Chapter 107: The Trace of Analu

Lucas and Mrs. Esperanza remained in complete silence, waiting, almost desperately, for the next move from the kidnapper gang. The atmosphere was filled with a palpable tension, as if time had been suspended in the air. Both felt the pressure on their shoulders, the weight of the responsibility of watching everything from the shadows. The place was gloomy, the only sound that could be heard was the heavy breathing and the distant noise of the kidnappers' footsteps roaming the hallways. Anxiety was a weight that could not be relieved.

Suddenly, the unmistakable sound of the elevator doors interrupted the silence. The echo of the bells resonated in the hallways like a bad omen. A tall man, with an imposing presence, stepped out of the elevator. His impeccable attire and elegant demeanor set him apart from everyone else. He wore a dark suit, perfectly tailored to his figure, a carefully tied tie, and shiny shoes that reflected the light with every step he took. It wasn’t just his appearance that made him stand out, but also the confidence with which he walked. Behind him, like shadows, two serious-looking bodyguards followed, always maintaining a respectful but alert distance.

The kidnappers, upon seeing the man, showed an attitude of respect, almost fear. Immediately, they led him into a nearby room. The young kidnapped girl, who had been trying to remain calm, was taken by one of the men, who pushed her toward the door of the room. She was quickly ushered in, and the door closed with a harsh thud. A faint whisper of voices could be heard, but nothing clear. The "boss," as they called him, had arrived, and now everything depended on what happened inside that room.

From their hiding spot, Lucas didn’t take his eyes off the scene for a second. He knew that his mission was more important than ever. With his phone in hand, he began recording everything he saw, capturing every detail, every small gesture, every word spoken. His mind was focused on the goal: to obtain proof and send it in time. Without resting, Lucas started sending the recordings to the Thomson family’s devices, hoping that they would soon get answers.

When Mateo saw the recordings, a chill ran down his spine. He closely examined the face of the well-dressed man who had arrived with such poise and confidence. Something about him felt vaguely familiar. As he studied it further, a feeling of horror overwhelmed him. It was impossible to be mistaken: that man was Maximiliano Carpentier, the owner of the famous Tela Prácti company. The same man who, some time ago, had ordered him to be brutally beaten when he discovered that Mateo knew it had been him who took the photos of Miss Alexia. He had also been the one responsible for the brutal beating Mateo had suffered.

—That’s right, sir —Mateo said firmly and confidently, as he stared at his phone screen. His face reflected anger and frustration—. That’s the owner of Tela Prácti. And it was he who ordered me to be beaten so brutally. I assure you, I can’t forget his face. I couldn’t even if I tried.

The agent, who was with him, looked on in growing disbelief while jotting down everything Mateo said. The gravity of the situation seemed not to fully hit him yet, but what Mateo was revealing left no room for doubt.

—Mateo, this is very serious —the agent responded, clearly worried by the revelation—. If what you say is true, this could change the entire course of the investigation. Maximiliano Carpentier has a lot of influence. He’s not just the owner of one of the most powerful companies, but he’s involved in something much darker.

—I know, sir —Mateo replied, his words laced with rage—. Believe me, it’s impossible to forget the person who harassed me and beat me so savagely. How could I forget the one who made me suffer so much? Not just me, but Miss Alexia too. All of this has to do with her. I don’t know what plans this man has for her, but I’m sure they’re nothing good.

The agent nodded, but concern was growing on his face.

—This complicates things even more. Maximiliano Carpentier has quite a shady history. He’s not just a successful businessman; he’s a dangerous man.

At that moment, Mr. Thompson’s phone rang, interrupting the conversation. He quickly glanced at the screen and saw an urgent message. He opened it quickly and read the instructions from the investigators in New York.

—Mr. Michelini —the agent said, looking at the message on his phone—. The investigation team in New York is ready to take over the case. Once they arrive, they will get in touch with you. They’ll handle everything. I just hope this is resolved as quickly as possible. Miss Analú’s case is too important.

The agent’s words felt like a balm to the Thomson family. Despite the uncertainty, they at least knew help was on the way. They quickly prepared to head to the airport, ready to face whatever was necessary.

However, just as they were about to leave, Nicolás’ phone started ringing insistently. The calls kept coming, and the tension mounted with every ring.

—Nico, please answer that call, I can’t stand this sound anymore —Alexia said, her voice full of anguish. She couldn’t bear the wait.

Nicolás, with a frustrated sigh, finally picked up the phone.

—Hello, love! How are you? Sorry for not answering sooner, but I’m in the middle of a very serious and urgent matter —he said, trying to sound calm, though his tone betrayed his concern.

—Really? Is this matter that important? —Britney replied, her voice filled with impatience—. Does it have to do with Analú? What’s going on with her?

—Yes, Britney, it turns out that… —Nicolás began to say, but couldn’t continue before he was interrupted.

—I don’t care what you have to say, Nicolás. You’re my boyfriend, and you know I don’t like you being around that girl. Analú has feelings for you, and you know it. If you don’t come back immediately, this relationship will be over —Britney said, clearly upset. Her voice was colder than ever.

Nicolás tried to explain, but the words got caught in his throat.

—Please, Britney, understand that what’s happening right now is serious. I can’t just ignore that Analú is still in the hands of those kidnappers. This is something I can’t overlook.

But Britney, in her anger, hung up the phone immediately, not giving him space for further explanation. Nicolás, despite everything, felt a mix of frustration and sadness. He knew his relationship with Britney was in jeopardy, but something stronger urged him to stay, to do whatever was necessary for Analú. She was his real concern, his true love. He couldn’t abandon her, not after everything that had happened.

Meanwhile, in the building where the kidnappers were holding the young woman, Lucas and Esperanza, who had been observing everything from the shadows, realized that time was playing against them. The kidnappers began to leave the place, leaving the young woman locked in the room. It was their chance, but they knew they couldn’t act recklessly. They had to be cautious.

—What are we going to do, Lucas? —Esperanza asked, visibly worried—. If we’re discovered, we’re in grave danger.

—We have to wait, for now. We can’t act without knowing exactly where they are. We need to be smart —Lucas said, trying to calm his companion.

After a few minutes of waiting, the kidnappers finally moved far enough away, and Lucas decided it was time to act. Together with Esperanza, they approached the room where the young woman was held captive, but they realized that the door was protected by an advanced security system. The door would only open if they entered the correct code, and if they made three mistakes, the alarm would go off.

—Esperanza, let’s go back and hide. We don’t know how much longer they’ll be gone, and if we get discovered, we won’t be able to get out alive —Lucas said, worried.

—No, Lucas! —Esperanza responded with determination, refusing to give up—. Let’s try again! We can’t let this opportunity slip away.

Lucas, determined not to lose hope, tried once more. But the code was harder than they expected, and in the end, they couldn’t open the door. They knew there was nothing more they could do for the moment.

—I’ve got it! —Esperanza suddenly exclaimed, a brilliant idea flashing in her mind—. If we review the video we recorded and sent to Mr. Thompson, we can zoom in on the image. Maybe we’ll be able to see the code they used.

—That’s an excellent idea! —Lucas replied, feeling that the plan might actually work. If they managed to get the code, they would have a real chance of freeing the young woman.

The technology, although simple in appearance, could be the key to saving the life of the kidnapped young woman. They both prepared to analyze the video and find the information that would give them the hope to accomplish the impossible.