Murder in the Alley

Chapter Two-Gathering Information

Beautiful sunny day, not a cloud in sight as Marisol and Mayra gazed outside their window seat in the living room. Mayra's personality was showing more. Mayra smiled when she heard Mommy or Daddy, Abdul. She smiled when she heard you say Grandma and frown if she doesn't see Grandma.

As Marisol held Mayra up so she could look out the window, the phone rang. She sat her daughter down on the sofa and went to answer the telephone. On the third ring, she answered. "Hello?"

"Hey, girl. It's Nikki and I want to come over. We, Leisia and I, have the day off because the boss man hired someone new. Is it okay?"

"Sure girl. Mayra and I would love company. We could sit out on the porch and have tea and scones." Says Marisol.

Leisia jumped into the conversation and said, "Good. Listen, Nikki has been reading up on the murder. She wanted to tell you some information-think she told the police or Steve."

"Oh well okay okay." They both said goodbye and hung up the phone.

After she got off the phone she went to talk to Mayra. After a while, she looked around the house. She smiled to herself. After all the trouble they went through to get the house. A buddy of Darwin's and Peluso helped them find it.

The deal they got for this five-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bath with a wraparound porch, a two-car garage was sweet. It was rent with an option to buy. Their little corner of heaven.

As she looked around, she thought as to how she loved the porch to sit on and to find her daughter.

AN HOUR LATER

Nikki and Leisia arrived with Reyna. What had started as a nice day turned into a dreary day.

The rain had started to fall by the time the three had arrived. The two were in argue mode. Only Reyna seemed at peace. Marisol wasn't at peace. But her friends were there. So, talk time.

In their group of friends, Marisol was the oldest, Nikki the youngest, and Leisia was in the middle.

As the group along with Mayra who was dozing in her bassinet sat in the kitchen waiting for the tea to brew, Nikki says "that man, his description, fits a border at the hotel. He stays 11 months out of the year. No one knows what he does in the 12th month. He isn't seen anywhere. NO car, No shopping, nothing. They even checked at the hospital one year because of a phone call from someone. He showed up the next day. “

So, asks Marisol to them both, "What does he do?"

From Nikki, "He works in the hotel on a laptop. There is a mini-office set up there. With a printer and a multi-line phone. He went through the phone company. Also has a full mini fridge, hot plate, cd player and trunk." Leisia joined in. "He gets his mail delivered in a bag left outside his hotel. Left by yours truly. He gets mailed a lot of letters delivered directly to his door unless it lets left at the front desk." Marisol and the girls sat in silence.

"You know he's been doing it since before I started working there. Meaning employed by the hotel and not turning tricks." Says Nikki. Marisol said, "Nikki, I didn't know.

"But, "Leisia said, "I knew. My family stays there in the winter for years until we moved out of town. He used to work I think for a company in publishing. Then started out on his own. No one knew his name. Mr. Sessions or something.” Nikki said, "Sessions- according to check-in." Nikki was looking at her notes. "Cash payment only. Every month on time. "

"Anyway, "Leisia said, "he's never had company until recently. A woman and a baby, been staying there for six months now. The lady has her and an elderly woman spells her."

"So, what else did they find?" asked Marisol. All were quiet. The only sound was the babies. They sound as if they are talking to each other. "Well, Marisol, what did Steve want to talk to you about?" questioned Leisia.

“Any other piece of information I could remember. Why don’t we call Steve with what we know?” Reyna hearing Daddy’s name started to pull on her Mommy’s blouse. Nikki laughed. So did Marisol. Nosy Mayra’s head popped up. Looking around Marisol said to both of her friends, “Let’s eat first a quick bite and then call him.  I got some food in the oven leftover from last night. It won’t keep until this evening.  You all game for some new cuisine?  I am trying it out on Abdul.”  She starts to snigger.  “He hates it.” Still laughing.  Nikki and Leisia shook their heads in exasperation at their friend.  In unison, “Yes!”.

Following the quick meal, both girls were laid down for naps in the nursery. Getting some quiet time, the phone was quickly picked up to call Steve.  On the first ring, Steve picked up the phone, “Newark Police Department. This is Officer Reynoso. How can I serve you?”  Laughing all three said, “Hello chico. It’s your friendly neighborhood sleuthing dames.” Singing their names Leisia, Marisol, and Nikki.”  Silence and then quietly Steve asks, “What do you girls want?  I am working.”  

The girls were quiet listening because the two babies started to whimper.  Whispering, Nikki said she would check and left the phone conversation.  Leisia spoke, “Why are you in a bad mood, Steve?  I should be in a bad mood. Who was up with our daughter last night?  I! You stayed in the nice toasty warm bed. I walked the floor with a colicky baby.”  Both women heard his long-suffering sigh.  Then rustling of papers followed for a few more seconds before the squeak of the chair as he leaned back in it.  His voice shot across the phone line, “Baby- I am at work. I told the four of you to stay low and out of it.  Now from this phone call, I gather I can say that was a misguided notion. “Waiting for a bit, Steve continued speaking. “Look, you don’t have to go investigating anything.  We are on top of it.” 

Laughing Marisol said, “I know, but it would make us both feel better.  Plus, Abdul is getting antsier and unhappier.  I can kill two birds with one stone.  Help you with this case and maybe get intel on why my husband is now afraid he will lose his job and possibly face jail time.” Her voice breaking, Leisa's arm circling her shoulders to support her, “I need to keep busy and strong for both of my family.  And this is how I help. So let me do this.” Fearing he would not answer as the silence stretched on Leisia rushed in and said, “Look we just wanted to let you know what Nikki and I uncovered at the hotel.  Can we at least do that? “

“All right.” Laughing at her he said, “All right. What did you two ferret out?” Marisol and Leisia looking at each other were relieved.  Quickly speaking into the phone, Leisia stated, “The man that was found dead fits a description of one of the borders at the hotel Nikki and I work at.  He stays 11 months out of the year. No one knows what he does in his 12^th month.  In fact, he isn’t seen, anywhere-the border.  He has no car, does no shopping that we can detect, nothing. One year prior to me working there but maybe when Nikki worked there the management had to check the hospital because of a phone call from someone.  No name on the note and the person Nikki spoke to no longer works at the hotel.  Nonetheless, he showed up the next day, not a scratch on him or even looking as if something amiss had happened.”  Marisol had started to chime in when Nikki materialized and picked up the conversation thread continuing. “Steve, we found out that he worked in his hotel room on a laptop.  His hotel room-he had a mini-office set up in there with a printer.  He had the phone company install a multi-line phone in the room with the permission of the hotel management of course.  We have bills and permission in writing to support this.  The board also has a full mini fridge, hot plate, CD player, and trunk. His mail gets delivered in a bag left outside his hotel.  Left by Leisia.  The mail is delivered directly to him in a huge bag of letters left by his door unless it's left at the front desk. As far as we know it has only been left at the front desk twice.  He was working the same way since I started working there at the hotel as an actual employee.”  Listening to the other end, the three of them looked at each other. Mouthing at each other if he was listening none of them could tell. 

Hesitantly starting up again speaking Leisia said, “I knew he was there though. We all did in my family.  Remember we stay there in the winter and have done for years until we moved outside of town. Remember?  From what I remember he worked in publishing. For a company, I believe-not remember the name of the company. Anyway, according to rumors from the hotel staff, he started out on his own after leaving the publishing company. But none of them remember his name.”  Mayra started crying then.  Soon after Reyna joined in.  Both mothers rushed to the side of their children because the two started fussing earlier.  Leaving Nikki alone at the phone, allowing Nikki to quietly say to Steve, “Look” impatiently, “I don’t know if you are listening, but we feel this is important. I got his name from hotel records.  His name is Mr. Sessions according to check-in ledgers and paperwork.  Steve, he only pays cash.  And he pays every month on time. Even when he was sick and disappeared.  The payment appeared via delivery.  A few months before he died, he started having company.  A woman and a baby-at least for the last six months.” Still impatient she asked, “Steve, are you listening?”  An expulsion of frustrated breath from the other side of the phone line and a gruff, growly voice from Steve answering, “Yes, I heard you.  I am looking through some papers and notes.  I will get back to you.  I would tell you three to not go anywhere but I know it’s futile.  Just be careful wherever it is that you end up today and throughout this investigation. “