“By whom?”
“A driver.”
“Whose driver?”
“He said he worked for the diocese.”
“Did you see Esperanza?”
“No. By the time I arrived, the car had gone.”
“Why was she taken there?”
“I was told she had fainted and recovered.”
“Who told you?”
Paloma opened her notebook and turned to a page near the back.
“A man named Father Esteban.”
Mother Caridad knew the name.
He had served as diocesan administrator during the year after Mother Inés died. He was a quiet, orderly man who rarely visited the convent in person.
“He retired two years ago,” she said.
“He moved to the coastal parish.”
“Did you contact him?”
“I wrote twice. He did not answer.”
Mother Caridad crossed to the cabinet where old correspondence was stored.
She unlocked the bottom drawer and searched through several folders.
“Father Esteban approved the children’s registrations,” she said.
“I know.”
“He also recommended that their parentage remain sealed.”
“I know that too.”
Mother Caridad turned.
“And you accepted this?”
“I objected.”
“Not strongly enough.”
