So what will happen when the half-sisters meet?

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Chapter 147.

We headed to Marisa's room. I was spending more time there than in my office. I hoped Cuddy noticed how much attention I was giving my patient. That should count for something, although I hadn't a clue what. Maybe fewer clinic hours? Not!

Wilson sat where I'd been sitting not long before. He looked our way when I slid the door open.

Marisa gasped. "Beverly!"

"Hi, Sis. Heard you were laid up for a while and thought I'd come see for myself." Beverly's face was unreadable as she studied her.

Not so her sister's. Marisa looked both puzzled and pleased. "I thought you were in Italy."

"I was." Bev walked closer. "Are the doctors here taking good care of you?"

Marisa nodded. "Dr. Wilson was explaining again what the treatment will be."

Bev shifted her gaze to Wilson. "Will it restore her voice? It sounds so...scratchy, even when she's just speaking."

"It should." His eyes flicked my way.

I wasn't going to explain anything, not if no one asked me to. I'd let Bev handle it. She could.

"That's good news." She smiled at her sister

Marisa nodded. "I'm already better than I was. Did Dr. House tell you about my allergy attack? Would you believe I'm allergic to cinnamon?"

"Cinnamon? That's strange. You used to love cinnamon toast when you were a kid."

"Yes I did." Her eyes narrowed as her smile broadened. "Amazing you remembered that."

"Why is it so amazing? Who made it for you? It certainly wasn't Mom." Bev rolled her eyes.

Marisa laughed. "So true." She took Bev's hand. "You were good to me, weren't you? I don't think I ever thanked you."

"You were such a cute kid, better than a doll because you were always willing to play any games I wanted to play."

While the sisters reminisced, Wilson pulled me aside and finally asked, "What's she doing here? Did you call her?"

I shook my head. "You heard her. She just showed up in my office, asking questions about what we were doing for Marlene."

"Marlene? Oh, you mean Marisa." He glanced at them. The sisters were laughing. Bev sat in the bedside chair. "So what do you make of her? Beverly I mean."

"She's had people keeping an eye on Marisa while she did her own investigation of Molino, or rather, checked him out for her biodad."

His eyes narrowed and his mouth opened slightly.

I smirked. "Pay attention. Bev's biodad is Bertoli, or at least I think so, and he sent her to Palermo since she was nearby. I don't know yet what she found out, but I expect she knows a lot of Molino's secrets."

His face cleared and he nodded.

Bev turned and asked him, "Is there anything I can do to help my sister?"

"Just stick around. She's needs a friend. She seems to like you."

So, Wilson noticed, too. I was as amazed as anyone about that. My impression before Beverly showed up was that Marisa had no respect for her sister, but perhaps that was her defensive way of dealing with the fact that Bev didn't seem interested in her.

She nodded. "Would you like that Marlene?"

"Absolutely." Marisa grinned at her and squeezed her hand. "I'm glad you came."

"I have a few things to do this afternoon but I'll be back tonight." Marlene rose and she and I left the room together. "I'm surprised by the reception I got from her. Happy about it, but still surprised. Okay, I can stay in New Jersey for a while."

"Where did you tell Molino you were going?" I asked as we walked to the elevator.

"We had a fight." She smirked. "One I orchestrated so I could leave for a while."

I didn't hide my smile.

"I going to drop in on my dad, let him know I'm here."

That was the main reason for her trip, of course. "And report whatever you found out about Molino's operations?"

"You're curious, aren't you?" The elevator arrived and we got on. She pushed the button for the lobby. "If he says it's alright, I'll tell you when I visit Marlene later today."

"I might not be here. You can call me, or better yet, I'll go with you."

"What, now?" Her brows came together.

"Sure. Why not?"

"Don't you have doctor things to do?" She studied my face.

"I'm leaving your sister in Dr. Wilson's capable hands. And my team has my number if we're given another patient." We arrived at the ground floor and I followed her out of the elevator. "I have an urge for some fondu."

She snickered. "Separate cars?"

"Yeah. That's probably best. Do you know where his restaurant is?"

She nodded. "See you there."

I watched her stride toward the visitor's lot. Now that was some woman. I could see how she could charm Carlos Molino so quickly.

I pulled into the lot at the Melting Pot and parked right next to Bev. It was too early for there to be many customers. We entered the restaurant together. Bertoli was in the front of the house, talking to the hostess. I did a double take. It was Tina Locarno.

Bertoli beamed when he saw us, and I was certain it wasn't me he was so happy to see.

"Beverly! When did you arrive in town." He pulled her into a big bear hug.

Tina whispered to me, "Who's she?"

"His daughter, and also my patient's sister. Step-sister." She didn't have to know that Marisa wasn't my patient anymore. While Bertoli talked to Bev, I continued my conversation with Tina. "So how long have you been working here?"

The young woman grinned. "Julio asked Mr. Bertoli to give me a part-time job. You know, after school."

"You could have gotten work with your family."

"I know, but this way I get to spend more time with Julio." She winked at me. "And it might be safer."

Bertoli had finally noticed me. "Dr. House, what are you doing with my daughter?"

"She stopped at the hospital to see her step-sister. I decided to accompany her here so she could tell us both what she'd learned about Molino."

Tina spoke up. "What does she know about him? Does she know why he's been targeting my family?"

I introduced her, "Bev, this is Tina Locarno."

She smiled at the younger woman. "I'm afraid that's one thing I couldn't find out." She narrowed her eyes. "He was most forthcoming about a number of other things, but never mentionedyour family, and there was no way I could ask him without telling him why I was curious."

Tina nodded. "So, it's still a mystery. What did you find out?"

She hesitated, then looked at her father.

"Go ahead. You can tell them whatever you were going to tell me." Bertoli ushered us, even Tina to a nearby table to sit down.

"He wasn't as upset over his wife's death as I thought he'd be."

I nodded. "Probably because he ordered it."

"Do you really think he had her killed just because she couldn't have a child?" Bev tilted her head as she looked at me.

I shook my head. "She wasn't the one who couldn't."

Her eyes widened. "But that's not what he said."

"Could it be that's what she told him?" Bertoli asked.

"But why would she?" Tina shook her head.

"Let's leave that enigma for a moment. Bev, what else did you learn? Did he tell you anything about his operations here in the States?"

"Well, I didn't know about that fruit company you mentioned."

"What fruit company?" Bertoli asked.

"Bernini Fruit. Mike Morgan drives for them," I told him.

He sighed. "Big guy? Late thirties, early forties?"

I nodded. "That's the one. Do you get your fruit from them, too?"

"Yeah. I wonder who else does and how it fits in with anything else." He turned to his daughter. "What businesses did he mention?"

"There's two auto shops. I think they do detailing and customization."

"Yes, we've checked them out. That's where Julio worked when he first came to the states." I wondered why he'd mention them but not the fruit company. "Did he say anything about Julio or Giancarlo?"

"He mentioned once that he was disappointed in Julio, that he hadn't done what he was asked and was reluctant to return to Palermo, but Carlo wouldn't hurt him because he was family. I saw Giancarlo leaving his office once." She frowned. "Carlo never told me why he sent him here, but I knew Giancarlo's reputation, and knew it wasn't anything good."

I nodded. "It would seem he sent Giancarlo to finish what Julio was supposed to do."

"Carry out a vendetta against my family." Tina's chin quivered. "I'm glad my brother wasn't hurt, and that he and my uncle have taken precautions against that, but I still don't feel completely safe."

"I think we can protect you here." Bertoli smiled at her.

Bev watched their interaction Her frown didn't deepen, but it didn't go away either. "I guess that's all I learned. It's not much, I know."

Bertoli took her hand. "I don't want you to go back there. If I realized what lengths Molino would go to, I wouldn't have asked you to get close to him."

I puzzled over that. He'd sent her after the kidnapping incident, so he knew Molino was dangerous. Then again, we didn't know at the time that Molino was behind it. I blinked as a thought came to me. "Did you know he was behind the abduction of Julio, Jess and Nina? I mean when it happened?"

Bertoli shook his head. "I knew it was possible, but couldn't be sure." He glanced at his daughter with an apologetic look. "I'm sorry I used you."

She smiled at him. "You know I'd do whatever you asked of me."

"So, you love both your dads? But not your mother?" I asked her. I didn't mean it to come out as an accusation.

She lifted her chin and stared at me. "Yes. Dad's a good man, and so was my step-father. You talked to my mother. Even a short conversation told you what she's like."

I nodded.

"Why'd you talk to Anita?" Bertoli asked.

"I called to tell her about her other daughter. Her reaction was...strange, I guess you'd call it."

"Beverly said earlier Marlene's in the hospital. What's wrong?"

"You know she's a singer, don't you? A combination of over-straining her voice and bad self-treatment led to nodules on her vocal cords. And that was further complicated by an allergic reaction."

"But she'll be alright?" he asked.

"Yes. She'll be fine before long."

"I was worried about her, but I suppose I shouldn't have been. I knew she was in your hospital."

"Wait, is that the patient that Ricky's so gaga about?" Tina asked.

"One and the same."

"And she's your step-sister?" she asked Bev.

"Yes. Is your brother really enamored with her?"

"Totally. She's all he talks about!"

"How did he meet her?" Bev asked.

"That one's on me. I had no idea how she was connected to everything, but she was distracting my staff from...things." I wasn't going to reveal my motives.

"And I'm glad you did." Tina grinned. "It's good to see him so happy."