Chapter 3

Catharine slipped into her leather jacket she had bought from O'Connel boutique across Pineda street where her house stood. They sell clothes with cheaper prices and Catharine liked the leather the moment she saw it; an old one that hangs in the place that could barely be seen by customers.

She looked for her keys and was momentarily nervous thinking it was inside the car. She uttered a short silent prayer when she found it below the book she had been reading. She wouldn't like to bother walking all the way to the school.

As she maneuvered, Catharine thinks of the moments she and Carmela shared. She's what Catharine considered as the other half of her. Catharine is older by 8 years. She and her parents even thought that Catharine would be an only child but eight years later, Carmela was born. They were inseparable since then until Catharine's college years. When she transfered to Paradiso City five years ago, she still kept in touch with Carmela by sending her emails and visiting the family twice a week. Two years ago, Carmela decided to transfer to Paradiso City after Catharine had convinced her of the facilities Paradiso can provide compared to Eden; the town where they once lived.

Minutes later, Catharine reached the school. She showed her ID to the security before parking inside. The school in Paradiso is a building with two floors. Grade school is separated from highschool, as what most education institution does, by a tall pine tree that acts as a shed to every rooms and students.

She made her way to the room of her sister. Seeing it from a distance, it would appear that the room was already close but as she took a closer look, the door was ajar. She hold the door and yanked it open. It only cause minor sounds that didn't even disturbed the adviser from packing her belongings. Pile of boxes are placed behind her, the blackboard just beside where her desk was placed. Catharine greeted her and stepped inside.

The adviser hold her chest in a shocked motion. "God, you frightened me. You are supposed to knock, lady." The adviser said and puts her hands on her waist.

"Sorry for frightening you Ma'am but can I have a moment?" Catharine ask is a gentle manner.

The latter offered her a chair near her desk. After settling themselves, Catharine began asking the teacher. "I would get to the point Ma'am. Do you know someone who might know where my sister is or any possible place she would go? I called my family but she wasn't there."

"Now that you've asked that, actually there's one person I think who might help. I often saw them together, figured they're kind of best buddies but she's not here. She was suspended for a week for punching the son of the principal of grade school. So, you see, Carmela and this kid, Alamie is her name, were brave enough to face bullies of the school but don't worry, as what I know, Carmela hasn't punched a guy nor a girl. Only was that Carmela faced injustice by publishing it in the school's newspaper. She has that power but still all her reasons was proven." The teacher explained.

"This Alamie kid, do you happen to know where she lives? She might help me." Catharine asked.

"As what I've heard, Alamie Bohr lives five blocks from here. That one with odd color; a black house." The teacher answered.

"Thank you for the information Ma'am. I would surely keep in touch with you." Catharine said and dropped a cell number to the teachers desk.

Catharine was on her way outside the room when the teacher stopped her. "Be careful with your investigation, Detective Maximo. I've heard it, news spread fast like wild fire specially to small town like paradiso, that you were investigating the murder of Jennifer Lorenzo. The attacker or killer may have known your involvement with the investigation so it decided to kidnapped your sister." The teacher warned her. Now, her face was perturbed. Catharine could say she was once close to her sister. No doubt, Carmela was like an 'advocate of female leadership' to the school.

Catharine looked to the teacher over her shoulder. "Let's hope that's not the case Ma'am. I would do my job of finding her.' She assured the adviser before heading outside. She sure hope that the killer or killers don't have her sister let alone kill her.

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Catharine arrived at Alamie's house in less than ten minutes. She decided to drive although the destination is just near. It was true that the place looks odd. The house was painted in an old fashioned black. No grass could be seen outside. The small plant in spot outside did nothing to embellish the house. There was no gate so Catharine hurried to reach the door and knocked. After the third knock, a black american woman wearing a navy green shirt and a frown on its face, opened the door slightly. She raises an eyebrow as though asking who the hell she's talking to.

" Good day. You must be Alamie--" Catharine was in mid-way finishing her sentence when the person corrected her.

"Alamie Cooper. What's the deal?" Alamie asked without bothering to fully open the door.

"I'm here to ask about my sister's whereabouts. Did she happen to drop-by here?" Catharine uttered. Alamie, at last deciding to let her unwanted guest in, opened the door to let Catharine inside. Catharine roamed her gaze inside. The inside appeared to be very different from the outside look of the house. The place was spruce, books are arranged in the shelf at the right side, there was a small path that perhaps leads to the kitchen. The television was on and a glass of juice was on the table. No sign that her sister was here. If she'd been, there would suppose to be two glasses on the table or any other traces. Catharine decided to sit on the couch.

"Where are your parents?" Catharine ask when she did not saw signs of parents around the house.

"Work." Alamie replied shortly. She took a novel from the shelve and began flipping its pages while crossing her legs. It was a mystery book entitled 'With No One As Witness' by Elizabeth George. *Good taste,* Catharine thought.

"So, can you tell me the place where Carmela could possibly go? We would not afford to waste any minutes let alone hours. I need to bring her into safety. If you have a sister, then you'll understand me. Even so, she's still your best friend so let's not waste our precious time here doing nothing, shall we?" Catharine was beginning to be impatient. The warning of Mrs. Lila Mendez are striking her with nervousness. God knows how much she values her sister.

Alamie looked at her over the book she's reading, deciding whether to help Catharine or not but after a second she close the book and heave a sigh. "Okay, I'll show you but we can't be so sure she is there. We don't hold fate." Alamie said while pulling on a sweater that hungs from the stand beside the book shelves.

__________

After directions, Alamie and Catharine reached an uninhabited place. No signs of humanity could be seen around except for the vegetable stool a kilometer from the destination. The grass and weed have grown in the place.

As Alamie brushed off the grass, Catharine was surprised to see what's lying behind it; a picturesque view of lake with mountain rocks which acts as a perfect sitting place for persons. It was as though the surrounding are pulling every person by its beauty.

"This is our secret comfort zone. Have a tour while looking for Carmela but I have a feeling she's not. If so, she'll be sitting in that rock in front of you." Alamie said while pointing to the orange-brown colored rock in front of Catharine. Alamie left to look for Carmela while Catharine also did the same.

In less than thirty minutes, both of them return empty-handed. Catharine looked exhausted and announced she return Alamie home to which the latter nod in agreement.

The drive was almost a silent one until Alamie decided to break it. She is not used to the deafening and awkward silence with other people. "Uhmm, so what do we do now? I know you would not give up. Where would you look for her?" Even Alamie sounds worried.

Catharine sighed, holding hard on the steering wheel. "To be honest, I'm nervous but I need to keep my hopes up. We can't afford to lose her. But we might look for her in Greysen's bar. You wanna come or should I drop you to your house?"

"There's nothing I would do in the house. I'll go with you." Alamie said abruptly, her voice are now full of determination to find her best friend. They haven't seen each other for two days but she thought Carmela was off to their family's town. Add that she was suspended, she can't see her often in the school which made her sad and angry at the moment.

"If that guy didn't initiate the fight, I wouldn't have to be stuck in the house doing nothing and waiting for ennui to cast its spell on me. I was supposed to know where Carmela would want to go. Damn institution and its favoritism. Damn hypocrites." Alamie said.

"Sshhh, what we need right now is to find Carmela, 'kay? Don't blame yourself. Maybe she's just loitering in Greysen's." Catharine assured Alamie and even herself.

When they reached the said bar, she stood outside of the entrance and stared. Greysen's bar actually has two-purpose; at day it serves as a restaurant, at night a bar. This is a lie to make Paradiso City appears to be a perfect town. Nevertheless, the police checks it every now and then, to prevent any transactions of illegal activities. Catharine understood physical urges but they won't tolerate drugs and violence.

"Are you coming in or what?" Alamie asked her when she notice Catharine was unmoved.

"I will." Replied Catharine but was stopped when a hand touches her shoulder. She turned around and saw Alex with a grin on its face.

"Oh, it's you police officer Alex. What are you doing here?" Catharine asked. To see Alex in his civilian cloth going to the bar surprises her. She thinks Alex might have OTHER business.

Alex probably read her mind, replied. "I was just passing by when I saw your car. When I came to a stop, I notice you were staring outside. You didn't seem to notice me then." Alex explained himself.

"We'd want to look for Carmela and probably ask staffs here including the manager." Catharine felt that she needed to explain herself. Alex offered his help and they made their way inside the club.

The baling lights greeted the three. Alamie motioned to the stool near the bartender. "If Carmela had been here, she would have to sit in that stool. I asked her once why but she just answered 'No particular reason' but later confessed she liked the other cold bartender at the side." Alamie giggled.

The three of them searched the club. Alex returned to report what the owner, 'Mackenzie Greysen' have said. "Carmela? The youngster with short black hair. Haven't seen her for like three days since my trip to the Philippines."

Catharine also gathered information but decided to dismissed it as she thought it would be of no value to the investigation. The one she'd gathered though was an observation from the staff. "It seems to me that Carmela and the cold bartender, who quit his job a week ago, was somehow close to the girl you told me about but I'm quite uncertain. Maybe I was just fooled by my own eyes."

The three of them decided to leave the area and return to their home.