4. DISTURBING NEWS
1152 Words
Chapter 1
DISTURBING NEWS
Daniela stretched out in bed, yawning as the sun filtered in through her bedroom. Summer had begun in Spain, and she savoured the early light. She rose from bed, put on a dressing gown and rubbed her eyes. Still tired, she regretted staying up late last night, talking with Blanca about her business expansion plans. Her phone by the bedside displayed six o’clock as she went to the kitchen and put bread in the toaster. Once it popped up, she spread jam on it, then pulled out a cup and poured espresso coffee with low-fat milk. While sipping on her steaming coffee, her friend and housemate, Blanca, came in.
“Hey, how did you sleep?” Blanca walked zombie-like into the kitchen, yawning. She dropped a slice of bread into the toaster.
“Okay, I guess.” Daniela answered, scanning her roommate. “I haven’t seen Carlos in a while. How are things between you guys?”
Blanca buttered her toast and sat across from her. She held the cup with both hands and blew on her coffee. “He’s been busy with his photography business, but we’ve been great. I love him more every day. Who would have thought he’d move here?”
Daniela leaned forward. “I am amazed at how you two met in Brazil and now you’re both back here. That’s true love.”
She smiled. “It is, and you will find yours soon.”
Daniela shook her head. “I love your idealism, girl. But no. The man who will stay loyal to me is not out there”
Blanca finished her coffee. “Not all men are like your father, Daniela.”
She winced. Why ruin her morning, thinking about a man who stopped caring for his wife and two daughters? She had moved on with her life.
Daniela’s phone rang. “Hey, Mum. What’s up?” Silence. “Mum? Are you there?”
Sobs filled the line. “Dani. Can you come over please?”
Her chest tightened. Something wasn’t right. “Is Eva okay?”
“Eva’s fine, darling. But please. Come over. The police need to speak to you, and I don’t want to tell you over the phone. Just get here.” The police! Before she could reply, her mother ended the call.
Daniela felt a heaviness deep in the pit of her stomach. “I have to go, Blanca. Would you mind ringing Sofia and getting her to take over at the dance studio for me today?”
Blanca nodded. “Of course. What happened?”
Daniela put her dishes in the sink. “I don’t know, but my mum’s upset about something. She wouldn’t tell me over the phone. Probably because she thinks I’ll have an accident if I hear bad news. Anyway, I’ll talk to you later.” Rushing to her room, she quickly dressed, then jumped into her sporty car and drove as fast as she could.
She reached her mother and sister’s home in Puente De Vallecas in fifteen minutes. She wondered why a police car was parked at the curb. The warm wind brushed her flushed cheeks as she walked up the cracked concrete path. Waiting on the doorstep, she felt as if she was being watched. She shrugged it off, and after what felt like an hour, her mother answered the door.
Her mother, Adriana, ran a hand through her wavy, shoulder-length hair; black tinged with grey. Wispy strands had fallen to the sides of her face and her eyes were blood-shot.
Adriana wrapped her in her arms, holding her tight. “Mother, what is it?” She pulled away and followed her mother to the kitchen where two police officers sat at the table, holding cups of coffee.
They rose, looking glum. One officer was short and mousy-looking, while the other was average height with freckles and a moustache.
The short officer said, “I’m Officer Rodriguez.”
“And I’m Officer Fernandez.” He looked briefly at his partner. “We are very sorry to inform you that your father died late last night.”
Daniela’s legs wobbled as if she’d fall any minute. Fernandez held her arms and led her to the chair. Her vision blurred and nausea overcame her. Surely, she hadn’t heard right. “What did you say?”
Fernandez’s expression softened. “Your father appeared to have died in his sleep from unknown causes. We are very sorry for your loss.”
Daniela turned to her mother who poured out fresh tears. “Was he sick? He couldn’t have just died from unknown causes. Will there be an autopsy?”
Rodriguez nodded. “Yes, there will be an autopsy due to the sudden nature of his death. We can keep you abreast of the results. But for now, we have to ask you a few questions.”
Daniela’s body turned numb. She didn’t know how to feel, as she had after her father had left them. Her mother joined her at the table and held her hand. The officers sat down again, making the kitchen appear even more cramped than usual. “We haven’t seen my father for six years, so I don’t know what to tell you.”
Rodriguez nodded. “We need to rule out foul play. We’d like your perspective about your father’s departure from your home. Do you know why he left? We asked your mother, but we need your perspective. You might have understood something else entirely.”
Daniela briefly closed her eyes, thinking back to the night before he left. “He said goodnight to me in bed the night before and kissed me many times. I didn’t understand then why he was so affectionate, but I understand it now. He was saying goodbye, but he was too gutless to tell me to my face.”
“I see,” said Rodriguez. “Has he been in touch with you recently?”
Daniela knit her brows. “No, I haven’t heard from him. I had no idea of his whereabouts, Officer. What he did in the last three years is a mystery.”
Her mother leaned forward. “Are all these questions really necessary? My daughter and I would like to grieve in private.”
Fernandez intervened. “It is protocol that we question all family members, and to rule you both out as suspects. We will need to return to question your other daughter. Do you know what time she’ll be returning from her work trip? You mentioned that she will be back tonight?”
“Yes, Officer,” said her mother. “At around nine o’clock, but she won’t have anything new to tell you.”
Fernandez nodded. “We are still bound by law to return and question all family members. We also found something of interest in his home.” He sipped the last of his coffee, then put the cup down. “A crossword puzzle by his side in bed. It had been completed, and Daniela’s name was written on it. Did he like crossword puzzles?”
Her mother nodded. “He enjoyed crosswords, and used to do them with Daniela sometimes. It was their bonding time.” She whimpered and bowed her head.
Daniela sighed. “It might have been an old puzzle we did together.”
The officers stood. “We’ll be in touch with the autopsy results,” said Rodriguez. “Once we can release the body, you can make funeral arrangements.”
Daniela closed the door behind them, threw herself into her mother’s arms and cried her heart out.
- Writer
