Book Summary – The Water Rituals – White City – Book 2
- Jason Montero
- Aug 29
- 43 min read
Updated: Aug 29
Book summary by chapter of The Water Rituals. Includes spoilers from the San Adrián tunnel murder to the end of the book. Every drop revives an ancestral echo: as water drowns the bodies of pregnant women, Unai unearths a lost childhood and the truth flowing like an underground current. The killer is no lone monster but the result of an inherited ideology, where Saúl Tovar molds his disciples into vessels of pagan justice, etched in blood and silence.
Introduction – The Water Rituals
Some wounds don’t close with time—they become ritual. In The Water Rituals, Eva García Sáenz de Urturi brings us back to the emotional and shadowed world of profiler Unai López de Ayala—known as Kraken—who now finds himself not just investigating murders but forced to confront the deepest scars of his past. In a thriller where past and present intertwine with archaeological precision, crime becomes a mirror that reflects secrets of childhood, motherhood, loss, and redemption.
These murders aren’t just homicides—they’re ritualistic reenactments of ancient Celtic practices. Pregnant women, water, cauldrons, and resurfacing names from the ‘90s create a deadly choreography across sacred landscapes in Vitoria and Cantabria. Kraken, still shattered after the events of the first book, must decide whether to find his voice again… or remain silent forever.
If you haven't discovered how it all began, don’t miss the starting point: Reading Order – White City Trilogy ➤
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Chapter Navigation
Prologue Summary – The Water Rituals – The San Adrián Tunnel
Unai López de Ayala, known as Kraken, receives shocking news from Alba Díaz de Salvatierra: she is pregnant, but does not know whether the child is his or her deceased husband Nancho’s. This moment of joy is overshadowed by uncertainty and an urgent message from his colleague Estíbaliz, who informs him of a strange murder at the San Adrián tunnel. Although Kraken is on medical leave due to Broca's aphasia—resulting from a previous gunshot—the profiler in him awakens upon hearing the crime's details: a woman hanged upside down, partially submerged in a Celtic cauldron. Despite resisting involvement, Estíbaliz reveals the victim’s identity: Ana Belén Liaño, his first girlfriend. The emotional blow deepens upon learning that she was also pregnant, triggering memories from the past and a dark premonition of what lies ahead.
Chapter 1 Summary – The Water Rituals – Mount Dobra
A female voice, full of anger and nostalgia, addresses her absent father, recalling his broken promise not to return to the pond or seek him out. The recent death of a young woman at Mount Dobra, reported by El Periódico Cántabro as part of a series of youth suicides by hypothermia, rekindles her need to confront the past. Outraged by the authorities’ apparent ignorance, she sees herself in the deceased and questions an old lie: she had been told she died. Consumed by rage and pain, she remembers her father’s feigned affection and how she once convinced herself he loved her, though she never truly believed it. She admits feeling emotionally overwhelmed, drinking and fighting more than usual, and acknowledges she must reinvent herself once again. She concludes with a fierce declaration: she has returned, despite everything, because she still misses him.
Chapter 2 Summary – The Water Rituals – The Aizkorri-Aratz Mountains
Unai López de Ayala recalls his teenage summer in Cabezón de la Sal, where he met Ana Belén Liaño, aka Annabel Lee, a comic book artist with a gothic and creative aura. During the camp, she fascinated him with her enigmatic character, artistic talent, and a personality that hovered between warmth and detachment from the real world. Her recent death still feels unreal to Unai, as if it were just another alternate ending in her comics. In the present, Unai accompanies Estíbaliz to the crime scene at the San Adrián tunnel, a remote and historic location. There, he reunites with the technicians and the forensic doctor, reliving the emotional shock of seeing Annabel Lee’s lifeless body hanging upside down, her head submerged in a bronze cauldron. The death of his first love forces him to once again confront his traumas and the pain of his forced silence.
Chapter 3 Summary – The Water Rituals – The Border of Wrongdoers
As the forensic team analyzes Annabel Lee’s body, Unai listens closely to the chilling details of her death: hanged upside down, hands bound, head immersed in a Celtic cauldron filled with water. Witnesses claim they tried to save her, but it was too late. The scene points to a carefully orchestrated ritual murder. The cauldron and rope marks suggest preparation, intent, and symbolic meaning. Unai’s profiler instincts recognize mixed traits: a psychopathic killer with psychotic tendencies, driven by a messianic delusion. He suspects the crime reenacts an ancient rite and may have a personal connection to the victim. After sending images of the cauldron to his friend Tasio Ortiz de Zárate, he receives a key clue: it’s the Cabárceno Cauldron, a stolen Celtic artifact. As a storm intensifies, Estíbaliz urges Unai to return as an expert witness. Though hesitant, he begins to accept his inevitable comeback.
Chapter 4 Summary – The Water Rituals – The Hermitage of San Adrián
The rain intensifies, and the team must act quickly to preserve evidence before the storm destroys everything. Estíbaliz convinces Unai that only he can help clarify Annabel Lee’s murder. As they move through hail, she tries to stay calm by sharing old stories about the area. Tension mounts with an impending flash flood, and they seek refuge in the hermitage. While securing the body, the cauldron, and the victim’s jacket, a hail avalanche drags technician Andoni Cuesta down the mountain. In a desperate attempt to save the cauldron, Estíbaliz is also swept away. Unai, still mute, breaks his silence with a desperate scream: “Not you,” as he tries to reach her. The scene reawakens a trauma from his past when help arrived too late. Shaken, he realizes he hasn’t forgiven those who failed back then. On that mountain, he decides to reclaim his identity as Kraken.
Chapter 5 Summary – The Water Rituals – The Cantabrian Village
In the summer of 1992, Unai and his friends arrive at the archaeological camp in Cantabria, led by Saúl Tovar. Rebeca, a troubled teen on medication, watches from a bench. Her father, Saúl, forces her to pretend everything is normal, and she searches among the newcomers for someone to help execute her plan. She focuses on Asier, distant but seemingly trustworthy. The camp's dynamic blends Celtic history, high school students, and an emotionally intense atmosphere. Jota, burdened by his father’s terminal cancer, confides in Saúl, who offers help through his doctor sister. Meanwhile, Rebeca tries to trust Asier and reveals a secret, only to be cruelly rejected. Devastated, she knows she’s ruined her only chance at freedom. In silence, she accepts that this summer, like the ones before, will be just another prelude to the confinement that awaits her.
Chapter 6 Summary – The Water Rituals – The Canton of Solitude
After the disaster at the tunnel, the team is trapped in the hermitage amid the storm. With no signal or communication, Unai, Estíbaliz, Muguruza, and the technicians try to stay warm while Annabel Lee’s body rests beside them. Unai, moved by Estíbaliz’s presence, shields her from the cold and realizes how essential she is in his life: his wall, his strength, his savior. As she sleeps in his arms, he recalls his conversation with Alba after the tribute at the Canton of Solitude. Alba confessed her pregnancy and the uncertainty about the baby’s paternity—possibly Unai’s or Nancho’s, her late husband and a serial killer. Though it hurts, Unai cannot accept the doubt. The external storm mirrors his inner turmoil as they await dawn. Finally, rescuers arrive with tragic news: Andoni Cuesta is dead.
Chapter 7 Summary – The Water Rituals – Plaza de la Virgen Blanca, 2
Back in Vitoria, Unai retreats to his apartment, physically and emotionally drained. After a brief exchange with his grandfather, who continues to care for him, he decides to reclaim control of his life: he contacts his neurologist to begin speech therapy and reconnects with Tasio. Tasio confirms that the murder weapon was the Cabárceno Cauldron, a recently stolen Celtic artifact tied to fertility rituals. He also shares the existence of a Roman altar to the Matres, fertility goddesses, linked to a local legend about a woman who vanished into a well. The crime’s symbolism gains new meaning—an ancient cult and potentially a series of murders. As he processes the information, Unai remembers his lost love and the pregnant victim. After speaking with his brother Germán and receiving encouragement, he returns to his old office. Still wounded, he accepts that he is back on the hunt. Kraken has returned.
Chapter 8 Summary – The Water Rituals – The Senda Nursery School
At the 1992 camp, Annabel Lee surprises the boys by moving into their dormitory. Asier brusquely rejects her, but Jota is captivated, and Unai, torn, lets Jota take the lead out of loyalty. Annabel reveals they met at the Senda nursery school and that Unai was her first love. Though he doesn’t fully remember, she insists on their past bond. Tension rises between them, fueled by her unique worldview and insistence on preserving their shared memories. Meanwhile, Jota tells Saúl about his despair over his father’s expectations—forcing him to become an architect. Saúl offers help through medical contacts. At the same time, Rebeca, after trying to trust Asier, faces another harsh rejection. Isolated, she resigns herself to the fact that this will be her last summer of freedom and that confinement awaits once more.
Chapter 9 Summary – The Water Rituals – Lakua and the Secret of the Cauldron
On November 18, 2016, after surviving the storm, Unai Ayala attends a meeting at the Lakua police station with his team. Commissioner Medina and Deputy Commissioner Alba Salvatierra commend his work and confirm that the case remains under gag order. The murdered woman, Ana Belén Liaño, was a comic book artist, five months pregnant, and a lottery winner of three million euros. Her wallet with the ticket receipt was recovered, hinting at a possible financial motive. The cauldron at the crime scene—a Celtic relic—was damaged and had no usable fingerprints due to the storm. Ayala provides relevant archaeological data, and Alba suggests a possible link to ancient rituals. Two new agents, Peña and Milán, join the team. Estíbaliz coordinates the investigation and assigns tasks: find the baby’s father, examine social networks, financial records, and the victim’s comics in search of clues to the ritual crime.
Chapter 10 Summary – The Water Rituals – The Wall Garden and the News
After the meeting, Estíbaliz heads to Araia to question the mountaineers who found the body. Unai remains with Alba, who allows him to work as an expert witness if he commits to speech rehabilitation. Visibly affected, she confesses the emotional cost of her pregnancy: workplace stigma, paternity doubts, and personal turmoil. Unai promises to attend speech therapy for the baby’s sake. Later, he meets his close friends—Asier, Jota, and Lutxo—in the garden behind the wall to inform them of Annabel Lee’s murder. Each reacts with varying degrees of detachment, though their expressions betray shock. Lutxo admits to having seen her days earlier but didn’t notice the pregnancy. Mentioning Annabel reopens old wounds and unresolved tensions among them. Though exhausted, Unai chooses to tell them the truth out of respect for their shared past: Annabel was their first mutual love.
Chapter 11 Summary – The Water Rituals – Santa Isabel Cemetery
On November 20, 2016, Unai attends Annabel Lee’s burial at the Santa Isabel cemetery, surprised that she’s being laid to rest in a family pantheon. Alba and the team are also present. Milán reports that Annabel had announced her pregnancy online through a self-portrait. Peña reviewed her entire body of work but found no links to Celtic rituals. The victim’s mother, president of a biker club, seems unaffected and claims she hadn’t had contact with her daughter in decades. The funeral atmosphere is strange, and as light snow begins to fall, everyone feels Annabel is giving a gothic farewell. Jota and Lutxo accompany Unai; Asier is absent. Alba reveals to Unai that Nancho was buried by his brother Ignacio under the name Venancio Urbina. Estíbaliz presents Alba with a similar case: in 1993, a pregnant girl went missing in Fontibre. Anonymous photos showed her hanging with her head submerged.
Chapter 12 Summary – The Water Rituals – Summer in Cabezón de la Sal
In July 1992, Annabel Lee devotes herself to drawing comics inside her sleeping bag at the Cantabrian village of Cabezón de la Sal. Unai watches her, fascinated by her inner world. Annabel tells him she draws inspiration from ancient history, especially Celtic rituals, and that she hates her nomadic life with her mother, a biker club leader. She dreams of settling in Vitoria and living off her art. Meanwhile, Jota works with her rebuilding a cabin and falls under her spell. He begins taking artistic photos inspired by her. At the same time, Jota befriends Rebeca, daughter of camp director Saúl Tovar. The fourteen-year-old girl feels included and finds a confidant in Jota. Over the weekend, Saúl takes the group to the Sandaili cave, a place filled with meaning and dread for Rebeca. During the trip, dark tensions between father and daughter begin to emerge.
Chapter 13 Summary – The Water Rituals – Txagorritxu and Garden Confessions
On November 20, Estíbaliz and Alba visit Alba’s father, who suffers from Alzheimer’s, at the Txagorritxu residence. There, he suddenly shouts Unai’s nickname. Upon leaving, they’re confronted by a grieving mother of one of Nancho’s victims, who accuses Alba of covering for her husband. Alba remains composed, understanding it as a projection of pain. Later, the two women sit in the garden, where Estíbaliz emotionally confesses past abuse by her father. She explains she chose her ex-boyfriend Iker because he was incapable of hurting her. After her brother Eneko’s death, she gave up drugs and matured. She also admits to having loved Unai deeply since she was thirteen, accepting her role as his close friend. Alba proposes creating a unit to prevent child abuse in schools—an idea Estíbaliz embraces with enthusiasm. They both recognize the value of their friendship, free of rivalry.
Chapter 14 Summary – The Water Rituals – The Broken Coast and the Triple Death
On November 21, Unai and Estíbaliz travel to Cantabria to investigate the 1993 case. They meet with Héctor del Castillo at the Cantabrian Museum of Archaeology, who recognizes the Celtic pattern in the murders. He confirms the cauldron found in San Adrián could relate to the Triple Death: drowning, hanging, and fire. He also links locations like Fontibre and the San Adrián tunnel to ancient cults of the Matres and fertility rituals. Héctor rules out a sect and suggests someone with archaeological knowledge may be performing these murders as punishment for violating taboos. He mentions bodies found in swamps and ritual sacrifice in Celtic cultures. Unai, disturbed, reflects on the idea of raising the child of a psychopath like Nancho. Though filled with doubt, he finds some comfort in remembering that Nancho’s brother Ignacio chose a moral path. Meanwhile, the investigation delves deeper into an unsettling ancestral dimension.
Chapter 15 Summary – The Water Rituals – The Faculty of History and Rebeca’s Ghost
On November 21, 2016, Unai and Estíbaliz visit Saúl Tovar, now an anthropology professor at the University of Cantabria. They find him surrounded by female students but detect a defeated air about him. The reunion is tense: Saúl recognizes Unai and talks about his daughter Rebeca’s disappearance in 1993. He claims she wasn’t pregnant, citing medical reports and testimony from his endocrinologist sister. He believes multiple people murdered her and hid the body to erase evidence. Although the photos of the corpse shocked him, he rationalizes them with theories about image angles or decomposition. The encounter stirs old emotions and tensions in Unai, who recalls his strained relationship with Saúl. Despite his pain, the professor displays a mix of skepticism and bitterness, hinting he knows more than he’s saying. He ultimately suggests multiple perpetrators were involved.
Chapter 16 Summary – The Water Rituals – The Pando-Argüelles House and the First Step
Unai begins speech therapy with Beatriz Korres, a confident and eccentric therapist, in an elegant Vitoria building. She conducts a thorough evaluation and explains his recovery will depend on discipline and dedication. She prescribes oral exercises, singing, repetitions, and mobile apps to improve vocabulary. She urges him to speak with close relatives to speed up progress. His brother Germán arrives at the end of the session and is clearly smitten with Beatriz. Though Unai notices his interest, Germán denies it. That night, Unai throws himself into the exercises, determined to speak again. The next day, Milán calls to inform him that Asier, Unai’s old friend, is a co-owner of Ana Belén Liaño’s bank account. They discover Asier withdrew €200,000 just days before the murder. Unai, stunned, begins to suspect Asier may be involved, and that things are murkier than they appeared.
Chapter 17 Summary – The Water Rituals – San Francisco Street and Asier’s Secret
On November 22, 2016, Unai rushes to his friend Asier’s pharmacy after receiving a call from Estíbaliz—Asier was found unconscious and bleeding. Though he survives, he refuses to file a report or reveal what happened, claiming a junkie attacked him. Unai finds signs of a fight and suspects Asier is lying. When confronted about the shared account with Ana Belén and the €200,000 withdrawal, Asier is evasive. Estíbaliz pushes, but he shuts down. Both agents suspect an emotional or financial link to the victim. The autopsy reveals Ana Belén died from drowning, hanging, and possibly being stunned with a Taser—supporting the Triple Death theory. Learning the unborn child was a boy deepens the sorrow. Despite Asier’s connection to the victim, there is not enough evidence to implicate him. The investigation grows more complex.
Chapter 18 Summary – The Water Rituals – Fray Francisco Promenade and Unai’s Confession
In the early hours of November 23, Unai encounters Alba during his workout and finally confesses his emotional involvement in the case: he and his three best friends all dated Annabel Lee. He tells her they all attended a camp in Cantabria in 1992, where Rebeca Tovar was also present. Alba is shocked and disappointed he hadn’t told her sooner, demanding full transparency. Unai insists his familiarity with those involved could help solve the case. He explains the investigation points to an ancient Celtic ritual: the Triple Death, carried out on pregnant women as punishment for being seen as unfit mothers. Though police lack the evidence to demand a DNA test from the suspect, Unai fears the killings will continue unchecked. Alba agrees to keep him on as an expert, but warns she won’t tolerate more secrets. A tense emotional connection lingers between them.
Chapter 19 Summary – The Water Rituals – Villaverde Pond and the Grandfather’s Lesson
Unai travels to Villaverde to visit his grandfather and clear his mind. He finds him sleeping in the kitchen but soon joins him in the garden. During a tense conversation, the grandfather criticizes Unai’s reliance on his phone as a substitute for speech and tosses it into a pond. Furious, Unai spends hours recovering it, realizing the gesture was a lesson. Frustrated but reflective, he contacts Golden Girl, a retired hacker, who promises to try retrieving the data. He reflects on his tech dependence, his fear of speaking, and the unresolved pain he still carries. The incident makes him realize his mutism is more emotional armor than true disability. As he waits for phone recovery, he feels he has crossed a symbolic threshold in his healing. Golden’s help offers a chance to recover data but also forces him to face the truths he’s been avoiding.
Chapter 20 Summary – The Water Rituals – Sandaili and Echoes of the Summer of 1992
On July 4, 1992, the group travels with Saúl Tovar and Rebeca to the San Elías hermitage in Sandaili, a site rich in Celtic symbolism. Tensions flare along the way: Annabel sarcastically challenges Asier, while Jota watches her with admiration. At the site, Saúl explains its pagan origins and ties to fertility rites. After lunch, as most nap, Saúl leads Rebeca to a secluded pool in a disturbing gesture. Terrified, she cannot resist. Meanwhile, Unai accidentally stumbles upon Annabel and Jota having sex. The scene shocks him deeply. Annabel is unashamed, while Jota reacts nervously. The moment becomes imprinted on Unai’s memory, marking a rupture in their friendships. This chapter digs into the emotional roots of the group, revealing dark secrets and painful bonds that resurface with the current murders.
Chapter 21 Summary – The Water Rituals – The Barbacana Pond
After recovering part of his digital life thanks to Golden, Unai continues his physical and speech rehabilitation with intense exercises. The investigation progresses slowly, reviewing traffic footage to track how Annabel arrived at San Adrián. Amid his routine, Estíbaliz calls urgently: a body has been found at the interpretation center of the Barbacana pond in Laguardia. Upon arrival, Unai walks through the blue building designed to mimic an underwater environment and discovers a shocking scene: a man hanging from the ceiling beams, soaked, with no obvious signs of a ritual cauldron but showing indications of immersion. The historical and ritual setting reinforces the link to previous murders. As he approaches, Unai identifies the deceased and is devastated by the revelation: the victim is his friend Jota. With this discovery, Unai realizes the hunt is no longer theoretical—it’s personal.
Chapter 22 Summary – The Water Rituals – Hotel de Doña Blanca
Overwhelmed by Jota’s death, Unai goes into autopilot mode, reporting findings and trying to remain composed. Alba summons him to her residence in Laguardia: the luxurious Hotel de Doña Blanca. There, he is greeted by Nieves Díaz de Salvatierra, Alba’s mother and a former theater legend now retired from hospitality. As he waits in the “Love and Madness” room, Unai breaks down, devastated. Alba arrives, comforts him tenderly, and takes him to the castle’s tower, where the peaceful view offers a moment of relief. Alba confides that her child won’t have osteogenesis imperfecta and shares her complex family history: daughter of a famous actress and a directionless chauffeur, shaped by a financial scandal and an austere childhood. Her bond with Nancho was distant, and her mother never accepted him. Comforted, Unai informs Nerea of Jota’s death, and Alba suggests Jota might have been Ana Belén Liaño’s baby’s father.
Chapter 23 Summary – The Water Rituals – San Roque Square
Unai returns home drained after an emotionally exhausting day. In the quiet of the Vitoria night, a mysterious young man in a white hoodie with blue hair slips a paper into his pocket: a cryptic note signed by MatuSalem, Tasio’s protégé hacker. He invites Unai to a secret meeting in the crypt of the New Cathedral. The next morning, during a police meeting, the team analyzes Jota’s murder: with no cameras or reliable witnesses, it’s believed he was killed elsewhere and then moved. Estíbaliz proposes a bold theory: the killings follow a Celtic punishment logic tied to fertility. The victims, possibly all connected to pregnancies, might be linked to the 1992 Cantabrian camp. Unai begins to understand that he and his friends are the targets. The crime’s details, the modus operandi, and the killer’s motives suggest they’re facing an ancestral ritual of the Triple Death.
Chapter 24 Summary – The Water Rituals – The New Cathedral Crypt
Unai meets MatuSalem in the crypt, surrounded by stone columns and sacred silence. The young hacker warns him that Golden Girl, his tech adviser, has been dangerously active on the Deep Web after accessing his phone. He advises caution, revealing that she’s been posing as a teen in suicidal communities and accessing dark forums. Matu reveals Golden’s past as a legendary hacker who flirted with the boundaries of legality since the early days of the internet. Alarmed, Unai agrees to keep an eye on her discreetly. Jota’s funeral leaves him speechless. The group of friends reunites, broken and unable to process the loss. Unai, consumed by a dark thought, vows to stop the chain of murders and make a pact with any god necessary to prevent further deaths. He knows Jota was the most fragile—and now it’s up to the survivors to endure.
Chapter 25 Summary – The Water Rituals – The Kraken’s Summer
In July 1992, in Cantabria, Annabel and Unai’s relationship becomes more intimate and quiet. Annabel takes Lutxo under her wing, making him wake early, climb, and strengthen his body. Their connection sparks Unai’s jealousy, and Lutxo starts teasing him by calling him Kraken due to his size. One morning, Annabel tells Unai she chose her name in rebellion against a childhood nickname: “Weed.” Meanwhile, Rebeca, tense and silenced, tries to confide something to Annabel in the Celtic cabin, but Annabel coldly dismisses her. Only Jota listens patiently, and Rebeca opens up: she mentions very serious issues involving her family. Jota, shocked, promises to talk to Saúl to protect her but attributes it to a possible mental disorder. While Unai observes her altered state, Jota hides the gravity of what he heard. A dark secret begins to form.
Chapter 26 Summary – The Water Rituals – Collado Gardens
While recovering, Unai resumes jogging with Alba. During a run in the Collado Gardens, he tells her that Golden Girl has been behaving suspiciously on the Deep Web since recovering his phone. He suggests buying a new, untraceable device to protect sensitive data. He confesses he didn’t hand over the memory card to the police because it held old personal messages with Alba. Their talk turns personal. Alba reveals she endured brutal bullying in her youth and how it shaped her. She recounts her first love and her decision to become strong after being beaten. Unai questions her motives, and she reacts emotionally. Mid-conversation, Alba collapses with convulsions—her pregnancy is at risk. Desperate, Unai calls emergency services. As the ambulance arrives, his world seems to shatter again.
Chapter 27 Summary – The Water Rituals – Txagorritxu Hospital
Unai anxiously accompanies Alba to the hospital, unsure whether their daughter has survived. She’s diagnosed with eclampsia, but both mother and baby stabilize. The news that he will be a father deeply moves him. He calls Alba’s mother, Nieves, and they take turns watching over her. Estíbaliz also arrives to offer support. When Commissioner Medina learns of the pregnancy, he confronts Unai about the baby’s paternity. To protect Alba and the child from Nancho’s stigma, Unai lies, claiming he’s the father and had a secret relationship with Alba since August. He doesn’t care if the baby is biologically his—he’s chosen to be her father. With that declaration, Unai begins a new path, marked by commitment. However, he admits he doesn’t know if Alba will accept his role. Still, his priority is to protect them both. Unbeknownst to him, this noble decision will place him in greater danger.
Chapter 28 Summary – The Water Rituals – Hospital Gardens
On the morning of December 8, Unai visits the hospital and spends time alone with Alba while Nieves sleeps nearby. He gazes at her belly with restrained emotion. Upon waking, he tells her he claimed paternity to spare her child Nancho’s last name. Alba questions him but understands it was for protection. She warns that he cannot decide their relationship’s future yet. She appreciates his support but needs time. Still, she allows him to be present for the baby. Outside, Nieves speaks candidly to Unai: she admires her daughter and respects her decision regarding the relationship, but asks one thing—don’t hurt her granddaughter. If Unai enters her life, he must stay. He cannot afford to be an in-and-out father. Deeply moved, Unai promises to be consistent. Finally, Nieves admits she hopes he is the father.
Chapter 29 Summary – The Water Rituals – The Altar of the Matres
Unai continues his demanding speech therapy, driven by the desire to regain normalcy. His brother Germán surprises him in the rain with a storm-damaged bouquet, a gesture that deeply touches Beatriz, the speech therapist. It marks the beginning of an emotional bond. Back home, Unai calls Héctor del Castillo to ask about the altar at the Barbacana pond. Héctor confirms an altar to the three Matres is there, reinforcing the Celtic ritual connection to the crime. Later, Estíbaliz informs him of a new discovery: the hypothermia death of Gimena Tovar, Saúl’s adopted daughter, under circumstances similar to other recent youth suicides. Gimena, a history student, allegedly died on Mount Dobra. Learning that Saúl lost two daughters—Rebeca and Gimena—in such mysterious situations raises new suspicions. The case grows even more disturbing.
Chapter 30 Summary – The Water Rituals – The Cross of Gorbea
Overwhelmed by emotion and worry, Estíbaliz climbs alone to the Cross of Gorbea, where her brother Eneko’s ashes were scattered. Although she speaks symbolically to him, she feels unable to connect as she once did. Frustrated by Unai’s situation, her unexpected pregnancy, and the dangerous case, she confides in her brother her fear that the murders follow a paternity-linked ritual logic. Estíbaliz reflects on her past with Unai, their shared pain, and the emotional complexity of seeing him expecting a child with Alba. She also talks about her desire to help youth like herself and Eneko, not through despair but hope and action. The silent, snowy mountain bears witness to her confessions and renewed resolve. Fixing her gaze on the horizon, she decides to keep fighting for those still savable.
Chapter 31 Summary – The Water Rituals – The Hangman’s Game
The leak on social media about the San Adrián and Barbacana murders unleashes chaos. On Twitter, the news spreads like wildfire, fueled by rumors and hashtags that quickly dub the murders “The Hangman’s Game.” Misinformation circulates, such as victims being hanged—though it’s unclear they were hung by their feet. It’s also mentioned that one victim was pregnant. The police are overwhelmed by speculation, knowing they can no longer control the spread of information. Unai anxiously wonders how the leak happened and whether someone he knows is involved. His fear deepens as he realizes the public is building a sinister narrative based on the alphabet and historic locations. No one outside the team knows about D for Dobra or F for Fontibre. The killer seems to be sending a message.
Chapter 32 Summary – The Water Rituals – Valdecilla Hospital
Unai and Estíbaliz travel to Santander to question Sarah Tovar, Saúl’s sister. They find her praying in the hospital chapel, solemn and cold. Though hostile, she confirms Rebeca was murdered, though her body was never found. She denies Rebeca was ever pregnant and refuses to discuss her psychiatric history. Regarding Gimena, her tone shifts to sorrow. She says Gimena was adopted after Saúl’s wife’s death—a process she saw as a blessing—yet her words hint at a disturbing favoritism toward one niece over the other. Later, a chance elevator encounter with Dr. Osorio, Rebeca’s psychiatrist, reveals more than expected: his terrified reaction confirms he’s hiding something. Back in the car, Unai and Estíbaliz agree that Gimena’s adoption story is riddled with irregularities, likely concealed by Sarah, Osorio, or even Saúl himself.
Chapter 33 Summary – The Water Rituals – San Juan de Gaztelugatxe
In the summer of 1992, the Celtic camp group, led by Saúl, takes a trip to the San Juan de Gaztelugatxe hermitage. Coexistence is mixed with mead and symbolic rituals. Rebeca, increasingly distant, retreats into silence. Meanwhile, Asier grows closer to Saúl, becoming one of his protégés alongside Lutxo. At night, after drinking, Unai and Jota go looking for Annabel, who has disappeared. They find her in an explicit and aggressive sexual act with Asier, oblivious to being seen. The scene shocks Jota, and Unai drags him away to avoid confrontation. The moment is charged with tension and repressed anger, revealing the group’s relationships are far more complex than they seem. Under the misty night and the echo of waves, a dark seed is planted that will change their lives forever.
Chapter 34 Summary – The Water Rituals – Widows’ Slope
Unai and Estíbaliz return to the University of Cantabria determined to find Saúl, but he has vanished. They suspect Sarah warned him. In their search, they pursue a student who’s been observing them—Osorio, sharing the last name of Rebeca’s psychiatrist—deepening their suspicions. After the failed meeting, they visit Héctor del Castillo’s home in an upscale area of Santander. There, the archaeologist recounts a disturbing event: in 1998, during a Celtic exhibition in Amsterdam, a sacred cauldron disappeared, and days later, dead animals were found in a Triple Death pattern. Though never officially reported, the parallels with current murders are striking. Unai, disturbed, remembers Golden lived in Amsterdam at that time, working for Cisco. The connection is clear. Past and present begin dangerously to intertwine, and the net around the killer tightens.
Chapter 35 Summary – The Water Rituals – Villaverde Heights
Seeking discretion, Unai gathers the team in Villaverde. The meeting is held at his grandfather’s house under strict security. Estíbaliz presents updates: Jota’s murder confirms Taser use and a ritualized execution. A new hypothesis emerges: all victims may have been expecting children. If so, survivors from the 1992 camp who might become parents are at risk—including Unai. The prime suspects are Asier, Golden Girl, and Saúl. Estíbaliz shares key data implicating Asier, like his relationship with Ana Belén and the possibility he fathered an unacknowledged child. Unai volunteers to speak with him. Golden’s past in Amsterdam and recent Deep Web activity are also flagged. The team is divided, but united in one goal: protecting potential future targets. For the first time, Alba refers to Unai as the father of her child.
Chapter 36 Summary – The Water Rituals – The Ice Rink
On the snowy night of December 20, Unai invites Alba for a walk. She agrees, and their outing becomes a magical pause amid the darkness. They stroll through the snow-covered city to Virgen Blanca Square, reminiscing about childhood and sealing their bond with a playful gesture: lying in the snow and making angel shapes, though they look more like a kraken—their shared symbol. Back at Unai’s home, passion reignites. They make love tenderly, with the urgency of those who know everything is at stake. Alba, though she reasserts her role as deputy commissioner afterward, confirms they will be a family. The scene, both warm and erotic, symbolizes not just their renewed relationship, but their unbreakable union to protect the child they await. It is an emotional breath before what they sense will be the investigation’s most dangerous stretch.
Chapter 37 Summary – The Water Rituals – The Night of Candles
On December 23, despite the weight of the case, Unai feels life has found a fragile calm: walks with Peña, meals with Beatriz and his brother Germán, and intense moments with Alba. In this lull, he contacts Araceli, Asier’s wife, to uncover more about the group’s past. They meet during the Night of Candles, when Vitoria’s Old Town glows with thousands of lights. Upon seeing her, Unai is struck by her resemblance to Ana Belén Liaño. In a private conversation, Araceli admits Asier and Jota fought shortly before Jota’s death but defends her husband and denies domestic abuse. Later, Estíbaliz calls with a new lead: Saúl’s wife died under strange circumstances. The circle of suspicion keeps growing, and Unai begins piecing together dangerous truths.
Chapter 38 Summary – The Water Rituals – The Slippery Slope
During the group’s traditional Christmas gathering, tension looms due to Jota’s absence. In private, Asier confronts Unai about questioning Araceli. The discussion intensifies, and Unai presents contradictory evidence. Finally, Asier confesses. He says Annabel Lee resurfaced in the spring, starting ambiguous relationships with both him and Jota, though he claims they used protection. They kept the reunion secret, fearing old wounds. Annabel asked Asier to leave his wife and hinted the child might be his. Though he doubted it, he agreed to open a joint account. He withdrew money before her death, but Annabel never mentioned it. Asier admits he studied pharmacy to outshine Annabel financially. Now, with her gone and the inheritance shared, he plans to start over. Unai lets him go, more confused than ever.
Chapter 39 Summary – The Water Rituals – Mount Dobra
In July 1992, tensions among the camp friends intensify. Unai notices how Annabel Lee’s presence disrupts the group dynamic, stirring jealousy and distance. Saúl suggests a hike to Mount Dobra to ease tensions. During the trek, he talks with Unai about his nickname, Kraken, likening it to a mythical creature of power. Unai reveals his pain over his brother Germán’s dwarfism and his hatred for nicknames. Saúl offers a new perspective. Later, at the summit, Unai speaks with Jota, who confesses he no longer cares for Annabel and has decided to quit Architecture to study Fine Arts and pursue photography. That night, Unai has a tense encounter with Annabel. She emotionally challenges him, making it clear she has pushed everyone aside to be alone with him. Overwhelmed by Annabel’s magnetism, Unai descends the stairs, knowing something inside him is changing forever.
Chapter 40 Summary – The Water Rituals – Bluebeard
On December 26, Unai and Estíbaliz meet to share findings after the holiday break. They discuss Saúl Tovar’s wife’s death, discovering it was a strange nighttime fall into a well. Estíbaliz suggests that the three women closest to Saúl—his wife, daughter Rebeca, and Ana Belén Liaño—died under suspicious circumstances. As they talk, she shares chilling details about the Bluebeard legend and its historical origin: a French noble who tortured and murdered children for years. Though Unai wants to believe in Saúl’s innocence, the pattern of deaths troubles him. Estíbaliz suspects someone has been trying to ruin the professor’s life for a long time. The conversation sparks deep doubts in Unai about his own passivity in the case. He decides it’s time to confront Golden Girl, his secret collaborator, whose evasive behavior now seems suspicious.
Chapter 41 Summary – The Water Rituals – The Canton of Pneumonia
Unai decides to surprise Golden Girl by avoiding geolocation and going directly to her apartment in the Canton of Pneumonia. He uses an excuse to gain entry and wins her over with a friendly gesture. Once inside, he confronts her directly: he asks about her activity in suicide forums and reminds her of the evidence he’s found linking her to hidden dealings. Golden, calm but evasive, admits to hiding things and promises to tell the truth. She goes to get cookies and wine, and at that moment, Unai loses consciousness. Golden has brutally struck him. Hours later, when he partially regains consciousness, he realizes she didn’t intend to kill him—she left the door open to ensure someone would find him. Still, he feels a deep rage: Golden has betrayed him. For someone already wounded in the head, this attack is not just physical—it’s deeply emotional. Unai begins to accept that he’s been manipulated from the start by someone who pretended to be his ally.
Chapter 42 Summary – The Water Rituals – Santiago Hospital
Unai spends thirteen days hospitalized after Golden Girl’s attack. Though the blow was superficial, the scare was serious. During his recovery, Estíbaliz delivers the DNA results confirming Jota was the father of Annabel Lee’s unborn child. While healing physically, Unai also grows emotionally closer to Alba, whose constant presence strengthens their bond. Milán, the police IT expert, reveals a shocking discovery: Gloria Echegaray, Golden’s identity, is false. She is actually Lourdes Pereda Argüeso, Rebeca’s aunt and sister of Saúl’s deceased wife. The revelation shifts the investigation entirely. They now understand that Golden had personal motives: her niece’s death followed the same pattern as those close to Saúl. Unai is shaken by this hidden truth and starts to grasp the full scale of the network behind the crimes from the very beginning.
Chapter 43 Summary – The Water Rituals – The Sequoia Garden
After leaving the hospital, Unai contacts MatuSalem at the New Cathedral. They meet at the sequoia garden to speak away from prying eyes and devices. Unai tells him that Golden has disappeared and used a fake identity. Frustrated, the young hacker admits he can’t trace her—she’s erased her digital presence and vanished from even the Deep Web. They agree on a secret future contact method, and Matu pledges to help if she resurfaces. Back home, Unai finds an unmarked letter in his mailbox—written by Golden. In it, she invites him to the Atxa archaeological site at noon, without devices or companions. It’s a clear and dangerous invitation—a trap or a final revelation. The mysterious Golden wants a face-to-face meeting. Tension rises as Unai prepares for a decisive encounter that could deliver the answers he’s been searching for—or cost him dearly.
Chapter 44 Summary – The Water Rituals – The Three Waves
The 1992 camp ends with an excursion to Deba beach. Saúl tells the youths the old legend of the three waves: milk, tears, and blood. As everyone enjoys the magical atmosphere and mead, Unai notices growing tension between Saúl and his daughter Rebeca. The girl, who had confided in Jota, senses her father knows everything and has changed. When Unai chooses to stay at the beach with Annabel, he unknowingly rejects Rebeca, who hoped to speak with him for protection. Devastated, she takes it as a sign of abandonment. That night, Saúl whispers chilling words to her—“The goddess awaits us”—filling her with dread. She senses something terrible is about to happen and resigns herself to solitude. Rebeca faces the inevitable, while the others, unaware, prepare for a night that will forever mark their destinies.
Chapter 45 Summary – The Water Rituals – The Atxa Site
Pressed for time, Unai ventures alone to find the Atxa site without police backup. Armed and wearing a bulletproof vest, he follows the Green Ring until he locates the forgotten site hidden in brush and trees near the Zadorra River. The place reminds him of the Fontibre murder scene, heightening his tension. While inspecting the area, a messenger on a motorcycle arrives with a package. Suspicious, Unai draws his weapon, fearing an ambush. The frightened courier hands him a tablet with a message from Golden. Through a chat, Golden confirms she won’t stop but wants to help. She warns him that Rebeca is still alive, dangerous, and must be stopped. Shocked, Unai grapples with the idea that the supposed 1993 victim not only survived but could be behind the current murders—driven by revenge.
Chapter 46 Summary – The Water Rituals – Amsterdam
Golden tells Unai that Rebeca survived and escaped with her help after being abused by her father, Saúl. She recounts the story of Asun, her sister and Rebeca’s mother, who died under suspicious circumstances—possibly murdered by Saúl. Rebeca, pregnant at fourteen, secretly gave birth and lost the baby. The father was Saúl. To escape, Rebeca faked her death and fled to Amsterdam with Golden, who gave her a new identity. There, she studied history, learned cybersecurity, and developed manipulative traits and a complex personality. Golden says Rebeca became dangerous after learning of Gimena Tovar’s suicide—Saúl’s adoptive daughter. Rebeca blames the camp boys for what happened and now seeks vengeance. Golden bids farewell to Unai, warning him that if he is Alba’s baby’s father, he is in grave danger.
Chapter 47 Summary – The Water Rituals – Deba, 1992
On a hot, electric night at Deba beach, Rebeca suffers another abuse by her father, Saúl, who forces her to bathe in the sea, cynically invoking Celtic rites. Shattered, Rebeca decides to hate the history and past she once loved. Meanwhile, Unai has his first sexual experience with Annabel Lee in a scene charged with youthful desire. After making love on the beach, she convinces him to move to the bus, leaving the door open intentionally. During the act, they are caught by Jota, Lutxo, and Asier. The scene sets the stage for the breakdown of their relationships, as the secrets and tensions of that 1992 summer begin to darken and shape their futures.
Chapter 48 Summary – The Water Rituals – La Arnía
Unai and Estíbaliz return to Cantabria to confront Saúl, Rebeca’s father. Estíbaliz criticizes Unai for acting alone, but he insists it was crucial for key information. At the university, they confront Saúl and tell him Rebeca might be alive. Shocked, he invites them to his chalet—a lifeless home devoid of family warmth. He greets them with mixed emotions. When they mention the information came from Lourdes, his sister-in-law, Saúl reacts with contempt, calling her a fraud. However, as he hears the full story, his mask cracks. He still denies the abuse allegations and refuses to accept that Rebeca escaped as a victim. Though he pretends relief, his reaction to hearing that his daughter accused him of fathering her child raises Unai’s suspicions. The visit ends with Saúl handing over potentially crucial documents.
Chapter 49 Summary – The Water Rituals – Urro del Manzano
On the last day of the 1992 camp, Unai feels special after his night with Annabel, unaware of the secrets around him. Meanwhile, Rebeca hides, traumatized and avoiding everyone. Marian, a senior student, finds her and hears about the abuse by Saúl. Alarmed, Marian heads toward the coast to confront him. Unai sees her walking away but is distracted until he spots a red shape in the water. Alarmed, he runs to find Marian has fallen into the sea. He tries to save her in violent waves, but when he turns back, he sees with horror that none of his friends—including Annabel or Saúl—move to help. Unai dives in alone, struggling to reach Marian, unsure if he can save her—or survive himself. The others’ indifference marks a turning point of absolute loneliness and distrust.
Chapter 50 Summary – The Water Rituals – The Broken Coast
Back at the Broken Coast, Unai and Estíbaliz confront Saúl with Rebeca’s medical records. Saúl claims his daughter had paranoid psychosis worsened by an unresolved Electra complex. He says the abuse accusations were fantasies from her mental illness. According to him, Rebeca had a distorted view of reality and was obsessed with him after her mother’s death. Though he admits to the pregnancy, he denies being the father and suspects one of the camp volunteers. He believes Rebeca used Lourdes to escape and might now be behind the murders—though he has no proof. After the intense conversation, Unai and Estíbaliz reflect by the sea on whether Rebeca—unhinged and manipulative—could be enacting a ritual revenge based on the Celtic Triple Death. Unai, tormented, begins to wonder if one of his friends might be the true culprit—by having gotten her pregnant.
Chapter 51 Summary – The Water Rituals – Grandfather’s Garden
Unai talks with his grandfather, who reveals that someone unfamiliar has been snooping in the upper part of the house, rummaging through old memories—including a box from the summer of 1992. While reviewing a group photo, Unai reminisces about old friends, including Annabel and Marian. Curious, he asks his grandfather about Saúl Tovar and his tragic family history. The old man wisely explains that some men’s weakness brings ruin to those around them, even without committing murder. In the photo, he recognizes Marian but says he recently saw someone who looked just like her—this unsettles Unai. Later, Estíbaliz demonstrates in the grandfather’s orchard that a woman alone could have carried out the murders using a rope and an old pear tree. Her theory rules out multiple attackers. Unai begins to rethink his profile of the killer and, for the first time, suspects Rebeca—or whoever she may have become.
Chapter 52 Summary – The Water Rituals – Conde de San Diego Palace
In the summer of 1992, Unai tries to save Marian from the sea, but once he reaches the rocks, he realizes she’s either dead or unconscious. Exhausted by the waves and cold, he holds her body, waiting forty minutes for help to arrive. After the rescue, Marian is taken to the morgue, and Unai remains under observation. Saúl informs him she died from a strong blow to the head—not drowning—trying to console him. Annabel visits Unai but accuses him of risking their relationship to save a dead girl. In a heated argument, she reveals her cynicism, and he sees her true nature. In the following days, Unai becomes a lifeguard in Bernedo, influenced by Annabel’s words about saving lives. Years later, obsessed with crime investigation and guided by his past and Tasio Ortiz de Zárate, he begins his police career after the double murder at the dolmen.
Chapter 53 Summary – The Water Rituals – El Portalón
Estíbaliz confides in Unai her suspicions about Milán and the mysterious Facebook account “Ginebra,” which contacted Annabel before her death. She’s puzzled that Milán, an expert, failed to detect the fake account. Unai remembers a comment about names and connects the aliases Ginebra and Milán to cities where Rebeca once lived. They begin to suspect Milán might be Rebeca. Upon returning to Vitoria, Unai meets Asier at El Portalón restaurant to question him about Rebeca. Asier recounts how Rebeca once told him her father touched her and that her aunt Sarah, with whom she had an incestuous relationship, was the one who had her institutionalized. Though he didn’t believe her, he admits the story disturbed him. Unai reveals Rebeca is alive and could be behind the murders. Leaving the restaurant, he finds Estíbaliz, and together they go to Milán’s home. When she opens the door, Unai sees in her the face of Marian, the friend who died in 1992.
Chapter 54 Summary – The Water Rituals – Torre de los Anda
Seeing Milán with wet hair unnerves Unai, as she looks exactly like Marian. The confusion deepens until she reveals she is Marian’s younger sister. They enter the apartment and discover a room filled with photos and obsessively organized notes tracking Saúl, Annabel, and others from the group. Milán, hurt by her sister’s death and the lack of answers, confesses she joined the Unit to uncover the truth. No one ever explained what happened, and she needs to know. Unai recalls the accident but admits he never saw how Marian fell. Milán accuses Saúl of lying. Estíbaliz interrupts to question Milán, suspecting she may be the killer. However, Peña appears naked from the bathroom, revealing he was with Milán the night of one of the murders—an awkward but solid alibi that clears her for the time being.
Chapter 55 Summary – The Water Rituals – La Malquerida
Friday, January 13 is devastating for Unai. Alba, cold and distant, asks to meet at La Malquerida, where she tells him Tasio, her late husband’s brother, contacted her and sent an old photo. Tasio demands a DNA test to confirm if Alba’s baby is his niece, planning to leave her the entire family inheritance. Unai admits he contacted Tasio without telling her, trying to protect the child from the stigma of being Nancho’s daughter. Hurt and furious, Alba announces they are separating for good, though Unai can remain as the child’s father. Back home, Unai calls Tasio and they argue violently. Tasio insists on his right to claim paternity as the uncle, while Unai accuses him of destroying his only chance at a family. Their desperation and pain erupt, sealing the rift between Unai and Alba.
Chapter 56 Summary – The Water Rituals – Santillana del Mar
Unable to sleep after the breakup with Alba, Unai focuses on Rebeca Tovar. He travels to Santillana del Mar to speak with a university student who mentioned Bluebeard. The boy, son of a woman linked to the Tovars, reveals that his father and Sarah Tovar had an affair that destroyed his family. The town was rife with rumors about an incestuous relationship between Saúl and Sarah. The student claims Sarah broke up his parents’ marriage and that his mother was left hurt and abandoned. Rebeca may have been the result of a relationship between Saúl and Sarah—making her an incest child. Saúl, cold and feared, was also a source of dark gossip. Unai listens intently, realizing this testimony could be key to understanding Rebeca’s trauma and the hidden motives behind the current murders.
Chapter 57 Summary – The Water Rituals – The Duck Fountain
In the summer of 1992, Unai returns home from camp emotionally and physically wounded. Despite the tragedy, the group avoids discussing it and reunites during Vitoria’s festival. Annabel calls Unai and they plan to meet at Bar Rojo. He arrives late and finds her having sex with Lutxo in the bathroom. Disillusioned, he tells her they won’t speak again. The emotional wounds deepen days later when Lutxo punches Unai during the Blanca festival, thinking he’s back with Annabel. Jota and Asier intervene, and together they realize Annabel told each of them the same romantic story, making them all believe they were special. Humiliated, the friends understand she manipulated them. Enraged, Unai holds back from reacting violently. That night, he realizes his innocence is gone. Annabel left an indelible mark on him and all their lives.
Chapter 58 Summary – The Water Rituals – The Weed
Unai reflects on the devastating role Annabel Lee played in the group’s life. She was more than a person: she embodied chaos—the “weed” that sowed discord among friends. Symbolically, like her comic book characters, she represented multiple archetypes: the temptress, the destroyer. Her presence resurfaced years later to reopen poorly healed wounds. With her came pain, rivalry, guilt—and ultimately, death. Annabel manipulated and broke the friends’ trust, creating a silence pact that marked their lives. Twenty-four years later, just the echo of her name was enough to destabilize the group entirely. Unai’s reflection closes the chapter with the acknowledgment that she was always a deadly figure—not only in action but in what she represented: the end of childhood, the beginning of an adulthood marked by betrayal, and the constant threat of a past that never truly died.
Chapter 59 Summary – The Water Rituals – The Hospital Chapel
Unai spends the weekend in Cantabria, seeking peace along the cliffs of the Broken Coast while reflecting on Marian Martínez’s death. New doubts about Rebeca arise, prompting him to act before returning to Vitoria. On Monday, he visits Valdecilla Hospital and, using a ruse, arranges for Sarah Tovar and Dr. Osorio to meet in the chapel. Hidden in a confessional, Unai listens to their heated conversation. Sarah accuses the psychiatrist of a shady past and involvement with the Tovar family. Osorio, visibly shaken, defends himself from past accusations and shows pain over the consequences of his affair with Sarah. In the end, she cruelly scorns him, wishing he rots in hell. After she leaves, Unai reveals his presence and confronts Dr. Osorio directly, demanding to know what he really did to Rebeca Tovar.
Chapter 60 Summary – The Water Rituals – The Real Hotel
Unai threatens Dr. Osorio with exposing his conversation with Sarah, and the psychiatrist, cornered, agrees to confess. He explains that Rebeca did not suffer from psychosis; her attachment to her father was childish, not pathological. The story of unresolved grief was Sarah’s fabrication. Rebeca had accused her father of abuse, and Sarah and Saúl wanted to silence her. In exchange for falsifying a diagnosis, Osorio demanded a night with Sarah, which she accepted. He felt used, disgusted, and never spoke to her again. He describes Rebeca as believable and her testimony as solid. He affirms Saúl had a profile compatible with pedophilia and that Sarah fully covered for him. After hearing everything, Unai is consumed by rage and helplessness, thinking of Rebeca and all she lost. He leaves the chapel filled with frustration and a deep need for justice.
Chapter 61 Summary – The Water Rituals – Somocuevas and the Chalet Search
After Osorio’s harrowing confession, Unai returns, devastated, to Somocuevas, gazing out at the Cantabrian Sea in search of answers. He speaks with Estíbaliz and requests a search warrant for Saúl’s house. With Paulaner’s help, they gain access to the chalet and begin looking for evidence. In Gimena’s bedroom, Unai finds that Saúl has erased almost all traces of her—except for a graduation cap with a few hidden strands of hair. That small piece of evidence could prove the necessary biological relationship. With the sample secured, Saúl—shaken but not resisting—agrees to a DNA test. Though broken, he retains some dignity as the police take over. Unai delivers the sample and returns to Vitoria, preparing for the next step: contacting Golden to confirm his new and terrible theory. Pressure mounts as the case edges closer to uncovering the truth buried for decades in the rotten heart of the Tovar family.
Chapter 62 Summary – The Water Rituals – The Zadorra River and Golden’s Message
Back in Vitoria, Unai places the prearranged signal to reach Golden and anxiously waits for a reply. Days pass without word, and he fears she’s disappeared for good. On Thursday, he finally receives an unmarked letter summoning him to the Atxa archaeological site. There, he meets Golden’s messenger and receives a tablet to communicate with her. He shares all he’s discovered about Rebeca, Saúl, and the cover-up. Golden confirms that Rebeca was told her baby was buried, but Saúl claimed it was cremated. Unai asks for a DNA sample to test his hypothesis. After some hesitation, she agrees—out of loyalty to Beka. Golden reveals that Rebeca used the initials BK. On Friday, Unai gives the sample to Dr. Guevara for analysis. As he awaits the results, he tries to clear his mind by running, though the tension of the investigation and Alba’s pain weigh heavily.
Chapter 63 Summary – The Water Rituals – The Palace of Justice
Unai gets the awaited call: lab results confirm that Gimena is both daughter and granddaughter of Saúl Tovar, and great-niece of Lourdes Pereda. The genetic truth confirms the incest and sexual abuse Rebeca suffered at age thirteen. The lies about her death and the disappearance of her child were part of an elaborate cover-up. Alba, Estíbaliz, and Dr. Guevara are shaken by the reality of such betrayal and trauma. Guevara also reports that long black hairs—belonging to the same unknown person—were found on Ana Belén and Jota’s clothes. This new physical clue could link the murders. Unai begins to suspect Sarah might be involved, but hesitates to act prematurely. Soon after, tragic news arrives: Saúl Tovar has been found dead with a knife in his heart—an apparent suicide. The team is stunned by the gravity of it all.
Chapter 64 Summary – The Water Rituals – La Casuca de Santillana
In a 1968 flashback, the oppressive childhood of Sarah and Saúl Tovar is revealed. On Sarah’s birthday, her mother makes her empty the chamber pot and serve breakfast in bed, reminding her their father is waiting in the basement. Sarah begs to go outside but is denied, as the mother claims a vow to Saint Juliana. The children sense the horror awaiting them. Hand in hand, Sarah and Saúl descend the stairs and face a traumatic scene: their father, a pornographer, forces them into his perversions, just as his own father did to him. Sarah, trying to protect Saúl, makes him keep eye contact and repeats “You and me,” like a protective mantra. This moment marks the origin of the dark legacy that will haunt the Tovar family for generations.
Chapter 65 Summary – The Water Rituals – An Altar in the Sky
After Saúl’s suicide, Milán Martínez is devastated. She had spent years hoping to confront him about her sister’s death. She confesses her frustration to Unai. The forensic team confirms Saúl killed himself on Tuesday, right after giving his DNA—unable to face the truth and the shame. Despite his dark end, media outlets publish a neutral obituary, omitting the case details, infuriating Unai. Back in Villaverde, Unai and his grandfather worry about Germán’s disappearance after failing to show up as promised. The grandfather confides that Germán had been investigating something odd about Beatriz Korres—her supposed office doesn’t legally exist. Araceli also came to the village looking for him. Unai begins connecting names and symbols, suspecting Rebeca might be hiding under the identity of Araceli.
Chapter 66 Summary – The Water Rituals – Escoriaza-Esquivel Palace
Unai arranges a meeting with Araceli at the Vitoria city wall. She reluctantly agrees, and he confronts her about her potential involvement in Ana Belén’s death. She initially denies it but eventually admits she knew Ana and pretended to be Asier to meet her. She denies killing her and reveals she had a relationship with Jota, surprising Unai. She confesses Jota was someone special and they share grief over his loss. In the middle of their conversation, Unai receives a call from Beatriz Korres, whose voice now sounds furious and desperate. She tells him she has Germán and blames him for Saúl Tovar’s death. Unai realizes the truth in a flash: BK isn’t Begoña Kortajarena—it’s Beatriz Korres, his speech therapist and the real Rebeca Tovar. The truth hits like lightning—but it’s too late to save his brother.
Chapter 67 Summary – The Water Rituals – Okon
Unai confronts Rebeca after discovering her identity and offers to exchange himself for his brother Germán, whom she’s hanging upside down in a pond by Okon’s chapel. Rebeca, consumed by grief over Saúl’s death, her father and abuser, expresses a warped guilt—believing she provoked the abuse. Unai pleads with her to see it wasn’t her fault and begs her to release his brother. As Rebeca threatens him with a Taser, Unai follows her commands to protect Germán. Thanks to a secret message to Araceli, MatuSalem and Golden Girl arrive just in time. Matu shoots Rebeca with a Taser, saving Unai and Germán. Rebeca collapses into convulsions and falls into a coma. Golden, her aunt, weeps in anguish. Germán, weak but alive, is rescued by Unai. He manipulates the crime scene to shield his allies and takes responsibility for the legal aftermath.
Chapter 68 Summary – The Water Rituals – Puente Viesgo
In 1993, Sarah lives isolated with Rebeca’s baby, planning to escape to London. When Saúl calls her to the chalet, she brings the baby and is surprised to find he’s prepared a nursery. He demands the child and asks Sarah to forge adoption papers. Though she begs to keep the baby—unable to have children herself—she eventually gives in out of fear. Saúl insists he’s already raised a daughter and knows how. Despite her heartbreak, Sarah finds solace in baby Gimena’s tenderness, and they live for months pretending to be a family. Gimena grows up sweet, unlike the tormented Rebeca. But as an adult, Saúl’s coldness leads her to suicide. This chapter unveils the toxic dynamic between the Tovar siblings and the start of a new cycle of abuse cloaked in false normalcy.
Chapter 69 Summary – The Water Rituals – Grandfather’s House
After the Okon rescue, Unai, Germán, and their grandfather retreat to Villaverde. Rebeca remains in a coma, critically ill. Germán, shaken by his partner’s betrayal, searches for answers while Unai comforts him. At the station, Unai is applauded for solving the case, but a dark worry looms—Alba hasn’t answered calls since Friday. Her mother Nieves confirms she was last seen with Beatriz Korres—Rebeca’s real identity. Unai realizes with horror that his brother was only a distraction—the true targets were Alba and their daughter. A full search operation is launched, but days pass with no leads. Germán keeps visiting Rebeca in the hospital, upsetting Unai. Eventually, Estíbaliz brings the dreaded news: the searches are being called off. Alba is presumed dead. Crushed, Unai prepares to say goodbye.
Chapter 70 Summary – The Water Rituals – Alba’s House
Unai and Estíbaliz try to locate Alba by canvassing her building, knocking on doors, and tracking her phone. With no leads, Unai compiles a list of places Rebeca might’ve taken her, focusing on Cantabria and Álava and Celtic symbols. They organize operations with Paulaner and volunteers, combing every corner without results. Unai grows increasingly hopeless. Germán continues to visit Rebeca, straining their relationship. Finally, after days of cold rain, Estíbaliz tells Unai the search is officially suspended. He’s paralyzed by grief. He retreats to his grandfather’s home and accepts the presumed death of Alba and Deba. Reflecting on his past, he realizes none of the camp boys became the hero Rebeca needed. Determined not to repeat history, he vows to move forward—not in mourning, but as Alba would have wanted.
Epilogue – The Water Rituals – Deba
On January 25, Germán tells Unai that before dying, Rebeca revealed where Alba was hidden: the ruins of the Santa María de Toloño monastery. Unai and his grandfather rush to the site while a rescue helicopter is deployed. Amid the cold, they find Alba alive—tied up, dehydrated, on the brink of death, but clinging to life through maternal instinct. She’s taken to the hospital in critical condition. Against all odds, both she and the baby survive. After months of recovery, Unai and Alba reconcile. On April 28, Saint Prudencio’s Day, Deba is born—strong and determined. The baby, resembling her grandfather, symbolizes the triumph over pain. Unai decides to break the chain of inherited violence. He promises to be a present father, surrounded by a rebuilt family. Deba will be the new beginning—a luminous rebirth after so much darkness.
Conclusion – The Water Rituals
The Water Rituals leaves us with the chilling realization that some crimes don’t just kill—they awaken ancestral memories and collective wounds. In this installment, Eva García Sáenz de Urturi pushes suspense into symbolic territory: motherhood, bloodlines, tribal justice. Each murder carries a message encoded in history, a lingering threat for those who survived that fateful summer of ‘92.
Kraken doesn’t just speak again—he feels, he loves, he loses. The White City is no longer just Vitoria; it becomes an idea, a shared scar among those who walk the edge. And just when it seems like all the pieces have fallen into place, fate reminds us: one story still remains untold. Because time doesn’t just pass—it judges.
Ready to complete the journey and reach the end of the trilogy? Then head to: The Lords of Time – Chapter-by-Chapter Summary ➤
FAQs – Chapter by Chapter Summary – The Water Rituals
How does the book use Celtic folklore without turning it into mere aesthetic decoration?
Folklore here is a mechanism, not wallpaper. The cauldrons, pools, hermitages and the Matres altar aren’t pretty props; they choreograph the killer’s timetable and justify his “purgations.” The Triple Death—drowning, hanging and fire—binds together crime scenes from San Adrián to Barbacana, converting geography into liturgy. Every choice of setting translates a myth into punishment, especially around fertility and “failed” motherhood. By the time Unai recognizes the code, he’s not deciphering trivia—he’s reading a ritual manual in use, one that folds archaeology, grief and power into a single, merciless storyline.
Why does the 1992 summer in Cabezón de la Sal keep dictating everyone’s fate in 2016?
Because it forged the cast, their debts and their blind spots. Under Saúl Tovar’s guidance, Unai, Annabel, Asier, Jota and Lutxo learned to wear masks—of loyalty, desire and silence—while Rebeca’s pain went unheard. Sandaili, Gaztelugatxe and the replica village weren’t excursions; they were rehearsals where myth legitimized control. Two decades later, the killer raids those memories like a toolbox: same places, same symbols, same fractures. Reading 1992 is forensic work on the present—explaining why the perpetrator knows exactly where to press and why the old friends are both the map and the quarry.
What does Alba’s pregnancy change about Unai’s ethics and the pace of the case?
It turns theory into urgency. Unai’s vow to be present—regardless of biology—forces him to rebuild his speech, accept responsibility and shield a child from an inherited stigma. That decision reshapes his methods: he lies to protect, refuses detours and reads each clue as a deadline. The profiler who once observed at a distance becomes a man measuring risk against a crib. Alba’s seizures and the hospital corridors strip the case of abstraction: solving it is no longer about brilliance, but about making sure a father doesn’t arrive after the last breath again.
Is Saúl Tovar a grieving parent, a scholar, or the architect of a belief system others now weaponize?
All three images overlap uncomfortably. Saúl’s prestige gives him vocabulary, access to artifacts and disciples eager for meaning. The disappearances of Rebeca and the hypothermia death of Gimena tighten the noose: two daughters lost in contexts echoing Celtic “punishments” is too much coincidence. Whether he lit the fuse or merely wrote the catechism, his pedagogy normalized a script in which bodies become offerings. That’s why every interview with him reads like excavation: beneath the academic gravel, you keep hitting bone—authority, secrecy and a ritual grammar someone is still reciting.
What does Jota’s murder at Barbacana reveal about the killer’s true target?
It explodes the “pregnant women only” assumption and centers the 1992 constellation instead. By staging Jota under the Matres’ gaze, the killer signals that complicity, guilt and desire are punishable alongside motherhood. The message is double: the code is intact, but profiles can flex. From that moment, the surviving friends understand they’re not witnesses to a pattern—they’re entries on the list. The investigation turns inward: shared past, shared shame, shared risk. Unai, Asier and Lutxo stop being names in a report and become a countdown the murderer knows by heart.
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