Chapter 9: The Man Who Helped Curtis
Officer Raymond's name stayed in Monica's mind all night.
She sat on the edge of Renee's guest bed, staring at the photograph Detective Harris had shown them.
Curtis.
Officer Raymond.
Three weeks earlier.
They weren't standing far apart.
They were talking.
And Curtis appeared relaxed.
Like a man meeting an old friend.
Monica called Renee.
"Are you awake?""
"Yes. What's wrong?""
"Do you remember when Curtis used to say he had friends in the police department?""
Renee went quiet.
"Yes.""
"He always said nobody could touch him.""
"Monica, don't tell me...""
"I think he meant it.""
Renee sighed.
"Listen to me. Whatever happens next, you're not going back to that house alone.""
Monica looked toward the hallway.
"I won't.""
"Promise me.""
"I promise.""
The next morning, Detective Harris called.
He wanted Monica and Darius at the station.
When they arrived, Officer Daniels was waiting with a new folder.
"We've made progress," she said.
Monica sat down.
"Did you find Officer Raymond?""
"Yes. He's agreed to speak with investigators.""
Darius leaned forward.
"What did he say?""
"Initially, he denied having any recent contact with Curtis. Then we showed him the photograph.""
"And?""
"He acknowledged meeting him.""
Monica felt her stomach tighten.
"Why?""
"He says Curtis contacted him because he was concerned about the incident involving Malik.""
Darius laughed bitterly.
"That's convenient.""
Detective Harris opened the folder.
"Officer Raymond claims Curtis wanted advice about a family dispute. He says they never discussed the original complaint.""
Darius shook his head.
"That's a lie.""
Harris nodded.
"We're checking his account against the available records.""
Monica looked at Officer Daniels.
"Can he be charged?""
"That's a decision prosecutors make after reviewing the evidence. Right now, we're gathering everything.""
Darius stared at the table.
"Do you know what Raymond told me twelve years ago?""
Detective Harris looked up.
"What?""
"He told me I was lucky Curtis didn't press charges against me.""
Monica turned.
"What?""
Darius continued.
"He said Curtis had connections. He told me to stay away from your family if I didn't want problems.""
Officer Daniels wrote something down.
"Did you report that statement?""
"No. I was twenty-four. I thought the police were supposed to protect me. When he said that, I realized I was on my own.""
Monica felt tears burn her eyes.
Twelve years earlier, Darius had been a young father.
He had been frightened.
He had been trying to keep his son safe.
And the people who were supposed to help him had apparently made him feel powerless.
At 11:20 a.m., Detective Harris received a phone call.
He listened without speaking.
Then his expression changed.
"Are you certain?""
Another pause.
"All right. Send it over.""
He ended the call.
Officer Daniels looked at him.
"What is it?""
"The records unit located an archived complaint involving Curtis and Officer Raymond.""
Monica sat forward.
"What kind of complaint?""
"A civilian complaint filed by a woman named Evelyn Carter.""
Monica immediately recognized the name.
"Malik's daycare teacher.""
Detective Harris nodded.
"She alleged that a man had repeatedly followed her vehicle and asked questions about a child in her care.""
Monica covered her mouth.
"Malik.""
"Yes.""
"When did she file it?""
"Twelve years ago.""
Darius closed his eyes.
"That was around the time I disappeared.""
Detective Harris continued.
"According to the complaint, Evelyn identified Curtis as the man who approached her.""
Monica felt dizzy.
"What happened?""
"The complaint was closed without further action.""
"Why?""
Detective Harris turned the page.
"Officer Raymond documented that Evelyn had mistaken the man's identity.""
Monica stared at him.
"But she knew Curtis.""
"That's what we're trying to establish.""
Darius leaned back.
"She was trying to protect Malik.""
Monica remembered the occasional phone calls.
The strange questions.
The afternoon Evelyn had asked whether Monica wanted someone else to pick Malik up.
She had dismissed them.
She'd thought the woman was simply being cautious.
Now she wondered whether Evelyn had been trying to warn her.
"Can you contact her?"" Monica asked.
Detective Harris nodded.
"We've already started.""
That afternoon, Evelyn Carter called Monica.
Her voice sounded older, but Monica recognized it immediately.
"Monica?""
"Evelyn.""
There was a long silence.
Then Evelyn sighed.
"I wondered when somebody would finally call you.""
Monica gripped the phone.
"You knew?""
"I suspected.""
"Why didn't you tell me?""
Evelyn's voice trembled.
"I tried.""
Monica closed her eyes.
"What?""
"I called you several times. I asked whether Curtis was still around Malik.""
Monica remembered.
She remembered telling Evelyn not to worry.
She remembered saying Curtis was her husband.
She remembered laughing awkwardly and promising everything was fine.
Evelyn continued.
"One afternoon, Curtis came to the daycare. He said he was Malik's stepfather and needed to check something about his records.""
Monica's stomach tightened.
"What did he do?""
"He asked whether Darius had visited recently.""
"Did you tell him?""
"No. I told him I couldn't discuss a child's family information with someone who wasn't listed as an authorized contact.""
Monica pressed her hand against her forehead.
"And then?""
"He waited outside.""
Evelyn paused.
"I saw him following my car after work. I reported it.""
"To Officer Raymond?""
"Yes.""
Monica felt her blood run cold.
"Did he help you?""
"No.""
Evelyn's voice cracked.
"He told me I was being dramatic. He said Curtis was a respectable family man and that I should stop making accusations.""
Monica couldn't speak.
Evelyn continued.
"I kept the paperwork, Monica. I never threw it away.""
"Why?""
"Because I knew something wasn't right.""
Monica began crying.
"Can you give it to the detective?""
"I already agreed to meet him.""
"Thank you.""
Evelyn took a breath.
"Monica, there's something else.""
"What?""
"That day Curtis came to the daycare, he wasn't alone.""
Monica froze.
"Who was with him?""
Evelyn lowered her voice.
"Darius.""
Monica stood.
"What?""
"I saw them arguing in the parking lot. Darius looked frightened. Curtis was pointing at him.""
Monica felt her knees weaken.
"You're sure?""
"I've never forgotten it.""
"Did you see what happened afterward?""
Evelyn hesitated.
"Yes.""
"What?""
"Curtis drove away. Darius stayed behind. He walked toward the office and asked me to help him contact you.""
Monica covered her mouth.
"He asked you to call me?""
"Yes. He said he was worried Curtis was going to do something terrible.""
Monica's tears spilled.
"Did you call?""
"I tried. But Curtis answered your phone.""
The room seemed to disappear around Monica.
Curtis had been answering her phone.
He had been intercepting messages.
He had been controlling who could reach her.
And all this time, she'd thought Darius had stopped trying.
At 3:00 p.m., Evelyn met Detective Harris at the station.
She brought an old folder containing her original complaint, a copy of a handwritten note, and a photograph taken outside the daycare.
The photograph showed Curtis standing near a dark sedan.
Darius was beside him.
But there was something else.
In the background, a second vehicle was parked near the street.
Its driver was looking directly toward the daycare entrance.
Detective Harris enlarged the photograph.
Then he looked at Evelyn.
"Do you know who that person is?""
Evelyn shook her head.
"No. I never saw his face clearly.""
Monica stared at the image.
Darius leaned forward.
"Wait.""
He pointed to the driver's side window.
"I know that car.""
Detective Harris turned.
"From where?""
"Officer Raymond's vehicle.""
The detective examined the photograph again.
The model and distinctive damage near the rear bumper matched an old vehicle listed in the archived department records.
Officer Daniels exchanged a glance with Harris.
This was no longer simply a story about an abusive stepfather.
It was a possible pattern of intimidation involving a former police officer.
That evening, Malik sat beside Monica at Renee's kitchen table.
He had been unusually quiet.
Finally, he asked:
"Mom, do you think Curtis was planning to hurt Dad?""
Monica looked at him.
"I don't know, sweetheart.""
"Then why did he keep following him?""
"Maybe he wanted to scare him away.""
"Did it work?""
She nodded slowly.
"For a long time.""
Malik looked down.
"I hate him.""
Monica reached for his hand.
"You don't have to forgive him.""
"I don't want to.""
"You don't have to.""
He looked at her.
"But I don't want to spend my whole life thinking about him either.""
Monica smiled sadly.
"That's a good place to start.""
Then the doorbell rang.
Renee walked toward the front door.
Monica heard her greet someone.
A man's voice answered.
Then Renee called from the hallway.
"Monica? There's someone here asking for you.""
Monica stood.
"Who?""
Renee appeared in the doorway.
Her expression was confused.
"It's Officer Raymond.""
Monica's blood ran cold.
Before she could respond, the former officer stepped into view.
He was older than in the photographs.
His hair was almost completely gray.
He held a small envelope.
"Monica," he said quietly.
"I think we need to talk.""
Malik stood immediately.
"Get out.""
Raymond glanced at him.
"I'm not here to cause trouble.""
Monica stepped between them.
"What do you want?""
Raymond looked at the envelope.
"I have something that should have been given to you twelve years ago.""
Monica stared at him.
"What?""
He placed the envelope on the table.
Inside was an old letter.
The handwriting belonged to Darius.
Monica recognized it immediately.
Her hands began trembling.
"Where did you get this?""
Raymond looked at the floor.
"From Curtis.""
Monica opened the letter.
It was addressed to her.
And the first sentence made her heart stop.
Monica, if you're reading this, it means Curtis succeeded in keeping us apart. But there's something you need to know about the night I disappeared.
She read the next line.
Then she looked up at Raymond.
"Why didn't you give me this?""
The former officer's eyes filled with shame.
"Because Curtis told me what would happen if I did.""
Monica gripped the letter.
"What did he threaten you with?""
Raymond took a shaky breath.
Then he said:
"Your husband didn't just want Darius out of your life, Monica. He wanted to make sure Darius could never tell you what he witnessed that night.""
Monica looked back at the letter.
The next paragraph contained a name.
A name she had never expected to see.
And suddenly, she understood why Curtis had been so desperate to keep the past buried.
The name was not Officer Raymond's.
May you like
It was someone from her own family.
*Her sister Renee.*
