With no news from Fermín, Daniel and his father open the bookshop to project normality while police watch the building and the square in heavy rain. Business is nonexistent, and Daniel’s father repeatedly rereads the newspaper report about Nuria Monfort’s murder, letting his anger build.

Daniel’s father interrogates Daniel about Nuria and Fermín’s connection to her. Daniel admits he visited Nuria to learn about Julián Carax but minimizes how well he knew her, insisting Fermín could not have killed her and only followed her because Daniel asked him to. Daniel’s father, shaken that they never even knew Fermín’s real name, accuses Daniel of reckless meddling and warns him that he no longer knows who Daniel is.

Overwhelmed by guilt and fear, Daniel flees into the rain and walks aimlessly, fixated on Nuria’s brutal death. At a crossing, Daniel nearly steps into the path of a speeding bus, but a passerby yanks him back at the last instant.

Daniel realizes his savior is Officer Palacios, one of the policemen posted nearby; Palacios watches Daniel from across the street and then disappears into the traffic. Desperate for comfort and clarity, Daniel rushes to Bea’s home.

Cecilia, the maid, tells Daniel Bea left two hours earlier with her parents to see a doctor, but she does not know where or why. Daniel asks to see Tomás, but Tomás refuses and sends word that Daniel should go away; as Daniel leaves, he sees Tomás watching from his window without returning Daniel’s wave.