Chapter 7: The Call
Evelyn stared at the phone as if the screen had become something dangerous.
The name glowing across it was simple.
*Samuel Coleman.*
Darius saw it.
His face drained of color.
“My father.””
Malik looked at him.
“Your father has been dead for twenty-five years.””
“I know.””
“Then who is calling?””
Nobody answered.
The phone continued vibrating in Evelyn's hand.
Tiana whispered, “Don't answer it.””
Malik turned toward her.
“Why?””
“Because whoever is calling knows where the key came from.””
Darius stepped closer.
“Answer it.””
Evelyn shook her head.
“I can't.””
“You've been afraid for twenty-five years,” Darius said.
“I'm tired of being afraid.””
Malik looked at his mother.
“Answer the phone.””
Evelyn's fingers trembled as she accepted the call.
“Hello?””
Silence.
Then a man's voice.
Old.
Rough.
Calm.
“Evelyn.””
She nearly dropped the phone.
Malik heard the voice through the speaker.
His eyes widened.
“Who is that?””
Evelyn couldn't speak.
The voice continued.
“You still have the key.””
Darius stepped forward.
“Samuel?””
A pause.
Then—
“Darius.””
Darius froze.
Malik looked at him.
“That is your father.””
The entire wedding hall seemed to hold its breath.
Darius moved closer to the phone.
“Where are you?””
The voice laughed softly.
“You've grown.””
“Where are you?””
“You should ask your mother.””
Darius looked at Evelyn.
“My mother is dead.””
“I wasn't talking about your mother.””
Malik stepped closer.
“Who is this?””
The voice became silent.
Then said—
“Malik Brooks.””
Malik's face changed.
“How do you know my name?””
“I knew you before you could walk.””
Evelyn closed her eyes.
Malik stared at her.
“You knew him.””
“I knew his voice.””
“You told me my father disappeared.””
“He did.””
“But Samuel says he knew me.””
“He did.””
Malik's jaw tightened.
“Then tell me what happened.””
The voice interrupted.
“Not on the phone.””
“Where are you?””
“Look underneath the altar.””
Everyone turned.
The minister stared at the floor.
Malik walked toward the altar.
“What am I looking for?””
“You'll know.””
The line went dead.
For several seconds, nobody moved.
Then Malik looked at the minister.
“Step aside.””
The minister slowly moved away.
Malik crouched.
The polished wooden floor reflected his face.
He ran his fingers along the edge of the altar platform.
Nothing.
Tiana whispered, “Malik…”
“Not now.””
He kept searching.
Darius joined him.
“Here.””
Darius pointed toward a narrow seam in the wood.
Malik pressed it.
A small panel clicked.
The guests gasped.
Inside was a shallow hidden compartment.
Malik reached in.
His fingers found a metal box.
He pulled it out.
Dust covered the lid.
There was one word engraved on top.
*COLEMAN.*
Darius stepped backward.
“That belonged to my father.””
Evelyn began crying.
Malik looked at her.
“You knew this was here.””
She shook her head.
“I knew there was something.””
“You've known about this church?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
Evelyn wiped her cheeks.
“Because your father brought me here the night he disappeared.””
Malik stared at her.
“You were here?””
“Yes.””
“What happened?””
Evelyn looked at Tiana.
Tiana lowered her eyes.
The officer took the box.
“Don't open it yet.””
Malik frowned.
“Why?””
“Because this is evidence now.””
Darius shook his head.
“We've waited twenty-five years.””
“And you don't know what's inside,” the officer said.
She examined the lock.
“No keyhole.””
Malik looked at the small black key.
“There is one.””
He held it up.
The officer's eyes narrowed.
“Where did you get that?””
“From my mother's clutch.””
Darius looked at Evelyn.
“Why did you have it?””
Evelyn whispered, “Because Samuel gave it to me.””
“When?””
“The night he disappeared.””
Malik stared.
“You said you hadn't seen him since.””
“I lied.””
The officer took the key.
She inserted it into a tiny slot beneath the box.
It clicked.
The lid opened.
Inside were several old bank statements, photographs, handwritten notes—
and a cassette tape.
Darius picked up the tape.
“My father recorded things.””
Malik looked at the label.
Only one sentence was written on it.
*PLAY THIS IF I DON'T COME BACK.*
Tiana suddenly grabbed Malik's arm.
“Don't.””
He looked at her.
“Why?””
“Because I heard that tape once.””
Everyone froze.
Malik slowly released her hand.
“When?””
“Three months ago.””
Darius stared at her.
“You had the tape?””
“No.””
“Then how did you hear it?””
Tiana's eyes filled with tears.
“Because someone played it for me.””
“Who?””
She looked toward the church doors.
A man stood outside.
Black suit.
Gray hair.
A cane in one hand.
Darius's knees nearly gave out.
He whispered—
“Dad?””
The old man looked at him.
Then at Evelyn.
Then at Malik.
May you like
And smiled.
“I see the wedding finally happened.””
