ossed the glass doors of the hotel. Mia walked briskly, clutching th

rly-morning guests' cars and the dim orange light from th

She opened the trunk and, with automatic movements, stowed the suitcase, making sur

e-at Héctor's side, and Mia could disappear like a ghost. She hadn't wanted to know much about La

turned on her cell phone and checked, for the fifth time, the last conversation:

. And nothing. Not a new

ers: "Where are you? I'

e was an unbearable

of paper moved gently in the breeze, barely held by one of the wipers. Mia fel

andwriting was clearly Lara

orrow, yes, we'll see each other here. Go up to your room and try not to let him

e, Lara said. But Mia knew that every extra minute was a risk. Ev

t of nowhere. Nothing. Just the mist, the cold, and the

king back-break the pact-or go back up those stairs and face H

ad given her only a portion of the money, enough to buy her silence and ensure she wouldn't give up halfway through. The rest-the larger sum, Mí

for years, to leave behind the empty promises and constant fear. That's why she couldn't fail now. Because if she f

to herself like a prayer. And then,

. She closed the trunk with a loud bang, and as she walked back toward the hotel entrance, s

in through the fabric of her jeans

ck pocket, was a weight that kept her tied to the lie that was already beginning to devour her.

back into bed and everything remains the s

Each explanation was flimsier than the last, but she clung to them like a shipwrecked man clinging to a piece of wood. The elevator doors opened with a soft din

e, stood Hector. Upright. Awake. Alert. He was wearing linen pants and a shirt half-buttoned, as if he'd le

boring into her with those eyes that

wallowed, trying to keep her voice from trembling. She had to react. She had

d rehearsed in front of the mirror so ma

clear my head." His voice sounded strange,

corner of the note was sticking out. Mía felt everything spin

told herself, mentally repea

was looking at her made her realize