Past the Mission: I have to tell her
Spain is.
Spain is.
The place is Spain for Diana. The place is the last link she has to her father. She sent a letter replying back to him, months ago, agreeing to a family vacation to Spain, but she had never received a reply in return. She called home many times, asking about it. Her mother never really answered her questions. Martin showed no signs of caring either. He was fine enjoying the independent life they led at the boarding school they attended. The only thing Diana could think of was that her father had left them for good.
Spain is the place.
In silence, Java, Martin and Diana stroll down the streets using Martin's watch as a guide to lead them to their assigned location. They are to meet with the local chief detective of the Spanish village they were in, named Villapadres, at his home.
As they stroll, there's a crack of vibrant spicy smells and heartiness under Diana's nose. She can hear the faintest strum of a flamenco guitar echoing in the breeze. She can trace the ruffling shirts hanging out to dry on balconies. She can feel the ashy, pebbled roads against the thin heels of her sandals. Feel the numerous stares on her from the Spanish locals, idle, waiting on the edge of the streets…
The bright sky above her is blinding.
Diana walks more at the back, as Martin and Java lead in front of her. She aligns herself right behind Martin. Martin is much taller than her. Even with his back to her, he towers over her. He continues walking, and she studies every sway his body makes. All the while, thoughts in her mind are racing.
Martin feels her eyes bore on him from behind him, and he looks back to meet her pensive expression. He goes, "Are you all right, Diana?"
Walking, still. "Yeah," She goes, "I'm all right. How far are we?"
"Not too far. We'll have to turn a corner somewhere soon…" Martin reads Diana's expression again. His brown eyes deepen with concern. He turns to Java, hands him the watch, and tells him, "You can lead the way for now."
"Ok," Java says in his gruff voice. He carries on.
Martin backs up to walk side by side with his stepsister. Diana doesn't face him right away. Martin grabs Diana and circles her in his arm, while she leans on his side. Walking, still.
He says softly, almost whispering, "What's the matter? Is it because I held your hand in front of—?"
"—No," Diana cuts in, "It's just…this whole thing with you and me, Spain, Dad, all the secrets and hiding…"
Martin tightens his arm around her. He's like, "I know…"
Diana heaves a big sigh. She's like, "Sorry, we should focus on the mission."
"No, I get it. I hate keeping us a secret. I hate keeping secrets…" Martin goes on, "Diana, I have something to tell you."
Diana stops walking and looks up at Martin's face, her blue eyes questioning. "What?" She asks.
Martin traces Diana's delicate features. He pauses as if contemplating whether he should continue. Diana's heart races.
It is then, Martin snaps out of his thinking spell, returns his arms back to his own sides and steps back away from her. He runs his hand through his high blonde hair nervously. He's says, "It's about Dad."
Diana's like, "Dad? What about Dad?"
"HURRY UP YOU TWO!" Java barks at the duo. He stands by the edge of a building, "We got to turn here!"
Diana doesn't want to leave this spot. Whatever Martin has to say to her about her father, it has to be important. For so long, she had thought Martin hadn't cared. She has to know what he has to say.
Martin starts on his feet to answer and meet Java, just when Diana suddenly grasps his arm tightly to stop him. She's all, "Just tell me!"
A look of horror washes over Martin's face. He says, "Come on, Diana—"
Diana gets it. She lets go and drops his arm. She goes, "He left us, right?"
"GUYS!" Java barks again.
"Coming Java!" Martin wails back. He takes a heavy breath. "No…"
Diana's lips crack into a maniacal smile. "Really? He didn't leave us? What then? Just say it!" she's screaming now.
Martin's face changes with annoyance. He's all, "You know what? I'm sorry. I'm sorry I ever even brought it up. I just thought AH! —"
Diana and Martin yelp loudly as they are both hoisted on Java's bulky shoulders. The caveman hauls them finally around the corner and eventually to the front door of the detective's home.
The front door is painted a sweet honey brown. A flower wreath, strewn with marigolds, frames a painted wooden plate that reads, "dulce casa, casa" painted in purple cursive script.
"Come in, come in."
With all feet on the ground now, the trio walks into the foyer of the home. The detective sits at the far end of a dining table, facing their left. He wears an overbearing gray fedora hat. In front of him on the table is a spread of photographs. "Join me," He says in a notable Spanish accent.
Martin leads as they all find their places to sit around the dining table. Martin says, "Hello, Detective. I'm Martin. This is my…"
Martin darts his eyes on Diana to check on her. He notices that she has her face turned unnaturally to her left, keeping her from facing him intentionally.
"…my sister Diana. This is our friend Java," Martin finishes.
"Yes, yes I know who you all are. I'm Detective Burgos," the detective answers. He dives in to give each person a handshake.
"Cool. What's all this?" Martin asks referring to photographs.
"These are photographs taken at the crime scenes. I'm sure you've been told about the mysterious green slime left over. These are just some photos of that," Detective Burgos explains.
Martin says, "Would you happen to have a real sample of that on you? I'd like to scan it."
"Felipe!" Detective Burgos hollers. The trio jumps at this random burst. A tall man, wearing a long gray cloak walks into the foyer/dining room where everyone is sitting. On his chest is a police badge of some kind. Felipe hands the detective a glowing green glass vial with black-gloved hands.
"Gracias. Here you go," the detective coldly dismisses Felipe and hands the vial to Martin.
Using his state of the art watch, Martin scans the vial's contents.
"Anything?" Java barks.
The watch beeps twice and flashes a red light. Martin shakes his head, "No."
"That's interesting, who's that person standing there?" Diana says. Her dainty fingers lightly touch on a photograph that shows the figure of a man outside a window. Her voice barely audible, she says, "It looks like my Dad…"
Martin's all like, "That can't be…"
Diana asks, "Detective Burgos, have you seen this man before?"
"Yes, I see him all the time, he lives two houses away from us."
This takes both Martin and Diana by surprise. They lock eyes stricken with disbelief. It is then, Diana drags her chair back and stands up. She declares, "I need to go see him."
Martin snaps, "Why, Diana? It's not him! It can't be him!"
"Why the hell not?"
"…" Martin eats back his words. He stares hardly at the photograph grasped between Diana's fingers. He can't deny it to himself either. The person in the photograph looks exactly like their father. His trademark red hair is there and his crooked smile, his chiseled cheeks, his telling eyes…
"It must be him. Is his name Gerard Mystery?" Diana asks the detective.
Burgos answers, "Yes, it is. He's you're father? I had no idea."
"It can't be," Martin says.
"How long has he lived here?" Diana asks further.
Burgos replies, "A few months now, I believe. We could go see him right now if you like?"
"Thank you, that would be great! You have no idea…"
Martin throws his hands in the air in front of him and says, "Hold on. Hold on, this is all unbelievable! Why was this person at the crime scene to begin with?"
Burgos goes, "He works with the police force here too. He was investigating along with us."
Martin hangs his mouth open, with no other words to say. He has objected enough. He knows his dad is in the investigating business too. He also knows his dad is dead…
Burgos's like, "Let's go, then. It won't hurt us on our mission if we go now."
As everyone drags the chairs back to get up, there is no hiding the look of horror plastered on Martin's face. Soon he will be walking into a dead man's home.
Diana is so determined. She's the first person out the door. Slowly walking behind her, all Martin can think about is,
I have to tell her
I have to tell her
I have to tell her