her, watched with heavy eyes.
Inside: a list of names that would turn the justice system upside down.
"These are the people involved," she said, pushing the papers forward. "They gave the orders. They paid for silence. They buried the truth."
The judge read the names aloud, one by one.
Esteban Ramírez – Former Chief of Surgery at St. Helena's Hospital, mastermind of the falsified death reports.
Silvia Duarte – A prosecutor who withheld key evidence from over 15 criminal cases.
Ignacio Fuentes – Current Deputy Mayor, who used public funds to pay off forensic lab employees.
Dr. Mateo Larralde – Lead forensic pathologist, known for rewriting autopsy results.
Reina Solís – CEO of Solís Pharmaceuticals, linked to illegal drug testing on underage patients.
Judge Federico Mendoza – Retired, but responsible for dismissing critical cases tied to high-profile murders.
Lucas Benítez – Lead detective, planted evidence and received monthly bribes.
There were others. But these seven were the core. The rotten heart of the operation.
The judge looked up from the list, his voice cold and steady. "You're certain about every one of these?"
Amara met his gaze. "I lived it. I helped them. I watched people die for their silence."
The following morning, Santiago stood in the judge's office, stunned.
"They're being summoned to court," the judge said, dropping the files onto his desk. "Every. Single. One."
"Even Mendoza?" Santiago asked, shocked. "He's protected by the board."
"Not anymore."
The judge stepped forward. "This isn't just about the law, Santiago. This is about redemption—for you. For Amara. For all of us who've had to clean blood off the truth."
Later that day, cameras flashed as the judge stood before the press.
He held the now-infamous envelope and declared:
"The individuals named in this document—Esteban Ramírez, Silvia Duarte, Ignacio Fuentes, Mateo Larralde, Reina Solís, Federico Mendoza, and Lucas Benítez—will face justice.
Court is in session. And corruption no longer has a place to hide."
Santiago, watching from the edge of the crowd, knew this was far from over.
But for the first time in years… the system was starting to breathe.