Chapter 4
"Hawke, before you go," Michael stopped them. "Have you ever met Caitlin's cousin Josie? I'd like to contact her."
Hawke looked at Dom. "Uh,no," he replied. "I think that's the cousin that Caitlin said died of cancer about six years ago. She was about Caitlin's age."
"What about her aunt?" Michael asked.
"What's this about Michael?" Hawke asked, growing frustrated. "You think the kid might try and contact her?"
"Not sure," Michael replied. "Can you tell me anything about her?"
Hawke shrugged. "Her aunt Meg lives a couple hours from here," he replied. "She and Caitlin aren't that close but Caitlin has gone to visit a couple of times. I might be able to find the address in Caitlin's book at the hangar."
"Then we'll go with you to the hangar," Michael told him. "I'm going to trace down every lead I can."
"Okay," Hawke replied. "I guess it can't hurt."
A few hours later, Michael and Marella pulled up to Caitlin's aunt's home and knocked at the door.
An older thin woman with long straight gray hair came to the door.
"I'm not interested in anything you're selling," she told them as she began to close the door on them.
"We're here to talk to you about Caitlin," Michael nearly yelled.
The woman stopped and opened the door back up. "She isn't dead is she?" she asked. "My sister had wanted me to go and check on her at the hospital but I hadn't had a chance to get out there. She's not well and can't travel herself."
"We know," Michael replied. "And no, she's doing as well as can be expected. I just need to ask you a few questions about her and your daughter Josie."
The woman frowned. "I also heard about the kid," she replied. "I thought that whole incident was behind us all. My sister didn't speak to me for years after that happened. She blamed Josie. Hell, I did too."
Michael pulled out the photo of her that Caitlin had given him. "Do you know if there are any more pictures like this from that night?" Michael asked.
Meg stared at the picture. "I'm not really sure," she replied. "I do have an old box of photos that Meg used to keep in her closet. I don't have any need for them. You're welcome to take them and look."
Aunt Meg let them inside while she went to one of the back rooms to find the box. A few minutes later she returned with an old shoe box and handed it to Michael. "I'm not exactly sure what you're looking for here but I hope this helps."
"Me too," Michael replied. "Thank you. I'll be sure to get this back to you later."
"No hurry," Meg replied. "Like I said, I have no use for them. Those were what Josie use to consider as her party days pictures. She was a bit of a wild child until she got sick."
"I'm sorry for your loss," Marella replied.
"Thank you," Meg replied. "Six years now and it still feels like yesterday. You never get over losing a child no matter how old they are. I hope Caitlin pulls through. I don't want my sister going through the same thing."
Michael was quiet as the two piled back into the white limo and headed back to the hospital. He held on to the box for a few minutes before opening it.
"So, you think you might find an idea of who the father is in that box?" asked Marella.
"I'm hoping so," replied Michael.
"Why are you so hesitant then?" she asked. "It's not like you."
"I guess I don't like the feeling of prying into the past of those who have grown to be important to me," he admitted.
Marella smiled. "Going soft on us now Michael?" she teased.
Michael smiled back at her. "Maybe in this case, I am," he admitted before reaching in and pulling out a stack of pictures from the box. "At least I know I'm doing this at Caitlin's request. I hope I can find the answer she's looking for."
"Can I help?" Marella asked.
"Sure," he replied. "We're looking for more of Caitlin with the blonde wig but hopefully there will be others in the picture with her."
A few minutes later Marella stopped and stared at one of the pictures. "Michael I think I've found what you're looking for," she told him as she handed him the picture. "Is he the father?"
Michael took the picture from her. In it Caitlin was sitting on a young man's lap as others in the background appeared to be dancing.
"Yeah," he replied softly. "It looks like he is. But keep the knowledge of this picture to yourself for right now. As far as anyone is concerned, we spoke to her aunt about finding the boy."
"Okay," she replied. "I guess Caitlin should be the first to see it anyway."
"You're right," he admitted. "I just hope she regains consciousness soon and that we find the boy. I worry about how she's going to react about his running away."
