Requiem III: The Search for The Truth

by Bonnie Eagan & Alisa Joaquin

Part 25: Searching For Help

Marlene left the confines of her room, but then confusion set it. She found herself in a hallway that seemed to lead nowhere in particular. The hallway was filled with a lot of doors. Nearby there was a pair of double doors that appeared to be elevator doors. There was another door that appeared to be more like a door you would find in an office building. How had she not known that she was not in a house or an apartment? She could have sworn she had walked around this place sometime during her confinement. There had been a living-room, a dining space, and even a kitchen. Slowly, she approached the elevator doors and pressed the button going down. They opened at her command, and she stepped in with some trepidation. She found the buttoned panel and pressed the button that might lead her to the main level. The doors closed and a few minutes later, they opened not on a small lobby of some sort, but a nearly empty garage. Only one car was present.

Marlene stepped out of the doors, not certain as to what to do next. She walked around the large, hard, echoing space until she got her bearings. She chose a direction at that point and started walking a little faster when she stopped at an area of natural sunlight. As she got closer, more sounds invaded her senses. They were the sounds of cars and voices. Finally, she came upon a sight that she had not seen since she was living in Paris. She had indeed been living in a Chinatown city, but where her room was situated, she could hear no sounds from the outside. The windows were such that you could not open them. All kinds of sounds and smells assaulted her from all sides. Marlene looked back and realized she was indeed free. At first, she thought that someone would come after her, but no one did. The thoughts confused her. If she was free, what about Peter? Why did he get treated so roughly? Why didn't the old priest act like there was nothing going on? What really was the truth of her confinement and why did he suddenly let her go without explanation? Who was the unknown enemy? Was there an enemy at all? Suddenly, all of this just seemed too easy and convenient, but if she were to go back, could mean confinement again? And what did that mean for her nephew? Marlene made a decision. She would find someone who could help. If she didn't, she might not see her nephew again.

Mia walked down the avenue toward her intended destination. She smiled to herself as she thought of the package stuck under her arms. She was sure Marlene would love this new dress she had ordered. She was certain it would cheer her up. As Mia approached the corner, she suddenly became aware of someone behind her. She had the feeling that someone was watching her ever since she had left her uncle's shop.

She glanced behind her, trying to make it look like she was checking the traffic to see if it was clear for her to cross. Sure enough, there was someone following her. It was the older man from her uncle's shop. He had been sitting down in the conversation area having a cup of tea. He seemed familiar somehow, but she could not place him. She quickened her pace. As she did that, he also quickened his. Now she was beginning to get nervous. Who was the man and why was he following her? Feeling her life was in danger, Mia turned the corner and entered the closest door. It led into a building that housed several small businesses, a co-op of small specialty shops. Mia entered one of them and hid behind a rack of clothing so she could look outside. She breathed a sigh as the older man came to the corner, looked around, then through up his hands in dismay. She watched for a few more minutes until she was sure he was gone and continued walking, making certain she took another direction.

Marlene continued to wander through the streets of Chinatown. She would stop and try to ask for help, but each person she met, looked at her as if they did not understand her words. She tried speaking in Tibetan with one woman and she was shooed away with a rapid angry reply she could barely understand. She did not know exactly what she had said since she had not spoken the language in many years. It was beginning to look hopeless. Just when she thought her feet were about to give out on her, she spied an outdoor cafe and quickly sat down. The proprietor immediately came forward and placed a pot of tea and a small cup in front of her. She watched as he did the same with two other customers, one a gentleman in a dark suit. She tried not to stair because he seemed to be so out of place.

As she poured herself a cup of tea, Marlene noticed her hands were shaking. Finally, exhausted and feeling alone in a strange place, she began to cry. How was she ever going to find help, let alone find that garage she had come out of. She was certain her nephew needed more than just help, but she did not know from what.

"Oh, Peter, what am I going to do? How am I supposed to fine your father in all of this?" she spoke out loud to herself.

"Excuse me, ma'am. Are you looking for someone?"

Marlene looked up to see the man in the dark suit looking down at her. He wore a red tie. His face was bearded and streaked with gray. Dark green sunglasses covered his eyes. He had a presence that could be described as menacing if you ever got on the man's bad side. She was grateful that he was only trying to help her.

"I'm lost. I'm trying to find my sister's husband, but I don't know where to look. If I don't find him, he might hurt my nephew."

"Whoa, back up a bit. Who are you looking for and who's going to hurt who?"

"I'm looking for Kwai Chang Caine," Marlene stated. "Oh, please help me. If I don't find him, he'll hurt Peter."

"Peter, you mean Peter Caine, Caine's son?"

Marlene nodded to the man with the green shades.

"Who's got Peter Caine? Can you take me to him?"

"I . . . I'm not sure anymore," Marlene swallowed the lump in her throat, tears forming in her eyes. "I don't know if I can find it."

"Never mind. I'll take you to Caine's place."

"Please, what's your name?"

"I'm Detective Griffin, but you can call me Kermit. How do you know Peter?"

"He's, my nephew. I'm his mother's sister?"

"Annie's sister?" Kermit questioned. Annie Blaisdell never mentioned that she had a sister.

"No, Laura Caine is my sister."

Kermit's eyes became wide behind his green shields, grateful that no one could see the surprised look on his face. Just when he thought he heard and seen it all with the Caine family, something else pops up. 'It must be one hell of a story to have her suddenly show up,' he thought.

Continues with Part 26