The Angelis mansion was quiet that morning no doubt because of the absence provided by Shy's disappearance. Delia was alone in the kitchen staring out of the back doors thinking about where she could be. It had only been two days, but already the void was getting to her. Her throat was sore and there were marks from where Desmond had grasped her. She gently ran her fingers over her neck and cringed at the memory.
All this time she had thought that Shy was the fool to not welcome a man such as Desmond into her life. She secretly envied her employer for having the attention of so many men that would undoubtedly take her without a second thought because of her beauty. Then, when the announcement was made that she would be engaged to Desmond Aurelius, a man that could give Shy the world her jealousy increased. Although she knew Shy was not the same spoiled brats she had worked for when she was younger and would accompany her mother to work, Delia had contempt for people with that lifestyle. She thought Shy never appreciated what she had and how she would trade places with her in a heartbeat if she were asked to do so.
She was being punished. She was sure that she was being punished. She had envied and lusted. She remembered when she first planted the idea in her mind that Desmond may leave Shy for her. He had been by the house often. When she first got hired at the mansion, he was the first to greet her. She was captivated by his charm and his demeanor. His power was appealing and he had always given her a sideways glance when they were in the same room.
It wasn't until Shy and he came back from Greece when they actually acted on their feelings, if you can call them that. It was the same night as a matter of fact. The house was quiet, much like it was now, and Shy's father had finished celebrating with Desmond and went to bed finally. Delia was cleaning up after them in the dining room as Desmond remained seated at the table. He was staring at her she knew it but she tried to avoid his gaze. Finally, when she had crossed him to empty the ashtray with the cigars that they had smoked, Desmond grabbed her harshly and pulled her on his lap kissing her with what she mistook for passion.
She fell into it easily. She felt powerful. Here Desmond was, this man of wealth and power engaged to the woman upstairs, and he wanted her. She felt that for once she was above her boss. She felt that finally she had something that no one else did. She was so wrong. Now her life was threatened and she believed that Desmond would follow through on everything he had said to her if he found out that she helped Shy escape.
Suddenly, the telephone broke her thoughts with an echoing ring. She looked at it and felt a dip in her organs. She walked over to the phone on the wall of the kitchen and picked it up carefully placing it to her ear.
"Angelis residence." She stated with a little hoarseness in her voice.
"This is Metropolitan Hospital. Can I speak with Shy Angelis?" A masculine voice came through the receiver.
That's where Peter is, Delia thought and immediately her heart sank.
"She's not available right now, is Mr. Angelis alright?" She tried to get information.
"I'm afraid not. He passed early this morning. Could you tell Miss Angelis to get in contact with us as soon as possible?" The man said on the other end.
"Yes." Delia croaked.
"Thank you." The man said then hanging up the phone.
Delia placed the receiver back on its hook and slumped to the floor. She knew there would be trouble coming.
The two police officers that were at the Angelis Mansion approached the Nikolias' modest single home in Long Island with their hands on their pistols. They walked up the three tiny concrete stairs in front of the door and rang the doorbell.
There was no answer. The younger officer who had wrote the incident down the prior day looked at the address he had written in his hand.
"It's the right address." He offered his partner.
The other officer looked up at the house in front of them then around for any sign of movement. The car that Desmond had reported to them was not in the driveway or on the street, but the motorcycle that apparently belonged to Zane was in front of the house. He looked up at the house again before pounding on the door and announcing himself.
"NYPD, Mr. Nikolias! We just want to ask you a few questions about Shy Angelis!" The officer announced and placed his hand back on his pistol.
They heard the locks from the door being opened and backed away from the door cautiously, readying themselves.
The door opened slowly and the head of a young Puerto Rican girl peeked out from behind it. The officers looked confused.
"Si? Puedo ayudarle?" She said, not opening the door anymore.
"Miss, do you speak English?" The younger officer asked politely.
She looked at them a moment biting the inside of her lip and decided against keeping her charade up. "Yes. Can I help you?"
"We're looking for Zane Nikolias. Is he home?" The older officer took over the conversation.
She looked at him and shook her head. "No. Why?"
The younger officer chimed in, "We just want to ask him a couple questions about Shy Angelis. Nothing too serious." He said smiling at her.
The older officer looked at him disapprovingly and held up his hand to him before he could say more. He turned his attention back to the girl at the door.
"Aiding and embedding is a crime, you know that Miss –" He wanted her to provide her name.
"Sylvia. Sylvia Martinez. I'm a friend of the family. And I'm aware of the law, officer. I didn't just get off the boat." She replied.
The younger officer smiled to himself.
"Then it would be best if you just cooperated." The older officer said, clearly trying to hold his temper. "Have you heard anything about Shy Angelis? Have you seen her here? Did Zane mention anything about having her stay with him awhile?"
Sylvia stood straight blocking the doorway and crossed her arms over her chest. "Well Zane and his family aren't here at the moment. They're away."
"Where are they?" The officer pressed.
"In Puerto Rico, staying with some of my family. They left early this morning and won't be back for another day." Sylvia answered.
"Why such a short trip?" The officer questioned quickly in hopes of catching her in a lie.
"Business." She answered with the same quickness he had asked.
"Why didn't they stay in a hotel?"
"My family likes them."
"Why did the brother's wife go with them?"
"Would you leave your pregnant wife home?" Sylvia shot back and raised her eyebrow at the officer as if to question his character.
"Very well." The officer, clearly agitated with the girl's sass, cleared his throat. "You can tell Mr. Nikolias that we'll be back."
"Oh, he won't be able to contain himself." Sylvia said with stabbing sarcasm.
"Do you mind if we take a look around inside?" The officer tried one last thing.
"Sure," Sylvia watched as they took a step closer to her, "If you provide a warrant."
The police officers looked at her as she shrugged her shoulders.
"Guess we're done here then." Sylvia said, going behind the door. "Have a pleasant day officers." She shut the door in their faces and locked it.
The officers turned to go back to their cruiser.
"Smart ass Puerto Rican." The older officer grumbled to himself.
The younger officer smiled. "So we're coming back?"
"Yeah, we're coming back. Get that stupid smile off your face. Something here ain't right here and we're gonna find out what." The older officer said entering the driver's side of the cruiser and slamming the door as his partner got into the other side.
The police cruiser sped away from the property as Sylvia peeked through the living room curtain. She exhaled deeply in relief and touched her forehead.