Chapter 7: The Walls Begin to Move
The Texas AG's contact was a woman named Sandra Reyes.
She called Cross on the morning of the third day and asked to meet both of us in person.
We drove to a federal building on the west side of El Paso and sat across from her in a conference room with no windows.
She was direct.
She set a thin folder on the table and opened it without preamble.
"Arthur Vance's finance company — Vance Capital Partners — holds federally backed agricultural loans across three counties.
That gives us federal jurisdiction independent of the local case." She tapped the folder.
"We've been aware of Vance Capital for fourteen months.
We had a separate whistleblower complaint related to loan coercion — borrowers being pressured to support specific political candidates or face early recall of their loans.
We didn't have enough to move.
What you've brought us changes that."
"How?" I said.
"Because the same mechanism he used to pressure borrowers is the same mechanism he used to threaten the hospital's accreditation.
It's a pattern.
It's documented.
And it now involves a child." She closed the folder.
"We're opening a formal investigation.
That means Arthur Vance's financial and political relationships are now under federal scrutiny.
Chief Miller's relationship with Vance will be part of that review."
"What about Ross and Ethan?"
"The falsified police report combined with the footage gives the state DA's office what they need to file charges independent of Miller.
I've already spoken with the DA.
She is not a Vance ally." Reyes looked at me steadily.
"Ross and Ethan Vance will be arrested within forty-eight hours."
Cross leaned forward.
"And the forged custody document?"
"That goes to the state bar and the family court presiding judge simultaneously.
If an attorney prepared that document, they lose their license.
If a court clerk processed it, they face criminal charges.
We'll know which within the week."
I sat with all of that for a moment.
"Veronica," I said.
Reyes and Cross exchanged a brief look.
"Veronica's situation is more complicated," Reyes said.
"She did not physically participate in the assault.
But the footage shows her at the window.
And the pattern of behavior — the forged document, the false school complaint, the coordinated custody campaign — suggests she was not a passive bystander to any of this."
"She's Maya's mother."
"I know." Reyes's voice was even.
"That will be a factor.
But it will not be a shield."
I drove back to the hospital alone.
Cross stayed behind to review documents with Reyes.
I walked into Maya's room.
She was asleep.
Her color was better.
The swelling in her face had gone down.
Dr.
Sterling had said she might be discharged in four days if her progress held.
I sat in the chair beside her and looked at my hands.
My phone buzzed.
The unknown number again.
*They know you met with Reyes.
Ross is planning to leave the state tonight.
You need to move faster.*
I called Cross immediately.
He picked up before the first ring finished.
"I saw it.
Reyes is already on it.
She's contacting the DA right now to push the arrest timeline up."
"Who is this person texting me?"
"We traced the number to a prepaid phone purchased in San Jeronimo three weeks ago.
We don't have a name yet.
But the information has been accurate every time." He paused.
"Someone inside that family is helping you, Mark.
They've been helping you since before you even knew you needed it."
I looked at Maya's sleeping face.
Someone inside the Vance family had watched what happened to her — and decided they couldn't stay quiet.
May you like
I didn't know who it was yet.
But I was going to find out.
