Finding Kylie (21 page)

             
Angela wrung the towel around her hands so tightly that her fingers were turning purple. She knew this day would come, and dreaded divulging the Mikale’s secret.

             
“You said he’s asking for his granddaughter?” 

             
Jesse saw her obvious torment.  “If you’re worried about him … he’s alright.  I just think it’s time to consolidate some of his things.  Are you going to be okay with this?  You don’t have to move in with us if you don’t want to.  You’ll have whatever you need to move out on your own.” 

             
In seeing how upset she was, he tried to appease her further.  “You’ll never have to worry about bills or medical expenses.  You know our estate will always take care of you.” 

             
Angela wiped a tear from her face.  “No, I don’t deserve it.  I’ve kept something from you for a long time, but it wasn’t my secret to tell.”  She tried to reign in her sobs, to finish.  “You know how your dad is ... was ... he was extremely controlling and harsh.  If I had said anything I would have lost my job.” 

             
Jesse leaned forward and wondered if his beloved friend was losing her mind too. 

             
“What’s going on?  Are you okay?  Did my dad do something to hurt you?” 

             
She vigorously shook her head.  “No, but your brother did something a long time ago, and he hurt some one pretty bad.  Your dad didn’t expect me to overhear anything because I’m the help, but I did.  I still have the necklace ...” 

             
She lifted the rag to her face and let loose the emotions she’d held in for so long.  Jesse got up and quickly stepped over the coffee table to sit next to Ms. Adams on the sofa. 

             
“Please tell me what’s wrong.  What necklace?  What did John do this time?” 

             
He had never seen her this way, and was angry that she’d ever be put in this position. 

             
He said gruffly, “What is it?” 

             
She lifted her face and pushed her grey hair from it.  She stared at the coffee table, as if million miles away. 

             
Jesse tried again.  “It’s okay.  I’m here and you’re going to be okay.  What ever it is I can take care of it.” 

             
“Please know that I didn’t hold this in to hurt anyone.  I just didn’t know what to do.”  Her voice shook.  “The next day John was shipped off to military school, and for awhile it seemed like it never happened.  And then, one day I pulled out that necklace and it was like it was burning into my conscience.” 

             
Jesse tried to get direct eye contact from her.  He lifted her chin so they were face to face, and asked, “What was?” 

             
She sunk back into the couch and finally said the words, she’d been avoiding for years. 

             
“The fact that your brother was capable of rape, and he got an innocent girl pregnant.”

             
For Jesse, it seemed like the room started to spin uncontrollably.  He leaned over, holding his head, unable believe what he had heard. 

             
“What?  And dad knew?”  He heard her sniffling and lifted his head, hoping to God his gut was wrong.  Surely, his father wasn’t party to his brother’s crime. 

             
Tears were rolling down her face, as she nodded. “He knew. The young girl came, with a friend, to confront John but your brother was out.  Your dad answered the door and took them into the study.” 

             
“Oh my gosh ... he knew?  It makes sense now why John was shipped off so suddenly.  I always thought dad got tired of John’s reckless behavior, but he was just trying to protect him ...
again!” 

             
He stood up and kicked the end table over, smashing an oriental lamp to pieces across the floor.  Angela yelped and covered her mouth. 

             
“I’m sorry.” He spun around, instantly regretting his outburst.  “I just can’t believe it.  How could he? How could they?” 

             
He slowly sat back down, as the final piece of the puzzle clicked in.

             
“You said she was pregnant?  She had a child?” 

             
Angela shrugged her shoulders.  “I don’t know where they are, but yes, there was a child.  John didn’t even know that part until seven years later.  Your dad had paid her off to hide his secret.” 

             
His face twisted, in anger. “That bastard!” 

             
She firmly put her hand on his arm, in an attempt to calm him. “Your brother was coincidentally stationed in an area, where she was living at the time.  He saw her shopping for her daughter … and knew she was his.  Her age ... her eyes ... it all made sense.” 

             
Jesse snapped.  Everything in him wanted to find his brother and beat the life out of him for what he did to that innocent girl. 

             
“Please know that your brother made a mistake and knew nothing of the child.  He’s spent every last minute since then trying to find them.” 

             
“How can you make excuses for him?  I’m going to kill him!”  Jesse stood up on a mission. 

             
Angela knew that he was on the verge of doing something he’d regret, and needed to ease his mind. 

             
“Don’t call your brother.  Give yourself some time to mull it over.  He’s not even aware that I know.  I only found the investigator’s files a while back.” 

             
Jesse abruptly stopped and turned back from the doorway.  He ran his hands through his hair and began pacing the entryway. 

             
“Did you say investigator files?”

             
Angela watched his wild eyes, as he narrowed in on her. She crossed the floor, to meet him head on.  As the realization set in, he rubbed his jaw and sighed. 

             
“Are you telling me that dad had a private investigator following them?  What else could he do to terrorize that poor family?  Where can I find the files?” 

             
She nodded in the direction of the study.  “In there, behind the books on the second shelf.” 

             
She sat back down, watched him storm inside, and reached for her tea. 

             
Jesse threw the door open to his dad’s study, and pounded across the floor to the bookshelf.  He yanked all the books, from the second shelf, to the ground, until he saw a thick dossier. 

             
It’s true.   Proof - sitting right in front of me. 

             
He stared at it for a few seconds, as if the whole world was on his shoulders.  Finally, he grabbed it and turned to sit at his father’s desk. 

             
I was never allowed in here as a child.  Well, I’m here now dad … your secret’s out.

             
Carefully, he opened the cover to expose the details of two private lives.  In bold letters, the names Kylie and Chastity Wayne were typed inside.  He ran his finger across them, feeling as if he was invading their space, but he trudged on needing to know the truth. 

             
Kylie Wayne, she was a few years behind me school.  That poor girl! 

             
His heart broke for her.

             
As he ran his fingers down the spine, he was in awe of how thick it was.  The reports started in 1988 and went through 2000. 

             
I guess after dad went into the nursing home, he wasn't able to keep this up.
 

             
He read about the various places the investigator had traced them too.  The P.I. started tracking them in North Carolina and followed them throughout the country.  He quickly scanned the notes from various entries.

             
‘
Subject and daughter haven’t been seen for two days.  Kylie hasn’t been seen at work and the child is not in school.  I just missed them.’

             
This type of entry seemed to be the common thread throughout the file
.
He smiled, proud of Kylie for staying one step ahead of his old man every step of the way.  The only time the investigator was even close was in Alabama. 

             
Jesse read on and learned that the investigator took photos Chastity, at her elementary school, before going to Kylie’s work.  In the notes, he read that the investigator called Jackson when he found the family.  Jackson then boarded a plane to approach Kylie that very day. 

             
I bet she wasn’t there by the time dad got there.  She probably sensed evil was on his way,
he thought sarcastically and flipped through the folder to find the photographs.  They were in back under all the paperwork. 

             
He picked the first picture up and saw a face he recognized.

             
It’s the girl from the restaurant ... on the patio.  I’d stake my life on it.  

             
Jesse was blown away at the coincidence.  He set the file in his lap, and shook his head, in awe.
 

             
No wonder she was staring at me like that.  She was scared.  It makes sense.  If I was on the run my whole life and ran into me ... I’d be scared too.  What is she doing in Oklahoma? I wonder if Kylie knows where she is.

             
Jesse read on and learned that the Wayne family did leave town before his father could reach them.  He lifted a fist in the air, again proud of Kylie.

             
Way to go girl!
  He quickly flipped through the papers, to find more. 
Where are you now?

             
With slim to none information on Kylie, he closed to folder.  On the front, was a private investigator’s cards taped to the top.  He tore it off, and reached for his father’s phone.

Chapter 27

              Nothing like a nice drive on a Saturday evening,
thought Chastity, as she cruised down the highway. 

             
Cheryl had been right.  Traffic here was a breeze.  Even what Oklahomans considered their drive time was light compared to the 280 at 10 a.m., in California. 

             
After looking on Google maps for her mother’s old address, she asked to borrow Cheryl’s car.  She really wanted to see where her mom grew up. 

             
After pulling into the city of Moore, she immediately got turned around.  With the major construction, it made it hard to follow any of directions she’d printed off.  The first exit was blocked off, which left her with no choice but to take her second exit and double back.

             
After stopping at the gas station for directions, Chastity finally made her way to her mother’s house and pulled up to the curb. 

             
I wonder if anyone’s home.

             
She walked across the lawn, and up the porch steps, to ring the doorbell.  After a few minutes of no reply, Chastity knocked on the door and stood back. 

             
I guess they’re out.  Just as well, I’m not here to visit.  I just wanted to get permission to sit here for a while.

             
Chastity sat on the hanging porch swing, and focused on her mother’s memory, hoping the current owners wouldn’t mind. She tried to imagine a younger version of her mom bounding up the steps to go inside.  She could almost see a beautiful, young, Kylie smiling, as she took the steps. 

             
“Excuse me miss.”  An old woman, in her house robe, wandered across the street.  “They’re not here right now.”  The old woman pointed to the house.  “There on a short trip and won’t be back in a few weeks.”