Daniel finishes recounting recent events to Gustavo Barceló, who listens with amused, incisive patience. Dr. Soldevila interrupts to report that Fermín is recovering well, though behaving outrageously with the nurse, and says Fermín insists on speaking to Daniel directly.

In the bedroom, Daniel and Barceló find Fermín battered but cheerful, with Bernarda asleep beside him despite Barceló’s earlier orders. Fermín confirms Inspector Fumero attacked him, and, with Daniel’s reluctant permission, Barceló presses them for the rest of the story, including the encounter with Nuria Monfort and the ambush on Calle Moncada.

After hearing everything, Barceló identifies key problems: Fumero’s deep involvement, Nuria Monfort’s obvious lies (even about timing), and the unclear truth of Julián Carax’s supposed return and death. Barceló fixates on one “banal” detail as especially unnatural: Carax’s father refusing to identify the body and claiming he had no son, warning that most of their information is unreliable hearsay.

Barceló then commits himself to helping, emphasizing that Daniel and Fermín will need resources and strategy if they want to avoid prison. His plan is for Daniel to visit Nuria Monfort and openly signal that Daniel knows she lied, forcing a reaction; meanwhile Fermín will discreetly watch and follow Nuria after she takes the bait and moves. Barceló refuses to say what he will do in parallel, promising Daniel will learn later.

As Fermín and Bernarda drift into deep sleep together, Daniel privately asks Barceló what happens if Daniel refuses to continue, but Barceló tells Daniel it is too late to back out. At dawn Daniel returns home, finds his father asleep in a chair with Candide, and is struck by his father’s aging fragility; Daniel gently covers him with a blanket and kisses his forehead, wishing he could shield him from time.