Chapter 14
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The car pulled up in front of Peggy Melendez's two-story colonial house and the tire bumped against the curb, making a loud thumping sound. Inside the car, Sam sat behind the steering wheel, turned to Martin and said, "Not a word."
He just smiled at her and she could see his lips just itching to laugh but he remained silent. She narrowed her eyes at him, almost daring him to criticize her driving, when he grinned widely and opened the door to get out of the car. She couldn't see his face but she was almost positive she heard him chuckling before the door closed.
As they walked up the sidewalk Eddie must have spotted them drive up because he opened the door and met them on the porch. "Martin, have you found her?"
Martin shook his head and said, "No, not yet. Sorry. I was wondering if you could give us a little more info."
"Yeah, come inside." He motioned for them to enter the house.
Sam looked around and saw walls filled with family photos. It was like a picture of every member of the family or every significant moment was framed and put on display. She also noticed lots of religious items: a cross above the door, Saints with rosaries dangling around their necks and a large framed painting of the last supper above the dining room table.
"Please sit down. Do you want anything to drink?" Eddie asked.
"I'm fine," Martin said as he sat down on the sofa.
"I'm okay, thank you," Sam replied, taking a seat next to Martin.
Martin pulled out his notebook and asked, "Do you know someone by the name of Dee Dee?"
Eddie nodded his head. "That was her best friend in high school. I haven't seen her in years. They drifted apart when Dee Dee went away to school in Colorado."
The front door swung open and a young teenage girl of about sixteen entered. She looked like a younger version of Kiki only with a more studious manner and a serious face.
Eddie stood up and made the introductions. "Marisa, this is Martin Fitzgerald, my friend that I told you about. You might remember him from my wedding." Marisa smiled as Martin stood up to shake her hand. "Martin, you remember my other niece, Marisa."
"Nice to see you again, Marisa," Martin greeted with a smile.
Eddie turned to Sam and said, "This is Samantha Spade, his partner."
"Hello Marisa." Sam noticed that Marisa looked really nervous and a bit scared. She glanced at Martin who looked back at her noticing it as well.
"Nice meeting you." She turned to Eddie and said, "I'll go check on mami." Marisa headed down the hall to the back of the house.
Eddie looked at them and said, "She's taking all of this really hard. I mean her mom is dying and now with Kiki's problems…it's just been very difficult."
Martin nodded sympathetically and both he and Eddie moved to sit back down. Sam knew that there was something that Marisa was hiding so she remained standing and asked, "Eddie, may I use your bathroom?"
"Yes, of course, down the hall, second door on your right."
"Thank you, I'll be right back."
Sam walked slowly down the hall, past the stairs and peeked into each room as she passed. In the last room at the rear of the house she saw a frail woman lying asleep in a bed in the center of the room. On the dresser sat more Saints, lit candles, and photos. She studied the woman for a moment when she heard a young girl weeping just outside the back door. She opened the door and looked out to find Marisa sitting on bench on the porch crying.
Sam walked out and softly asked, "Marisa, are you alright?"
Marisa tried to nod that she was fine but instead she started crying violently. Sam sat down next to her and carefully put her arm around her shoulder. When Marisa finally calmed down a bit she looked at Sam and said, "It's my fault that Kiki's missing."
"What do you mean?" Sam asked concerned.
"She came by here over a week ago," Marisa replied as she wiped the tears away. "I was so mad at her for bringing so much stress into our lives."
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It was late at night and Marisa was asleep in bed. She heard something hitting the glass window panes and she got out of bed to investigate. She saw Kiki standing in the backyard tossing small pebbles at her window. Marisa opened the window and roughly asked, "What do you want?"
Kiki looked up and said, "Let me in. I can't find the spare key."
"That's because you don't live here," Marisa argued.
"Cut it out Mari. Let me in, I need somewhere to stay."
"No."
"What do you mean no? It's my house too!"
"No. All you do is upset Mami and cause trouble. You're the reason she is so sick." Kiki looked back at her stunned. "She was in remission until you started running around with Marcello and doing drugs." Marisa felt power in taking her anger and frustrations out on someone. "The only time you come around anymore is for money or if you need some place to stay because you got evicted again. I'm sick of it. Go away and leave us alone!"
With a trembling voice Kiki said, "Marisa, I don't have anyplace to go."
"I don't care." Marisa slammed her window closed, turned out the light and sat down on her bed. She sat there for about a minute before she felt guilty and rushed down the stairs to let Kiki in. But when she opened the door her sister was gone. She scanned the yard and looked up and down the street but Kiki was nowhere in sight.
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"It's my fault. Please, you have to find her so she can see mami before…" Marisa cried.
Sam just nodded her head and said nothing as she continued to try and comfort the young girl. She didn't want to make a promise she couldn't guarantee she could keep.
