Chapter 5: The Last Witness
Nobody spoke.
Kiara stared at the phone.
“What does that mean?””
The voice on the line was older, rougher than she expected.
“I knew Marcus.””
Kiara stepped closer.
“Who are you?””
“My name is Calvin.””
Darnell's expression hardened.
“Calvin?””
The caller went silent.
Then he said, “Darnell?””
Darnell moved toward Andre.
“Put him on speaker.””
Andre obeyed.
Calvin's breathing could now be heard by everyone nearby.
“I didn't know you were still with Rochelle.””
Darnell's jaw tightened.
“We're not talking about us.””
“I know.””
“Then tell me about Marcus.””
Calvin sighed.
“Marcus was supposed to leave town that night.””
Kiara looked at Rochelle.
“What night?””
“The night he died.””
Rochelle lowered her head.
Kiara's voice shook.
“You knew.””
Rochelle whispered, “I knew he was leaving.””
“Why?””
“He wanted to start over.””
“With me?””
Rochelle closed her eyes.
“You weren't born yet.””
“But I was already inside you.””
Rochelle couldn't answer.
Calvin spoke again.
“Marcus knew about the baby.””
Kiara's heart stopped.
Darnell stared at the phone.
“How?””
Calvin replied, “Rochelle told him.””
Rochelle covered her face.
Kiara stepped backward.
“So he knew I existed.””
“Yes.””
“Did he know he was my father?””
Calvin paused.
“He believed he was.””
Kiara's eyes filled.
“Then why didn't he come for me?””
“He was going to.””
“Why didn't he?””
Calvin didn't answer.
Kiara's voice sharpened.
“Why?””
“Because someone stopped him.””
Darnell looked at Rochelle.
“Who?””
Calvin said, “That's what I've been trying to tell you for twenty-three years.””
Darnell's face hardened.
“Tell us now.””
“I saw Marcus that night.””
“Where?””
“Outside the old community center.””
Kiara looked at the bright celebration around her.
She couldn't reconcile the sunny balloons and graduation flowers with a death that had happened before she was even born.
Calvin continued.
“Marcus had a bag packed. He was carrying an envelope.””
“What envelope?”” Kiara asked.
“Documents.””
“What documents?””
“A birth certificate application. Insurance papers. A letter.””
Rochelle began crying.
Kiara noticed.
“You knew about the letter.””
Rochelle whispered, “He wrote me one.””
“Where is it?””
“I don't have it.””
Calvin interrupted.
“He gave it to me.””
Everyone turned toward the phone.
Kiara's eyes widened.
“You have my father's letter?””
“I did.””
“Did?””
“I kept it for years.””
“Where is it now?””
Calvin's breathing became unsteady.
“I gave it to someone.””
“Who?””
He didn't answer.
“Who, Calvin?””
“Your mother.””
Rochelle shook her head.
“No.””
Calvin's voice became firm.
“Yes.””
Rochelle looked toward Darnell.
“I never received anything.””
Calvin laughed bitterly.
“You didn't receive it from me.””
Kiara stared at him.
“Then who did?””
Calvin said, “Darnell.””
Everything stopped.
Darnell's face went blank.
“What?””
“I gave it to you.””
“No.””
“I gave you the envelope the morning after Marcus died.””
Darnell shook his head.
“I've never seen it.””
“You're lying.””
“I swear to God, Calvin, I never got anything from you.””
Kiara looked at Darnell.
“You're telling me you never received a letter from Marcus?””
“No.””
Calvin breathed heavily.
“Then someone took it before it reached you.””
Andre stepped forward.
“Calvin, what exactly was written in that letter?””
“I don't remember every word.””
“Try.””
Calvin was quiet for several seconds.
“Marcus said he didn't trust anyone.””
Rochelle whispered, “Why?””
“Because he had discovered something.””
Kiara's stomach tightened.
“What?””
Calvin answered slowly.
“He had discovered that the baby might not be his.””
Kiara stared.
“What?””
Rochelle's face went white.
Calvin continued.
“Marcus had found out Rochelle had been seeing someone else.””
Darnell closed his eyes.
Kiara looked at him.
“Who?””
Calvin said nothing.
“Who was she seeing?””
The phone crackled.
Then Calvin said, “Darnell.””
Darnell opened his eyes.
Kiara stopped breathing.
Rochelle whispered, “No.””
Darnell stared at her.
“Is that true?””
“I was going to tell you.””
“You were seeing me while you were with Marcus?””
“It wasn't like that.””
Kiara backed away.
“So you were with both of them.””
Rochelle cried.
“I was confused.””
“And I was the result?””
“No.””
“Then whose daughter am I?””
Calvin suddenly spoke again.
“That was the question Marcus was trying to answer before he died.””
Kiara looked at the phone.
“What did the letter say?””
Calvin inhaled.
“The last line said…”
He stopped.
“Calvin?”” Andre urged.
“I need to know if the original is still where I left it.””
“Where?””
Calvin's voice dropped.
“In a safe.””
“Whose safe?””
Calvin answered.
“Marcus's.””
Kiara's eyes widened.
“You're saying my father's safe still exists?””
“Yes.””
“Where?””
Before Calvin could answer, a sharp sound came through the phone.
A door slammed.
Then Calvin whispered:
May you like
“Someone just came into my house.””
The call went dead.
