I woke up to the sound of a key and saw my own aunt going through my mother’s purse.

I woke up to the sound of a key and saw my own aunt going through my mother’s purse. Then I heard her say on the phone, “The bracelet’s already inside; they have to arrest her tonight.” Instead of running out, I took photos, saved the video, and looked up the news story about the robbery. Then a figure of more than 4 million pesos appeared… Daniela zoomed in on the photograph published by the newspaper until the small squares on the screen began to distort.

There was no doubt.
The gold bracelet with emeralds she held between her fingers was one of the pieces stolen the night before from a jewelry store in Plaza Altavista. The article said it was valued at almost 900,000 pesos and that the entire haul exceeded 4 million.

Her mother, Mariana, worked as an administrator in that same shopping center.

She knew the service entrances, had access to restricted areas, and often stayed after closing time resolving issues with the tenants.

She was the perfect person to take the blame.

Daniela put the bracelet back in the white bag without wiping anything and placed it exactly where Leticia had left it. Then she recorded the bag from several angles, focused on the time on the television screen, and also saved a screenshot of the news report.
Her hands were trembling so much she almost dropped her phone.
That morning she had faked a stomach ache to avoid taking the most difficult exam of the semester in her Pedagogy degree. Mariana had believed her, left her electrolytes, soup in the refrigerator, and the doctor’s office number stuck to the door with a magnet.
Daniela had spent hours feeling guilty for deceiving her.

Now she understood that this lie might be the only reason her mother wouldn’t end up in jail that night.

She played the video she had managed to record through the crack in her bedroom window.
Leticia’s voice was low but clear:

“It’s done. I left it where you said.”

“I’ve done it.” Then came the instruction to call the police before seven o’clock, when Mariana returned, so that it would all look like an anonymous report.

And finally, that plea that made Daniela’s stomach churn:

“Óscar, I’ve done my part. Now you keep your promise. We’ll leave together when this is over, right?”

Daniela knew several men named Óscar, but only one could make her aunt speak with that mixture of fear, affection, and desperation.

Even so, she refused to accept the idea without verifying it.

She dialed her mother.

Mariana answered on the third ring, with voices and music from the mall in the background.

“How are you, my love?”

Daniela looked at the black purse hanging in front of her.