Matteo, the Pizzeria owner and manager, came into view carrying a deep metal pan full of cheese topping. He set it on the table with a solid thud before turning to face Elisa and her father.
"Hello, and welcome to Matty's Pizza." He called out jovially. "What can I do for you folks?"
"Matteo," Elisa said, holding her hand out in greeting. "I am so happy to see that you are still here!"
Matteo took her hand and looked at her with curiosity. Then he looked a little closer. "Well, hell. It's you, Miss Maza!" He reached out with his other hand, holding her offered hand in both of his. "We were worried about you, my girl!"
Elisa couldn't help herself, she laughed. "It's good to see you too, Matteo. How is your family?"
"We are still here," He said, gesturing around. "Everyone here are my kids, my sons in law, or related somewhere down the line so far back we really can't remember."
Elisa laughed again. "It's good to have a big family, huh?"
"Won't hear me complain," Matteo said, grinning from ear to ear. "Now, what can we do for you?"
Elisa shook her head. "Nothing. I just wanted… No," she corrected herself. "I needed to come and make sure that you were alright."
"We are," He assured her, the smile fading somewhat. "Thanks to you."
"No," Elisa shook her head. "It was thanks to you opening your doors and letting people take shelter here that was the biggest help."
"Until you got here," He protested. "We were all in the dining room. You got us away from the windows before they busted in, or there would have been some people really hurt."
"Well, let's agree to disagree on that one," Elisa said.
"Elisa," Peter said from behind the pair. "We need to go."
Elisa glanced over her shoulder, "O.K., dad."
"Oh," Matteo said, seeming to remember at once that there was someone else there. "I am sorry sir." He turned back to Elisa, "You said that this man is your father?"
"He is," Elisa said.
Matteo released Elisa hand to shake Peter's hand vigorously. "Thank you, sir. You raised a brave girl with a great head on her shoulders. We owe her a debt."
Elisa shook her head. "No, Matteo…"
"Nonsense," Matteo cut her off. "You come see us once in a while. You will never pay for a meal here as long as I am alive."
"Hey, pops!" Came a voice from the back. A sprightly young woman passed through the kitchen door with a notepad in hand, a pencil tucked behind her ear. "I just got a call from…" The girl stopped and slapped a hand across her mouth, cutting herself short. "Oh my God!"
Elisa remembered her as the one who had told her about the drug store where she could find the inhaler for the sick little girl.
Matteo motioned for her to come forward. "You remember my Andrea?" Matteo asked Elisa.
"I do," Elisa said, giving the girl a nod.
"Hold on," The girl said frantically. "Just give me a moment." She turned and disappeared into the back.
Elisa sent a puzzled look to Matteo, and he smiled at her again. "We found something of yours."
"Of mine?"
Suddenly Andrea was back, a familiar red jacket draped over her arm. While the coat had definitely seen better days, it was a welcome sight.
"I had given it up for lost!" Elisa exclaimed. She checked her pockets and found her badge and police identification still in the inner pocket.
"You left it behind," Andrea said, moving to stand with her father. "With the little girl that you got the medicine for."
"I had forgotten," Elisa said softly. "Do you know about the girl and her mother?"
"They have called a couple of times to thank us, and see if we knew who you were." Matteo said. "I hope you do not mind, but we found the ID in your pocket and gave her your name."
Elisa shook her head. "I don't mind. I was hoping to find out how she was doing someday."
Andrea smiled. "Evidently she wants to see you again, too." Andrea held out a piece of paper with a name and number on it. "Here's the information to contact the mother. Her English is a little iffy at times, but she's speaks fluent Spanish."
"I'll call her soon," Elisa promised, trying to bend her arm enough to put the paper in her jeans pocket.
Matteo frowned at her stiff movements. "Hey girl, you okay?"
"I'm fine," Elisa assured him. "I just got some minor cuts and bruises."
Peter rolled his eyes. "That's the polite way of her saying that she's got some injuries that is going to keep her from anything strenuous for a while."
"What are you doing out here, then?" Matteo chided her.
Elisa shrugged. "There's still things I can do."
"We are on our way down to the site and see what we can do to help. She," He gestured to Elisa, "wouldn't stay home, so she will be helping out at the food and water stations for the volunteers."
Matteo perked up. "Well, just give us a few moments, and we will give you some pizzas to take with you. We have about ten of them ready right now."
"Pop," Andrea protested. "Those are for that huge birthday party for the Samuelson's kid."
"That kid," Matteo scoffed. "He is spoiled enough as it is. He can wait a little while longer for his pizzas. This is for a good cause." He kissed his daughter's cheek. "Now, be a good girl and box those up for me, huh?"
"You're right, papa," Andrea said. "I'll get the boys working on a new batch."
"She's a good girl," Matteo said, nodding in the direction that Andrea had disappeared, "We will have about ten pies that we can donate for all of you. you let me know where you are at, and we will run more over if you need it."
"Thank you," Peter said. "It will be appreciated by all."
"We are all grateful for all that you do," Matteo bowed to them. Turning to Elisa, he said, "For what you have done for us all already."
Elisa felt a flush enter her face. She was no hero, and it was getting uncomfortable for her to be referred to as such.
Andrea came back through the doors, followed by three teenage boys. Each boy carried a small stack of pizza boxes. "The boys had a few more finished back there, so we went ahead and boxed those up as well."
"Good," Matteo beamed at his family. "Now, detective, you show the boys where your car is, and they will help you load them up. My Antonio will go with you to help carry them, and he will walk back here once the mission is completed."
Peter thanked Matteo once more, and led the way to his car.
Matteo gave Elisa's shoulder a pat, invited her back to visit again and wished her a good night.
'Good Night,' Elisa thought to herself. Something told her that there was going to be very little good about this night.