Day of Atonement (3 page)

“Have you guys shared any of this with the police?”

“Mama has. As far as we know, no one in our family was ever considered a suspect back then and there is even less information to go on now. If I were to suspect anyone, it would be Herbert because he stayed gone for days after Elana disappeared and then he and Mama split up a few months later. I don't think Elana would have gone anywhere with him though. She didn't like him.”

Troy wasn't so sure that Herbert should be ruled out just yet,
especially as he began thinking about how quickly he left Miss Lilly after everything had taken place.

“I get the impression from Mama that the police are sticking with the initial conclusion. The cops are still going to look into things, but Jeff has hooked us up with a private investigator.”

“Your stepfather, Jeff?”

“Technically my ex-stepfather, but yes, him. Believe it or not, he's been a godsend throughout this entire ordeal. He and Mama may have had their issues, but he always looked out for Elana and me even after they divorced. When Elana disappeared, he pulled every string he had on the department to try and find her. Jeff's retired now and has a buddy who works as a private investigator. He talked to the guy about taking Elana's case. I told Mama not to tell anyone that we're hiring a P.I., not even Bill, because he has a tendency to talk too much and if someone in our family is involved, I don't want them to know the steps we are taking to find out what happened. I'm not knocking the police, but I don't feel comfortable solely leaving everything up to them for fear that Elana's case won't be a priority since there is not much to go on.”

As a homicide detective, Troy believed that every murder was a priority, despite the lifestyle of the victim. He also understood Elvin's concern. “Man, if y'all need help paying for the investigator, let me know.” Troy was aware that Elvin made a pretty decent salary as a graphic designer and his wife, Nikki, had her own catering business, but he also felt responsible for what had happened to Elana. Maybe, subconsciously, that's why he became a cop. What better way to atone for his past guilt than to do good deeds in the future? And a good cop he was. No one could argue about Troy's dedication to his field, but the mysterious disappearance of Elana was something that solving a hundred cases would not let him
forget. If he could assist with finding answers, he would do so, no matter the cost.

“I do need you, man, but not your money. I need you to help us find closure. You guys are still going to Houston for Christmas, right?”

“Yep. That's the plan.”

“Good. Mama is planning a service for Elana on Christmas Eve and it would mean a lot to us if you would come.”

“You don't even have to ask, I'm there.”

“There's something else.” Elvin paused for a moment as if trying to consider his words carefully. “Will you help look into Elana's disappearance while you're here?”

“I don't have jurisdiction in Texas.”

“I know that.” Elvin responded as if his intelligence had been insulted. “I was hoping you would meet and work with the investigator. I'm sure he'll want to at least interview you.”

“Sure.” Troy wasn't sure how helpful he would be seeing how he was only eleven at the time. He had played that day repeatedly in his head and there was nothing he could remember that would provide answers to Elana's disappearance. But, he knew how important his cooperation would be to Elvin and Lilly. Plus, he owed it to Elana.

“I'm not accusing anyone in particular in my family. Until we have answers, I don't know who to trust. I need you, man.”

“I'm assuming that since most of your family will be there for the service and the holidays, you want me to see what information I can glean from them.” Troy picked up on where his friend was headed.

“You can read people better than anyone else I know. You know as well as I do that there are some shady characters in my family. If Elana's abductor is among us, you can help find him.”

Troy wondered if the kidnapper and murderer were one and the same. Was it possible that someone abducted her and later released her or she ran away? There were so many questions and little to no answers.

“I know my sister did not run away from home. Somebody took her and if you can at least help figure out the first part of the puzzle, maybe the other pieces will fall into place.”

Troy agreed that finding Elana's kidnapper was crucial to solving the overall mystery of her disappearance and subsequent murder. Unfortunately, it would also be the hardest thing to do as the person or persons involved hadn't left a single clue.

I
n the days following Elvin's phone call, Troy worked desperately to tie up as many loose ends with his current cases as possible before he and his family headed to Texas. Consequently, he'd been skipping most of his routine workouts. Though his outside physique still looked fit, Troy noticed the toll that lack of exercise was having on his body. He resolved to get back on schedule after the holidays, after he helped close Elana's case.

He hadn't been able to stop thinking about her. The day she disappeared and the recent discovery of her body consumed his thoughts. Troy had done some research on his own and unfortunately, there wasn't much he could find. Not having access to the case files made it even more difficult for Troy to feel like he could be of any help. He was determined to give it his best shot, which is why he'd taken some additional time off in case he needed to stay in Houston longer than the week he and Natalie had planned. It was a very likely scenario and one he hadn't quite gotten around to sharing with Natalie yet.

In his defense, on the day he had intended to speak with her about his plans, a horrible tragedy had taken place. There was a shooting at an elementary school in Connecticut in which six adults and twenty children were killed. His travel plans seemed insignificant at that point as his wife cried like a baby over the lives that were stolen.

Part of her tears was due to hormones; part of her tears was due to her, in general, being soft-hearted. Though Troy did not cry, he did feel a pang unlike any other he'd recalled feeling ever before. That night, he hugged his three-year-old son, Nate, a little tighter, aware that some parents did not have the opportunity to hold their little ones and thankful that God kept his lil' man safe. For someone who had no intentions of marrying or having children when he and Natalie first met, Troy was indeed a family man and loved his wife and son more than anything on Earth. He was proud to be nothing like his abusive, adulterous, alcoholic father. This trip to Houston was going to be a challenge as his parents had reconciled last spring and Troy would not only be spending Christmas with his mom, but his father as well.

His parents had been back together nearly seven months now. This had to be a record for them. Troy had lost track of how many times they had separated and gotten back together over the years. It was a scenario that played itself repeatedly during his entire childhood. Sometimes several times within a single week! During his parents' numerous splits, Troy's dad stayed with his father. Troy's grandmother passed away when Troy was a young child and his grandfather died shortly after he moved to Ohio. Troy's mother called the place a “whore house” since it was no secret that his father took other women there.

Prior to Elvin's call, Troy almost backed out of the trip to Houston, but he did not want to experience the wrath of his mother who was anxious to see her “pumpkin.” A generally nice woman, his mom sometimes cursed like a sailor and Troy could only imagine the new words she would invent if he'd said they weren't coming. He was still not sure how he'd let her con him into staying at the house with his father there. His mom claimed that his
dad wanted to make amends for being a bad husband and father. As far as Troy was concerned, it was useless trying to rebuild a relationship that never existed in the first place.

“He's changed,” his mom had told him.

Troy laughed when she also said that his father had “found Jesus.” “Where? Inside his bottle of Jack?”

She didn't think that was too funny. “People can change, Troy. We haven't gotten into any fights or major arguments since he's been back home. That right there is a miracle.”

“What about the whore house?”

“He's been steadily cleanin' it out for a few months, bringin' things he had there, over here. His ultimate plan is to remodel and then sell it next spring.”

“Don't tell me you've been helping him get the place together.”

“Now, I'm not that stupid. I mean, if he really
needed
my help, I suppose I would, but he didn't ask and I didn't offer. I would prefer not to step foot in that house ever again. God only knows how many tramps he took through there. I haven't been in that house since I was pregnant with Tracy.”

“I thought he kept Tracy after school at one point.”

“He did, but I never went past the front door. I knew if I saw somethin' I didn't like, I might catch a case. The last time I was inside that house, I busted him havin' sex with some heffa. Lord knows if I had not been pregnant, I could be in jail right now for murder. But, I did cuss everybody out.” She spoke proudly as though such an action was the key to conflict resolution. “Your daddy, that tramp, and your granddad all got it good. If your grandmother had been livin' that night, I would have cussed her out, too.”

“Mama, Granddad had Alzheimer's. Don't you think it was a bit extreme to go off on him?”

“Whatever. He didn't have it then, at least not full-fledged. He kept saying ‘Maggie bad,' so I guess that was the woman's name. Trust me, your grandfather knew what was going on.”

Troy sighed with disbelief. Only his mother…

“Your grandparents got on my nerves for the way they indulged Reed. I know he was grown and they could not control what he did, but they didn't have to condone it either. If you and Natalie were havin' problems and you stayed with me, I wouldn't let you bring other women into this house.”

“I don't see why you have put up with that man all these years.”

“That man is your father,” she'd said defensively. “You really ought to give him a chance. I may not be into Jesus like you, Natalie, and now your dad, but I do know somewhere the Bible talks about forgiveness. I don't think the Good Lord meant for you to exclude your father.”

Troy was not sure if it was his mom, Jesus, or simple curiosity about the new leaf his dad had supposedly turned over that compelled him to agree to be under the same roof with that man, but he was obliged to go to Houston. Now, if for no other reason, than to help find Elana's killer.

As much as Troy disliked his father, he was also thankful because he showed Troy how
not
to treat his wife. Troy could never see himself hitting or cheating on Natalie, despite the fact that she was severely working his nerves right now. “C'mon, Nat! If we miss this flight, we may not be able to get another.”

“I'm almost ready!” she yelled down the stairs.

“Zooooom,” Nate sang as he ran back and forth from the kitchen to the living room with a model airplane Corrine had gotten him back in the summer. Troy knew he should probably tell him to stop running, but the boy was occupied, which beat him asking a hundred questions about flying like he had done earlier.

Nate was excited. Though he had flown before, this was the first flight he was old enough to actually be aware of what was happening. For a three-year-old, he was pretty smart and inquisitive. They were supposed to have left several hours ago, but a huge snowstorm across the country had delayed their flight. They were fortunate to get the delay seeing how many others had been cancelled. Their 5 p.m. flight was rescheduled to 7:43 p.m. and it was already 6:15 and they were not at the airport yet! This was the last travel weekend before Christmas and that was not good!
“Natalie!”

“Oh, hold your horses,” she said, waddling down the stairs.

Despite being shaped like a letter “P” from the waist down, Troy was still very much attracted to his wife, who had once done some modeling. Her long dark hair was pulled into a ponytail and, even without makeup, her light-honey-colored skin was flawless. Well…
almost.
There was one or two slight creases he'd noticed had formed around her jaw line. She had not complained about them and he was not crazy enough to bring them to her attention. He still remembered the look of death he'd gotten last month when he pointed out a single strand of gray hair in her head. “I can't believe you changed clothes again. That's what was taking you so long?”

“I want to be comfortable in case we get stranded.”

Troy liked the maternity jeans and green flannel shirt she had on earlier. It made her look sexy pregnant, like a Hollywood actress. He bit the inside of his lip to prevent from telling her that the red maternity sweat suit she was currently sporting was far from Hollywood style. Red was her favorite color and Troy didn't mind the collage of sexy red outfits she owned, especially those reserved for intimate moments.
Sexy
wasn't the first word that came to mind when he saw her in this one. It was
Elmo
.

“Why are you staring at me?'

He wasn't sure it would be safe to share his feelings. He smiled,
“Because I love you,” and leaned in to give her a kiss, which was surprisingly more stimulating than he had imagined considering the
Sesame Street
song had started playing in his head.

“Yuck!”
Nate stopped zooming long enough to interrupt their moment.

“Oh, hush, and go get your coat so we can go see Gigi.”

“Are we still flyin' on 'da big plane?”

“Yes, but I want you to try and go potty first,” ordered Natalie.