When Memories Fade

by Tyora Moody

  Wes tried to keep the emotions from his face. Why would she ask that question? “Not that I know of. I just was wondering why he wasn’t on the news. If I was a father, I would be talking to reporters and staying in the public’s eye.”

  Gladys looked away. “I knew when I married Larry that he was something special. It wasn’t until he managed to get caught with the drugs that I knew he was special in the head. All these kids and he cared more about himself. I wouldn’t let him move back in here when he got out. The kids don’t know him. I couldn’t tell you if he is even aware Melanie is missing, especially if he’s been drinking.”

  “Where would he go if he is still in town?” Wes hated to ask so many questions, but he wanted the opportunity to locate Larry Stowe.

  Gladys said, “He was living in a run-down place, working odd jobs, but he didn’t keep the place that long. I know a few places you can look. Good luck finding him. I sure could use the child support.”

  An hour later, Wes opened the door to Charlie’s Place. He personally was not a drinker, but as soon as Gladys mentioned the place, he knew where it was located. It was perfect because it would give him a chance to meet with Albert Langley, better known as Big Al. Big Al was destined to be a linebacker in the NFL, but an injury and falling on hard times had left him hanging out on the streets, and most of the time he could be found at Charlie’s Place.

  The bartender was wiping down the bar counter. Wes waved. “Hey, have you seen Big Al today?”

  The bartender nodded. “He’s in the back, playing pool, or trying to.”

  “Thanks, man.” Wes headed toward the back. It wasn’t quite happy hour yet, so the pool area was not terribly smoky, although the remnants of cigarette and cigar ash clung to the walls. It didn’t take Wes long to spot Big Al since it was only him and three others in the room. Big Al lived up to his name. He appeared almost as broad as he was tall now, thanks to pounds of flesh versus the muscle that once was there.

  Wes walked up behind him and said, “What’s up, Big Al?”

  The man turned around, his face menacing. The first time Wes met him, his first instinct was to run, but the more Wes talked to him, the more he realized the man was just a big teddy bear. Bouncer material he was not.

  A big toothless grin broke across Big Al’s face. “Wes Cade. How you doing, man?” He placed the pool stick on the table and picked up a mug. He gulped down the liquid before turning back to Wes. “I haven’t seen you in some time, Mr. Reporter. What you need?”

  “It’s good to see you too. You doing well?”

  “I survive. Tony up there lets me clean up the place for him. Not bad work, I would say.”

  Wes laughed. “Yeah, I guess, if you get to play pool. You know, I can still look into some other offers for you.”

  “Naw, I’m good. What can I do for you today?”

  “Well, I was hoping you would be on the lookout for someone.”

  “That don’t sound too hard.”

  Wes grinned. “Good.” He pulled a photo out of his shirt pocket. “I’m looking for the guy in the photo.” He didn’t know if it was his charm or if Gladys really wanted her husband found, but she’d given him a photo of Larry. At first glance it had seemed dated, like it had been taken in the eighties. However, when Wes examined the date on the back, he realized it wasn’t from quite that far back.

  Big Al took the photo and squinted. “Mmm, seems like I’ve seen him before.” Then Big Al laughed so hard, his belly shook. “Man, this cat look like he could be a member of Run DMC. I used to have a Kangol hat like this.”

  That was exactly what Wes thought. “Yeah, I agree. Do you think you have seen him lately?”

  Big Al scrunched up his face. “It seems so. Maybe not in the last few days. But he has been in here.”

  “This is good to know. I heard he might hang out here. If you do see him, here is my card again.” Wes handed Big Al one of his business cards. “My cell number is on there, so call me anytime.”

  “You got it, man!”

  Wes drove back to the station. As he walked in, Lillian, one of the writers, came up to him. “Hey, Wes, you have someone waiting for you.”

  “Oh, yeah?”

  “It’s a woman.” Lillian winked. “That bachelor article might make you a married man one day.”

  “Wow, lucky me.” He grinned at Lillian, who grinned back at him.

  He rounded the corner to find Angel sitting in the lobby. “Hey, Angel. Have you been waiting long?” As Wes drew closer, he couldn’t read her eyes. “How did things go with your dad? I hope I’m not in trouble.”

  She stared at him and then laughed. “Is there some place we can talk?”

  Laughing was a good sign, he hoped. Curious, he responded, “Sure. We can talk inside the conference room.”

  When they entered the conference room, Angel jumped right in by asking a question. “Do you know something that I should know?”

  “No. I—I . . .” Wes stuttered.

  “Did you go to see my father?”

  “I have never met the man. Look, why don’t we sit down and you tell me what happened?”

  Angel placed her bag on the table and sat. “I’m sorry. The visit went better than I expected. I’m still soaking it all in. But as I was driving back, I remembered that when I knocked on the door, my . . . my dad’s wife thought I was a reporter. I don’t even know why that detail stuck with me, because I got hit with a whole lot yesterday.”

  Wes shook his head. “I promise you, it wasn’t me. I’ve been aware of Pops’s friendship with your granddad over the years. I thought if I helped you, maybe I could help Pops too. He really was passionate about finding your mother. Not that he didn’t have other cases, but this one hit home for him.”

  Angel said, “Our granddads were close friends at one time. I think my mom’s disappearance drove them apart.”

  Wes sat down beside her. “So visiting your father was a good thing. I think it’s pretty awesome that you just did it.”

  She rewarded him with a smile. “Yeah, to be honest, I was ready to turn around when I called you.” She giggled. “I guess that sounds crazy.”

  “No, not at all. You had me worried for a minute there. I prayed that everything worked out for you. What did you think of him?”

  “Thank you for your prayers. He wasn’t bad.” Angel grew quiet. Then she added, “I found out I have a half sister.”

  “Wow. Did you get to meet her?”

  “Not yet. It was enough to meet him. He was nice, and his wife knew who I was when I arrived. You know, the crazy thing was I ran into my dad’s wife last week at Lenora’s bridal shop. I had no idea. I remember wondering why she was staring at me.’”

  “Really?”

  “Apparently, my dad has been trying to contact me all these years, and I never knew. I have never seen his letters and cards.”

  “Your family was probably trying to protect you.”

  “I know, I know.” Angel rose up from the chair. “It all just seems unfair. I mean, after I turned eighteen, it seems like they would have given me the chance as an adult to figure out what I wanted to do.”

  Wes stood too. “Well, I think God is trying to work it out for you now. To give you some peace and maybe closure.”

  She faced him, her eyes looking lost. “I hope you are right. Something is going on, and I can feel myself wanting to let go of the past. There is just one big piece of the puzzle. Maybe you can help me.”

  “Sure.”

  “I did talk to my dad about my mother. He said that night he came over to try to convince her not to take this record deal. He said he told the police over and over again that instead of concentrating on him, they should look at the guys who ran the record company.”

  Wes thought, Record company. This has come up before. “Do you remember the name of it?”

  “Royal Records.”

  “Okay, I will see what I can find for you.”

  “Thanks, Wes.” She looked at him and
then smiled. “I need to go see my grams. She should be finished with her rehab for the day.”

  He shook his head, still looking at her. “Okay, well, I will be in touch.”

  After they walked out of the conference room, he watched Angel as she headed down the hallway. She turned and waved at him. He waved back.

  “Don’t tell me you went and got a girlfriend while I was gone.”

  Wes groaned and then turned around. “Serena, I see you are back.”

  “Just in time, I see.” Serena peered around him. “So, who’s my competition, and why does she look so familiar?”

  Wes looked at Serena. “You think you’ve seen her before?”

  “Yes. Who is she?”

  Then it dawned on Wes. “Why don’t you start by answering some questions?”

  Serena crossed her arms. “Kiddo, I asked you a question first.”

  “Well, Serena, we have some serious talking to do.”

  Chapter Twenty-five

  Wes waited for Serena to answer his question, as they sat across from each other in the conference room. She flipped her hair across her shoulder and gazed back at him. Finally, she pointed her finger at him. “I passed a great story to you. I don’t need you trying to get in on this story.”

  “I wouldn’t do any such thing. Look, I’ve been in the middle of this since I was a kid. My family knew the Robertses.”

  “Okay, fine. Look, I just happened to come upon some interesting connections.”

  “Connections?”

  Serena sighed. “You have to keep your word that you won’t mess with my story.”

  “Of course I wouldn’t, but if you have something that could point toward Elisa Roberts, please don’t sit on it. You have a family who has been waiting decades to find out what happened.”

  “Wes, I don’t know what happened, but I do have a theory that maybe your grandfather hadn’t considered. Do you know about the rapper K-Dawg? You probably were a child when he was killed.”

  “Yes, I remember him. He’s a Charlotte native, and he only had that one hit song, “We Down With It.” It’s a known favorite, right alongside “Electric Slide Boogie.” I didn’t think that was your kind of music.”

  “What? Please! How old do you think I am?” Serena eyed him. “That was the jam for me.” Serena moved her shoulders as if the song were playing in the room. “I liked the dip to the side.”

  Wes smiled. He could imagine Serena was a hoot as a teenager.

  Serena continued, “Anyway, K-Dawg’s mother came to me a few months ago at this event where I was the speaker. He’s been gone twenty years, and she asked if I was interested in pursuing his story, you know, to commemorate him.” Serena sat up and smiled. “So I did some digging. Do you know who sang the background vocals on that song? Probably not.”

  “You’re right. I have never paid attention to the female’s voice.” Wes stared at Serena. Then it dawned on him. “Elisa Roberts?”

  “Yes. Apparently, Elisa’s vocals on that song led her to getting the record deal at the same company where K-Dawg and a couple other Southern rappers were really blowing up.”

  “Let me guess. Royal Records?”

  Serena frowned. “How do you know that?”

  “Don’t worry about that. Tell me what this has to do with Elisa going missing.”

  “I’m not sure. Like I told you, I’m pursuing a different story here. Her name came up. I can say my sources thought K-Dawg really liked her. She was a little bit older than him, but they went to the same high school. And it was rumored that a fight broke out that night over a woman, and it carried outside the club, where K-Dawg ultimately was shot.”

  Wes shook his head. “I’m still lost. How is Elisa going missing connected?”

  “Are you not seeing this? Look at the timing. A few weeks after K-Dawg is killed, Elisa goes missing. What if she went missing because she saw something or, better yet, because she knew who was responsible for the shooting? Suppose she was the woman who was at the center of the fight.”

  Wes thought out loud. “Who was the other guy? Who said Elisa was the woman?” He sat up. “I mean, if she was the woman, this could still point back to Angelino Mancini. Pops could never find evidence pointing to Angelino, and he had an alibi for the night Elisa disappeared.”

  Serena shrugged. “How airtight was that alibi? Did anyone think to ask him where he was the night K-Dawg was shot?”

  Wes tapped his fingers on the table. “So, you think he did it? You went to see Angelino?”

  “Yes. No. I went to his house, but the wife wouldn’t let me in once I told her who I was.”

  Wes said, “Mmm, I wonder why.”

  Serena stared daggers at him. “Whatever, kiddo. Look, someone shot K-Dawg that night and got away with murder. All those people outside that club, and nobody saw a thing. Really? I believe one of the witnesses could have been your girlfriend’s mother.”

  Wes corrected her. “We’re just friends. I’m helping her find some closure.”

  Serena stood and shook her head. “That may never happen.”

  “Aren’t you basically trying to pursue a twenty-year-old murder case?” Wes asked. “Who’s to say that the mystery behind Elisa’s disappearance can’t be solved too?”

  “You really like her, don’t you?”

  “What?”

  “Do yourself a favor. Separate work from your personal life. You have a young woman who’s been missing for two weeks. Concentrate on her. That’s your story.”

  Wes stared at her. “I am pursuing the story on Melanie. What difference is there in you and me both pursuing old cases?”

  “The difference is that when I break my story, there is no emotional involvement for me. I cracked a story. When you bring your girlfriend this quote, closure, unquote, how do you think she will feel about you afterward? Especially if dear old dad did do something to mom.” With that, Serena walked out of the conference room.

  After Serena left, Wes held his head in his hand. He didn’t want to admit Serena had a point. This had all started with him wanting to find closure for Pops. Now Wes was driven to help Angel find the truth. With Angel reuniting with her father, Wes hoped the truth wouldn’t lead to her losing him again. If that was the case, would Angel be able to handle it?

  There was another question he had to acknowledge. What was he really after? The story or the girl?

  Chapter Twenty-six

  Last night at Bible study, Candace had continued the discussion on forgiveness. This time she’d focused on anger and bitterness. After her morning prayer, Angel read through the verses from the book of Ephesians again. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you (Ephesians 4:31 New International Version).

  She couldn’t help but go back in time. Her past clung to her like an ill-fitting outfit. Walking into that bedroom four years ago had spun her already topsy-turvy world into a new dimension. It had taken her a few seconds to absorb what she had seen. Kenneth and Denise. She remembered hurling the nearest object she could find across the room, which happened to be one of Kenneth’s coveted basketball trophies. Both Kenneth and Denise screamed and jumped from the bed. She was scared of her anger, and something drove her to leave the room. She peeled the rubber from her car’s tires as she sped from the parking space. It was by God’s grace that she didn’t run over someone or drive off the road in her rage.

  Weeks, months, and then well over a year went by before she stopped being the angry chick. That was until she found out that Denise had had a baby boy. Then Angel found herself spiraling back into a sea of anger and self-pity. She must have gained twenty pounds on her petite frame. Grams had tried to talk to her, telling her to let it go, or the bitterness would eat away at her and cause her to make ugly choices.

  After the meeting with her father, Angel thought more about her mother. Angel didn’t remember too man
y details, but she was aware of her mother’s moods. That seemed to be what she remembered most about her. Angel could recall that the last kiss on her forehead from her mother was hurried, as if she had someplace to be. In the past week, she had heard her father and Jacob both talk about her mother’s drive to get her singing career started. Could she have been so angry and bitter about being held back from her dreams that she stepped into a deal that led to her disappearance? There were so many questions. She hoped Wes would come through with some details about the record company.

  Angel spent the rest of the morning cleaning the house. As she cleaned, she searched for any evidence that her father had been telling the truth. She still couldn’t believe her father had sent her a birthday card a few weeks ago. Angel felt like she was intruding in her grandparents’ bedroom as she opened drawers and shifted clothes. Many of Granddad’s items were in the dresser. If there was any correspondence from her father, Angel had a feeling Grams wouldn’t have thrown it away.

  She jerked her hand from inside the drawer of her grams’s desk, startled by the piercing ring of the phone on top of the desk. Angel looked at the caller ID, recognizing the phone number. She picked up the phone. “Hello, Jacob.”

  “Angel, I don’t know if you received my voice mail, but I will be at the house in about thirty minutes.”

  “No, I didn’t. Why? What’s going on? Is something wrong with Grams?”

  “No. She’s fine. We need to meet at Trinity Home Health Care. I want to talk to them about care for Mom when she comes home from rehab in a few weeks.”

  “Okay, well, yeah, I will be ready. Did you just get back in town?”

  “Uh . . . yeah. I’m on the move. I will see you in a bit.”

  Angel hung up the phone, but it rang immediately. She frowned and picked up the phone again. “Hello, Jacob. Is this you again? Is there something else you forgot to tell me?”

  “Angel?”

  Angel froze when she heard the female voice. Definitely not Jacob. “Yeah?”

  “It’s Liz. Do you know where your uncle is?”