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about Miss Jardim’s unexpected intruder.
    “I wanted you to know, Mrs. Ventura,” he said, “that we take this threat quite seriously. There will be an officer in the square at night who’s been told of the problem, but I wondered if you would be willing to lock the front door earlier?”
    “I plan on it, Captain,” the woman said, reaching over to pat Miss Jardim’s knee. “I’m glad you’re not like that other officer who came here, calling Miss Jardim a liar.”
    “Some men don’t understand the threats women face. I have a bit more experience in that area.”
    The old woman nodded sagely. After a few more minutes of discussion with her, Rafael took his leave, grateful that the woman genuinely seemed to care about her renters. The house might not be finely furnished, but that was secondary to safety in his mind. When he stepped onto the street, he quickly located the young officer who would watch the house overnight. “Do you understand who your quarry is?”
    The young officer nodded. “Older man, white hair, average height, looks angry. A bit vague, sir, but if he moves toward the house he should be easy enough to spot.”
    Rafael had to hope that would be true. If this man meant to threaten Miss Jardim again, Rafael wanted him stopped. “Good. Stay alert.”
    

    Genoveva peered down at the street, watching the captain talk to a young policeman in the intersection. She couldn’t see the captain’s face, so she wasn’t sure what they were discussing, but it was probably something about her. She eased to one side of the window and lowered the filmy old curtain so he wouldn’t see her watching if he looked up.
    She was amazed that the captain, who’d never spoken more than a handful of words to her before the problem with Medeiros, was taking such an interest in her safety. It was strangely gratifying. If it had been Captain Pinheiro asking her to dine with him instead of Medeiros, she probably would have agreed. Medeiros was childish and self-centered, a social climber. The captain was none of those things. Of course, he was several years older than Medeiros, but Genoveva suspected it wasn’t merely age that made the difference.
    Now that she’d spent time in his company, she could see why he’d been made captain. He handled people well. He assessed others quickly. And he listened, which was a gift all its own. Most people didn’t know how to do that. But he’d sat through Mrs. Ventura’s banter and hadn’t rolled his eyes or tried to hurry the old woman. He’d been patient. She liked him even better for that.

Chapter 3
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    Thursday, 30 April 1903
    R AFAEL WOKE EARLY on Thursday morning, as he often did. After visiting the water closet, he returned to his bedroom, sat down with his back against the headboard, crossed his ankles, and closed his eyes. He took several deep breaths and said a quick prayer to Saint Ágabo, asking for guidance as the Jesuit brothers had taught him.
    It had been his morning ritual for months now, a meditative period during which he accessed his seer’s gift. And while he could rarely foretell events weeks away, he was very accurate in the short term. He went through his normal queries, asking himself if each of his men would get through the day safely, the inspectors and their wives, his family, his friends.
    His cousin Joaquim would be in danger today. He tried to chase down exactly how, but Rafael didn’t know enough of his situation to know what sort of danger Joaquim would land in. His other cousin, Duilio, would be going to Joaquim’s aid, but since Duilio was far away on the Ilhas das Sereias , it would take days to reach Barcelona, where Joaquim and his wife were now.
    Rafael considered taking the train to Barcelona, but he worried that the man chasing Miss Jardim might catch her. He felt unsafe leaving the Golden City at the moment.
    Who could go in his place? He had no contacts in Barcelona, but his aunt did. Perhaps if he went later this morning