A/N: Right then, first of all, please note that the following lengthy ramblings from Little Miss Chatterbox (that＊s me, in case you didn＊t realise) apply to this and all subsequent parts of ※Death Row.§

If you want to read this story, it will help you to read ※Grief is not the Suez Canal§ (also by me) first. However it is not essential; you＊ll probably pick it up.

Do be prepared for a few controversial issues (you might guess one of them from the title). I hope I have been able to handle them with suitable sensitivity.

Next, I would like to apologise for my Spanish. There is actually hardly any Spanish in this story, as I don＊t actually speak the language, which is why what very little there is may well be completely inaccurate. It didn＊t help that every Spanish dictionary I looked at said something totally different. So I＊m sorry about that, chaps.

Apologies also as I think I have accidentally stereotyped Eduardo＊s mother, Carlota Rivera. This was completely unintentional. Please believe me, I tried not to, but it was surprisingly difficult.

Final couple of points: most of the original characters that appear in this story (off the top of my head: Conchita Rivera, Rose Rivera, Carlota Rivera, Kelly Williams, Lucy the black Labrador) are my own creations. John and Eden Spengler appear by kind permission of their creator and my very good friend Dr. Fritz Baugh (thanks for that, Fritz, and I＊m sorry I couldn＊t include more of them).

And now, if you haven＊t already skipped ahead to it, the main event, the story itself (and I wouldn＊t get too excited after all that build-up; I＊d hate you to be disappointed):

* * *

For Eduardo Rivera and Kylie Griffin, the diminutive space above Eduardo＊s brother＊s garage was never intended to be their permanent home. It was absolutely fine for the two of them, even after Kylie＊s cat had moved in; but space became something of a problem once their first baby arrived.

However it was a further eighteen months before they decided to move out, and another six months after that before they got the money together to do it. It was Kylie who finally made the decision to move. It was a Thursday evening, and on that particular day she and Eduardo had chosen to leave their daughter Conchita with Eduardo＊s sister-in-law. Returning home from work, Eduardo had gone straight to his own front door in the hopes of avoiding his brother, leaving Kylie to knock on the door of the main house and request the return of their small daughter.

With characteristic courtesy, Beth invited Kylie in. The two women got on well, united in their cause to keep relations between Eduardo and Carl at some degree of calm. Kylie accepted Beth＊s invitation with a polite smile, and then started the usual routine: ※How was she today?§

※Good as gold,§ enthused Beth. ※I hardly knew she was here.§

Carl was in the sitting room when Beth led Kylie through. He gave his might-as-well-be-sister-in-law an acknowledging nod, and then disappeared behind the New York Times.

His son Kevin was more hospitable. ※Hi Kylie,§ the teenager greeted the visitor, with a winning smile. He was kneeling on the floor, a blue building block in one hand, clearly occupied with the task of building a tower of wooden bricks while his young cousin watched with childish fascination. The tower was already at such a height that Kevin now had to elevate himself on his knees in order to reach the top. His dark eyes narrowed as he concentrated hard on adding the latest edition to the precarious pile of bricks.

A few months from his fifteenth birthday, Kevin was growing handsome, and Kylie noticed it now for the first time. She had known Eduardo＊s nephew since he was nine years old, and felt suddenly sentimental towards him when she realised that he was growing up before her very eyes. He and Conchita shared the natural tan that betrayed their Hispanic paternity. Kylie＊s heart melted, and she smiled proudly at her young offspring, who was preparing to attack Kevin＊s carefully constructed tower with a chubby little fist.

Kylie felt that she had made a wise choice in Eduardo, despite countless initial misgivings. The Riveras were an attractive family, and her child had been fortunate enough to inherit their exotic good looks. Conchita really was beautiful, with cinnamon skin and silky brown hair. Her features were rounded like her mother＊s, and she also had Kylie＊s dark green eyes, which were huge and oozing childish innocence.

The motley building blocks fell to earth, bouncing off each other and flying in all directions. Conchita laughed delightedly. The game was vastly unoriginal, but she didn＊t know that; she was often happy to play it for hours on end with whoever was prepared to build endless towers, only to see them destroyed in seconds.

At this point Conchita noticed that her mother had arrived, and grinned toothlessly up at her. Kylie stooped to take her daughter into her arms, but predictably the attempt proved unsuccessful. Much to her parents＊ annoyance, Kevin was Conchita＊s favourite playmate. Clearly he had been at school all day, which meant that only a disproportionately small part of Conchita＊s day had been spent in the company of her only cousin. Now, with her trademark gurgle of amusement, the toddler scrambled to her feet and began to hobble uncertainly towards a mahogany sideboard, arms outstretched and hands open, ready to grab anything that might take her fancy.

Unfortunately it was on this mahogany sideboard that Carl, returning from a spell of duty at the police station in the middle of the afternoon, had carelessly left his gun. Kylie noticed the unsavoury article at once, and then her dark green eyes darted towards her infant daughter, who was toddling quite happily towards the weapon 每 or at least in its general direction. She didn＊t seem to have seen the small revolver, and in any case she was far too short to be able to reach it; but the young first-time mother was understandably panicked. Kylie covered the length of the room in two bounds, and was answered with a shriek of protest when she lifted Conchita from the ground by her armpits.

With a mumbled ※Thanks,§ Kylie retreated hurriedly from the house and began to make her way up to her own living quarters. Quite reasonably Conchita was complaining of the unconventional way in which she was being carried, so absently her mother manoeuvred her into a more comfortable position whilst concentrating hard on putting that wretched gun out of her mind.

Kylie had always resented the fact that a revolver occupied the same house as herself and her infant daughter. As she ascended the precarious metallic steps to her front door, she was bombarded with mental images of Carl in full uniform, gun included, cradling his young niece in his arms. The day Conchita was born her only uncle had come to see her straight from work. At three hours of age, Kylie＊s baby had been held by a man who was at the same time carrying a gun.

At the time the sight had sent shivers down Kylie＊s spine. A few days later, she had spoken briefly to Beth about the issue. She had intended to confide her feelings, but first broached the subject with a simple question: ※Doesn＊t it ever bother you, Carl keeping a gun in the house?§

※No,§ Beth had answered simply, and quite unexpectedly. ※Why should it?§

※Well＃§ The question had taken Kylie by surprise, and she was momentarily stumped. ※What about when Kevin was little? Weren＊t you scared that he＊d get his hands on it?§

※Carl would never let that happen,§ Beth had answered breezily. ※Neither would I, come to that. The gun made me feel a lot safer as it goes.§

Kylie was incredulous. ※Safer?§ she repeated, unable to keep the shocked surprise from her voice.

※Well,§ Beth shrugged, ※what if somebody broke in? A gun might come in handy.§

This reasoning had done nothing to restore Kylie＊s peace of mind, but soon enough the shock of her new workload had left her no time to think about anything but her daughter＊s immediate welfare. Kylie＊s fears were soon allayed; or rather they were displaced from her mind due to overwork and severe sleep deprivation. The issue of Carl＊s gun rarely surfaced in her mind. On the occasions that it did, Kylie made up her mind to discuss the issue with Eduardo, but Conchita always managed to make her forget the matter in minutes.

Now Kylie found Eduardo spooning cat food into a bowl, while Pagan circled his legs and mewed encouragement. As Eduardo stooped to set the bowl on the ground for the black-and-white cat, Kylie idly dumped her daughter in her high chair and made her way to the miniscule kitchenette.

※Are you ok?§ Eduardo asked, his brow furrowed with concern as he rose to his full height. ※You look like you＊ve just jumped out of a plane.§

※I want to move out,§ Kylie blurted, finding suddenly that she needed to grab Eduardo＊s arm in order to stay upright. She hadn＊t meant to be quite so direct, and she knew the demand would sound rash with no proper explanation; but unfortunately she lost her voice for a moment.

※Why?§ Eduardo asked. ※I mean, why so sudden?§ Moving out had always been on the cards, after all.

Kylie shook her head to try and dispel the image of her eighteen-month-old daughter toddling towards a revolver with arms outstretched. Then, with a furtive glance in Conchita＊s direction, she moved even closer to Eduardo and murmured, ※It＊s that gun of Carl＊s. I can＊t live under the same roof with it any longer.§

Kylie looked up, and noticed that Eduardo＊s expression had darkened. His lips were pressed together, and his eyes had assumed a faraway look. Finally he asked expressionlessly, ※How long have you felt this way?§

※I＊ve never liked the gun,§ Kylie confessed, ※but it didn＊t really bother me until she came along.§ She nodded in Conchita＊s direction.

※I hate guns,§ Eduardo said darkly.

Kylie nodded. She knew he hated guns, and she knew why. An in-depth heart-to-heart after an accidental night of passion had surfaced a lot of information that neither of them knew about the other. Eduardo had already confessed his love for Kylie at the time, but she had hardly known him at all. It was his detailed soul bearing that had made her realise there might be more to this man than met the eye. She had, she realised, known practically nothing about him, and she often felt guilty about judging him so harshly on the aspects of his character that he chose to reveal to the rest of the world. After all Kylie was no stranger to hidden depths, for she had plenty of her own.

※I wish you would have told me sooner,§ Eduardo went on, his tone softening.

※I meant to,§ came the truthful reply. ※I just kept forgetting.§

With a tenderness that Kylie had come to know well, Eduardo ran a hand over her dark hair and dropped a kiss on her forehead. ※I had this crazy idea that the gun might make you feel safer,§ he murmured. ※I think Beth said something along those lines once.§

Kylie felt momentarily put out. ※About me?§ she demanded.

※No, about herself.§

Eduardo released Kylie from his embrace, and then his gaze wandered over to the table. There sat Conchita in her high chair, and Eduardo smiled with amusement to see her waiting so patiently for someone to feed her, with a pitying look in her parents＊ direction. She clearly thought it was sad that they didn＊t realise there was more to life than standing around and talking.

* * *

Both Eduardo and Kylie were eager to move now that a definite decision had been made, but money was a problem, hence the six-month delay. After some careful budgeting, Kylie deduced that at least one of them would have to get a second job. If the hours interfered with those Egon wanted them to work, too bad. Ghostbusting was rewarded with unpredictable pay and time spent waiting around 每 time that could be used to work for money that went into one＊s bank account on a monthly basis.

Arriving for an interview a week after the incident with the gun, Kylie looked at the nail salon with some misgiving. Taking care of ten three-quarter-inch nails from the age of fourteen had allowed her to become skilful in the handling of files and nail polish, and this was certainly a job she could do. That said, she couldn＊t help feeling that it was a little beneath her. She had a college education, thanks to a mental ability that was, she knew very well, above average. Still, she hadn＊t much alternative. She had her day job as a Ghostbuster, and that allowed her to exercise her brain in her particular area of expertise. Here was a part-time job that would allow her flexible hours and pay her a reasonable sum on a regular basis. This was all she really wanted 每 or rather needed.

Eduardo also found himself a part-time job behind a bar. He settled into it well and soon found that he liked it, as it offered a constant variety of interesting people and the kind of atmosphere he relished. Unfortunately Kylie was not so happy in her new capacity as a manicurist. She found that her clientele consisted almost entirely of bimbos who liked to chatter inanely about how they were going to colour their hair and which designer outfits their boyfriends most liked them to wear in French Restaurants.

Six months later Eduardo and Kylie found themselves moving into a small fifth floor apartment at a convenient halfway point between Carl＊s home and Ghostbusters HQ. Finding a place that suited their needs had not been easy. They wanted somewhere affordable that allowed pets, and ideally their apartment block would be home to a few young children that Conchita would make friends with. After all, her happiness was paramount. Her devoted parents searched relentlessly, and eventually found her a home that they deemed perfect.

About a week after moving in, Kylie decided to broach a subject with Eduardo that had been on her mind for some time. After working at the Firehouse all day, with one call from a five-star hotel that had resulted in a very welcome one-and-a-half-thousand dollars between herself and Eduardo, Kylie found herself alone with Conchita and Pagan. Needless to say Eduardo was working. It was eight o＊clock, and Conchita had just gone to bed, when Kylie made the decision to have the talk she had been mulling over in her mind for the last few months. She and Eduardo were one apartment and one-and-a-half-thousand dollars richer. Surely there was no better time to tell Eduardo what was on her mind.

Unfortunately he would not be back for another two hours. Wandering into the small and cluttered sitting room, it occurred to Kylie that she had been enjoying this arrangement very much. She was really looking forward to seeing Eduardo. She also looked forward to coming home to him when she was working an afternoon shift. When they had been living and working together all day, the atmosphere would occasionally become strained, and one of them would have to go out for a couple of hours. Kylie now reflected that everyone knew time apart was a good thing, but this confirmed it. She and Eduardo were no longer living in each other＊s pockets, and they were much happier as a result. You can get sick of anyone, she thought, no matter how much you love them.

Eduardo came home at ten fifteen as expected. He found Kylie on the sofa with her feet up, watching some news programme. He went over to her with a warm smile and kissed her on the lips, before wandering into the kitchen and calling over his shoulder, ※D＊you want anything?§

※No thank you,§ Kylie called back, though this was a lie. True that she didn＊t want anything to eat or drink, but when Eduardo joined her on the sofa with a steaming cup of black coffee, she told him in no uncertain terms that she wanted another baby.

At first Eduardo was reluctant, and Kylie had been obliged to stop some incoherent mumbling and demand an explanation. If he was going to tell her he wasn＊t prepared to give her another child, she didn＊t know what she would do.

※Ok, look,§ he said rationally. ※I am not at all sure that having another baby is such a great idea.§

Kylie opened her mouth to speak, but Eduardo cut her off:

※And before you ask, it＊s because of Carlos.§

※Because of Carl?§ Kylie＊s eyes narrowed. If Eduardo had been listening to ill-founded advice about his family from his interfering older brother, she would be less than happy with both of them.

※He made my life miserable when I was a kid,§ Eduardo hastened to explain. ※What about Conchita? What if we have another kid and they make each other miserable?§

After some consideration, Kylie concluded that Eduardo＊s fears were not entirely unfounded. However she felt that her own worry about their daughter＊s happiness held far more merit. In a suitably melancholy tone she put forward her own argument: ※I was lonely as a child, and I was completely miserable. You know I didn＊t have any friends at all after Jack disappeared.§

The ill-fated Jack had been Kylie＊s only friend, and had been luckless enough to disappear at the age of seven. It later conspired that a Grundel had been responsible. It was only recently that the Ghostbusters had been able to rescue Jack. For eleven years in between, Kylie had not had a single friend, save for the other Ghostbusters whom she had known then for such a short time when Jack returned.

※The loneliness was unbearable,§ she now told Eduardo. ※And I know Conchita＊s got us, and she＊s been making friends, but it＊s not enough. I never want her to feel the way I did. If she has a brother or a sister, there＊ll always be somebody there for her no matter what. You and Carl＃ you＊re exceptional. It＊s probably something to do with the fact that there＊s seventeen years between you,§ she added thoughtfully. ※If we have another child, it won＊t be like that.§ A pause for effect and then, ※Please＃?§

※I＊ll think about it, ok?§ Eduardo replied, with a warmth to his tone that seemed to suggest he had already been talked round.

* * *

Rose Rivera was born early in 2004, and so it was that Kylie found herself woken at two o＊clock in the morning by a familiar shrill scream. This had happened every night for the last four months, of course, but on that particular night the sound came across as somewhat more unwelcome than usual.

Roused from sleep, Kylie rolled over onto her side and noticed that Eduardo still was not with her. She knew not where he was, nor when she ought to expect him home. She knew only that he was running very late for some mysterious unknown reason; this information she had gathered from a series of rather baffling phone calls.

The first call had come from Carl via Janine, as Eduardo and Kylie were both at the Firehouse at that time of ten fifteen in the morning. Eduardo had gone to take the call, and moments later Janine arrived in the kitchen as Eduardo had requested to speak to his brother alone. Minutes after that he had announced to Kylie that he had to go＃ and then promptly he had gone.

This came as something of a blow to Kylie, for she was working the afternoon shift in the salon that day, and the plan was for Eduardo to take care of Conchita and her younger sister. However Eduardo did not return before Kylie had to leave, so she hurriedly handed a baby and a bottle of breast-milk over to a baffled Garrett, announcing that she was running late and telling him to feed Rose whenever she was hungry.

The second phone call came through to Kylie via the office phone at the salon. Her boss had handed over the cordless phone with a look of sheer disgust, telling her worker curtly that the call ※had better be as important as this guy says it is.§ It was Eduardo, calling to inform Kylie that he was likely to be very late indeed. He had no way of knowing when he would be home, but he would tell her everything as soon as he could.

Rose, having been collected from the Firehouse and taken home, was woken up by the third in the series of calls at ten-past-nine, minutes after Kylie had managed to get her to sleep. Bouncing the unhappy baby on one arm, Kylie had wearily informed Eduardo＊s boss at the bar that she didn＊t know where he was, nor why he had failed to show up to work.

Now, at two in the morning, there was still no sign of him. With heavy eyelids and an uncomfortably full bladder, Kylie struggled out of bed and hobbled uncertainly to the cot in the sitting room where her baby bawled impatiently for attention. When she was a little older Rose could share a room with her sister, but for now she slept in the sitting room so that Conchita could be spared the noise of her crying as much as possible. As for Pagan, he was exiled to the kitchen each night, as Kylie was not prepared to risk the possibility of him sitting on Rose＊s face.

Kylie walked her younger daughter up and down the room a few times, and then realised that she could not put up with her full bladder. She put Rose back in her cot, which did not go down well, but she soon returned from the bathroom to breast-feed the baby on the sofa. This pacified her immediately. Kylie held her steady with her left him, and with her right hand she stroked the short downy black hairs on the baby＊s bulbous head. It was like this that Eduardo found them upon returning home.

He looked positively drained when he walked through the door into the semi-darkness, but his expression immediately brightened when he saw Kylie and his younger daughter. Kylie had been about to speak to him, but he made straight for the bathroom. He emerged ten minutes later looking a lot better, though not quite a-hundred per cent.

※Turn a light on if you want to,§ Kylie said sleepily, as Eduardo approached her. Rose had finished feeding, and so was thrown over her mother＊s shoulder and her back rubbed to induce a burp. Every time she or Eduardo did this, it occurred to Kylie that it was most undignified.

※That＊s ok,§ Eduardo murmured wearily, placing a steadying hand on the back of the sofa.

※Are you all right?§ Kylie asked. ※What happened?§

It was at this moment that Rose decided to expel the air she had just taken into her stomach. Immediately she was transferred to Kylie＊s lap, and then Eduardo held out his arms for her. Kylie handed the baby over, wondering whether Eduardo＊s chief motivation for this request was a desire to help or a need for comfort.

It took ten minutes for Rose to drop off with Eduardo walking her slowly up and down the length of the room. As her eyelids began to droop, he came to a stop in front of Kylie and started to sway gently, murmuring encouragement to the baby to fall asleep.

※Can I tell you about it tomorrow?§ he asked quietly.

※Later on today, you mean,§ Kylie returned groggily.

※Yeah. You must be exhausted. Sorry I left you on your own like that.§

Kylie shrugged, too tired now even to speak. Eduardo＊s sudden disappearance and the state of him now had her worried, but in truth she was eager to go back to bed and get some sleep.

※Has she gone?§ Eduardo asked, twisting at the waist so that Kylie could see Rose＊s face. The baby＊s fat little cheek was resting against his upper arm at an angle that meant he could not see for himself.

Kylie nodded. Rose＊s eyes were tight shut and she wore a look of peace and contentment. Eduardo stooped to lay her down in her cot, and then led the way through to the bedroom.

※Is everything ok?§ Kylie murmured, almost inaudibly, as she climbed into bed.

※Not really,§ came Eduardo＊s voice from the darkness.

※Anything＃ I can＃?§

She didn＊t even finish the sentence before she was asleep. However it was only another ten minutes before Rose started bawling again.

※It＊s ok,§ Eduardo said hurriedly, scrambling out of bed before Kylie even had time to react. ※I＊ll go.§

※She might be hungry,§ Kylie mumbled.

※Doubt it. You＊ve only just fed her,§ Eduardo pointed out. ※Go back to sleep and don＊t worry about it, ok?§

Kylie was only too happy to oblige. As she drifted between sleep and wakefulness, it occurred to her that Eduardo＊s speedy reaction to the summons and his certainty of the time must mean that he was having trouble sleeping. She thought she probably ought to feel guilty about not wanting to listen to his troubles right away, but frankly she was too overcome with fatigue to feel anything of the sort.

* * *

It was nearly ten thirty when Kylie woke the next morning. It was a Saturday, when one might feel obliged to sleep in, but technically she and Eduardo should have been at the Firehouse over an hour ago. Oh well, she could be late, even if he had already gone.

She had to walk through the living room to get to the bathroom, but she didn＊t have a proper look at what her family was doing until she emerged from the bedroom a second time, showered and dressed and feeling fresher than she had done for months.

The scene was one of domestic bliss. Pagan sat on the floor cleaning his whiskers, and Rose was propped up next to him in a car seat some well meaning relative had given as a present shortly before Conchita was born. Rose was a chubby baby with a squashed nose and cheeks like a puffer fish. She gazed about her with a gormless expression, and then reached out a fat hand to the cat beside her. Pagan moved a little closer to investigate the alien object, but reeled back in alarm when Rose made a grab for his newly polished whiskers.

Eduardo was kneeling on the floor with Conchita opposite him, and they were building a wall from brightly coloured plastic blocks. At age three, Conchita had already grown out of knocking things down. She now enjoyed building, and would never consider destroying her own handiwork.

Kylie picked her way through the toys scattered around the floor, crouched down behind Conchita and wrapped both arms around her. ※Morning honey,§ she said, kissing her daughter on the cheek and then reducing her to fits of giggles by tickling the soft skin behind her ear. Then she looked at Eduardo and asked, ※Everyone had breakfast?§

※Everyone but you,§ was the faintly facetious reply.

※Even Pagan?§

※Yep. And I did the dishes too.§

※I helped,§ Conchita put in hurriedly, anxious not to miss out on her share of praise.

Kylie wrinkled her nose. ※Why?§ she asked.

※Somebody had to,§ Eduardo shrugged. ※You looked like you could do with a couple more hours sleep.§

※Thanks,§ Kylie smiled, rising to her full height and going to free Rose from the restraints in the car seat. ※Your boss called last night wanting to know why you weren＊t at work.§

※I called him first thing this morning,§ Eduardo told her. ※It＊s all sorted out.§

Kylie nodded, and then frowned down at Rose, whom she now cradled in her arms. How had Eduardo managed to feed her? She supposed there must still be some bottled milk lying around. Her gaze then wandered over to Conchita, and she silently wondered whether it was a good idea to ask Eduardo about his mysterious errand in front of their three-year-old daughter.

As though reading her thoughts Eduardo said, ※Kevin and Kelly are on their way over here. I called Kev this morning and asked him to take Conchita out.§

※I hope he doesn＊t mind,§ Kylie remarked, pulling a face. She hated to impose upon people, even though she knew that Kevin and his girlfriend adored both of her children.

※Of course he doesn＊t mind. He was thrilled,§ Eduardo assured her. ※So was Kelly, come to that. They＊re going to go to Central Park and pretend she＊s theirs.§

Conchita giggled quietly to herself. For her there was no end to the amusement that could be derived from calling her much older cousin ※Daddy.§

The normal practice was for Eduardo and Kylie to take both of their daughters to the Firehouse with them. That way there was always someone there to look after them, for Egon and Janine＊s twins John and Eden made it systematically impossible for every adult to be out at the same time 每 unless of course one took a trip to the park or the supermarket that the kids could join in with. John and Eden were two years Conchita＊s seniors: still young enough to ensure that she was seldom bored going to work with her parents.

※They can have Rose too if they want,§ Kylie said, carrying her younger child towards the kitchen. ※I＊ll just bottle some milk for them.§

※Mind if I don＊t watch?§ Eduardo called after her. He had seen her doing this once, three years before, and felt that was quite enough for one lifetime.

* * *

Fifteen minutes later Kevin knocked on the door with his girlfriend and her dog Lucy in tow. Kelly was a curvaceous sixteen-year-old with pale blue eyes, fair hair and a constant smile on her face. For Kevin her light-heartedness and sense of humour had been her chief attraction. He had been fascinated, though not altogether surprised, that she performed amateur stand-up comedy whenever she was given the chance. Kelly was also tremendously fond of children, and she and Conchita got along famously.

※Hey trouble,§ Kelly grinned, holding out her arms for Conchita to run into. ※How ya bin?§

※ ＊Kay,§ the toddler returned with a grin, giggling as the huge black Labrador attached by a lead to Kelly＊s right hand started to lick her face.

While Conchita and Kelly were occupied with Lucy, Kevin accepted a baby bag and a baby from Kylie, and enquired as to when the parents would like to have their children back. Kylie told him to bring them to the Firehouse whenever they liked. Should they wish to keep the kids until after five o＊clock, Kevin was instructed, then they should bring them to the apartment.

Once she had shut the door on the party of five, Kylie turned to see Eduardo sitting on the sofa and looking sombre. ※So,§ she began, moving towards the sofa and taking a seat on the arm. ※What was yesterday about?§

※You＊re not gonna like it,§ Eduardo warned her. ※It＊s uh＃ not very nice.§

Kylie had visions of Carl bundling a dead body into a garbage chute somewhere while Eduardo scrubbed vigorously at a bloodstained carpet. However she quickly learned that Carl had summoned Eduardo to his house on urgent family business concerning their father＊s death nearly fourteen years before.

※They＊re finally gonna do it,§ had been Carl＊s first words to his brother on answering the door to him. ※They＊re finally gonna kill that no good sonuvabitch.§

※Which sunuvabitch would that be?§ Eduardo asked, slightly alarmed by Carl＊s use of the word ※kill§ 每 though he was careful not to let this show.

※Sandy Drake of course, who do you think?§ Carl answered shortly, turning on his heel and marching into the house. Eduardo followed him inside, struggling to digest the information that he had just been given.

※You＊re kidding me,§ he said at last.

※No I＊m not. It＊s happening on Monday at noon.§

※Three days＊ notice,§ Eduardo remarked dryly. ※I suppose that＊s more than most people get. Where＊s Beth?§

※Grocery shopping. I only just found out. I don＊t know if we ought to tell her, Eddie. She may not like it.§

※So＃ wait a minute.§ Eduardo massaged his temples as though trying to coax his brain into understanding. ※The guy＊s been cooling his heels for fourteen years. Why now?§

※Well,§ Carl shrugged, ※people spend years on Death Row, but in this case there were all kinds of appeals and stuff. The guy kept insisting it was an accident.§

Eduardo took a deep breath in an effort to control his emotions. Through gritted teeth he said, ※It was a shoot-out in a goddamn bank robbery. How can they be so sure it wasn＊t?§

※I don＊t know, Eddie.§ Carl shook his head. ※Obviously they didn＊t let me work on the case.§

※And what, you think justice has been done?§

※It has,§ Carl shot back. ※Or rather it will be on Monday at noon.§

※Monday at noon,§ muttered Eduardo. ※You make it sound like a sports day or something. The guy＊s gonna die.§

※And not before time.§

Eduardo squared his jaw and looked his brother challengingly in the eye. Then he asked calmly, ※Is there anything I can do?§

※Do?!§ Carl repeated incredulously. ※What do you mean do? Why would you want to do anything?§

※A guy＊s gonna die.§

※Not any guy, Eddie. That guy killed our father.§

※That doesn＊t give us any rights over him. I mean＃§

Eduardo broke off, took another deep breath and reconsidered his argument. Finally he said, ※It＊s been just shy of fourteen years. What difference does it make to us now?§

※Eddie, they＊ve been promising to kill him for me for years.§

※Do you have any idea how that sounds?§ the younger brother shot back angrily. ※Dad＊s dead! Killing Sandy Drake isn＊t gonna bring him back, but it＊s sure as hell gonna be rough on the guy＊s mother and sister. What did they ever do to us?§

※That＊s beside the point,§ Carl said darkly. ※He should pay for what he did.§

Eduardo shook his head. ※Not with his life. It＊s not worth it, at least not anymore.§

※Don＊t you want to see justice done?§ yelled Carl, the forceful vehemence in his tone making Eduardo flinch inwardly. On the outside, however, he appeared calm and unruffled.

※I just want to let it be and move on,§ he said reasonably. ※Dad died, but we got over it and we got on with our lives. I don＊t see why we have to rake it all up now.§

Carl seemed about to argue, but quickly changed his mind. He had made his point, and Eduardo had made his.

※I＊ve called Mom,§ Carl informed his brother, his tone calmer now but still unmistakably hostile. ※She＊s arriving by train at twelve thirty. Are you gonna come and meet her with me?§

※Sure,§ Eduardo shrugged. ※Um＃ Carl?§

※What?§

※What＃ are you going to tell Kevin?§

※I don＊t know,§ the older brother answered with a sigh. ※What would you tell your kids? You know, if they were＃§

※If they were sixteen years old?§ Eduardo finished the sentence for him. ※If they had ever known Dad?§ He shrugged. ※How can I know that?§

※Don＊t be facetious, Eddie.§

※Well I＊m only saying＃ Look, do you really wanna know what I think?§

Carl shrugged.

※I think you ought to tell Kevin about this. I don＊t see any point in keeping it a secret from him.§

They didn＊t reach a definite decision; nor did they discuss the matter further. Carl muttered something about getting the house ready for Mom, which meant making up a spare bed, vacuuming every room and disposing of any flowers that may happen to be lying around. Carlota Rivera had a severe pollen allergy and she hated nothing more than an unclean carpet.

Beth walked in half an hour later to find Eduardo applying a duster to three small china dogs on the mantel. She was more than a little surprised to see those particular ornaments. With eyebrows raised she asked her brother-in-law, ※Are we expecting your mother?§

Eduardo merely nodded.

※You know,§ Beth went on chattily, ※I think I just figured out why you haven＊t married Kylie. It＊s to avoid being given a set of crappy china dogs by Carlota.§

Eduardo laughed out loud. The retriever, the springer spaniel and the Dalmatian had been Carlota＊s idea of an engagement present to her older son and his intended. There was, she had reasoned, no point in getting them anything useful until they were absolutely sure they were going to go through with it.

Beth tucked a stray strand of short blond hair behind her ear and asked, ※Why is Carlota coming all of a sudden?§

※Why?§ Eduardo repeated, as though the word was new to him. Though awkward, it was a perfectly reasonable question 每 and even if he told her the truth it didn＊t seem to him like a reasonable answer. Why should his mother turn up on a train only a couple of hours after hearing the news that her husband＊s killer was to be put to death? Surely she could stay where she was, only two hours away from her sons should she need them for any reason. Perhaps, he reflected, she was feeling particularly emotionally fragile 每 in which case he had half a mind to send her to that wretched grief counsellor she had forced him to visit every week for a year during his adolescence.

※Ask Carlos,§ was the answer Eduardo finally gave to Beth, whereupon she obediently wandered upstairs in search of her husband. However she returned moments later with the news that Carl was being very evasive about the whole thing. ※Can＊t you tell me?§ she pleaded.

Eduardo looked at the scrap of cloth in his hand as though expecting it to come up with the answer to this dilemma that he suddenly found himself presented with. Carl had already said something about keeping the truth from his wife, but Eduardo saw no reason why Beth should not be told exactly what was going on. In fact he had a very strong desire to tell her everything, but of course this was likely to induce Carl＊s wrath, which was always a bad idea 每 especially when expecting Mother.

In the end Eduardo opted to tell Beth the truth. She listened with a blank expression, not betraying her feelings, making her informer curious as to which of the two brothers＊ opinions she most agreed with.

Carl skulked into the room just as Eduardo＊s sorry monologue was drawing to a close. His expression darkened visibly, and Eduardo found himself backing into a corner as Carl suddenly exploded with a shout of, ※What the hell do you think you＊re doing, Eddie?!§

※I＊m filling Beth in on what＊s been going on,§ Eduardo defended himself. ※I don＊t see why she shouldn＊t know.§

※Eddie, it＊s nothing to do with her!§ Carl shouted.

※What?§ Beth was shocked.

※It＊s nothing to do with anybody except you, me and Mom. And in any case it＊s my place to tell my own wife, not yours.§

※But you weren＊t even going to tell her!§ Eduardo yelled back. ※But hey, maybe you＊re right. I do kind of wish you hadn＊t told me. Why did you? You＊ve known how I felt about this from the start.§

※That was a long time ago,§ Carl answered curtly. ※I thought you would have grown up since then.§

※Grown up?§ Eduardo was outraged. ※GROWN UP?!§

His mouth hung open while his brain searched for a suitable response, but none was found. Bristling with fury, Eduardo threw down the duster in his hand and made straight for the front door. Carl had made him angrier than he ever remembered feeling before, but there was no point in trying to relieve his feelings with childish arguments. Even if Carl deserved a good talking down, it wouldn＊t be fair on Beth if she had to witness it.

Once out on the street, Eduardo was undecided as to where he wanted to go. He really should go to the Firehouse, but he didn＊t feel up to talking to Kylie just yet. It also occurred to him that visiting his father＊s grave might be an appropriate way to calm his shattered nerves, but he found to his surprise that the very thought of that place made him feel physically sick. He could go for a long walk through Central Park, but he didn＊t want to bump into any of his friends 每 or Kevin, whom he might meet in the lunch hour if he stayed there long enough.

In the end Eduardo decided to go somewhere he had not been for a long time: he went back to college. Walking through the maze of corridors, the familiarity felt strange to him, as though he had never been away. He took a left turn, then a right, and then peered through the glass panel in the door to a computer lab. Several students were in there, tapping away at keyboards and staring at impressive flashing lights on monitors.

After wandering aimlessly a little longer, Eduardo found himself in the lecture hall where the Extreme Ghostbusters had first come together. This was where he and Kylie had first met. Vaguely he wondered if it would be at all possible to hire the room for a night, fill it with candles and soft music and take her there on their anniversary. Not that he had any intention of doing so.

Students were filing into the room. As though in a trance, Eduardo sat down in the nearest seat. He blended in quite easily with the rest of the students, so no one noticed him, and no one had cause to question his presence. Ten minutes later a lecture on population growth in certain areas of Bangladesh started, and Eduardo calmly sat and listened to it for half an hour before realising that what he was doing was pointless, irrational and perhaps even a little insane. However he did not feel up to difficult questions from the professor, which would surely follow if he suddenly got up to leave the room. He decided that sitting through the rest of the lecture was the lesser of two evils.

By the time Eduardo left the college, Carlota Rivera＊s train was almost due. Her absent son was lucky enough to catch a taxi, and to have enough money on him to get him to the station at which his mother would be arriving. Carl and Beth were there already, both sipping coffee from polystyrene cups and looking distinctly unhappy.

※Train＊s late,§ Carl grunted when he saw Eduardo approaching.

※Yeah. Me too,§ muttered Eduardo.

Just as Carlota＊s train was rolling in, Beth decided to give a little pep talk. ※Will you two please try to get along?§ she asked pleadingly. ※You know what your mother gets like when you argue, and I don＊t think I can put up with it.§

Minutes later Carl was driving his wife, mother and brother home. Eduardo found himself sitting on the back seat with Carlota, and predictably he was bombarded with questions about his family. They spoke in Spanish, which Carlota always preferred, though Carl silently willed them to speak English for Beth＊s sake.

The doting grandmother demanded to know how heavy Rose was, what vaccinations she had yet to receive, when she slept and how often she was fed. She also wanted to know whether Conchita had grown out of last year＊s Christmas present, which was a lovingly knitted but most unattractive sweater.

※Now then.§ Carlota reverted to English to address her daughter-in-law. ※How is Kevin? Is he still seeing that girl＃ um＃?§

※Kelly,§ supplied Beth. ※Yes he is.§

※Hmm.§ Carlota had met Kelly once, having made up her mind beforehand to disapprove of the poor girl. ※How is he getting on at school?§

She asked all the usual grandmotherly questions until they arrived home. After a thorough and critical inspection of the house, she found her younger son in the kitchen making coffee for everyone. Here she let forth another tirade of questions, and then demanded to be taken to see Kylie and her small granddaughters immediately. However Eduardo knew that Kylie would not appreciate an unexpected visit from Carlota. He managed to talk his mother out of the idea with a promise that she would see his family at the weekend.

Eduardo suspected that Carlota secretly liked Kylie, simply because she was far easier to disapprove of than Beth was. Her slightly skimpy attire, the black make-up, the outspokenness, the fierce independence and the keen interest in all things paranormal amounted to every mother-in-law＊s nightmare. Then of course there was the recurring issue of Carlota＊s younger son not being married to the mother of his children. This was a state of affairs that Eduardo knew his mother loved to hate.

Kevin returned home at five o＊clock. He had not come straight from school, as he had been walking Lucy in Central Park with Kelly. The moment he walked through the front door his grandmother showered him with kisses, scolded him for coming home late and demanded to know why he was not yet fluent in Spanish.

※I＊m sorry, Yaya,§ Kevin said with an apologetic smile. ※We＊re learning it at school if that makes you feel any better.§

※Carlos,§ she reproved her older son, ※you should teach him your native tongue. He must learn to be proud of his roots.§ She spoke in English for Kevin＊s sake. ※Eduardo, I hope you will teach your daughters Spanish.§

As it was Conchita already knew a little bit of Spanish, but Eduardo wasn＊t going to tell his mother that. When Carlota was occupied with Beth, having cornered her by the washing machine, Eduardo followed his nephew upstairs and caught up with him outside the door to his room.

※Are you going out tonight?§ he asked.

※Yes,§ Kevin replied, ※if she lets me leave. Why, do you want to come with me?§

※How did you know I was thinking that?§

Kevin simply shrugged.

※Well,§ Eduardo went on, ※that depends where you＊re going. Obviously if you＊re going out with Kelly I won＊t gooseberry.§

※Kelly＊s got a twenty-minute amateur slot and some comedy club,§ Kevin informed his uncle with a fond smile. ※Her sister＊s going with us, so as it goes I＊d kinda like it if you came along.§

Eduardo readily agreed to tag along on the expedition and defend his nephew from Kelly＊s ridiculously overprotective older sister Amanda. He found that he enjoyed himself at this comedy club of theirs despite being a little older than the target audience. He already knew that Kelly was funny, but still Eduardo was deeply impressed by her stand-up routine. In fact he enjoyed it so much that he momentarily forgot all about the events of the day and finally felt able to relax. He was therefore unwilling to leave when the time neared Kelly＊s midnight curfew. Amanda drove them to Carl＊s house, and seemed to expect Eduardo to get out of her car with Kevin. He obliged, thinking that Carl and Carlota 每 or at least one of them 每 would have more to say to him that night.

His mother and brother were indeed waiting in the sitting room for them. ※You＊re very late,§ Carlota observed, addressing her grandson.

※Come on, Yaya, it＊s Friday night,§ Kevin defended himself. ※Does anybody want anything to eat?§

※No,§ Carlota said firmly, ※and neither do you. You go straight to bed.§

Kevin thought about arguing, but decided against it. He wasn＊t that hungry, but he was certainly tired, so he held his tongue and slunk noiselessly upstairs. Once he had shut the door to his room, Carlota reverted to Spanish and told her younger son that she and Beth had decided Kevin should not be told about Sandy Drake.

Eduardo saw fit to argue the point. Kevin had a right to know, he insisted, and there was no reason to try and protect a socially mature sixteen-year-old (if indeed protection was the object of keeping the facts secret from him) from life＊s more unpleasant aspects. Carlota, however, was adamant. Kevin would not find out＃ and that was final.

※How do you feel about that?§ Eduardo asked Carl as he was being shown to the door nearly two hours later. ※Mama practically made that decision for you. Don＊t you think Kevin has a right to know?§

※Kevin was two years old when Dad died,§ Carl returned flatly. ※He says he remembers him, but he doesn＊t know what＊s been going on with Drake. I don＊t see any point in upsetting him with this.§

Eduardo shrugged and said, ※I don＊t think he＊d like it if he found out you were keeping it from him, but then again I＊m not gonna tell him, and I guess it＊s up to you.§

※Exactly,§ came the curt reply. ※So whadda you wanna do?§

Eduardo pulled a face. The question was meaningless to him. ※Do?§ he repeated questioningly. He was in the doorway by now, with one foot on the street outside.

※About Monday,§ Carl clarified. ※Do you want to watch?§

※Watch?§ Eduardo was horrified. He spun round in the doorway and stared at his brother open-mouthed.

※Mom and I are going to watch Drake die,§ Carl explained patiently. ※Do you want to come with us?§

※You＊re sick,§ Eduardo fairly spat, his voice low and unsteady as it wafted through the darkness from the street outside. He retreated into the night, disgusted at the very idea of what his brother had just suggested to him.

* * *

Kylie listened to Eduardo＊s story with a lump in her throat. As she stared fixedly at his face she knew she must look positively maniacal with wide, horror-stricken eyes over which she had no control.

※Wow,§ she said at last, when Eduardo had stopped talking.

He nodded. ※I know.§

※Has＃ he been waiting to die all this time?§

Eduardo shrugged and said, ※I don＊t know anything about these appeals or anything like that. It doesn＊t really matter, does it, now that he＊s going to die on Monday.§

※How old is he?§

For some reason Eduardo was unable to understand the question. ※Huh?§

※Drake. How old is he?§

※Oh. Um＃ about forty.§

Kylie continued to stare at him, not knowing what to say. She did not approve of capital punishment, and apparently neither did Eduardo. However she felt that she had no right to pass judgement on the case of his father＊s killer.

※Anyway,§ Eduardo went on, with another shrug, ※that＊s what happened to me yesterday. I＊m sorry, but it was rather important.§

※Yes. Um＃ of course it was,§ Kylie rambled uncertainly. ※It＊s all right, really.§

They sat in silence for some moments, Kylie holding Eduardo＊s hand and occasionally giving it a supportive squeeze. He could not put into words exactly what he was feeling, but she could tell that what he felt was far from good. She had no words to comfort him, so she scooted across the sofa and wrapped her arms around his waist. He seemed comforted by her closeness; he pulled her up against him and gently stroked her hair.

When the atmosphere had become less strained Kylie asked, ※So＃ can we expect a visit from your mother soon?§

※Yes,§ Eduardo replied definitely. ※If she should happen to see Kevin and our kids today, it probably won＊t be until tomorrow. I know she＊s dying to ask you a lot of searching questions, though, so be warned.§

※Great,§ Kylie muttered. ※Thanks. Um＃ honey, what am I supposed to call her to the kids again?§

※Yaya§ Eduardo replied, with perhaps the slightest hint of irritation in his tone.

※Right,§ nodded Kylie. ※Ok. Yaya. Why can I never remember that?§

* * *

This conversation with Eduardo had sparked a curiosity in Kylie that she would be loathe to admit to him, and privately she felt guilty for thinking what she was on the way to the Firehouse. She reasoned with herself that she had nothing to feel guilty about; something that Eduardo said to her had simply made her think. However she felt it was somehow wrong to be wondering what the ghost of her lover＊s late father might be up to.

Egon, returning from a trip to the supermarket with the twins, was faintly surprised to find Kylie sitting cross-legged in one corner of his lab, engrossed in a thick hardback. It was getting on for three thirty, but he had not seen her all day as she had begun her furtive reading immediately on arrival at the Firehouse. Egon was not unduly surprised to find her in the lab, but it seemed strange to him that she appeared to be trying to hide in one corner. Reasonably her asked her, ※What are you doing there?§

※Reading,§ Kylie replied simply.

※Oh. Um＃ what are you reading about?§

※The ghosts of murder victims,§ answered Kylie, snapping the book shut and rising to her feet. ※It＊s pretty freaky actually. One theory says that the ghosts of murdered people can＊t rest until their killers are brought to justice. Justice by whose definition, I wonder? Does it mean brought to justice by state law, or doesn＊t it count unless it＊s the ghost＊s personal opinion of justice?§

※Um＃§ Egon was not quite sure he understood what Kylie was saying, but nevertheless he racked his brains for a suitable answer.

※But anyway,§ Kylie rambled on incessantly, ※that may not even be true. It also says that some murderers have been scared into confessing by strange hauntings. But then again,§ she added thoughtfully, ※those two theories aren＊t necessarily mutually exclusive＃ are they?§

※No, I suppose they aren＊t,§ Egon agreed. ※Although personally I think it depends on the individual ghost.§

Kylie pulled a face. ※Really?§

※Yes. After all the living all have their own personal opinions on these matters 每 but no one really knows. Why the keen interest all of a sudden?§

※Oh＃ no reason.§ Kylie knew she was honoured in learning Eduardo＊s secrets, and there was no way she was going to betray his confidence.

※And why do you have to read about it in secret?§ Egon persisted.

※Um＃ quieter in here,§ Kylie smiled weakly. ※So＃ suppose you knew somebody who had been murdered. Would there be any way to＃ you know＃ find out if they＊re all right?§

※Well, you could always try the usual s谷ance rituals with glasses and Scrabble letters and things like that,§ Egon deadpanned. ※And I know you＊re not a stranger to mediums. Other than that I really don＊t know. Why? Did you have somebody specific in mind?§

※Yes,§ Kylie admitted, ※but never mind about that. Tell you what, Egon, just forgot it.§

Egon watched, baffled, as Kylie tucked the book under one arm and made for the door.

TO BE CONTINUED...