“And I’m going to ask you to keep all the things you’ve told me between us two. Not a word to Daniel Sempere.”

“Understood.”

“That’s good. Listen, have you any money on you?”

“A few coins, I think . . .”

Fermín put out an open palm. “I have to make a call.”

* * *

Daniel answered at the first ring.

“For God’s sake, Fermín, where the hell are you?”

“Hospital del Mar.”

“Hospital? What happened?”

“Someone tried to murder Alicia.”

“What? Who? Why?”

“Please calm down, Daniel.”

“How am I going to calm down?”

“Is Bea around?”

“Of course, but—”

“Put her on the phone.”

A pause, voices arguing, and finally the calm tones of Bea on the phone. “Tell me, Fermín.”

“I don’t have time to go into detail, but Alicia very nearly died. Right now she’s in the operating room, and we’re waiting for news.”

“We?”

“Me and a kid called Fernandito who seems to have worked as an assistant and lackey for Alicia. I know how this is sounding, but try to be patient.”

“What do you need, Fermín?”

“I’ve tried to contain the matter with a bit of fine wording, but I have a feeling we won’t be able to stay here much longer. If Alicia survives this, I don’t think the hospital will be a very safe place. Someone might try to finish the job.”

“What do you propose?”

“I suggest we take her somewhere where nobody can find her, as soon as possible.”

Bea let a long silence go by. “Are we thinking the same thing?”

“Great minds think alike.”

“And how do you plan to get her out of the hospital and take her there?”

“I’m formulating a strategy as we speak.”

“Heaven help us.”

“O ye of little faith . . .”

“What must I do?”

“Get hold of Dr. Soldevila,” said Fermín.

“Dr. Soldevila retired and hasn’t worked for at least two years. Wouldn’t it be better . . . ?”

“We need someone we can trust,” replied Fermín. “Besides, Soldevila is an eminent doctor and knows all the tricks. I’m sure he’ll be delighted if you tell him I’ve asked you.”

“The last thing I heard him say was that you were a scoundrel, that he was fed up to his back teeth with you pinching his nurses’ bottoms, and that he didn’t want to see you ever again.”

“Water under the bridge. He’s very fond of me.”

“If you say so. . . . What else do you need?”

“Provisions for at least one week for a patient who has just survived a stabbing in the abdomen, another in the hand, and a beating that would have left a Basque weight lifter out of action.”

“My God . . .”

“Concentrate, Bea. Provisions. The doctor will know what will be needed.”

“He’s not going to like any of this at all.”

“That’s where your charm and powers of persuasion come in.”

“Delightful. I suppose she’ll need clean clothes and that sort of thing.”