Chapter One
There was a scream that was heard and some sobbing as the body of 27 years old dancer Sheila Martin was found dead on her bed. Sheila had no enemies for she was a friend of everyone. 8 years old Denise Martin cried when she found her mom dead. She tried to wake her up but no response and she began to cry. “Wake up! Wake up!” She has seen too many movies with people found dead to know it was the truth. Her next door neighbor, a lady from Brazil and spoke very little English heard the scream and came running to the house. “Que pasa, mia nina?” then she saw for herself. She took the first step in calling 911, hoping that someone was bilingual on the other end. “Oh Dios! Por favor ayuda mi!” She prayed.
“911 is this an emergency?”
“No Ingles! Mi ingles no bueno.”
The operator understanding that this lady needed someone bilingual asked her co worker to take the call and the conversation began as Julia began telling the other person why the call. “She has an 8 years old daughter,” she said in Spanish.
“We will send a paramedics and the police right away. Try to stay calm and help keep her daughter calm.” He said.
“Si si. I will.” She hung up then try to comfort the little girl.
“Mommy’s dead,” she said as tears streamed down her face. “I have no one.”
The paramedics arrived along with the police who has the famous detective Serena Madison along with them. Serena relied solely on what the good Lord has given her-- the ability to solve crime. However sometimes he lets her figure it out herself. That day was no exception.
“No blood mess,” Serena said noticing it wasn’t with a gun or a knife. “Maybe someone drugged her.”
“We need to question everyone who is involved,” officer Samuel said. “Find out when she arrived home-- who took care of Denise?”
“My understanding,” Serena said, “Is Sheila takes Denise to work. She lives alone with her daughter.”
“That is not a good environment for her. Talk to Denise if you can. You seem to have a knack with kids.”
“No problem.” She went to the little girl and pull her aside. “I know this is upsetting for you, but would you like to help find out what happen to your mother?”
With sniffles and sobs she replied, “Yes.”
“Denise, did your mom take you to work?”
“Yes.”
“At what time do you think you both arrive home?”
“She always gets off at ten.”
“What happened when you two got home?”
“She put me to bed and told me a bedtime story.”
“Oh yeah? You have a favorite?”
The little girl smiled. “Cinderella.”
“Where is your daddy?”
“Don’t know. I was born with no daddy.”
“So you arrived home sometime after ten, she put you to bed and why did you wake up since it was only midnight that you found her this way?”
“Thirsty. I have to ask her for water and she gets it for me.”
“I am so sorry you had to find her this way. We will find whoever did this to her! You have any grandparents?”
“I have a grandmother and a step grandfather.”
“Donna and Meril Martin,” Officer Davenport said. “Maybe a good idea to question them and those at her work too.”
“Alright. Thank you for your help, Denise. I am going to call your grandmother to come and get you. Right now your next door neighbor will watch you until she comes. Okay?”
The little girl nodded.
To some, it would be a hard case to crack for there were no evidence of foul play. It looked pretty clean. Serena spent her time writing down questions concerning the murder before she drove to her next destination-- the theater. Although some may have left , a few remained.
