The social worker looked up, startled.

—Colonel, the visit is about to end…

“Be quiet for a moment,” he said, without taking his eyes off the girl.

He entered the room with slow steps.

Ramira tensed immediately, instinctively covering Salome with her body.

Méndez stopped two meters away.

“Little girl,” he said in a voice softer than anyone would have imagined from him. “What you just said… have you told anyone else?”

Salome looked at him without fear.

—To Aunt Clara. But she said I dreamt it because I was little. Then she sent me to talk to a lady, and after that I didn’t want to say anything anymore.

—A psychologist? —Mendez asked.

—I don’t know. She had a yellow notebook and she gave me candy if I stopped repeating the thing about the clock.

That was enough.

Méndez turned his face towards the younger guard, who was still standing by the door, not fully understanding what was happening.

—No one is to touch inmate Fuentes. Suspend all final proceedings until further notice.

The guard opened his eyes.

—But, Colonel, the sentence…

“The prison director suspends her when new elements arise that compromise the integrity of the process,” Méndez interrupted. “Or do you want me to quote it verbatim from the regulations?”

—No, sir.

—Then move it.