Chapter 5 Meeting Eva

Connor finally woke up almost around mid-day. Feeling he had overslept, he rushed to check the time but saw it was just past 11. Feeling a bit relieved, he decided to check his messages and saw that he got a text from Eva and Chicki. Ignoring the message from Chicki, he sat up to read Eva's message, which read:

"So where do we meet up? Or how about you give me a call?"

Connor sat up in a better position and then proceeded to call her. As soon as she picked up, her voice sent warmth down his spine-finally something he didn't know he looked forward to.

"Hola? Hope you slept well," she said.

"Yeah, I guess you can say that," he bellowed with his deep morning voice. "So where do you want us to meet up?" he asked.

"I don't know," she said. "Can you come over to my place to pick me up?"

"Sure thing, just text me the address," he said, and with that, they ended the call. He stretched one last time and stood up from the bed, heading to the toilet to take a whizz. While urinating, he remembered all he and Marco discussed. He was much calmer than before, probably because he was getting closer to the truth concerning Jim's death. All on his mind was still the fact that he could remember the name Santino Jimenez from somewhere, but he paid no attention to it since he couldn't remember. Afterward, he went to freshen up.

After bathing, he strode downstairs and walked straight to his bike. Before getting to his bike, he received another text:

"Didn't see you yesterday, boy. Hope you are good," the text read.

"Shit," he said. "I forgot to go see Lisa yesterday. I better drop by now," he said as he mounted his motorcycle and began revving his engines before heading over to Lisa.

As soon as he got there, he entered into the bar, which had very few people, probably because it was just after noon.

"Why didn't you come see me, boy?" an angry old voice was heard behind the counter as Lisa got up from a bent position.

"Is this how easily you are going to forget me?" she scolded.

"Sorry, ginger," he said, referring to her hair. "I really got carried away yesterday..."

"Oh, and doing what?" she said, wiping a glass ready to pour him a drink.

"Well, do you know about anyone named Don Jimenez?" he asked.

She then paused after hearing that name, looked at him sternly, and said, "What's this about?" He then proceeded to tell her everything that happened last night.

"You gotta be careful, mijo," she said. "If all this really happened and he called Jim, he's a very dangerous man."

"Don't worry, aunty," he said. "I'd be very careful. I'm only going to observe," he said, knowing he was lying but what other option did he have? Give up? That was no option. After he finished his drink, he said his goodbyes and decided to leave. As he walked out, he ran into Chicki.

"How you doing, son?" Chicki asked.

Connor replied coldly, "Fine, I guess."

"You can't stay mad at me forever, boy. At some point, you gotta forgive me," Chicki said.

"Well, maybe when you quit smoking that annoying hookah," Connor said, smiling.

Chicki smiled too. This was something personal to them as the hookah was something Jim hated Chicki doing.

Connor got on his bike and, just like that, he headed to the address given by Eva and arrived at a small farm just a bit outside the city, a more quiet and remote part of town where Mexican children could be seen playing outside. He saw Eva waiting near the entrance.

As he pulled up, Eva's face lit up. "¡Hola, Connor! ¡Qué sorpresa verte tan pronto!" (Hello, Connor! What a surprise to see you so soon!)

Connor smiled, "Hola, Eva. Nice place you got here."

Eva blushed slightly, "Gracias. I love your bike, by the way. It's really cool."

"Thanks," Connor replied, patting the seat. "It's a gift from a close friend."

Eva looked impressed. "¡Qué hermoso! (How beautiful!) You ready to meet my abuela?" (grandmother)

"Absolutely," Connor said, feeling a bit nervous but excited.

"Great, come say hi to my abuela. She's been looking forward to meeting you," Eva said, leading him inside.

Connor followed Eva, feeling a sense of warmth and belonging that he hadn't felt in a long time. As they walked towards the house, he couldn't help but feel that maybe, just maybe, things were starting to look up.