Chapter IV: Feeling lost
"Lost is how I'm feeling
Lying in your arms
When the world outside's too much to take
That all ends when I'm with you"
~*~
As much as Mac needed my strength and support, there were also times when I was feeling lost and in need of Mac's balance and his strong sense of reality.
Sure, he was puzzled at the times when I showed signs of weakness but he never left me alone when the world was handling me bad.
And for what I've observed, Stella is now in need of Mac's balance and his strong sense of reality.
~*~
"Hey Mac, Stella, I've got some good news for a change. About Bessie's case," Flack stopped Stella and Mac at the door.
"What is it Flack?" Mac asked. He was thankful that the news was good this time.
"Remember when we wondered the fact that nobody saw Bessie's disappearance?" Flack outlined.
"Yes, it happened in a bright daylight in a busy street full with people," Mac recollected.
"Well, it happens that we have an eyewitness after all. She has been scared to talk until now and she's coming here as we speak. With her mother," Flack told.
"Who is this eyewitness?" Mac inquired. Don bit his lip as if he wouldn't know whether to tell it or not when Stella was around. He looked at Stella and then at Mac.
Mac understood why Don didn't want to tell but he nodded to Flack, giving him the permission to tell because he was sure that Stella could handle it.
Flack looked one more time at Stella and lowered his eyes.
"Elsie Hall," he said apologizing, "Bessie's twin sister".
~*~
"What can you remember about the day when Bessie disappeared honey?" Stella asked from the little girl who was sitting in front of her. Mac had offered that Lindsay could do the interviewing with Flack but Stella had insisted to do it herself.
"We waited outside the shop with Manny when mommy went back in to get something she'd forgotten," Elsie explained slowly.
"Who's Manny?" Stella directed the question to Elsie's mother.
"She's our nanny, Manuela Higgin," Elsie's mother replied. Stella nodded and continued with Elsie.
"What happened next?"
"A car stopped near us and Bessie let go of Manny's hand," squinted her eyes when she tried to remember.
"Do you remember what kind of a car it was, honey? The color of it maybe?" Mrs. Hall interfered.
"Dark," Elsie was sure.
"OK, so did the driver say something to Bessie before she let go of Manny's hand?" Stella asked now.
"I don't know. But maybe Manny knows," Elsie replied," Bessie isn't coming back anymore, is she?" she stated then. That came as real surprise to Stella and she didn't know how to answer.
"Was that all detective Bonasera?" Elsie's mother quickly took the control.
"Yes, thank you Mrs. Hall. And could you ask Manuela to visit here tomorrow so we could ask what she knows?" Stella answered.
"OK, sure. Whatever helps. Come now honey," Mrs. Hall promised and left with Elsie. Stella was on her way to tell Mac the result of the questioning when Flack stopped her again.
"I'm sorry Stella but we have another little girl disappeared," Don was really sorry. And when he saw Stella's expression, he quickly said," I'll take Danny with me. You have the paperwork of Elsie's interview anyhow".
Stella was so shocked that she couldn't say anything to Flack. She just stared at him. She looked so haggard that immediately Flack decided to call to Mac after he'd paged Danny.
"You better come here at the PD and take Stella home Mac," he said first thing after Mac had answered.
"Why? What's happened Don?" alarmed tone appeared into Mac's voice.
"Stella is here at the PD and she's ready to fall apart. Bring Danny with you, I need him. I'll explain everything else later," Flack explained the situation.
"I'm on my way".
When Mac and Danny arrived at the PD, Flack was still with Stella. She was sitting at Don's chair, in front of his desk. And she looked as if the happiness inside of her had been sucked out of her. It was anguishing for Mac to see Stella in such condition. But when he was leading Stella to his car, she said something that really scared Mac.
"I'm so lost Mac. It's too much. Help me," she whimpered with heartbreaking voice and burst to tears.
