Page 117 of Cryptic Curse

“I’m still at the courthouse.”She chokes back a sob.“I got another gift.A teddy bear, and Hawk…”

“What?What happened, honey?”

“Inside it.There’s… I think it’s a grenade.”

My blood runs cold.“Is it live?”

“I don’t know.How would I know that?”

“Okay, Daniela, listen to me very carefully,” I say, trying to keep my voice steady despite the panic bubbling inside me.“You need to put it down gently, move away from it, and call the police.Do you understand?”

“Yes… Yes, okay,” she replies.

I can hear her shuffling movements over the line, the fear in her breaths.

“And Daniela?”I add hurriedly before she hangs up.

“Yes?”

“I’m on my way.”

The drive to the courthouse is a blur of traffic lights and honking horns.I cut off a lot of angry drivers as I weave in and out of the lanes, trying to get downtown as quickly as physically possible.Thank God no cops are out today.

My mind is filled with visions of Daniela alone and terrified, clutching a potential bomb in a teddy bear.Whoever is behind this is escalating their threats, and I vow silently to make them pay.

When I pull up outside the courthouse an hour later, police cars have already surrounded the area.The faint sound of sirens echoes in my ears as I sprint toward the entrance.

A uniformed officer stops me at the barricade.“Sir, you can’t go in there.”

“Daniela Agudelo.Is she okay?She’s the one who found the…the teddy bear,” I gasp out between heaving breaths.

His eyes soften slightly as he gives a curt nod.“She’s okay, sir.Bomb squad’s just arrived to secure the device.She’s with Detective Mills.”

A wave of relief washes over me at the news that Daniela is unharmed, but it battles with the rising tide of anger.Somebody wants to hurt Daniela, and every instinct in me screams to protect her.

I watch as men in heavy protective suits approach the teddy bear lying innocently on the steps of the courthouse.The rest of the world seems to fade into insignificance as I focus on that stuffed animal—a symbol of childhood turned into a weapon.

The door opens, and Daniela is ushered out by a tall man.Her face is pale, her eyes wide with fear, but she looks unharmed.

“Daniela!”I run toward her.

She turns at my voice, her face lighting up as she spots me.

“Hawk!”she cries, rushing into my arms.

I enfold her in a tight embrace, relief washing over me like a tidal wave.

“Are you okay?”I ask, pulling back to look into her eyes.

She nods.“I’m okay.Just shaken up.”

Detective Mills clears his throat and holds out his hand.“I’m Detective Mills.And you are…?”

I take his hand.“Hawk Bellamy.I’m a…friend of Daniela’s.”

“Bellamy?Of Bellamy Ranch?”Mills asks.

I shrug.“The one and only.”