HE RAN AT FULL SPEED until he reached Plaza Glorieta de Espana. After descending the stairs to the underground parking lot, he went straight to the parking space where Umbert had parked his car, but instead found a pearl gray Peugeot, much older. He made a precise analysis of the facts: Giovanna and her uncle had disappeared, as had their backpacks and, now, their car. It was a situation that would drive anyone crazy.
He was disoriented. He didn't know where to go or what to do. The first thing that came to mind was to take a bus to Santomera and start looking for them there, at the architect's house, among other things, because the rest of his belongings were inside the property, and it was the safest place at that moment. He needed to stop for a moment to reflect, without feeling watched.
He returned to the underground stairs and ascended them to the bus terminal in the San Camillo neighborhood. He crossed Gran Via near the Hotel Reina Victoria, where a police officer directing traffic looked him up and down inquisitively. He feared the worst, as it seemed the officer was torn between two options:
Calling him out for crossing outside the pedestrian crossing when the traffic light was red, or asking him to identify himself, maybe it would be even worse...
Yet:
Both things...
He figured the best option would be to walk away, turning left to cross the street as quickly as possible. Then he turned the corner of the hotel to head to the market square.