"Today, the cheif made you a personalized breakfast, made specifically for your taste."
"Thank you, it looks delicious." I had to force myslef to eat even though I wasn't able to taste any of the food.
"Sir, a man by the name of 'Yoyo' is here to see you. Shall I let him in?"
"Of course, show him to the living room."
"Yes sir, anything else?"
"No, you can go." I watch as she leaves, her long culry hair pulled up into a tight bun somehow gives me a scense of déjà vu.
"Hmm, strange."
When I get to the living room, I see that Yoyo has made himself quite comfortable on the couch.
"Damn man, I didn't know you lived like this, you must be fucking loaded."
"Well he did leave behind a pretty wealthy company and since his absence, people have been working harder than ever."
"Any reason why?"
"I'm sorry but is there a reason why you're here? I have very limited time to speak with you so i'd appreciate it if we could hurry this along."
"Right," he sits upright on the couch and I walk over to join him, "It's about Kaz."
"What about her?"
"So you know how you told me that story the other night?
"Yeah..."
"Well I got to thinking about were she might be and who she might still be in contact with."
"And?"
"And, I have a few people who said that recently they've come into contact."
"W- what? How recent are we talking?"
He lifts his shrit and pulls out a thin brown file then hands it to me, "Just read it."
I hastily open it and read the pages inside. They show shoddy camera footage of a woman who looks at lot like Kaz from behind talking to someone I haven't seen in a while.
"And you're sure this is her?"
"Honestly, i've had my boys on this case for a while now and i'm 100% sure that's my baby sister."
"Hm, where was this footage taken?"
"Somewhere in Cali but I think she's been getting help from somebody in the city."
"Damn, that's like a 7 or 8 hour flight." I quietly say to myself. "Well thank you for this information Yoyo, i'll personlly look into it."
He strokes his beard and sqints his eyes as if he were trying to read my mind, "You know her don't you?"
"Know who?"
"I'm not stupid Carlos, I saw the way you looked at the other woman in the picture. You know exatly who she is, don't you?"
"So what if I do? Not like she'd tell us were Kaz is anyway."
He gets up from the couch and walks into the foyer to grab his jacket, "So make her man. This is the last time I search for my-" He pauses, "No, our sister. She belongs here with us. I did my part, now you do yours."
With those few last words, he leaves outta the front door without looking back.
"Hey Maria?"
She hurries over, "Mr. Martinez?"
"I need you to get Nando over here. I also want a few maids sent over to the guest house for a thorough cleaning."
"Right away sir, anything else?"
"Well I would love a glass of gin."
She rolls her eyes, "I'm a maid, not a bartender. I'll go fetch Fernando."
"Careful with that damn attitude!"
I chuckle as the soft click of her heels slowly disappear down the hall.
***
"Okay, i've arranged for a car to go and pick them up but you never specified on where to bring them."
"Bring em' to the main house, but make sure that they check in with secuirty first."
"Got it. Now you wanna tell me why they're coming over here?"
"No need, you'll be taking notes."
"Yay, notes again."
"If you have a problem with that I can happily reassign you to clean up duty."
"Notes is fine."
"That's what I thought, now what time will they be arriving?"
He glances at his watch then goes to speak but his words are cut off by the loud buzzing of the front gates opening.
"Guessing that's them?"
"Correct you are sir."
Maira knocks on the office doors and Nando opens them up for her, "Sir, the Sanchez siblings."
I get up to greet them one by one, going down a line shaking their hands.
"Melvin, Stefano, Joaquin, it's nice to see you all are doing well." I move closer to Lina,
"And it's especially nice to see you too Lina." She ignores my hand and takes a seat at the table.
"Cut the shit Carlos, why are we here?"
Stefano scolds her, "Lina! Watch your damn mouth, the man just invited us into his home!"
"Right, show some respect." Melvin cuts in.
"It's quite alright, she's straightfoward. I like that in a woman." I playfully wink at her and she gives me a nasty look.
"I've asked you all here because I need your help with something."
"And why the hell should we help an asshole like you?"
"Cuidadosa, hermosa me excita una lengua afilada."
(Careful, beautiful, a sharp tongue excites me.)
She snalrs her lip and I pull out the file from the other night and slide it across to her. I watch as her and her brothers slowly flip through the images inside.
"Sabes exactamente por qué estás aquí, chica."
(You know exactly why you are here girl.)
She stands up so fast that her chair falls back and hits the floor,
"W- what is this? Some kinda fucking joke because it's not funny!"
"No need to get loud, I just want to find someone who's been missing." I look over at the triplets who stare at her in what seems like shock, "I'm sure you three can understand?"
"Uh Lina...what the hell's going on?"
"Yeah, why you acting so weird?"
"You two banging or something?"
"NO, now will you three dummies shut up?!"
She heads for the door but I block her path, "Lina, I know that she's is your best friend and that you think you're protecting her but what you fail to realize is that she's in more danger out there thanshe is here."
"Oh yeah, because she's perfectly safe in a house full of gang bangers and fellons! No way in hell i'm telling you where she's at, so move out of my way."
"Listen, I don't like confrontation nor do I like yelling, so i'll ask you one time and one time only, where is Kaz?"
She slaps my face, "Fuck. You."
'Ouu, that was kinda hot.'
She and he brothers all begin to bicker back and forth like small children until I loudly clear my throat. They finally yelling at each other and look at me, "Excuse me but I think that i'd like to have a word with Lina. Alone."