FATHER ALWAYS SMILING

Chapter 54 ~~~~~

"We want to know what your connection is with Emma, the daughter."

"That?" he closed the cupboard and began making a fresh pot of coffee while waiting for the water to boil. "It's not that grand of a tale."

"We merely wish to cover all bases," Jeremiah told him factually as he remained standing but motioned for Elija and Kira to sit, as the young FBI Agent obliged. But Kira ignored the man's attempt to have her sit as she silently watched Alastor doing mundane tasks.

"I suppose so," he paused to look at her. "Detective, I take it you don't add milk or sugar to your tea?"

"I'm fine, you don't have to make it."

"Oh, but I insist." Alastor pushed. "It'll help calm your nerves; you look stressed. I imagine it's not good for your health."

Kira sighed, feeling if she kept trying to decline this conversation would go nowhere fast. "Fine, go ahead."

The man's smile faintly grew. "Wonderful, I'm sure you'll enjoy it." He then turned back to the stove as the kettle's whistle blew. "Regarding Miss Emma Terach, she was babysitting my daughter for one night, that's how I know her. She offered to do so when I relayed my current dilemma to Miss Ortiz's two friends, Victoria Cho and Robin Howell, I believe that's what their names are. If I'm remembering correctly. It was at the hospital when Miss Terach overheard my conversation and offered to assist. She only did so because she heard I'd be willing to pay extra. And I was rather desperate."

"Why not call up a babysitting service?" Elija asked.

Alastor glanced at him before going back to making tea. "As I said, I was desperate. But what I didn't believe was that she would try and steal from me or allow another stranger into my home when I specifically told her not to. Though I could have let it slide if they hadn't harmed my daughter."

Kira frowned. "But she wasn't hurt."

"Physically no, but let me put it this way detective," he came over and placed a mug filled with tea in front of her. "How would you feel if you were seven years old and forced out of your house and locked outside on the porch where anything could happen and you were all alone?"

He made a fair point.

He then gave coffee to Elija while Jeremiah declined as Alastor sat across from them. "It's thanks to Anthony, oh, that's the blond man you spoke with, it was his quick actions that I was even made aware of what took place. He even chased them out of the house with only the sheets from the bed covering them as they ran to their car. I imagen it was quite the sight. After that, I reported the incident to your precinct the following day. And I doubt I need to tell you what happened after that."

"How do you know Anthony?" Kira asked.

"He befriended my daughter, and he found himself in the area, car trouble. I'm currently letting him stay while it's being fixed."

"Awfully kind of you," Kira stated flatly before grimacing at the tea, it tasted like wood but wasn't about to voice it here.

"He's a good man, even if his rough way of speaking makes others think the opposite. I'm truly grateful for him." He then added. "But you look as though you have more to say."

"We talked to both of the teens that locked Amalie out of the house, they both mentioned a note was left in their bags, they claimed it was you who put it there and made them go to those campgrounds where they were shot."