Chapter 8: Rochelle
Marcus lunged for the door.
Locked.
He twisted the handle again.
“Open it!””
Nothing.
Jordan grabbed a chair.
“Move.””
Marcus stepped aside.
Jordan swung the chair into the lock.
Once.
Twice.
The wood cracked.
Maya backed away, clutching the metal box.
“Dad!””
Marcus looked at her.
“Stay behind me.””
Another voice came through the door.
“Marcus.””
Everyone froze.
It was Calvin.
“You've spent ten years believing you knew what happened.””
Marcus stared at the door.
“Show yourself.””
A quiet laugh.
“You still think this is about revenge.””
Marcus clenched his jaw.
“Then what is it about?””
“The truth.””
Marcus looked at Denise.
“What truth?””
Calvin answered before she could.
“Ask her where Rochelle went.””
Denise began shaking.
Maya stepped toward her.
“Mom?””
Denise looked at her.
“I tried to protect you.””
“Where is she?””
“I don't know.””
Calvin’s voice came through the door.
“She knows.””
Denise closed her eyes.
Marcus slammed his fist against the door.
“Denise!””
She flinched.
“Tell me!””
“I thought she was dead.””
Maya whispered, “You thought?””
Denise nodded.
“After you were born, Rochelle disappeared from the hospital.””
“Because of Calvin?””
“Yes.””
“Then where did she go?””
Denise looked at the floor.
“She called me once.””
Marcus stared.
“When?””
“Two days later.””
“What did she say?””
“She said someone was following her.””
Maya's breathing became shallow.
“Who?””
“She wouldn't tell me.””
“Did you see her again?””
Denise shook her head.
“No.””
Calvin spoke again.
“She didn't disappear.””
Everyone turned toward the door.
“She was taken.””
Marcus stared.
“By whom?””
Silence.
Then Calvin said:
“Your father.””
Marcus went still.
“My father was dead.””
“Not when it happened.””
Marcus felt the room tilt.
“That’s impossible.””
“Your father knew about Rochelle.””
Denise whispered, “Marcus…”
He turned.
“You knew?””
“I suspected.””
“You suspected my father took her?””
“I suspected someone from your family was involved.””
Maya stared at her mother.
“And you still raised me?””
“I didn't know what else to do.””
Calvin’s voice softened.
“Denise knew the truth was dangerous.””
Marcus shook his head.
“No.””
He looked at the old photograph.
Then the cassette.
“What’s on this?””
Calvin answered.
“Your father’s confession.””
Marcus looked at the cassette.
“Where’s the player?””
Jordan pointed toward an old cabinet.
“There.””
Marcus opened it.
Inside sat an antique tape recorder.
He inserted the cassette.
Pressed play.
Static.
Then an older man's voice filled the room.
“If anyone finds this…”
Marcus froze.
It was his father's voice.
“I need them to know I didn't hurt Rochelle.””
Marcus stared at the recorder.
His father's voice continued.
“Calvin is lying about what happened.””
Calvin suddenly shouted through the door.
“Turn it off!””
Marcus stopped.
He looked toward the door.
“Why?””
No answer.
Marcus pressed play again.
The recording resumed.
“Rochelle came to me because she was afraid of Calvin.””
Denise covered her mouth.
Marcus whispered, “What?””
His father's voice continued.
“She told me Calvin had threatened to take the child.””
Maya looked at Marcus.
“Me.””
The tape crackled.
“She asked me to hide the baby.””
Marcus’s eyes widened.
His father continued:
“I agreed.””
Then another voice appeared on the recording.
A woman's voice.
Rochelle.
“If you're hearing this, then Denise failed to tell Marcus the truth.””
Maya began crying.
Marcus gripped the table.
Rochelle’s recorded voice continued.
“I didn't abandon my daughter.””
A pause.
“I hid her.””
Maya whispered, “From who?””
The recording answered.
“From the man who believed he was her father.””
Calvin.
The room went silent.
Then Rochelle said something that made Marcus’s blood run cold.
“Calvin isn't Maya’s biological father.””
Maya covered her mouth.
Marcus stared at the recorder.
Rochelle continued.
“The person who is her father is the reason I couldn't stay.””
Marcus shook his head.
“No.””
Denise started crying.
Marcus turned toward her.
“You knew.””
“I knew there was another man.””
“Who?””
Denise didn't answer.
Maya stepped closer.
“Mom. Who is my biological father?””
Denise looked at her.
Then at Marcus.
“I don't know.””
Calvin laughed from outside.
“You do.””
Denise froze.
The locked door suddenly opened.
Calvin stood in the hallway.
Older than the photograph.
Scarred by time, but unmistakably the same man.
He looked directly at Maya.
Then Marcus.
“You've been asking the wrong question.””
Marcus stepped forward.
“What do you know?””
Calvin’s eyes settled on Maya.
“I know who your father is.””
He paused.
“And Marcus…”
May you like
Calvin smiled sadly.
“You've seen him every day for twenty-two years.””
