Chapter 9: The Little Girl Who Had Andre's Eyes
I couldn't stop looking at the photograph.
Monique stood outside a modest brick house with a little girl beside her. Amara wore a yellow sweater and carried a pinkI couldn't stop looking at the photograph.
Monique stood outside a modest brick house with a little girl beside her. Amara wore a yellow sweater and carried a pink backpack.
Behind them, Vincent Hale stood partially hidden by the doorway.
He looked older than the photograph in the police report, but there was no mistaking him.
The scar near backpack.
Behind them, Vincent Hale stood partially hidden by the doorway.
He looked older than the photograph in the police report, but there was no mistaking him.
The scar near his eyebrow.
The broad shoulders.
The cold expression.
I looked at Marcus.
"Why is he there?""
"I don't know.""
"Does Monique know who he is?""
"Angela is trying to find out.""
My phone rang his eyebrow.
The broad shoulders.
The cold expression.
I looked at Marcus.
"Why is he there?""
"I don't know.""
"Does Monique know who he is?""
"Angela is trying to find out.""
My phone rang.
It was Angela.
I answered immediately.
"Please tell me that picture is old.""
"It's from this morning," she said.
It was Angela.
I answered immediately.
"Please tell me that picture is old.""
"It's from this morning," she said.
My stomach dropped.
"Is Monique safe?""
"We don't know yet. The investigator who located her hasn't approached.
My stomach dropped.
"Is Monique safe?""
"We don't know yet. The investigator who located her hasn't approached the house. He recognized Vincent from the old report and contacted us.""
"Call the police.""
"We the house. He recognized Vincent from the old report and contacted us.""
"Call the police.""
"We're doing that.""
I looked at Marcus.
He was already reaching for his keys.
Angela continued.
"Danielle, I need you to stay away from that address. Do not approach Vincent.''re doing that.""
I looked at Marcus.
He was already reaching for his keys.
Angela continued.
"Danielle, I need you to stay away from that address. Do not approach Vincent. Do not attempt to contact him.""
"I just want to see my niece.""
"I understand. But if he's connected to Andre Do not attempt to contact him.""
"I just want to see my niece.""
"I understand. But if he's connected to Andre's murder, we cannot take chances.""
I closed my eyes.
"Please help her.""
"We's murder, we cannot take chances.""
I closed my eyes.
"Please help her.""
"We're working on it.""
When the call ended, Marcus stood beside me.
"We're going to let the authorities handle this.""
I nodded.
're working on it.""
When the call ended, Marcus stood beside me.
"We're going to let the authorities handle this.""
I nodded.
But my hands wouldn't stop shaking.
For years, I had imagined what it would be like to meet Andre again.
In my dreams, he would beBut my hands wouldn't stop shaking.
For years, I had imagined what it would be like to meet Andre again.
In my dreams, he would be standing outside a coffee shop, wearing his black hoodie, smiling like nothing had happened.
I would run toward him.
He would hug me.
And somehow, everything would make standing outside a coffee shop, wearing his black hoodie, smiling like nothing had happened.
I would run toward him.
He would hug me.
And somehow, everything would make sense.
Now I was discovering that the person I had lost had left behind a daughter who might be in danger because of the same people who had taken his life.
I looked at the photograph again.
Amara had his sense.
Now I was discovering that the person I had lost had left behind a daughter who might be in danger because of the same people who had taken his life.
I looked at the photograph again.
Amara had his eyes.
And suddenly, I wanted nothing more than to tell her that she wasn't alone.
Three hours later, Angela called again.
"Mon eyes.
And suddenly, I wanted nothing more than to tell her that she wasn't alone.
Three hours later, Angela called again.
"Monique and Amara are safe.""
I nearly dropped my phone.
"Where are they?""
"At a protected location. The police arrived beforeique and Amara are safe.""
I nearly dropped my phone.
"Where are they?""
"At a protected location. The police arrived before anyone was harmed.""
I covered my mouth.
"Thank God.""
"Vincent Hale was not at the property when officers arrived anyone was harmed.""
I covered my mouth.
"Thank God.""
"Vincent Hale was not at the property when officers arrived. They are looking for him.""
"Did Monique tell them anything?""
"She's agreed to speak with investigators.""
. They are looking for him.""
"Did Monique tell them anything?""
"She's agreed to speak with investigators.""
I sat down.
"Can I speak to her?""
Angela paused.
"She asked about you.""
My heart beganI sat down.
"Can I speak to her?""
Angela paused.
"She asked about you.""
My heart began racing.
"What did she say?""
"She wants to know why you're looking for her.""
I wiped racing.
"What did she say?""
"She wants to know why you're looking for her.""
I wiped my cheek.
"Tell her the truth.""
"I will.""
Then Angela added, "There's something else.""
my cheek.
"Tell her the truth.""
"I will.""
Then Angela added, "There's something else.""
"What?""
"Monique says she has a recording from Andre.""
I went still.
"A recording?""
"Yes. She says he made it shortly before"What?""
"Monique says she has a recording from Andre.""
I went still.
"A recording?""
"Yes. She says he made it shortly before he died. He told her to keep it in case anything happened to him.""
My fingers tightened around the phone.
"Can I hear it?""
"Not he died. He told her to keep it in case anything happened to him.""
My fingers tightened around the phone.
"Can I hear it?""
"Not until she's comfortable sharing it.""
I nodded.
"That's fair.""
Angela was quiet for a moment.
Then she said, "Danielle, Monique until she's comfortable sharing it.""
I nodded.
"That's fair.""
Angela was quiet for a moment.
Then she said, "Danielle, Monique also wants to know whether your parents are involved.""
I looked toward the living room.
My mother also wants to know whether your parents are involved.""
I looked toward the living room.
My mother sat on the couch, holding our son.
My father was nowhere to be seen.
"Tell her I'm not going to make excuses for them.""
"All sat on the couch, holding our son.
My father was nowhere to be seen.
"Tell her I'm not going to make excuses for them.""
"All right.""
I ended the call.
Marcus came into the kitchen.
"What happened?""
"They're safe.""
He exhaled.
"Thank God.""
"Monique has a right.""
I ended the call.
Marcus came into the kitchen.
"What happened?""
"They're safe.""
He exhaled.
"Thank God.""
"Monique has a recording of Andre.""
He looked surprised.
"Of what?""
"Something he recorded before he died.""
Marcus sat beside me.
"Maybe recording of Andre.""
He looked surprised.
"Of what?""
"Something he recorded before he died.""
Marcus sat beside me.
"Maybe we'll finally know what happened.""
I nodded.
Then I looked at him.
"Are you okay?""
He gave a tired smile.
"That's a we'll finally know what happened.""
I nodded.
Then I looked at him.
"Are you okay?""
He gave a tired smile.
"That's a complicated question.""
I reached for his hand.
"I know.""
He looked down at our joined fingers.
"I've been thinking about the name.""
My stomach complicated question.""
I reached for his hand.
"I know.""
He looked down at our joined fingers.
"I've been thinking about the name.""
My stomach tightened.
"I know you don't like it.""
"That's not exactly what I said.""
He took a breath.
"When I first heard about tightened.
"I know you don't like it.""
"That's not exactly what I said.""
He took a breath.
"When I first heard about Andre, I thought you had named our son after a man you were still in love with. I felt like I'd been made Andre, I thought you had named our son after a man you were still in love with. I felt like I'd been made a fool of.""
I looked down.
"I'm sorry.""
"I know. But now I understand that there was a whole history neither of us knew.""
He a fool of.""
I looked down.
"I'm sorry.""
"I know. But now I understand that there was a whole history neither of us knew.""
He looked toward the nursery.
"Your son is still your son. My son. Our son.""
I nodded.
"Yes.""
"And I don't want him to grow up thinking he has to carry looked toward the nursery.
"Your son is still your son. My son. Our son.""
I nodded.
"Yes.""
"And I don't want him to grow up thinking he has to carry the weight of everything Andre went through.""
"He won't.""
Marcus looked at me.
"Maybe we need to give him a middle the weight of everything Andre went through.""
"He won't.""
Marcus looked at me.
"Maybe we need to give him a middle name. Something that belongs to us.""
I blinked.
"You'd still keep Andre?""
name. Something that belongs to us.""
I blinked.
"You'd still keep Andre?""
He nodded slowly.
"If that's what you want.""
Tears filled my eyes.
"Marcus...""
"But I want us to choose the middle name together. Something that representsHe nodded slowly.
"If that's what you want.""
Tears filled my eyes.
"Marcus...""
"But I want us to choose the middle name together. Something that represents the life we're building.""
I leaned forward and kissed his cheek.
"Thank you.""
He held my face.
"Don't thank me yet. We still have a lot to work through.""
I laughed softly through my tears.
For the first time in days, the sound the life we're building.""
I leaned forward and kissed his cheek.
"Thank you.""
He held my face.
"Don't thank me yet. We still have a lot to work through.""
I laughed softly through my tears.
For the first time in days, the sound felt natural.
Then our son began crying upstairs.
Marcus stood.
"I've got him.""
He felt natural.
Then our son began crying upstairs.
Marcus stood.
"I've got him.""
He disappeared up the stairs.
I watched him go.
A few minutes later, I heard him speaking softly to the baby.
"Hey, little disappeared up the stairs.
I watched him go.
A few minutes later, I heard him speaking softly to the baby.
"Hey, little man. Daddy's here.""
I closed my eyes.
Maybe we still had a chance.
The next morning, Angela arranged a video man. Daddy's here.""
I closed my eyes.
Maybe we still had a chance.
The next morning, Angela arranged a video call with Monique.
I sat at the dining table.
Marcus sat beside me.
My mother waited in the living room.
call with Monique.
I sat at the dining table.
Marcus sat beside me.
My mother waited in the living room.
I had asked her to stay away from the call unless Monique wanted to speak to her.
The screen lit up.
A womanI had asked her to stay away from the call unless Monique wanted to speak to her.
The screen lit up.
A woman appeared.
She had dark skin, shoulder-length braids, and tired eyes. She looked to be in her early thirties.
A little girl sat beside her, coloring in a notebook.
" appeared.
She had dark skin, shoulder-length braids, and tired eyes. She looked to be in her early thirties.
A little girl sat beside her, coloring in a notebook.
"Hello," I said.
Monique studied me.
"You're Danielle?""
"Yes.""
She nodded.
"I'm Monique.""
I swallowed.
"Thank you for speaking with me.""
She looked down at the little girl.
"ThisHello," I said.
Monique studied me.
"You're Danielle?""
"Yes.""
She nodded.
"I'm Monique.""
I swallowed.
"Thank you for speaking with me.""
She looked down at the little girl.
"This is Amara.""
I smiled through my tears.
"Hi, Amara.""
The little girl glanced at the screen.
"Hi.""
Her voice was soft.
I felt my heart break.
She is Amara.""
I smiled through my tears.
"Hi, Amara.""
The little girl glanced at the screen.
"Hi.""
Her voice was soft.
I felt my heart break.
She was beautiful.
She had Andre's eyes, his nose, and the same small crease near her left cheek that appeared whenever she smiled.
"How old are you?"" was beautiful.
She had Andre's eyes, his nose, and the same small crease near her left cheek that appeared whenever she smiled.
"How old are you?"" I asked.
"Seven.""
"What's your favorite color?""
"Yellow.""
I smiled.
"That's a beautiful color.""
Amara returned I asked.
"Seven.""
"What's your favorite color?""
"Yellow.""
I smiled.
"That's a beautiful color.""
Amara returned to her coloring.
Monique looked at me.
"Why are you looking for us?""
I took a breath.
"Because Andre was my brother.""
She didn't react immediately.
Then she nodded.
"I know.""
My throat tightened.
"How to her coloring.
Monique looked at me.
"Why are you looking for us?""
I took a breath.
"Because Andre was my brother.""
She didn't react immediately.
Then she nodded.
"I know.""
My throat tightened.
"How?""
"He told me about you.""
I looked down.
"He did?""
"Yes. He said he had a sister he wished he could have known better.""
I covered my mouth.
Monique continued?""
"He told me about you.""
I looked down.
"He did?""
"Yes. He said he had a sister he wished he could have known better.""
I covered my mouth.
Monique continued.
"He told me he made mistakes. He said he wanted to fix things with you.""
I wiped my cheek.
"I didn't know.""
"I figured.""
She looked toward Amara.
"Andre.
"He told me he made mistakes. He said he wanted to fix things with you.""
I wiped my cheek.
"I didn't know.""
"I figured.""
She looked toward Amara.
"Andre loved that little girl. He used to bring her books and sing to her when she couldn't sleep.""
I smiled faintly.
"He loved music.""
Monique nodded.
"He wanted loved that little girl. He used to bring her books and sing to her when she couldn't sleep.""
I smiled faintly.
"He loved music.""
Monique nodded.
"He wanted to teach her guitar.""
I began crying again.
Monique watched me.
"Can I ask you something?""
"Anything.""
"Did you really think Andre was your boyfriend?""
I lowered to teach her guitar.""
I began crying again.
Monique watched me.
"Can I ask you something?""
"Anything.""
"Did you really think Andre was your boyfriend?""
I lowered my eyes.
"Yes.""
She was quiet.
"How long?""
"Almost four years.""
Monique looked away.
"I wondered whether you knew.""
"I didn't.""
"Andre told me he was trying to find a way to explain my eyes.
"Yes.""
She was quiet.
"How long?""
"Almost four years.""
Monique looked away.
"I wondered whether you knew.""
"I didn't.""
"Andre told me he was trying to find a way to explain everything.""
I nodded.
"He never got the chance.""
Monique took a breath.
"There's something else you should know.""
My heart tightened.
"What?""
"Andre didn't just leave behind a recording.""
She reached offscreen and everything.""
I nodded.
"He never got the chance.""
Monique took a breath.
"There's something else you should know.""
My heart tightened.
"What?""
"Andre didn't just leave behind a recording.""
She reached offscreen and returned with a small wooden box.
"He left this with me.""
I leaned closer.
"What is it?""
"Something he wanted you to have.""
She opened the box.
Inside was a silver necklace with a small pendant shaped like a star returned with a small wooden box.
"He left this with me.""
I leaned closer.
"What is it?""
"Something he wanted you to have.""
She opened the box.
Inside was a silver necklace with a small pendant shaped like a star.
I recognized it.
Andre had worn a matching one.
I remembered buying them together at a street market. He had insisted that we were going.
I recognized it.
Andre had worn a matching one.
I remembered buying them together at a street market. He had insisted that we were going to be the kind of people who never lost each other.
I started crying.
Monique lifted the necklace.
"He told me to give this to you if I ever found you.""
I pressed my fingers against my lips.
"Thank you.""
Monique looked at me carefully to be the kind of people who never lost each other.
I started crying.
Monique lifted the necklace.
"He told me to give this to you if I ever found you.""
I pressed my fingers against my lips.
"Thank you.""
Monique looked at me carefully.
"I don't want money from your family.""
I nodded.
"I understand.""
"I don't want your father contacting my daughter.""
"That's fair.""
"And I don't want anyone telling Am.
"I don't want money from your family.""
I nodded.
"I understand.""
"I don't want your father contacting my daughter.""
"That's fair.""
"And I don't want anyone telling Amara things that aren't true.""
I looked directly into the camera.
"I promise.""
Monique's eyes softened slightly.
"Andre said you were kind.""
I smiled sadly.
"Heara things that aren't true.""
I looked directly into the camera.
"I promise.""
Monique's eyes softened slightly.
"Andre said you were kind.""
I smiled sadly.
"He was always kinder than me.""
She shook her head.
"He said you were stubborn.""
I laughed through my tears.
" was always kinder than me.""
She shook her head.
"He said you were stubborn.""
I laughed through my tears.
"That sounds more like him.""
For a moment, the tension eased.
Then Monique looked toward the little girl.
"Amara, rememberThat sounds more like him.""
For a moment, the tension eased.
Then Monique looked toward the little girl.
"Amara, remember what I told you about your daddy?""
The little girl nodded.
"He had a sister?""
Monique smiled.
"Yes.""
Amara looked at the screen.
"Are you my auntie what I told you about your daddy?""
The little girl nodded.
"He had a sister?""
Monique smiled.
"Yes.""
Amara looked at the screen.
"Are you my auntie?""
I couldn't speak.
I nodded.
"Yes, sweetheart. I'm your auntie.""
She smiled.
Then she asked a question that shattered whatever composure I had left.
"Can I meet you?""
?""
I couldn't speak.
I nodded.
"Yes, sweetheart. I'm your auntie.""
She smiled.
Then she asked a question that shattered whatever composure I had left.
"Can I meet you?""
I pressed my hand against my chest.
"Yes. I would love that.""
Monique smiled.
"OneI pressed my hand against my chest.
"Yes. I would love that.""
Monique smiled.
"One step at a time.""
"Of course.""
Before ending the call, she looked at me again.
"Danielle, there's something I haven't told you.""
I waited.
step at a time.""
"Of course.""
Before ending the call, she looked at me again.
"Danielle, there's something I haven't told you.""
I waited.
"Andre made that recording because he knew somebody was going to hurt him.""
My stomach tightened.
"Did he know who?""
Monique shook her head.
"Not exactly.""
She"Andre made that recording because he knew somebody was going to hurt him.""
My stomach tightened.
"Did he know who?""
Monique shook her head.
"Not exactly.""
She picked up the wooden box again.
"He told me that if anything happened to him, I should listen to the recording with you.""
"Why with picked up the wooden box again.
"He told me that if anything happened to him, I should listen to the recording with you.""
"Why with me?""
Monique looked directly at the screen.
"Because he said the truth would change the way you remembered him.""
She pressed a button.
A man's voice filled the room.
Andre.
Older me?""
Monique looked directly at the screen.
"Because he said the truth would change the way you remembered him.""
She pressed a button.
A man's voice filled the room.
Andre.
Older recordings always have a strange quality. The sound is thinner, distant, as though the person speaking is standing on the other side of a wall.
But I knew that recordings always have a strange quality. The sound is thinner, distant, as though the person speaking is standing on the other side of a wall.
But I knew that voice.
I knew it better than my own.
"Hey, Dee.""
My eyes filled.
"If you're hearing this, then I didn't get the chance to explain everything.""
Marcus took my hand.
Andre continued voice.
I knew it better than my own.
"Hey, Dee.""
My eyes filled.
"If you're hearing this, then I didn't get the chance to explain everything.""
Marcus took my hand.
Andre continued.
"I need you to know something. I never wanted you to feel guilty about what happened between us. You didn't know the truth,.
"I need you to know something. I never wanted you to feel guilty about what happened between us. You didn't know the truth, and you weren't supposed to carry my mistakes.""
He paused.
Then his voice became quieter.
"There's something about our father and you weren't supposed to carry my mistakes.""
He paused.
Then his voice became quieter.
"There's something about our father you need to understand.""
I looked toward the screen.
Andre continued.
"He wasn't the only one who knew about the business. Somebody close to us helped Raymond you need to understand.""
I looked toward the screen.
Andre continued.
"He wasn't the only one who knew about the business. Somebody close to us helped Raymond move the money. Somebody who had access to the family accounts.""
The recording crackled.
Then Andre move the money. Somebody who had access to the family accounts.""
The recording crackled.
Then Andre said a name.
"Richard wasn't working alone.""
My father.
I felt Marcus stiff said a name.
"Richard wasn't working alone.""
My father.
I felt Marcus stiffen.
Andre continued.
"Ask Mom about the night she signed the papers. Ask her who wasen.
Andre continued.
"Ask Mom about the night she signed the papers. Ask her who was standing outside the room.""
The recording stopped.
I stared at Monique.
"Is that all?""
She nodded.
"That's the part he wanted you to hear.""
I looked toward the standing outside the room.""
The recording stopped.
I stared at Monique.
"Is that all?""
She nodded.
"That's the part he wanted you to hear.""
I looked toward the living room.
My mother was standing in the doorway.
Her face had gone white.
I turned toward her.
"Mom?""
She shook living room.
My mother was standing in the doorway.
Her face had gone white.
I turned toward her.
"Mom?""
She shook her head.
"Danielle, please.""
I stood.
"Who was standing outside the room when you signed the adoption papers?""
My her head.
"Danielle, please.""
I stood.
"Who was standing outside the room when you signed the adoption papers?""
My mother began crying.
Then she said something I never expected.
"Your father wasn't the man who arranged Andre's adoption.""
I stared at her.
"What?""
She looked toward the screen.
Then mother began crying.
Then she said something I never expected.
"Your father wasn't the man who arranged Andre's adoption.""
I stared at her.
"What?""
She looked toward the screen.
Then back at me.
"It was Raymond Cole.""
My heart stopped.
Monique whispered, "Oh my God.""
My mother took one step forward.
"And he didn't back at me.
"It was Raymond Cole.""
My heart stopped.
Monique whispered, "Oh my God.""
My mother took one step forward.
"And he didn't just arrange the adoption.""
May you like
She looked directly into my eyes.
"He was the reason Andre was never allowed to know who his real father was.""
