“Birds of a feather flock together.”

“Have you thought about what you’re going to do later?”

“When?”

“When you’re free. When you disappear, as you say.”

Alicia shrugged. “I haven’t thought about it.”

“I thought I’d taught you to be a better liar, Alicia.”

“Perhaps I’m no use for anything else.”

“You’ve always wanted to write,” Leandro suggested. “A new Laforet?”

Alicia looked at him with indifference.

He smiled. “Will you write about us?”

“No. Of course not.”

Leandro nodded. “It wouldn’t be a good idea, you know that. We operate in the shadows. Unseen. It’s part of the service we offer.”

“Of course I know. You don’t have to remind me.”

“A shame, because there would be so many stories to tell, wouldn’t there?”

“See the world,” murmured Alicia.

“Excuse me?”

“What I’d like to do is travel and see the world. Find my place. If it exists.”

“On your own?”

“Do I need anyone else?”

“I suppose you don’t. For creatures like us, solitude can be the best company.”

“It suits me fine.”

“One of these days you’ll fall in love.”

“What a pretty title for a ballad.”

“You’d better get going. Unless I’m completely wrong, Vargas must be waiting for you outside.”

“It’s a mistake.”

“This interference annoys me more than it annoys you, Alicia. It’s obvious that they don’t trust either of us. Be diplomatic and don’t scare him. Do it for me.”

“I always am. And I don’t scare anyone.”

“You know what I mean. Besides, we won’t be competing with the police. We’re not even going to try. They have their investigation, their methods and procedures.”

“What do I do, then? Smile and hand out sugared almonds?”

“I want you to do what you do best. Notice what the police are not going to notice. Follow your instinct, not the procedure. I want you to do all the things the police won’t do because it’s the police and because they’re not my Alicia Gris.”

“Is that a compliment?”

“Yes, and an order.”

Alicia took the envelope containing the dossier that was lying on the table and stood up. As she did so, Leandro noticed how she put her hand on her hip and pressed her lips to hide the pain.

“How much are you taking?” he asked.

“Nothing in these last two weeks. A couple of pills every now and then.”

Leandro sighed. “We’ve talked about this a number of times, Alicia. You know you can’t do that.”

“I am doing it.”

Her mentor shook his head, muttering under his breath. “I’ll make sure they send you four hundred grams this afternoon to your hotel.”

“No.”

“Alicia . . .”

She turned and walked away from the table without limping, biting her tongue, swallowing her pain and her angry tears.

6

When Alicia left the Gran Hotel Palace, the driving rain had stopped and a veil of vapor rose from the pavement. Thick beams of light stabbed the center of Madrid from the dome of passing clouds, like spotlights combing through a prison courtyard. One of them swept through Plaza de las Cortes and revealed a Ford parked a few yards from the hotel entrance. Leaning against the hood stood a silver-haired man in a black coat, calmly smoking a cigarette and watching people walk by. She guessed he must be in his mid-fifties, but he looked well muscled and in good shape for his age. He had the solid appearance of someone who has made the most of his stint in the armed forces and spends little time at his desk.