The Wrong Sister

After a few days of being imprisoned in my hotel room, I was told I’d be meeting with the prosecutor in Lisa’s case to go over my testimony. “I worry about her following me from the courthouse,” I told Mariska that day when she brought me lunch. “I know you do, honey, but I wouldn’t worry about it. Mind if I join you?” she asked, holding up a bag of takeout. “No, not at all. I could use some company after all the time I spend cooped up in here alone. If it weren’t for mirrors, I might just forget what humans look like.” “I can see where you might go a little stir-crazy in here.” “Yeah, it’s too bad I can’t sue Lisa for mental anguish alone.” The detective opened the bag and pulled out Styrofoam trays from Panda Express. “I’m glad you like Chinese, since it’s one of my faves.” “I love Chinese,” I said as she handed me a tray of pork fried rice. “How do we know that even if she doesn’t follow me, she isn’t having someone else follow me? I mean, when I go to and from the courthouse.” “Because we’re not going to come directly back to the room. We’re going to take some detours and be very careful. Remember, my guys are just as trained as she is. They’ve had a lot of experience with this. This is what they do, and they do it well.” I attempted a smile and took a bite of my egg roll. “This is good.” “I’m glad you like it. You deserve whatever pleasures you can get.” “I just wish we could move away from this place. I never liked San Francisco anyway. Not my type of terrain or climate.” “I know. I’m sick of it, too. But I’ve got another decade before I retire and can begin to think about relocating.” “A decade? You’re either retiring very young, or you’re older than you look.” Mariska laughed and said, “I’m fifty-five.” “Wow, I never would have guessed. You look great for your age.” “Thanks, hun. So do you.” We ate in silence for a few moments, and Mariska noticed the forlorn expression on my face. “What’s on your mind?” “My future. Or better yet, what kind of future I could possibly have. I don’t drive, and I haven’t worked a regular nine-to-five in centuries. I don’t see how I can live. Even if I had a job right now, it takes time to save up for a place, and I know that once Lisa is convicted, I’m no longer going to be in WitPro.” Mariska finished chewing her orange chicken and swallowed. “You cook?” “A little bit. I’ve learned quite a bit these last few years.” “Do you like to clean?” “To say I like it might be stretching it, but I do it well. Why?” “I have an idea, but it’s not a good time to discuss it. For now, we need to focus on the case. Let’s just say you don’t have to worry about the future at the moment. Just concentrate on the present right now, ok?” I nodded. “Will you do that for me?” “Yes, but what do I need to do?” “Just tell your story in court as you know it, to the best of your ability, and keep a low profile. Read, watch TV, give your rat attention… do what you can to pass the time and keep your mind off things when you’re not in court, and let the future take care of itself.” “Ok. I’ll give it my best shot.” During the rest of our meal, we discussed random topics. I gave the detective a little history on myself and learned a little about her as well. She was from New York City and had been divorced twice. “We simply realized that we weren’t really married to each other, but to our jobs instead,” she told me. “I guess we’ve both been as unlucky in love as we have been lucky. Yours cheat and abandon you, mine die or go crazy.” Mariska gave a bitter laugh. “If it weren’t for the seriousness of those words, I just might laugh at how funny they sound.” “I suppose they do sound funny in a way. They’re just so unbelievable. I mean, I’ve been so unlucky that I think most people would find it hard to believe that I lost one in a natural disaster, another in an accident, and that the third went crazy. Goes to show that three times isn’t always the charm.” “Nope,” Mariska agreed. “Although I can’t really speak from my own personal experience, since I never got to a third.” “You were smart enough to stop at two?” “Yup.” We both chuckled at that one. “Then again, maybe people would believe me and say that no one could make that shit up. The only thing I do know for sure is that I definitely ended up with the wrong sister in the end.” “Yeah, it sure sounds like it from everything you’ve told me.” “I seriously hate to say it, but it’s so true that the wrong sister died that day back up in Auburn.” My eyes misted over, and Mariska gazed at me sympathetically. Determined not to let my emotions get to me, I took a deep breath and said, “And now I have great Chinese food and fantastic hotel room company.” Mariska laughed, her eyes crinkling with genuine amusement.