Killer Unknown

Chapter 23: I Don't Believe You

The next day, the officers were called to Mr. Cruz's residence over a disturbance. It appears that he was fighting with Maria over their daughters. Maria was keeping her word and leaving him once she had her girls back. They were yelling so loud, that the neighbors called 911. As soon as Officer Barrett and Officer Carmichael arrived, they heard the screams along with the little girls' crying. They rushed to break the two of them up and calm the girls down.

"You are not taking my daughters anywhere!" Mr. Cruz yelled.

"I am their mother; I am what is best for them!" Maria cried.

"Alright, stop it! Look what you are doing to your daughters," Officer Carmichael pointed at the girls.

"It's what she is doing to them," Mr. Cruz accused.

"This is on you, you nasty bastard!" Maria snarled.

"Can it! I mean it or I will arrest both of you and no one will have the girls!" Officer Barrett yelled.

"Baby girl, can you be a big sister and take your little sister inside while I talk with your parents please?" Officer Carmichael kindly requested, kneeling down to the girls.

"I sure can!" Esmeralda smiled at the kind officer in front of her. The officers waited until the girls skipped away inside the house and then continued to talk with the angry couple.

"Okay, one at a time. Tell us what is happening here," Officer Barrett asked.

"She said that she is leaving me and she wants to take my girls away from me. She can leave, but she can't take my daughters anywhere. This is their home; she isn't even a legal citizen," Mr. Cruz explained.

"You are pulling the citizenship card, really? You said that you would never do that!" Maria yelled.

"And you said that you would never take my kids away from me!" Mr. Cruz exclaimed.

"Listen, the neighbors are complaining about noise, so please keep your voices down. Plus, we don't want to alarm the kids again. If you can't talk without yelling, please just keep quiet," Officer Barrett shushed.

"He is probably going to jail or at least going to be on probation, I am not leaving my girls to a criminal. He is a cheater, liar, and a criminal. I promised him when my girls went missing that I was going to leave when they were found safe," Maria explained.

"Mommy, I'm hungry!" Esmeralda said, walking up to her mother.

"Hey there sweetie, can I ask you a question? It's really important that you answer this question okay?" Officer Carmichael said, kneeling down to Esmeralda.

"Sure, I can be a good detective!" Esmeralda beamed.

"I bet you are. Okay, you are going to be a good detective for me today. Can you tell me who took you and your sister from school a couple of days ago?" Officer Carmichael asked.

"I can't, you'll take him away!" Esmeralda frowned.

"You know who he is Esmeralda? You never said anything, tell us now!" Mr. Cruz demanded.

"Hold on David, don't be so harsh!" Maria said.

"Don't tell me how to deal with my daughter!" Mr. Cruz snapped.

"Hey, I said can it or else!" Officer Barrett yelled.

"Sweetie, whoever this is that you don't want us to take away did a very bad thing when he took you from school. Now, is it okay to do bad things and not get in trouble for it?" Officer Carmichael asked.