Chapter 7: आप Can't Trust Anyone These Days

      James Knight slumped in his chair. It seemed like the most appropriate thing to do in this situation. How else was he suppose to act? He was a train wreck waiting to happen. He didn't bother combing his dirty blonde hair या wear decent clothes. He still had on his Lakers स्वेट-शर्ट, स्वेटरशर्ट, sweatshirt and faded blue jeans with holes ripped in the front. This was the kind of outfit he wouldn't dare where around the house if this was a regular day. For shoes, he had his scuffed, black Reeboks. His eyes were red and puffy but he still radiated that devilish charm he was known for. If a women passed द्वारा she would still be intoxicated द्वारा his lonely appeal. About three women, including the librarian, came over and tried comforting him. He actually had to remind himself he was married, he didn't have to remind himself with the librarian.
      Jena Ross walked through the entrance of the पुस्तकालय to the back where poor ole Jason was. She had her dark black hair down and wavy. Her carmel-colored skin shun in the light. She looked magnificent as always. It was obvious where Lauren had gotten her beauty. Today she decided to wear her dark red ब्लाउज and a jean mini स्कर्ट under it. She had dark red heels to match. She was always the one to make an appearance. She took her sweet time to get over to Jason. Occasionally, she waved and flirted with the nearby guys to दिखाना she wasn't dating Jason. Understandable. She wasn't at all affected द्वारा Simone and Marco's disappearance. She didn't know Simone but she tried to दिखाना a little misery. It was hard though.
      "Hey, Jason," Jena greeted. He gave her a half smile and buried his face in his arms. It was the only thing that could hide the tears if he was to cry. Just a few days ago, he had saw her in his house. He thought for sure she was dead. He was postive that आप cant die and then come back to life. After her murder, Jason went out of the D.B.E business. He realized he was hurting a lot of people. He couldn't go around killing बिना सोचे समझे people. It would look suspicious and it was wrong. "I have to tell आप something very important. I don't want Lauren to be confused when she gets here."
      "Lemma guess, आप aren't Jena?" She stared at him astounded. Jason figured it out. It wasn't like it was this puzzling mystery like The Bermuda Triangle. He was a very observant man. Jena was a wonder women but she couldn't have escaped both the आग and the murder. Which only meant Sammy told the truth when he कहा that Jena wouldn't be a problem anymore. Then again, Sammy didn't have a reason to lie in the first place.
      "How did आप possibly guess that?" She asked.
      "You are exactly like Jena but Jena hated the color red. It reminded her of . . . death." Jason tried holding back his frustration. He was mad at Sammy, mad at Marco, but mainly mad at himself for letting this all happen. He should have stopped this whole mess back in high school but he was foolish enough to let it continue. The fake Jena rubbed his arm as an attempt of reassurance.
      "I'm Serena, her twin sister. I lived in Connecticut with our real father. I never came to visit. She had to consistently visit me every summer no matter how much I wanted to see her and mom." She closed her eyes but only briefly. "I don't blame आप for her death," She whispered. James blamed himself though. It was not right and it was definitely something he would never be able to forgive himself for. He could keep all of the misery in a bottle and not express it to anyone.
      The last time he saw Jena was a साल after she had her baby. She was so exhilarated. He remembered seeing that huge smile on her face when baby Lauren burped या made a cute sound. At the time it was ridiculous but when he had his own baby he realized then that the feeling was contagious. Soon he was smiling when baby Simone made a cute sound या burped. He remembered that one दिन Sammy had sent him to talk to her. He told her that Sammy wasn't proud of her decisions but she just waved it off. She was care free at the time and was और worried about baby Lauren. He tried telling her to apologize to Sammy but she refused. Later on he saw something in her behavior but decided not to say anything. He should have done something then. Her death could have been prevented. This whole mess could have been prevented, but it was not.
      The sound of Lauren, Sidney, and Faye greeting him woke him up from his miserable daydream. Lauren stared at Serena for a long time. She was obviously putting the pieces together. "Lauren, Serena, Serena, Lauren." He कहा as if that clarified things.
      "How ya' holding up, Mr. Rivers?" asked Sidney. Her grey eyes showed innocence. He nodded as a sign of okay. Everyone could tell what he was truly feeling. They all felt the same way.
      "Now down to business," Faye spoke up. "Pastor Carter contacted me a few hours पूर्व saying that Simone hadn't shown up for their get-together this afternoon. I put two and two together and I think she went missing right after church." To everyone, it was a surprise that Simone knew where the church was.
      "That is exactly what I told you, Faye," Lauren claimed. Faye rolled her eyes as if that was the biggest lie she ever heard. Even though it was true,
      "Anyways, I went on the computer and found some old records of Marco Martinez's last whereabouts." Sidney presented everyone with a sheet filled with addresses, numbers, and names. "Here are all the addresses of hotels he been at. आप can observe that he has been in Texas for two years until now. The names are people he contacted and their numbers. He was smart enough to change phone numbers often whenever he moved."
      Everyone stared at the sheets which bestowed the information they needed to see if Marco had kidnapped Simone. It was something that needed to be known if James was ever going to be himself again. Lauren was still uncomfortable sitting अगला to Serena. She knew for sure that this women is her mother but her mother's name is Jena and she was murdered. That is what Marco told her but she can't believe Marco anymore. Marco was the one who ran away from his family twice. She truly wanted to believe her mom didn't die. Lauren was there at the funeral but deep down inside she was hoping that she had staged her own death. It was unlikely but not completely impossible.
      "Are आप my mother?" Lauren blurted out, obviously ruining an important discussion. Serena faced her with a grim look on her face. Mr. Rivers actually appeared from his arms. She regretted saying it when she saw the expression in Serena's face.
      "It's complicated," she replied.
      "No, what's complicated is not knowing your mother for almost your whole life," Lauren said.
      "Or have your father thrown in jail," Sidney added. 
      "Or have your dad disappear from your life then for him to reappear to only leave again." Faye stared at a nearby wall. Tears came out of her eyes. Then tears came out of Lauren's, then Sidney, and then ending with Jason. Everyone was crying except for Serena. She had nothing to cry about. Her supposed twin sister was gone but she had to be strong for everyone else. 
      After the cry festival, they got down to business. Sidney used her computer skills to analysis और evidence about Marco while Serena used her good looks to see if anyone seen him. It wasn't that hard to seduce men. Lauren drew pictures of what Marco would resemble as. Then she hung the posters around town. Faye had to stay and console Jason. Personally, she felt she should be doing something, besides this, to help locate Marco. He was her father. Shouldn't she be doing some of the action?

Simone slowly awoke. Her head was pounding and every part of her was sore. She really got scourge yesterday when they thrust her into their van. That part was something she remembered well. Her vision was a little foggy. It was corrupt and the floor and walls were completely made out of stone. There was one window and it was hanging above her. In front was metal bars trapping her inside the insignificant room. A plate of slop was left in her cell. A buff guard with brown dreadlocks was standing outside her quarters. He didn't notice her waking up.
      "Hey, Bob Marley!" Simone shouted. "Can I please get some real food?" When he didn't answer या even move, she flung her disgusting glob at him. He gradually turned to face her. He had the most despicable look on his face. His  green eyes showed anger and violence. She flinched. Flinching was something she did not do often. She was suppose to make others flinch in fear.
      "What do आप want?" He asked in a thick Russian accent.
      "I want decent खाना but most of all I want to get out of here!" She said, regaining her confidence. This man child couldn't boss her around. Last time she checked, she was in control. 
      "Sorry little lady, but I am under strict orders to make sure आप stay here. "If आप want I can sneak moldy bagels and आप can eat that?"
      "Thanks for the offer but I'll pass." He turned back around. Simone decided there was nothing better to do then to go to sleep. Her life was now a living nightmare. Hopefully, her subconscious can create an alternate universe where she is the queen.