Her eyes widened slightly, and she took a step back.

“I did not plan the fraud,” I said quietly. “Alvaro did that all by himself. I simply ensured that the truth came to light.”

“But you helped me,” she said. “You told me to stay here. You told me you would protect me.”

“I will protect you,” I said. “As long as you are honest with me.”

“I am being honest,” she said.

Her phone, lying on the sofa cushion, lit up with a new notification.

It was not a text message.

It was an incoming call from a number that was not saved in her contacts.

The area code was for Madrid.

She reached for the phone quickly, but I was faster.

I picked it up and held it out of her reach.

“Who is calling you from Madrid, Lucía?” I asked.

She reached for the phone, her fingers brushing against my hand.

“Give it to me,” she said. “It is probably just another reporter.”

The phone kept vibrating, a dull, steady buzz against my palm.

The screen showed the name of a law firm I knew very well.