I WANDERED OVER to the reception, where I bumped into Claire, who was coming out of the office. She looked furious—so different from this morning.

“Oh, it’s you. Are you here because you heard the announcement?”

I shook my head and took a step back, but she wouldn’t let me go.

“Have you seen Oscar?”

“Not since yesterday.”

“Were you with him on the beach?”

“Yes.”

“Did you go swimming?”

“He did.”

She came closer. “Beyond the authorized area?”

“I don’t know… Maybe.”

“Do you know what a riptide is?”

“Yes.”

“So why didn’t you stop him?”

“I don’t know… I’m sorry…”

My lip started quivering. I suddenly glimpsed the possibility that Oscar had not been strangled but drowned, swept away by treacherous currents. They would search for him in the sea, not in the sand, and they would leave me in peace, unpunished, far from Claire. Her body eclipsed the sun. Every time she moved, beams of light hit me.

“If you know anything, you have to tell me.”

“Of course.”

“Why did you come to see me earlier? You were acting really weird.”

“I was hot… I was just passing…”

Claire examined my face. I let my head spin from the heat. That way, she wouldn’t suspect the truth. She wouldn’t see me as just a lost, fragile little boy.

“They’re going to call the SNSM.”

“Okay,” I said without understanding.

“Give me your number. And if you hear anything, call me.”

We exchanged numbers. I didn’t have anything with me, so she wrote down hers on a piece of paper, which I shoved into my pocket, where Oscar’s phone had been before. She gave me one last look and I thought about my lies. She put her hand on my shoulder. Her nails dug into my skin.

“What’s your name again?”

“Oscar.”

“What?”

“Leonard.”

“Are you crazy?”

“Sorry. I just don’t feel too good.” I pulled myself free from her grip. “I’m hot. And you’re making me feel worse. You’re confusing me. I didn’t even know your son. Leave me alone.”