Del Spooner stayed true to his reputation as one of Chicago's best detectives and followed up on the death of Santo Perez, who was survived by his mother, Rosalina Perez, retired and residing at a Chicago suburb house. He pulled up to it and walked to the front door. The doorbell resonated like an old-fashioned bell; no buzz, no electronic whir. Del took some comfort in hearing it.
A Latina woman answered. She looked like a mother, with smooth, dark skin and light red hair. She saw the detective on the porch. He raised his badge for her view.
"Can I help you?" The woman hesitantly asked.
Spooner sighed and answered, "Ms. Rosalina Perez?"
"That's me."
"Detective Spooner, C.P.D. Homicide, may I please come in?"
She allowed his entrance. The interior was clean and pleasant, and Del immediately reminisced a childhood with his own mother.
"I couldn't leave this place after my husband died," Mrs. Perez reflected. "We were married thirty five years. Not many gave us a chance to last three. Would you like a coffee?"
"No, thank you, ma'am. I'm here on official business, and I'm sorry, but there is no easy way to tell you this. We found Santo murdered at his home." He said, and it was the one part of his occupation that he despised. He paused for a moment,
She found herself unable to stand and meandered towards her couch to sit. "How?"
"We need your consent to perform an autopsy to determine the cause of death," he answered.
"!Ay, dios mio," she said with sobs, and wiped her eyes.
"Ms. Perez, this may seem insensitive, but I must ask you a few questions," Del said, after handing her tissues. "When was the last time you heard from Santo?"
"It's been a few days. He sometimes checked in on me, always worried after his father died."
"Do you remember what your conversation was?" He scribbled in his notepad as he asked.
"He was having a good week and he heard from an old friend."
"An old friend?" Del's eyes opened wide. "Did he happen to mention who?"
"Not specifically, just somebody he hadn't seen in a long while."
Del underlined and circled this part of his notes, clearly a lead.
"Ms. Perez, I already called in a squad car. They'll be here in a minute to take you to handle matters with your son," he professionally said. "I'm very, very sorry for your loss."
Rosalina stood from her couch, her eyes swollen from crying, and stood closely to Detective Spooner. "Do you have any children?"
Del hesitated, not expecting the question. "A stepson."
"Cherish every moment with him and his mother," She advised through her grief. "Because you'll never know if you're going to lose them"
She completely broke down crying, and Detective Spooner comforted her with an embrace. This was his first true murder case since the revolution dispersed and since his new family. It hit home for the first time in his life. This one would not be an easy ride.
A stinging pain crossed the skull of the Detective. Ms. Perez noticed his reaction.
"Are you all right?" was her concern.
"Yes, ma'am," was his lie. Spooner had neared the front door and the mourning mother slowly followed.
"Are you sure you don't need an aspirin?" she offered.
"No, thank you. The marked car will be here shortly. Call me if you need anything." The Detective smiled at her giving nature in her time of loss.
He climbed down the short flight of stairs and neared his car. Spooner saw a reflection in his window that was not his own. He shut his eyes tightly, stared again and then saw only his face. "What the hell was that?"
Meanwhile, Sonny and Dr. Susan Calvin strolled in the frigid air on the Downtown Chicago streets. She created a holographic skin that disguised him as a teenage male resembling both Detective Spooner and her.
"Are you feeling any better?" The naïve NS-5 queried.
"Stress isn't an ailment that can be cured instantaneously. We require some calmness and peace, hence the reason for this stroll." Susan glanced at him with much respect.
"I am trying to be that calming element." Sonny admitted.
"Your placid demeanor is contributory." She finally felt freed of the pressure that had been heaved upon her in the last seven months. "God, I was so intent on creating another you, I almost forgot how unique you were. I just didn't want you to be alone."
"But I am not in solitary. I have you and Del." the robot-boy assured her.
Dr. Calvin beamed at his words, but the scientist in her would not be silenced. "We're finite beings. At some point, you'll need to be with your own kind."
"I would miss you," he meekly responded.
Susan ceased walking and directly faced the incognito robot. "Spending more time with you outside of the job will most definitely open my eyes."
To be continued