Or the man everyone had called Rafael Robles.
The fifth photograph made Alexander stop breathing.
It showed Daniel and “Rafael” standing together beside a military jeep.
On the back, Daniel had written:
RAFAEL ROBLES = THOMAS VALE JR.
Marcus stared.
“General Vale had a son?”
Alexander shook his head.
“Officially, no.”
Sofia whispered, “So Javier’s father…”
Marcus answered.
“Was Carmen’s brother.”
The realization was horrifying.
Carmen had married a man presented publicly as Rafael Robles.
But if Daniel was correct, that man had actually been Thomas Vale Jr.—the general’s secret son.
Sofia whispered, “Then Javier…”
Alexander looked grim.
“Would be General Vale’s grandson.”
Marcus unfolded the letter.
I stopped him.
“It says for me.”
He handed it over.
My hands shook as I read.
Caroline,
If you are reading this, then Alex has finally been dragged back into something I hoped would stay buried.
The Mercer investigation was never about missing equipment.
