He hadn’t been outside for weeks so it was odd that he was nowhere within earshot. An uneasy thought arrived – what if he’d taken a turn in the night? ‘Tenoch?’ I called again. But there was still no answer.

I went into my room and started packing my rucksack, gingerly, without much thought, still listening out for him. Maybe he was in the gym. Or maybe he and the doctor gone for a walk. I didn’t want to go without saying goodbye. But I didn’t want to miss lunch with Raf’s family either.

When my bag was packed, I got to the top of the stairs and an uneasy feeling washed over me. I looked back at Tenoch’s bedroom – just as a shadow passed below me in the hall.

‘Tenoch?’

Footsteps paced to the bottom of the stairs – it was Paco. Unshaven. Greasy. Black vest, black jeans, heavy black boots. He looked up at me, swigging a Pacifico, face peppered in sweat. ‘What are you doing here?’

‘Waiting for you,’ he said, gesturing to my packed bag with the little yarn gatita poking out of the top. ‘Going somewhere?’

‘Yeah,’ I said, descending and side-stepping him into the living room. ‘Where’s Tenoch?’

‘Gone. Where are you going?’

‘What do you mean, gone? Where’s he gone? When will he be back?’

‘You tell me.’

‘What?’

‘Papi ha desaparecido, chica. He’s gone. Vanished. In a puff of smoke. And if he’s taken my fucking money, I’m going to rip his fucking heart out.’

I carried on down the stairs – Paco watched as I took every one. I attempted to walk past him but he grabbed my chin in his iron grip. ‘Ow, the fuck are you doing?’

‘Where’s he gone, you little bitch? Tell me or I’m going to fuck you up.’

I dropped my bag, attempting to prise his hand from my face. ‘Get off me! I don’t know where he’s gone, I haven’t been here, have I? Last time I saw him he was bedridden!’

He dropped the bottle and drew his gun from his pocket – the pistol I’d seen in his glovebox. He held it against my temple. ‘Where. Is. My. Money?’

‘What money?’

‘I’ve seen you two talking in corners, all quiet so I won’t hear. You know where it is. It better be here.’

‘Why the hell would he tell me where his money was?’