Chapter 4: The Truth Buried for Twelve Years
"Monica, I need you to tell me everything you know about the boy's biological father.""
Officer Daniels' words hung in the garage.
Monica stood motionless, the phone pressed against her ear.
On the other end, Malik was breathing hard.
"Mom? Are you there?""
She closed her eyes.
"Baby, I need you to listen to me.""
"Just answer the question.""
Curtis shifted behind Officer Daniels.
"She's not going to tell you anything," he said.
"Because there's nothing to tell.""
Monica turned toward him.
For twelve years, she'd swallowed the same story until she'd almost convinced herself it was true.
Malik's father had left.
He had stopped calling.
He had chosen another life.
But Curtis had always been there to remind her that some men simply weren't worth discussing.
Now, looking at the handwritten threat on the workbench, she wondered how much of that story had been written by someone else.
"Monica?"" Officer Daniels asked again.
Monica took a shaky breath.
"His name was Darius.""
Malik's voice softened.
"I know his name, Mom.""
"He was twenty-four when you were born. He worked at an auto repair shop near East Cleveland. He wasn't perfect, but he loved you.""
"Then why did he leave?""
Monica looked at Curtis.
Curtis shook his head almost imperceptibly.
It was a warning.
For the first time, Monica ignored it.
"Because he found out Curtis was threatening him.""
Silence.
Then Malik spoke.
"What?""
Monica continued.
"Your father and I weren't together anymore when I met Curtis. Darius still came to see you. He paid child support when he could. He called on your birthday.""
"I remember the birthday calls.""
"Yes.""
"Then what happened?""
Monica's eyes filled.
"Twelve years ago, Darius came to the house to pick you up for the weekend. Curtis was here. They argued.""
Curtis interrupted.
"That's enough.""
Officer Daniels turned.
"Sir, stop speaking.""
Monica continued.
"Your father told Curtis he had no right to discipline you. Curtis told him he was going to make sure he never saw you again.""
Malik's voice became quieter.
"What did Dad do?""
"He left.""
"Just like that?""
Monica pressed her hand against her forehead.
"No, sweetheart. Not just like that.""
She remembered the night clearly now.
Darius had stood on the front porch wearing his work jacket. Malik had been four years old, sitting on the living room carpet with a toy truck.
Darius had looked at Monica.
"He's not good for you, Mon.""
She had folded her arms.
"You don't know him.""
"I know how he talks to you.""
"You're not here every day.""
Darius shook his head.
"That's not what I'm saying. I'm telling you to be careful.""
Curtis appeared behind Monica.
"You need to leave.""
Darius looked at him.
"I'm talking to the mother of my child.""
"And I'm telling you to leave my property.""
Darius laughed without humor.
"Your property? You met her two years ago.""
Curtis stepped closer.
"Keep running your mouth.""
Darius looked toward Malik through the window.
Then he turned back to Monica.
"If you ever need me, call. I don't care what happens between us. That's my son.""
He walked to his car.
That was the last time Monica saw him in person.
Two weeks later, his phone stopped working.
His sister called Monica to ask whether she had heard from him.
Then came a message from an unfamiliar number claiming Darius had moved out of state.
Monica had called the number repeatedly.
No answer.
Curtis told her to stop embarrassing herself.
He said Darius had abandoned his responsibilities.
Eventually, she stopped asking questions.
Back in the garage, Malik was crying.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
Monica's voice broke.
"I thought I was protecting you.""
"From what?""
She looked at Curtis.
"From him.""
Curtis laughed.
"This is ridiculous. You're making me sound like some criminal because you can't accept that your ex-boyfriend walked away.""
Officer Daniels stepped closer.
"Mr. Curtis, I need you to remain silent.""
Curtis ignored her.
"Monica, tell him what really happened. Tell him how Darius couldn't keep a job. Tell him how he used to show up drunk.""
Monica stared at him.
"Darius never showed up drunk.""
Curtis's expression hardened.
"Careful.""
"No.""
The word came out before she could reconsider.
"No, Curtis. I'm done being careful.""
Officer Daniels looked at her.
"Did Curtis ever tell you where Darius went?""
Monica shook her head.
"He said Darius moved to Georgia.""
"Did you ever verify that?""
"No.""
"Did you receive any documentation?""
"No.""
Curtis rubbed his forehead.
"This is a waste of everybody's time.""
Then Monica remembered something.
A brown envelope.
She had found it in the kitchen drawer several years earlier. It contained a printed email from someone claiming to be Darius's cousin.
The message said Darius didn't want contact with Malik anymore.
Monica had cried for hours.
She'd kept the email because she thought Malik deserved to know the truth when he was older.
But she'd never shown it to him.
"There's something else," she whispered.
Officer Daniels turned toward her.
"What?""
"I received an email years ago. Someone said Darius didn't want to see Malik.""
"Do you still have it?""
"I think so.""
Curtis suddenly stepped forward.
"Monica, don't.""
Officer Daniels raised her voice.
"Sir, step back!""
He stopped.
But his face had gone pale.
Monica noticed.
And so did Officer Daniels.
At Renee's house, Malik was still holding his phone.
"Mom, I want to know where my father is.""
Monica swallowed.
"I want to know, too.""
"Then find him.""
"I will.""
"Promise me.""
Monica looked toward the garage.
Curtis was staring at her.
She understood something now.
For years, she'd believed silence protected her family.
But silence had protected the person who was hurting them.
"I promise," she said.
When the call ended, Officer Daniels asked another question.
"Monica, do you remember the exact date Darius last contacted you?""
Monica nodded slowly.
"Yes. September fourteenth. Twelve years ago.""
Officer Daniels wrote it down.
Then she looked toward the open garage cabinet.
"Because if your husband has been hiding something about Darius, we need to establish what happened.""
Curtis suddenly laughed.
It was a strange, nervous sound.
"You people are wasting your time.""
Officer Daniels looked at him.
"Why are you so worried about a date, Mr. Curtis?""
He didn't answer.
Instead, he reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone.
Officer Daniels immediately ordered him to put it down.
He obeyed.
But Monica saw the name displayed on his screen before he turned it over.
*DARIUS.*
Her knees nearly buckled.
Twelve years.
May you like
Twelve years of believing that man had disappeared.
And Curtis still had his number.
