“WE’D BEEN INVESTIGATING Valls for a long time. We opened the case after a report from the compliance commission of the Banco de España detected some financial irregularities in the transactions of the National Consortium for Financial Restructuring – a consortium that had been presided over by Miguel Ángel Ubach, your father . . . or, I should say, the man who passed himself off as your father. For some time we’d been suspecting that the consortium was just a smokescreen, rubber-stamping everything that had been expropriated, or simply stolen, during and after the war, to be shared among a chosen few. Like all wars, ours ruined the country and further enriched a few who were already too rich before it started. That’s why wars are fought. In this case, the consortium was also used to repay favours, pay for betrayals and services, and buy silence and complicity. It was a means to attain promotion for many – among them, Mauricio Valls. We know what Valls did, Ariadna. What he did to you and your family. But that is not enough. We need your help to get to the bottom of this.”
“What for? Valls is dead.”
“To see that justice is done. Valls is dead, yes, but many hundreds of people whose lives he destroyed are still alive and deserve justice.”
Victoria glanced at him suspiciously. “Is that what you’re looking for? Justice?”
“We’re looking for the truth.”
“And who are you, exactly?”
“We’re a group of citizens who have sworn to serve the country because we want to make Spain a fairer place, more honest and more open.”
Victoria laughed.
Leandro looked at her, his expression serious. “I don’t expect you to believe me. Not yet. But I’m going to prove to you that we’re the ones who are trying to change things from inside the regime, because there’s no other way of changing them. To regenerate this country and give it back to the people. We’re the ones risking our lives so that what happened to you and your sister, what happened to your parents, never happens again; to make sure that those who committed such crimes pay for them and the truth becomes known. Because without truth there is no justice, and without justice there is no peace. We’re for change and progress. We’re the ones here to end a state that serves only those few individuals who have hidden behind institutions to shield their privileges, at the expense of workers and disadvantaged people. And not because we’re heroes, but because someone has to do it. There’s no one else. That is why we need your help. If we join forces, it will be possible.”
They gazed at one another throughout a long silence.
“What if I don’t want to help you?”
Leandro shrugged. “Nobody can force you to do this. If you decide that you don’t want to join us, that you don’t care whether others who have suffered the same fate don’t get justice, I’m not going to force you. It’s in your hands. Valls is dead. The easiest thing for a person in your situation would be to leave all this behind and begin a new life. Who knows, perhaps I would do the same in your place. But I think you’re not that kind of person. I think that deep down you don’t care about revenge, but about justice and truth. As much as we do, or more so. I think you want those who are to blame to pay for their crimes. And I’m sure you want their victims to get their lives back and to be assured that those who lost theirs for their sake didn’t do so in vain. But it’s in your hands. I’m not going to stop you. There’s the door. You can leave this place whenever you wish. The only reason we’ve brought you here is that here you’re safe. Here we can protect you while we try to get to the bottom of this matter. It depends on you.”
Victoria turned her head to look at the door.
Leandro poured himself another cup of coffee, dissolved five lumps in it, and sipped it calmly. “When you ask, a car will pick you up and take you wherever you want to go. You’ll never see me again or get news from us. You only have to ask.”
Victoria felt a knot in her stomach.
“You don’t have to decide now. I know what you’ve been through, and I know you’re confused. I know you don’t trust me, or anyone. It’s perfectly understandable. Nor would I, in your place. But you’ve got nothing to lose by giving us an opportunity. One more day. Or a few hours. At any moment, without having to give your reasons to anyone, you can leave. But I hope you don’t – I beg you not to. Give us this opportunity to help others.”
Victoria looked down and saw that her hands were shaking.
Leandro smiled with infinite gentleness. “Please . . .”
At some point, through her tears, she consented.