Normally, I would write down the next case. But I've decided to give the sisters a bit of screen time by making something original.
That is all, and enjoy.
Martinez Residences, Juan's POV
After solving some cases, I've decided to take some time for myself on the weekend by staying in the comfort of my own home while my sisters watched some television in the living room.
I normally do some challenging problems from the newspaper such as Sudoku and some Crosswords. But as the girls kept watching the program, Christine recalls something important, stands up from the couch, and walks up to me.
"Hey, Juan," Christine called out, "There's something I need to tell you about,"
"Which is?" I asked,
"Well, the school had just announced a field trip and the deadline for the permission slip is tomorrow," Christine revealed,
"Did you tell Uncle about it?" I asked,
"I wasn't able to as he'll be out of town for a couple of days and I was wondering if... You could sign the permission slip in his steed?" Christine asked,
"Why me?" I said,
"Well, you pretty much fit the guardian role since you're the one who's been taking care of us after mom and dad passed away and Uncle wanted some time for himself after working hard to provide everything we needed for the three of us," Christine explained,
"I see," I muttered, "When's your field trip?"
"It happens on Friday, and I should tell you that there won't be any classes since most of the teachers will supervise the trip," Christine said,
"That means Liza will be all by herself should we leave the house," I concluded, and it'll be quite a problem since Liza is still young to live all by herself, "I'm guessing that you don't want to skip the trip, right?"
"I would, but I can't really miss it since almost everyone in my class is going to participate," Christine said, "And I'd like to go somewhere different with my friends this time,"
I hummed in thought as well as cupped my chin as I think of an alternative way. But seeing that the trip was on Friday and there weren't any homicide cases being committed, I've concluded with the only possible choice I could think of.
Police Station...
Once again, I arrived at the station for another day at work. But I wasn't alone...
Jones spots me, and raises his hand at me, "Hey, Juan! You rest easy today?"
"I did," I replied,
Then Jones notices a little girl holding my hand and he immediately got curious, "Who's the kid?"
"Jones, This is Liza. She's my little sister and she'll be staying here until my other sister gets back from her field trip," I said, then I turned my head to her, "Liza, this is my partner, David Jones,"
"Hello," Liza greeted while waving her other hand to him,
"I didn't know you had sisters?" Jones said,
"Then you should have paid more attention to the picture frame I have on my desk, Partner," I mentioned,
"Oh... I wonder who those girls were," Jones mentioned, "Guess you've got a lot on your plate than this job, huh?"
"I get used to it," I noted, "But that aside, I'll be taking her around the station and introducing her to the team since she has always wondered who I work with,"
"Then do you mind if I tag along? I've got nothing to do as of this moment," Jones suggested,
"Sure thing, It wouldn't hurt for a senior officer to tag along with the tour," I said,
With that, Jones and I gave a simple tour to common parts of the station. A couple of officers passed by and greeted the duo whilst knowing about Liza being my younger sister.
Then, we stopped by the lab and Jones took the luxury of leading the way while Grace, Nathan, and Alex noticed our arrival.
"Hey, Everyone!" Jones enthusiastically greeted,
"Hey, Jones. What brings you here?" Nathan questioned,
"Oh, It's just Juan and I giving a tour around the station for little Liza here," Jones said,
The three turn to the girl in question and Liza waves at them, "Hi,"
"Hello," Grace greeted back while waving at her,
"So? What's her story? Cuz I don't think she's yours, Jones," Alex said,
"Of course she isn't, She's Juan's little sister," Jones revealed,
"I didn't know you have a sister, Juan," Nathan commented,
"Sisters, actually. One's on a field trip and the other is standing right before you," I said, "The reason why I brought her to the station is that I didn't want her to be all alone in a house,"
"In that case, Welcome to the Lab, Kiddo," Alex enthusiastically greeted, "I'm Alex,"
"And this is Nathan, and Grace," Alex pointed to the Coroner and Lab Chief,
"Nice to meet you all," Liza greeted back,
Before we all know it, the door to the lab opens and everyone turns to see Chief King entering the lab.
"Ah, Detective Juan, Jones. I've been looking for both of you," Chief King said, then notices Liza as she hid behind my legs, "Who might this be?"
"Oh, This is Liza. She's my little sister, Sir," I answered, "My other sister went out on a field trip and my relatives are out of town. So I brought her here since I didn't want her to be left alone,"
"I see," King understood, then kneels to Liza's level, "Don't be afraid, My name is Samuel King. Police Chief of this Department and your brother's superior,"
Liza eases down and shows herself to him. Eventually, she timidly waves her hand, and King nods at this before straightening himself up, "Anyway, I've received a call that a gang fight involving the Vipers has risen from one part of the Industrial Area. A Handful of Officers were sent to stop this, but a handful isn't enough and we're currently short-handed at the moment,"
"So you want Jones and I to assist them?" I questioned,
"Precisely, I know you two handle Homicidal Cases. But we can't afford this fight to progress any further," King stated, "If nothing is done about it, A lot of innocent people and officers will get hurt in the crossfire,"
"Then we'd might as well ready ourselves," Jones said,
"I'm counting on you two," King said,
Jones and I saluted to King as he returned to his office, then we turned to the team,
"Well, Looks like we're needed in the field," Jones said,
"And then that means I'll be leaving Liza here," I said, "Do you guys mind if you watch over her while we're gone?"
"You can count us, man," Alex assured, and the other two simply nodded to me,
I soon kneel down, and held onto Liza's shoulder, "Remember to behave while I'm gone, Okay?"
"I will," Liza said,
"Good," I said, raised her beanie up, and lightly kisses her forehead before I joined up with Jones, "I'll buy some snacks when I get back!"
3rd POV
After the two had left, Liza turns to the three and Grace kneels on Liza's level, "Well, Looks like you'll be staying here for a while. Is there something that you want to do first?"
With that, the three started with a simple tour around the lab. But saved for Nathan's workplace as they didn't want to scare the little girl. Then, they passed the time when Liza pulled out her unfinished coloring book out of her bag.
Grace assisted with the coloring, and the two had gotten quite close together.
When it was lunchtime, Nathan decided to accompany the girl to the breakroom and that's where she would meet fellow police officer, Ramirez.
"Hey, Nathan," Ramirez greeted, then he turns to Liza as she slightly hid behind Nathan, "Who's the girl?"
"Her name is Liza, Detective Juan's little sister," Nathan introduced,
"Oh, so she's that girl from Detective Juan's picture," Ramirez recognized, and waves his hand to her, "Hello, My name is Ramirez. I work alongside your brother too,"
"Hi," Liza timidly greeted,
"Shy, isn't she?" Ramirez commented,
"Well, she is rather new in the station. So I guess it seems natural for her to be nervous around people," Nathan said, then went to a nearby table, and pulled a seat.
Liza then sits on the chair without assistance while Nathan asks her, "Do you want something to eat?"
"A burger please," Liza requested,
"Alright," Nathan then turns to Ramirez, "Do you mind if you watch her for a moment, I'm going out to buy some snacks for her,"
"Sure thing," Ramirez replied and Nathan leaves to the break room,
Ramirez then grabbed some snacks from the cupboard and poured some coffee onto his cup while Liza patiently waits for Nathan to return. After minutes had passed, Liza decided to open her bag and pulled out a small sketch pad with a pencil attached to it.
Ramirez stood there and watch as Liza began drawing something on her drawing pad. Once she was done drawing for a few minutes, she slides the pencil within the rings of her sketchpad, turns to Ramirez, and shows him what she had drawn.
Apparently, the drawing had surprised Ramirez as he was seeing a well-made sketch of his facial appearance. But alongside him was Jones standing on the right and Juan standing on the left.
"Hey, that's me you drew there, right?" Ramirez happily assumed, and Liza nods at his assumption, "And you also drew Jones and Juan quite well, You're really good at drawing, aren't you?"
Liza nods in response, then enters Nathan with a cheeseburger on hand.
"What were you two talking about?" Nathan questioned,
"Liza showing me her drawing, and she's really good at it too," Ramirez commented,
Nathan then took a quick look at the drawing and was impressed by the details while Liza enjoyed her cheeseburger.
After lunch was over, Liza makes her way to the lab with Nathan. But along the way, the two heard someone arguing at the counter and the two turned in the direction of the noise. Apparently, someone was making a fuss over at the receptionist and Nathan decided to keep going while gently pushing Liza with him before that person comes into the office area.
Once they arrived at the lab, Liza decided to go to Alex after being immersed with his tech while Nathan sighs to himself, which gains Grace's attention, "What seems to be the problem, Nathan?"
"Oh, just some guy making a fuss at the counter. So I had to bring her back here before she sees him," Nathan said,
"Smart choice," Grace said then turns to Liza, who was playing some classic video games with Alex,
After two hours had passed, Liza had gotten a bit tired and takes a nap on Alex's bean chair while the latter grabs a blanket he keeps around and places it on Liza so as to not get her cold in the lab,
The three smiled to themselves for watching for Juan's sister and they planned to get to work. But as Alex was about to sit down on his chair, he suddenly hear Liza softly whimpering in her sleep, quietly goes to her, and caressed her head a couple of times.
But as he does this, he unintentionally raises Liza's beanie and quickly notices a small mark on her forehead. This causes him to frown a bit, then calls for the two with a whistle and some hand gestures.
"What is it, Alex?" Nathan questioned,
Alex then carefully raises Liza's beanie to reveal her forehead and this causes the three of them to gasp with widened eyes while Grace covered her mouth with both hands to what they were seeing.
This little girl had a large mark on the right part of her forehead and a long streak that almost goes all way to her hair, and the left part of her forehead.
"What kind of mark is this?" Alex questioned the two,
"Judging from the angle of this streak here, and here," Nathan conducted as he examined the mark, "I'm assuming that this is an old burn mark and a large one at that,"
"A burn mark from someone of her age? What do you think happened to her?" Grace questioned quite concerningly,
"It must have happened when she was younger," Nathan assumed, "But from the age of her mark alone, she must have had it when she was an infant,"
"That sounds even worse," Grace said,
"Now that I think about it, You noticed that Juan wears that long sleeve glove right?" Alex mentioned, "He never takes it off even when he's on the case,"
"You don't think that he has a burn mark of his own?" Grace assumed,
"Possibly," Nathan said as he cupped his chin,
"Should we ask him?" Grace suggested,
"I don't think asking him would do much good," Alex said, "Since that glove he wears reaches all the way up to his forearm, imagine the length of his burn mark compared to hers,"
Filled with uncertainty, they've decided to keep this matter to themselves. After some time, Jones and Juan finally returns and felt exhausted as they entered the lab.
"Wow, you guys must have been through a lot if you two were sent to handle a gang fight," Alex commented,
"Not just that, Alex," Jones said, "Apparently, Someone was murdered in the midst of the gang fight and both of us had to work on the case on the spot,"
"Then I take they'll be sending a body here?" Nathan presumed,
"Yep," Jones answered while sitting down on a chair,
Meanwhile, Juan went to Liza, kneels on her level, and gently caressed her head a couple of times before smiling. The three lab employees could only stare at him for a short period, but they averted their eyes away from Juan as soon as he straightens up,
"How was she?" Juan questioned,
"Like an angel," Grace answered, "You really raised her right, Huh, Juan?"
"You can say that to the rest of my family. For their the ones who guided her to the right decisions and behavior," Juan said, "I, on the other hand, gave her some guidance in life,"
"But your sister aside, I take it that you'll be handling this case then?" Alex inquired,
"I'd like to, but I'll get to that after I send Liza home. I got a call on the way here and my other sister told me that she's on her way back to the bus station," Juan said, "And I plan to go there and pick her up before working on this case,"
"And when you get back, I'll inform you of everything regarding our victim as well as watch over the items you found on the scene," Jones said,
Juan nods at this, then lightly shakes Liza to wake up. She groggily opens her eyes and then yawns before stretching her arms.
"Come, sweetie, It's time to go home now," Liza said,
"Okay..." Liza said,
Juan first carried drowsy Liza from the beanbag chair onto his one arm, then strapped her backpack onto his other shoulder. They soon left the lab, and the remaining people inside the lab watched them go.
But when the door closes, Nathan and Grace went to their stations while Alex decided to ask Jones while the Coroner and Lab Chief were within earshot, "Hey Jones, Have you ever wondered what's underneath his right glove before?"
"Huh? No why?" Jones inquired,
"Well..." Alex trails off for a moment while Grace and Nathan stayed still for while before the Tech Expert explains the details regarding Liza's burn mark...
Juan's POV
I first drove to the bus station to pick up Christine while LIza wrapped her arms around me and laid her head against my back as she was still sleepy.
Upon our arrival, I spotted Christine disembarking from the bus and whistled to get her attention. She, in turn, spots me and tells her goodbyes to her friends and went to me.
"How was the trip?" I asked,
"Better than I expected," Christine said as she rode onto my bike,
With that, I drove the girls back to the house and dropped them off before going back to the station to solve a murder as usual...