As he walked, Miguel tried to piece together everything that had happened. His mother had been acting strange for months—jumping at small noises, checking the windows, hugging him tighter and longer than usual.
Now Miguel walked all alone with no one to fall to, along with the weight of her fear and her love. He didn't understand why she wasn't with him, why she had pushed him over that wall instead of coming with him. The memory of her screams as Uncle Xavier's men had dragged her away made fresh tears spring to his eyes.
"Do you think she's okay, Mr. Growls?" he asked the teddy bear as he paused to check the navigation device again. "Do you think my dad will really help her like Roberto said?"
The bear remained silent, but Miguel nodded as if it had answered.
"You're right. We have
