Officer Matamoros takes notes carefully. This is the first real clue. Internally, Makenna struggles with fear and curiosity. She came to Costa Rica to relax and visit her friend, not to get caught up in a crime investigation. But she feels responsible. She was in the house when the theft happened. She heard the noise. Could she have done something to stop it?
If you’re following along with Kristy Placido’s engaging Spanish reader, Robo en la noche , you know Chapter 1 ended with a sudden disappearance. Chapter 2 wastes no time diving into the mystery, raising the stakes, and introducing new tensions. In this post, I’ll break down everything that happens in Chapter 2—characters, key events, important vocabulary themes, and what it all means for the story going forward. Quick Recap of Chapter 1 (Setting the Stage) Before we dive into Chapter 2, let’s remember where we left off. The story takes place in Costa Rica. The main character, Makenna (a young woman from the U.S.), is visiting her friend Camila . Camila’s father is a scientist working on a groundbreaking project involving the reproduction of golden toads—an endangered species. At the end of Chapter 1, someone steals the golden toads from the laboratory. The chapter ends in chaos and confusion. Chapter 2 Summary: “La búsqueda” (The Search) Chapter 2 begins the morning after the theft. The sun rises over the beautiful Costa Rican landscape, but there’s no peace. The mood is tense, worried, and urgent. 1. The Immediate Aftermath Makenna wakes up to the sound of worried voices downstairs. Camila’s father, Don Enrique , is on the phone with the authorities. He looks exhausted—he stayed up all night reviewing security footage and checking the lab. The golden toads are nowhere to be found. Their empty terrariums sit as a painful reminder of the loss. robo en la noche chapter 2 summary in english
She also begins to notice that Don Enrique is acting strangely. He’s not just sad—he seems scared. When Officer Matamoros asks if anyone might want to harm his work, Don Enrique hesitates before answering. He finally says, “No, I don’t think so,” but Makenna senses he’s lying. During breakfast, Camila brings up a name: Don Ricardo . He’s a wealthy landowner who lives about ten miles away. According to Camila, Don Ricardo has been trying to buy Don Enrique’s land for years. He wants to build a luxury eco-resort. Don Enrique has always refused. Officer Matamoros takes notes carefully
When he comes back inside, Camila asks who called. Don Enrique says nothing at first. Then he looks at both girls and says: She came to Costa Rica to relax and
Makenna wonders: Could Don Ricardo be involved? Would he steal endangered toads just to pressure Don Enrique into selling his property? It seems extreme—but possible.