PART 2
Ramiro didn’t confront Karina that night. He knew that a woman like her had answers prepared for everything. If he accused her without proof, Lupita would pay the price after he left.
So the next day he returned with an excuse.
“I think I left a folder here last night,” he said from the doorway.
Karina appeared impeccable, in white pants, lipstick, and that smile that only seemed friendly from afar.
“Of course, sir. Come in.”
The house smelled of freshly bought sweet bread. Renata ran across the living room with a sweet roll in her hand and a small carton of chocolate milk.
Lupita wasn’t there.
“She’s resting,” Karina said before he could ask. “She gets tired very easily.”
In the kitchen, Ramiro saw something he hadn’t noticed the night before: a locked cabinet next to the cupboard.
It wasn’t hidden. It was in plain sight.
That made it worse.
Karina followed his gaze and giggled.
“That’s just Renata. Lupita can’t eat so much sugar or fat. You know, some children have special needs.”
At that moment, Renata shouted:
“Mommy, I want juice!”
Karina unlocked the cabinet. Inside the cabinet were cookies, cereal bars, yogurts, juices, fruit in syrup, rolls, chocolates, nuts, cartons of milk, and packages of flour tortillas.
Lupita appeared in the doorway.
She didn’t ask for anything.
She just looked.
Karina closed the cabinet and locked it again.
“There are your crackers,” she said, pointing to a low shelf where there was an open, almost empty package. “Those are for you.”
Lupita took a cracker, lowered her head, and left.
Ramiro felt anger, but he didn’t let it out. Anger could make him lose control. Lupita needed something stronger: proof.
That same afternoon, he called Teresa Molina, a DIF worker known for acting discreetly and without making a scene. He also contacted Dr. Elena Robles, a pediatrician.
