Page 31 of Chaotic Curse
“Yeah,” Robin says.“I know the one you’re talking about.I don’t recall the name of it either, but it’s gorgeous.I was with Hawk when he bought it.”
“He said he likes space and the stars,” I say.
“He does,” Robin confirms.“Plus he likes art.Hawk is actually a very deep person.A deep thinker.”
“Okay,” Vinnie says.“I’ve got something.Juno Reyes’s real name is Julia Alejandra Reyes.Apparently Juno is a pseudonym she uses for her artwork.And she happens to be the niece of Hernando Reyes.”
“But what does all this mean?”I ask.
“It could mean nothing,” Vinnie says.“But it does give Hernando a reason to be here in Texas.Maybe he was visiting his niece.And while he was here, maybe he stumbled on you and decided to cause trouble.”
“I guess I should’ve allowed you to get me private security,” I say.
“I should’ve pushed harder,” Vinnie says.“But I wanted so much for you to live a normal life.”
“Hawk says he’s got private security on me now.”I frown.“I mean, he’s going to do it.Whether it’s started, I don’t know.”
“None of that is even relevant,” Robin says.“If Hernando was here and got wind of you, it would’ve been before now, before you had security.”
“True.”Vinnie rubs his forehead and then turns to Robin.“How are your acting skills?”
“High school drama,” Robin says.“That’s about it.”
“All right.”Vinnie tents his fingers.“Let’s say you give this artist a call.Say you’re an editor of a new fine arts magazine here in Texas.You’re interested in doing a story on her and maybe you can dig up some information on her uncle and whether he’s recently been here.”
Robin nods.“Yeah, I can do that.”
“No,” I say adamantly.“I don’t want to put anybody in danger because of me.”
“I’m not going to be in danger from a phone call,” Robin says.
“She can use a burner phone,” Vinnie says.“I’ve got dozens of them sitting around just for this kind of purpose.There will be no way to track the call back to Robin, especially if she uses a pseudonym and adjusts her voice.”
Robin puts her hand over mine.“Let me do this for you, Daniela.Please.I hate what you’ve been through, and I hate what you’re going through.Plus, it’ll help me get my mind off Eagle and Dad.”She pats my hand gently.“And I know Hawk would want me to do anything I can for you.”
I take a deep breath in, look Robin in the eyes.“Fine.Thank you for caring so much about me.”
Vinnie leaves and returns with the burner phone.“You’re on,” he says to Robin.
Robin leans over to Vinnie’s iPad, which is open to Juno Reyes’s website.She punches in the number.
“Yes, hello.My name is Robin Bernard, and I’m an editor with Texas Arts Monthly, a new e-zine.My associate and I would love to get an interview with Ms.Reyes.”
Pause.
“Tomorrow?That would be perfect.”
Pause.
“Yes, we can meet at Bean There, Done That.Great.We will be there.And thank you so much.I’m so looking forward to meeting Ms.Reyes.”Robin ends the call.“All set.”
“I’ll be going with you,” Vinnie says.
“Daniela and I will be fine.”
“Wait, you wantmeto go?”I ask.
“You’re Colombian,” Robin says.“So is Juno.That will give us an organic way to move the conversation to her family abroad.”
