“She was trying to steal it before the wedding,” Patricia said.

Rosa looked at the diamonds, her face completely blank with shock.

“I did not put that there,” Rosa said. “I have never seen that pouch in my life.”

“The police are already on their way, Rosa,” Patricia said.

She looked at my father, her eyes filling with tears that looked entirely real.

“I am so sorry, Emiliano,” Patricia said. “I know how much she means to the girls. But we cannot have a thief under our roof.”

My father looked at the diamonds on the counter.

Then he looked at the blood on Rosa’s apron.

“The police,” my father said quietly.

“Yes,” Patricia said. “I had Vance call them five minutes ago.”

The silence in the kitchen was heavy.

Outside, the wind whipped a branch of the oak tree against the windowpane.

A sharp, metallic click sounded from the hallway behind us.

Everyone turned.

Ramiro was standing in the doorway, holding a small black tablet in his hand.

The screen of the tablet was glowing.

Ramiro did not look at Patricia.