have a report from one of your neighbors that a guy who fit his description was seen entering your house.
Also, this same neighbor believes she saw Eric's car parked out in front of your house on
Create PDF files without this message by purchasing novaPDF printer (http://www.novapdf.com) the day he disappeared."
"So you're not just canvassing the neighborhood. You've come here specifically to see me?" I gesture to Eric's picture. "I've never seen this guy in my life."
Williams is grave. "We also have a description from two guys that Eric was playing basketball with on the day he disappeared. They say he left Scott Park in the company of a young woman who matches your description."
I raise my hand, palm out. "Hold on! You do not have my description. I don't even know where Scott Park is. What exactly did these guys say?"
Williams consults notes jotted on a piece of folded paper. "That he left the park in the company of a beautiful blond girl approximately eighteen to twenty-one. Her hair was long, like yours."
I'm not impressed. "There are literally tens of thousands of cute blond girls with long hair in Southern California."
"That is true ma'am," Williams says. "You're just a lead we're checking out." He pauses.
"Did you have a guest with a blue Honda Civic park in your driveway three weeks ago?"
"I can't remember. Lots of friends drop by. They have all kinds of cars."
"Do you have a friend who looks like Eric?" Williams asks. "Someone your neighbor might have mistakenly identified as Eric."
I shrug. "I have a couple of friends who resemble him superficially."
Williams glances in the backyard. Kalika was no longer there. "Would you mind if we looked around?" he asks.
"Do you have a search warrant?"
Williams is cagey. "We just stopped by to ask a few questions."
"Then I certainly do mind. Look, I live here with my boyfriend and a girlfriend. We're not kidnappers, and I resent your implying that we are."
Kent speaks for the first time. "Then why won't you let us look around?"
"That's my choice."
"What happened to your hand?" Kent asks, pointing to the bandage that covers Billy's second good swing at me.
"I cut it on a broken glass," I say.
"Hello?" Kalika says softly as she enters the living loom from the direction of the hall, a towel tied around her waist over her bathing suit. "Is there a problem?"
"No," I say quickly. "These men were just leaving."
Williams stands and holds out the picture of Eric for Kalika to see. "Have you ever seen this young man?"
Kalika studies the photograph. Then looks my way with a cool smile. "Yes."
That's my daughter. She would talk about Billy next.
"Where did you see him?" Williams demands, casting me a hard look.
Kalika is thoughtful. "I can show you the place. It's not far from here. Would you like to take me there?"
I clear my throat. "That's not necessary."
"I don't mind," Kalika says. "It's not a problem."
I lower my head. Arguing with her in front of these men will not help.
"Don't be gone long," I say.
Kalika leaves with the officers. She doesn't even bother to change out of her suit. The men
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don't seem to mind. Kalika is more stunning than her mother, and they can't take their eyes off her. I pray they don't take their eyes off her, and that they don't have families. It is them I am worried about now.
Paula calls ten minutes after Kalika leaves.
She's in labor. I'll be there in two minutes, I promise.
Running out the door, Ray stops me. "Call us when the baby's been born."
I step past him. I haven't told him who was on the phone but I suppose it shows on my face. "I’ll think about it."
He speaks to my back as I go down the steps. "Remember, you promised Kalika you would let her see the baby. Don't forget."
I ignore him, or wish I could.
15
Paula is having contractions in my car when I decide we are not going to the local hospital where her doctor is
Also, this same neighbor believes she saw Eric's car parked out in front of your house on
Create PDF files without this message by purchasing novaPDF printer (http://www.novapdf.com) the day he disappeared."
"So you're not just canvassing the neighborhood. You've come here specifically to see me?" I gesture to Eric's picture. "I've never seen this guy in my life."
Williams is grave. "We also have a description from two guys that Eric was playing basketball with on the day he disappeared. They say he left Scott Park in the company of a young woman who matches your description."
I raise my hand, palm out. "Hold on! You do not have my description. I don't even know where Scott Park is. What exactly did these guys say?"
Williams consults notes jotted on a piece of folded paper. "That he left the park in the company of a beautiful blond girl approximately eighteen to twenty-one. Her hair was long, like yours."
I'm not impressed. "There are literally tens of thousands of cute blond girls with long hair in Southern California."
"That is true ma'am," Williams says. "You're just a lead we're checking out." He pauses.
"Did you have a guest with a blue Honda Civic park in your driveway three weeks ago?"
"I can't remember. Lots of friends drop by. They have all kinds of cars."
"Do you have a friend who looks like Eric?" Williams asks. "Someone your neighbor might have mistakenly identified as Eric."
I shrug. "I have a couple of friends who resemble him superficially."
Williams glances in the backyard. Kalika was no longer there. "Would you mind if we looked around?" he asks.
"Do you have a search warrant?"
Williams is cagey. "We just stopped by to ask a few questions."
"Then I certainly do mind. Look, I live here with my boyfriend and a girlfriend. We're not kidnappers, and I resent your implying that we are."
Kent speaks for the first time. "Then why won't you let us look around?"
"That's my choice."
"What happened to your hand?" Kent asks, pointing to the bandage that covers Billy's second good swing at me.
"I cut it on a broken glass," I say.
"Hello?" Kalika says softly as she enters the living loom from the direction of the hall, a towel tied around her waist over her bathing suit. "Is there a problem?"
"No," I say quickly. "These men were just leaving."
Williams stands and holds out the picture of Eric for Kalika to see. "Have you ever seen this young man?"
Kalika studies the photograph. Then looks my way with a cool smile. "Yes."
That's my daughter. She would talk about Billy next.
"Where did you see him?" Williams demands, casting me a hard look.
Kalika is thoughtful. "I can show you the place. It's not far from here. Would you like to take me there?"
I clear my throat. "That's not necessary."
"I don't mind," Kalika says. "It's not a problem."
I lower my head. Arguing with her in front of these men will not help.
"Don't be gone long," I say.
Kalika leaves with the officers. She doesn't even bother to change out of her suit. The men
Create PDF files without this message by purchasing novaPDF printer (http://www.novapdf.com)
don't seem to mind. Kalika is more stunning than her mother, and they can't take their eyes off her. I pray they don't take their eyes off her, and that they don't have families. It is them I am worried about now.
Paula calls ten minutes after Kalika leaves.
She's in labor. I'll be there in two minutes, I promise.
Running out the door, Ray stops me. "Call us when the baby's been born."
I step past him. I haven't told him who was on the phone but I suppose it shows on my face. "I’ll think about it."
He speaks to my back as I go down the steps. "Remember, you promised Kalika you would let her see the baby. Don't forget."
I ignore him, or wish I could.
15
Paula is having contractions in my car when I decide we are not going to the local hospital where her doctor is
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