Chapter 17 — The Guests

At seven, the guests began to arrive — Emiliano’s associates, clients, lawyers, acquaintances.

Andres came too.

What no one in that room knew was that several of the people Andres had quietly added to the list were financial-compliance specialists and officials who had already read the case file.

Emiliano was euphoric.

He kissed cheeks, accepted murmured condolences, told anyone who would listen that he was doing all of this “for the love of Renata.” I sat at the back in my chair and watched him perform his grief for a room that half believed him, and I let him have every minute of it, because a man at the height of his confidence makes the loudest possible sound when he falls.