“What can I do?”

“As I said, help me reconstruct your story. I’m sure that if we join up all the pieces of the jigsaw, we’ll find the mastermind behind the plot. Until then, you won’t be safe. That’s why you must stay here and let us protect you. Will you?”

Victoria looked uncertain at first, but then she nodded.

Leandro leaned forward and took her hands in his. “I need you to know that I’m grateful for your bravery, for your courage. Without you, without your fight and your suffering, none of what we are trying to do would be possible.”

“I just want justice to be done. Nothing else. Never in my whole life have I thought that what I wanted was revenge. Revenge doesn’t exist. All that matters is the truth.”

Leandro kissed her on the forehead: a paternal kiss, protective and noble, which made her feel less alone, even if only for an instant.

“I think we’ve done enough for one day,” he said. “You need to rest. We have a difficult task ahead.”

“Are you leaving?” asked Victoria.

“Don’t worry. I’ll be close by. And I want you to know that you’re guarded and protected. I’m going to ask your permission to let us shut this door. It’s not to keep you locked in, but to stop anyone who is not allowed to enter from trying to get in. Do you think you can do that?”

“Yes.”

“If you need anything, all you have to do is press this bell, and someone will be with you in a matter of seconds. Whatever you may need.”

“I’d like to have something to read. Would it be possible to get hold of some of my father’s books?”

“Of course. I’ll have them sent up to you. Now you must try to rest.”

“I don’t know if I’ll be able to sleep.”

“If you like, we can help you . . .”

“Sedate me again?”

“It’s just a help. It will make you feel better. But only if you want.”

“All right.”

“I’ll be back tomorrow morning. We’ll start to piece together everything that has happened, bit by bit.”

“How long will I have to stay here?”

“Not long. A few days. A week at most. Until we know who is behind all this. Until the culprit has been arrested, you won’t be safe anywhere else. Hendaya and his men are looking for you. We managed to rescue you from El Pinar, but that man isn’t going to give up. He never gives up.”

“How did it happen? I don’t remember.”

“You were dazed. Two of our men lost their lives to get you out of there.”

“And Valls?”

“It was too late. Don’t think about that now. Rest, Ariadna.”

“Ariadna,” she repeated. “Thank you.”

“Thank you,” said Leandro on his way to the door.

As soon as she was left alone, she was gripped by a sense of unease and an emptiness she couldn’t quite understand. There wasn’t a single clock in the entire room. When she drew back the curtains, she saw that the windows were locked and covered on the outside with a translucent paper that let in the light but completely blocked the view.