His uncle had sat beside him while he devoured some empanadas at the hospital restaurant, which was so nice and had such good food it was like a regular restaurant. He clearly didn’t know what to say, but first he apologized for having gotten angry. He said he “understood,” and they were just getting up to “mischief,” that it was normal for him to try to “escape” what was happening. Uncle Luis, said Gaspar, Adela got away from me. I tried to grab her in the house and she got loose. I let her go. She wanted to go inside and I took her and that was wrong, but on top of that I let her go. It’s not your fault, don’t do that to yourself, his uncle told him. Someone took her. Because of me, said Gaspar. Who else could be to blame?

He went back to his father. If he hasn’t died yet it’s because he wants to talk to me, he thought. Leaning over, he insisted: You know where she is. You know how I can find her. You helped me find the dog. This is the last thing I’m asking. You owe me. Open your eyes. I could open the door, the first one, but not the second. Why can I open some but not others? You have to talk to me.

Pablo came to see him. For Pablo, he left his father’s room and sat down in the restaurant. They ordered coffee with milk. Pablo told him the police had gone into about twenty houses. Including his. Raids. Then he said the police hadn’t seen doors in the house, or pretty much anything else. And no one believed them. They say what we saw in there was an optical illusion. From the shock. They don’t believe us about the teeth. Apparently, they found clothes in the house, new clothes, and they think they might belong to the guy who took Adela. They say maybe the guy put light in the house to attract us. They say someone kidnapped Adela. Was it the guy who was in the house?

“We don’t know if there was someone in the house,” said Gaspar. “That house is a trick. It told us a big lie. I’m going back to my dad.”

“Not yet,” said Pablo, and he went on talking: “A TV channel came round and interviewed the neighbors, including Hugo. They interviewed Vicky after she gave her statement in court. They’re talking about Adela on TV,” he said. “Haven’t you seen?”

“I’m not watching TV.”

“They want to interview you because I told them you got us out.”

“I’m not going to talk to anyone.”

Gaspar stood up, though he hadn’t touched his croissants. He looked at Pablo, who bowed his head, and suddenly he felt alone. Without thinking, he pushed the table aside to get closer to his friend, who, astonished, stood up. Gaspar hugged him tight, without tears. I have to get back to my dad, he said. I miss you guys. Vicky too, but I have to be with him.