Page 118 of Cryptic Curse

“I see.”He turns back to Daniela.“I’d like to speak with you more about the incidents that have been happening.The squad has cleared the courthouse.We can do it inside.”

I glance at Daniela, and she gives me a small nod.We follow Detective Mills back into the courthouse and into a small office.

“Can you describe the man who gave you the bear?”he asks Daniela.

“I thought he was a clerk.”She closes her eyes.“He was wearing a navy suit and a blue tie.”

“We can have you look through the employees’ files and see if you recognize him.”

Daniela nods.

I grab her hand and squeeze it.

“The grenade would never have gotten through the X-ray machines and other security,” Mills says.“We’ve already looked through the security cams, and no one walked in with a teddy bear.It must have been planted outside and then given to you.”

“But why?”Daniela whispers, her voice barely audible.“What did I ever do to deserve this?”

“We’ll figure that out,” Detective Mills says, his expression grave.“We’ve seen an increase in such acts of violence recently, and they seem random at first glance, but there’s usually a motive hidden somewhere.”

Daniela nods.“Let me look at the people who work here.”

Mills nods and then gestures to a security guard.

The security guard pulls up a database on his computer.

“Here you go,” Mills says.

Daniela scrolls through the photos.“He’s not here,” she says.

“Good news for us,” the guard says.“Our people are clean.Bad news for you, Detective.”

“Yeah.”Mills nods.“But we’ll get to the bottom of this, Ms.Agudelo.”

“Can I go now?”Daniela asks.

“Yes.We’ll be in touch if we have any other questions or have any new information for you.Do you have a safe place to sleep tonight?”

“She does,” I say.“She’ll stay with me.”

36

DANIELA

Ishould be ecstatic, driving to Hawk’s place.This is where I was heading anyway.I’m free of my marriage to Vinnie.Free to be with Hawk.

Instead?All I can think of are the cryptic gifts and messages I’ve been receiving.

And this last one?

It could have killed me.

It could have killed the people around me.

Whoever is doing this means business.

But I have no idea who it could be.Those men who worked for my father are in Colombia.My father is dead.Diego Vega is dead.

And here in the States, no one even knows who I am.