expected to testify against Juan Santiago if the police were ever able to bring him to trial for the shooting Maggie witnessed. That could be her that was found in the cemetery. She was upset the detectives had not called her personally to warn her about this discovery. Is this why the Snake gang members were hanging out on her block? To intimidate her to the point she would not be willing to testify against their leader? Maggie wanted to do what was right, but she also realized how alone she was here. She had isolated herself by ignoring her personal life. There was no one for her to share her fears with; no one to hold her when she was scared. She had spent so much energy in furthering her education and career, she had no emotional support network.
Maggie held Mamzell to her chest and cried. She cried for the young woman who had lost her life while trying to do what was right and she cried for herself; scared that she wouldn’t be able to do the right thing herself without ending up like Jessica Middleton.
After the tears were all cried out, Maggie set Mamzell aside and took her dishes to the kitchen. Coming back to the living room, she walked to the living room window. She didn’t even try to hide behind the curtain this time, she knew they would still be out there watching her apartment; she only wanted to confirm it. Sure enough, the three youths were still there. Maggie realized her home was beginning to feel more like a cell every day.
With another evening of grading papers and watching TV behind her, Maggie made her way to the bedroom. She wished she had someone to hold her tight as she drifted to sleep.
CHAPTER 11
Wednesday morning came bright and early. Maggie was slightly surprised she had been able to sleep at all. She had expected to be haunted with nightmares of the shooting and the young woman from the cemetery. After her usual morning routine of readying herself for school, and seeing to Mamzell’s needs, Maggie headed to school. Today was going to be busy; the students had projects to finish for Halloween, which was the next day, and she had her meeting with Claire after school.
Maggie wasn’t surprised to find the Snake gang members watching her alley as she drove out of it to school. She wasn’t even surprised when one of them made the sign of a gun with his hand again. How sad was it, she thought, that she couldn’t even be shocked by this any longer? She didn’t want this to be her new normal. Oh well, she just needed to get through her day with her students and then come home and meet with Claire O’Donnell.
Maggie arrived home a few minutes before four o’clock and dashed through her usual greeting with Mamzell and got the cat situated with dinner. Just as she put the water bowl down, the doorbell chimed, causing Mamzell to dash off to the bedroom. The cat was not usually comfortable with strangers, so more often than not she ran to the bedroom when the doorbell sounded. Maggie looked through the peephole and saw Claire. She unlocked all the door locks and waved Claire inside.
“Hello, Claire, it’s good to see you again.”
After seating Claire in the living room and making the usual small talk, Maggie decided to get to her mental list of questions. Hopefully tonight she would find out about the word intergalactic !
“Can you now tell me about the word intergalactic in your business name, Claire?” asked Maggie.
“Of course, Maggie, but I have one request, please. I ask that you keep an open mind while I do my best to explain more about our service. First I have a question for you. Do you believe there are other life forms in the universe?”
Maggie smiled and laughed. “You mean like little green Martians in UFOs?”
Claire smiled, too, but for a different reason. That was the same question every candidate asked at this point in the conversation. “I’m serious, Maggie. The Intergalactic Matchmaking Service is operated under the supervision of the U.S. government.
Maggie held Mamzell to her chest and cried. She cried for the young woman who had lost her life while trying to do what was right and she cried for herself; scared that she wouldn’t be able to do the right thing herself without ending up like Jessica Middleton.
After the tears were all cried out, Maggie set Mamzell aside and took her dishes to the kitchen. Coming back to the living room, she walked to the living room window. She didn’t even try to hide behind the curtain this time, she knew they would still be out there watching her apartment; she only wanted to confirm it. Sure enough, the three youths were still there. Maggie realized her home was beginning to feel more like a cell every day.
With another evening of grading papers and watching TV behind her, Maggie made her way to the bedroom. She wished she had someone to hold her tight as she drifted to sleep.
CHAPTER 11
Wednesday morning came bright and early. Maggie was slightly surprised she had been able to sleep at all. She had expected to be haunted with nightmares of the shooting and the young woman from the cemetery. After her usual morning routine of readying herself for school, and seeing to Mamzell’s needs, Maggie headed to school. Today was going to be busy; the students had projects to finish for Halloween, which was the next day, and she had her meeting with Claire after school.
Maggie wasn’t surprised to find the Snake gang members watching her alley as she drove out of it to school. She wasn’t even surprised when one of them made the sign of a gun with his hand again. How sad was it, she thought, that she couldn’t even be shocked by this any longer? She didn’t want this to be her new normal. Oh well, she just needed to get through her day with her students and then come home and meet with Claire O’Donnell.
Maggie arrived home a few minutes before four o’clock and dashed through her usual greeting with Mamzell and got the cat situated with dinner. Just as she put the water bowl down, the doorbell chimed, causing Mamzell to dash off to the bedroom. The cat was not usually comfortable with strangers, so more often than not she ran to the bedroom when the doorbell sounded. Maggie looked through the peephole and saw Claire. She unlocked all the door locks and waved Claire inside.
“Hello, Claire, it’s good to see you again.”
After seating Claire in the living room and making the usual small talk, Maggie decided to get to her mental list of questions. Hopefully tonight she would find out about the word intergalactic !
“Can you now tell me about the word intergalactic in your business name, Claire?” asked Maggie.
“Of course, Maggie, but I have one request, please. I ask that you keep an open mind while I do my best to explain more about our service. First I have a question for you. Do you believe there are other life forms in the universe?”
Maggie smiled and laughed. “You mean like little green Martians in UFOs?”
Claire smiled, too, but for a different reason. That was the same question every candidate asked at this point in the conversation. “I’m serious, Maggie. The Intergalactic Matchmaking Service is operated under the supervision of the U.S. government.
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