On the Streets for Eva

Chapter Two

Two

My heart rate went up just a little. Sanchez had tears in his eyes as soon as we looked at him. “My daughter has not called for more than a week. She calls her mother a few times a day and then last Thursday she just stopped. It’s not like her. She always calls her mother. Me not so much, but she always calls her mother. So I had her phone tracked, which was not so easy. It was located in this little village about twenty-five miles this side of her school. I went out there and they told me that she was there but that she was not accepting visitors now.” Mr. Sanchez was still in tears but they were silent ones.

“Is that all they told you,” I asked.

“They also said that she was talking to God and could not be disturbed during the transformation. I asked what that was supposed to mean. They said it was her way to get closer to God.” He took a moment to catch his breath. I thought considering he was doing a good job keeping it together as much as he was. I would have lost it a long time ago. “We raised her Catholic, she has always been close to God. I do not understand what it is that they are talking about. I am worried about what might happen while she is there.”

I looked at the investigator, “and you think this has something to do with the fire?”

“It’s not for me to say, I just wanted to explain about finding the cat to him quietly and then he broke down. So I called over the sergeant and he called you over. This is not exactly something I handle.”

I looked to the sergeant, “and your thoughts?”

“I asked him why he had not gone to the police and his answer was what you would expect.”

I looked to Sanchez, “what’s going on Mr. Sanchez? Why didn’t you call the police.”

“Sir my wife and I are not here legally, but my children were born here. I do not know what someone might tell me. I can’t risk being sent home without knowing my daughter is safe. Once I know she is safe, I do not care what you do to me. I just need her home. Or at least know she will be safe from whatever she has gotten herself into.”

I looked to Mac who said, “Mr. Sanchez, why didn’t you just come to see us. You know us, you know we would help you without questions. We could care less if you are here legally.”

“I do not have money to pay. I cannot ask you to do this for me. I have to pay and I cannot. We only make enough to live and send our daughter to school. We have a younger son and he will be going to school soon. We just cannot pay sir.”

“No one is going to ask you for money, sir. We would like to think of you as a friend. We do not ask our friends to pay us.” I put my hand on his shoulder, “we can try and help you, Miguel, if you will let us.”

He started to cry again, “we would be so grateful to you if you would sirs.”

His accent was still very thick but his English was very clear. “Mr. Sanchez please come to my home when you are done here so that we can discuss this more. We have computers there and we can talk without the pressure of everyone else standing around watching.”

He looked to the investigator who said, “I think I have everything I need to get a start here. As long as the cops say it’s alright I’m okay with it.”

Mr. Sanchez turned to the sergeant who was already taking out a notepad. “I just need to get some contact information for you, sir. Then you are welcome to do whatever you need.”

They talked for a few more minutes while Mac went around to the front to talk to the ladies. Once Miguel was ready he and I walked around to the front also. We caught up with Mac and I pulled Annabel to the side. “Mac tell you what happened?”

“Yes, you go take care of him. Toni and I are going to stay for a while longer to make sure these guys have everything they need before we leave.”

“Okay, I will take your car since my truck is being used as a buffet table right now,” I said.

I gave her a hug and a peck on the lips. Then I turned around to look around at all the firemen working. Most of them had their turnout jackets off. Although the weather was a little cooler it wasn’t exactly cold. Plus they just came from working with a pretty large fire. I was sure they could stand to be cooled off. But looking at them I noticed something else.

I turned back to Annabel, “I bet it doesn’t hurt that they are firemen with their jackets off.”

She turned a little red but gave me a grin, “no doesn’t hurt at all.”

Toni looked at Annabel and sort of slapped her arm, “do you have to give our secret away.”

“It might matter if they were any other men, but these guys know we love them. And we are just looking anyway. It’s not like we need any of these guys to take us home with them,” Annabel said.

“Speak for yourself please,” Toni said with a grin.

I knew they would be fine. The four of us were pretty happy with our partners. It was one thing for someone to look good and another thing to actually have a relationship with someone. I knew Annabel might look at the sights but in the end, we were meant to be together and neither one of us were the type of people to be with someone else. We might even flirt some but never anything more than that. We not only loved each other but we had enough respect for the other that if we wanted to be with someone else we could have a conversation about it. We knew it might be a painful conversation but it would be better than cheating. I believed we have both been through enough to know we would treat each other with more respect than some couples.

I leaned in and gave her a little more than a peck this time. She put her hands on my face and told me she loved me.

“I love you too baby. See you later. Careful around all the testosterone. It can get pretty thick if you’re not careful.”

“I am pretty sure I can handle it,” she said.

“Yeah, that’s what I’m afraid of.”