Chapter 5

Erica removed her sweaty clothes, and got in the shower. She had just come from Karate class. She loved it. It had taken her 8 years to do it, but she was now an accomplished black belt.

After about a half-hour, she got out of the shower and changed clothes. She had just settled down on the couch when the phone rang. She ran and grabbed the cordless receiver off the dock in the kitchen.

"Hello?" she said quietly into the phone.

"Hey, Erica, this is Detective Goren, do you think we could come and take another look at the crime scene?"

"I guess. I'm the only one home, but you can come if you want…"

"Ok, we should be over in a bit. See you then."

"Yeah, likewise…" She hung up the phone. She didn't feel like being too social today. At least Karate had taken her mind of part of the sadness. She had fought like never before today, all of the grief and anger had come out in her powerful kicks and punches.

A little while later, the doorbell rang. Erica roused from her light nap and

answered the door.

"Oh, hi guys. Come on in…" She said to the detectives. She then proceeded to lead them back to her mom's bedroom. They looked around some, and then Detective Goran came over to her.

"You know, you're thin and cute, like your mom, but you have your dad's eyes."

"Did you know my father?"

"Yes, actually I did, he was a very nice man. Great detective. You look a lot like him, actually, but a better-looking version."

"Um, ok…" this was kind of making her uncomfortable. But she knew what was going on, and was deciding when to strike.

"He was on this police force for a while. Everyone loved him. Did you ever meet him?"

"No, but before you ask anymore questions, I know what you're trying to say. You're my daddy, aren't you?" She didn't want this to go on forever.

"Yeah, how did you know?"

"Well, for starters, we have the same last name, and we do look a lot alike. And you looked a little startled when I told you my age, given that that's when you and my mom hooked up…"

"How much did your mom tell you?"

"Almost nothing. I got 'He's a detective' and 'his last name is the same as yours' out of her. Not even any of my relatives would tell me anything. And do you know how many 'Detective Gorens' there are in the world? Quite a few…"

"You tried to Google me?"

"Not tried, did. But no luck whatsoever. You didn't come here to look at the crime scene did you?"

"I see you've also inherited your fathers power of observation."

"I've always wanted to be a detective. It was, and still is, my dream. So, does Ms. Eames know about this?"

"Yeah, that was an… interesting journey." And they went on like this for a while, Eames included. They just shot the breeze for a bit, then the conversation turned to her step-dad.

"Yeah, he was in Canada a week ago. He goes there a lot. He says it's because he has a branch of his firm up there, which he does, but no one goes to a certain branch that much. I'm almost certain he's having an affair."

Enzo DiMarco was an Italian man who moved to America with one dollar in his pocket, and the clothes on his back. He found an entry-level job at a major marketing firm. His father had been a small businessman back in Italy, so he knew a thing or two about marketing. Eventually he became C.E.O of said firm, and was now making millions.

"Really… That could be motive… Erica? Were your parents getting along?" Bobby said.

"Not nearly as well as they used to. Actually, lately, my parents have taken petty arguments to full-out wars. I even think my mom threw something at him once."

"Well, what do you do when they start fighting?" Eames asked.

"I usually just take off and drive around for awhile. I love my car, it always makes me feel better. Then I'll go visit my boyfriend."

"So do you think your step-dad could have done it?"

"I don't know. I really don't. I didn't pay much attention to the beginnings of their fights, and then I took off, so I don't even know what they fought about."

"How did he act towards you?"

"Like most filthy-rich step dads. He would buy me expensive things, and take us all on vacation, but he was never really there for the day-to-day., ya know?"

"Yeah… I do…" Bobby said in a far off voice.

"I never really got to talk to him. That was a big deal when I was younger, but I don't care so much now."

Just then the phone rang. Erica picked it up off the table next to her and answered it.

"Hello?" she said. The voice on the other end sounded somewhat hostile. After a few seconds, Erica got pale, then she hung up and swallowed.

"So, w-what were we t-talking about?"

"Erica, you're pale, who was that and what did they say?" Bobby was getting worried now.

"It was…" She didn't know how to say it. She hesitated, then began,

"Well, it was my ex-boyfriend. I broke up with him a couple of months ago, and now he's not very happy. You see, he was starting to show signs of being abusive, but I went along with it and acted like nothing was wrong. Then came the day that he hit me. We were fighting, and he slapped me. I was in front of the door, so I tricked him into switching places with me, opened the door and Karate kicked him out it. Then I told him to never, ever come to my house again. Since then, he's been threatening me. Nothing's happened yet, but he sounded dead serious this time." She looked around nervously, like someone might be watching her.

"What is this boy's name, where does he live, and can I kill him?" Bobby was quite angry by this time.

"Sit down. We investigate murders, not commit them." Eames was obviously trying to calm him down.

"His name is Derek Dupree, and he lives… I can't remember where he lives, now that I think about it. You should investigate him more than my step-dad, he is more likely to do something like that."

"I think we will. We should be going anyway. Feel free to come down to the station if you find any evidence, or anything." Bobby said.

"I will. See you guys. Please figure out this case. I just want closure… Anyway, bye." She looked over at her dad.

"Bye, daddy"

Bobby felt all warm and fuzzy inside now. He could get used to this love child situation