Chapter 9: The Truth Under The Floorboards
Malik read the letter three times.
Then a fourth.
Because his brain refused to accept the words.
The woman who wrote it wasn't Yolanda.
It was his biological mother.
The woman Reggie had always said died when Malik was young.
But the letter was dated two years after the year she supposedly died.
Malik sat on the floor of the hallway, surrounded by old papers, unable to move.
His entire life had been built on missing pieces.
And now someone had handed him the missing pieces all at once.
He heard footsteps.
Reggie.
"Malik?""
His father stopped when he saw the papers.
"What did you find?""
Malik slowly stood.
"You told me my mother was dead.""
Reggie froze.
The silence was an answer.
"Dad.""
Reggie looked at the letter.
Then closed his eyes.
"I was going to tell you.""
"When?""
The question sounded familiar.
Too familiar.
Everyone was always going to tell him.
Later.
Someday.
When things were better.
But nobody ever chose now.
"I was trying to protect you.""
Malik laughed softly.
"Everyone says that.""
Reggie sat down.
"Your mother left.""
Malik stared.
"Left?""
"Yes.""
"Not died?""
Reggie shook his head.
"No.""
The truth hurt differently.
"Why did you lie?""
Reggie looked at his hands.
"Because when she left, I was angry.""
Malik waited.
"And then years passed.""
"You let me believe she was dead.""
"I know.""
The honesty didn't help.
"What does this have to do with Yolanda?""
Reggie looked toward the box.
"Everything.""
Malik's chest tightened.
"Explain.""
Reggie took a breath.
"Yolanda knew your mother.""
"What?""
"Before she married me.""
"How?""
"They worked together.""
Malik stared.
"She knew where my mom was?""
"Yes.""
The room felt unreal.
"Then why didn't she tell me?""
Reggie looked at the letter.
"Because your mother asked her not to.""
Malik felt numb.
"Why?""
"Because your mother was in trouble.""
"What kind of trouble?""
Reggie hesitated.
"She had been involved with people who wanted money from her.""
Malik immediately thought of Marcus.
"No.""
Reggie looked at him.
"Yes.""
The name hung between them.
"Marcus?""
Reggie nodded.
Malik felt sick.
"So this whole time...""
His voice faded.
Yolanda's secrets.
Marcus.
The money.
The documents.
The refund.
All connected.
Reggie stood.
"We need to call the police.""
"No.""
Reggie looked surprised.
Malik held the letter.
"I need to hear the truth first.""
An hour later, everyone sat in the living room.
Even Yolanda.
Nobody spoke until Malik placed the letter on the table.
"Tell me.""
Yolanda looked at it.
Then started crying.
"I promised your mother.""
"What promise?""
"That I would protect you.""
Malik shook his head.
"You didn't.""
"No.""
She wiped her face.
"I failed.""
For once, she didn't defend herself.
She explained everything.
Years ago, Malik's biological mother, Danielle, discovered that Marcus was involved in illegal money schemes.
She tried to leave.
She tried to report him.
Marcus threatened her.
When Danielle realized Malik could become a target, she disappeared.
But before leaving, she gave Yolanda a letter.
For Malik.
To be delivered when he was old enough.
"When was I old enough?"" Malik asked.
Yolanda looked down.
"Sixteen.""
Malik stared.
"The year I started working.""
She nodded.
"Yes.""
"So why didn't you give it to me?""
Yolanda's face collapsed.
"Because Marcus found me.""
The room went silent.
"He knew I had the letter.""
Reggie frowned.
"What did he want?""
"The same thing he always wanted.""
Her voice shook.
"Control.""
Malik looked at her.
"And my money?""
Yolanda closed her eyes.
"Marcus found out you had started working.""
She continued.
"He knew about your refund before it arrived.""
Malik felt cold.
"He knew?""
"Yes.""
"He told you to take it?""
Yolanda nodded.
"I thought if I gave him something, he'd leave us alone.""
Reggie looked devastated.
"You used our son as payment.""
"I know.""
"And you hid the truth.""
"I know.""
Nobody spoke.
Then someone knocked.
Everyone froze.
The police hadn't arrived yet.
Nobody was expected.
The knock came again.
Three times.
Slow.
Confident.
Malik looked toward the door.
Reggie stepped in front of him.
The door handle moved.
Someone was trying to open it.
Then a voice came from outside.
A voice Malik recognized.
Not from memory.
From the phone.
From the threats.
Marcus.
"Yolanda.""
Nobody breathed.
"I know you're in there.""
The door shook slightly.
"I think it's time Malik learned the last part of the story.""
Malik stared at Yolanda.
Her face went pale.
Because whatever Marcus was about to reveal...
She was more afraid of that than anything else.
May you like
The door handle turned again.
And this time, the lock clicked.
