Page 43 of Distrustful

Chapter 20

"I told you Trinidad had the same look as Mildred, though I wasn't expecting it to be because of this," Ursula laments when Maria finishes explaining everything the businesswoman told her the previous afternoon.

"I've asked her to let me help her, well, actually, to let us help her, just like we did with Mildred," Maria says spinning her phone on the table, unable to contain her nervousness.

"I don't know if we're dealing with a similar case," Ursula responds, "Borja was an egotistical abuser who relied on his money and played with Mildred's fear of losing her daughter. Trinidad's husband, from what you tell me, seems much worse, he's backed by his family and contacts helping him hide the atrocities he commits."

"He killed his own unborn daughter with the beating and nobody seemed to care," Maria comments with a look of disbelief.

"Do what you need to do, you know you have my support," Ursula says with determination.

"I think the first thing is to find out how he found her. Trinidad managed to dodge him for many years, it's too much of a coincidence that he's found her now."

"What do you mean?" Ursula frowns.

"That it must have been our fault, some photo must have leaked on social media."

"Impossible," Ursula denies, "we've been very careful. I gave very precise instructions to the marketing department not to publish any photos of Trinidad in the press releases about the new joint projects."

"But there could have been a mistake," Maria argues.

"You're right, mistakes happen," Ursula reasons, "and if it was our fault, I want to know. Put the investigators on tracking down this Ismael right away, have them get everything they can about him, his family, and the reach of his contacts. We're going to review all publications made since we've known Trinidad."

"Okay."

After making a couple of calls and going out to smoke a cigarette to calm her nerves, Maria returns to Ursula's office and the two friends spend the entire day checking with a critical eye every video and image that's been published without seeing Trinidad anywhere.

"Maybe we missed something," Maria says rubbing her eyes, "perhaps someone uploaded photos we don't have control over, maybe the London building owner?"

Ursula raises her eyebrows.

"That doesn't make sense, besides, we didn't take photos with him."

"You're right," Maria stands up and walks around the office to stretch her legs when the door opens and Mildred enters with Lili by the hand, after picking her up from school following Ursula's call to warn her she'd be working late and explain what was happening with Trinidad.

"How's it going?" Mildred asks after kissing Ursula while she lets Lili sit on her lap.

"We haven't found anything," Maria responds with a huff.

"We should review everything again," Ursula thinks out loud, "maybe it was there and we missed it."

Maria looks at her sighing. She's exhausted and her head hurts, but Trinidad's life is at stake and if she has to spend the whole night reviewing, she will.

"Okay, let's look again," she says returning to her chair.

"I'll help," Mildred offers.

"Can I help too?" Lili asks while eating her snack.

"Of course, sweetheart," Ursula responds, "we're looking for Trinidad in any of the photos or videos we have here."

"Okay," Lili smiles fixing her gaze on the computer screen.

For the next hour, the three women and the girl remain silent going through images or playing videos until Mildred sees something that catches her attention.

"Wait, Ursula, go back," she asks and she stops the video they were playing.

"Did you see her?" Maria asks hopefully.