Ava’s POV
8:26 p.m. — Mexico
“The one he gave Mamá.”
Diego's words hung between us.
Morgan crouched beside his stretcher.
“Can you tell us about this box, buddy?”
Diego hugged Max, the stuffed dog Tootsie had given him with Dr. Vargas's permission.
“Am I in trouble?”
“Absolutely not, sweetheart,” I reassured him.
“Papá said it was a secret.”
Morgan quietly closed the door.
“Your father was protecting you,” I explained.
“We just want to understand.”
Diego hesitated.
“It was little. Brown. Papá gave it to Mamá before he went away.”
“Did you see inside?”
He shook his head.
“Mamá cried.”
My heart squeezed.
“What did your father tell her?”
“That if something happened to him, she should give it to somebody she trusted.”
“Did she put it somewhere?”
“In her sewing bag.”
Mo
