Mattie's Call (7 page)

“No one was at the front desk monitoring anything?” Gabrielle asked.

“Not to my knowledge. The receptionist said she stepped away for a moment to use the bathroom. The other staff were busy helping residents back to their rooms.”

“What about Karen, the CNA who's always with Mama?”

“She worked half-day today.”

Quelling the growing tension, Officer Jimmerson said, “Rest assured, we will find your mother. The Mattie's Call is being announced throughout the area, so she'll turn up. She couldn't have gotten too far.”

“She's lonely and missing Emma. That's all it is. She'll be back,” said Agatha. “I told you all what I know. May I please go back to my room now?”

“Of course, Agatha. Thank you,” said Marci.

Marci opened her drawer and pulled out a stack of business cards. She jotted her personal cell number on back of two and slid them to Gabrielle and Joshua. “I'm available around the clock. We will do everything we have to do for your mother.”

Officer Jimmerson offered his card as well. “I'll be in touch. You have my word.”

Marci broke the silence. “There is nothing more we can do right now. Did you two want to go to her room?”

Gabrielle nodded, then held Joshua's hand. “She asked me for jewelry two weeks ago. I want to make sure nothing valuable is taken from her. Josh and I can take some of her things tonight and come back tomorrow.”

They walked out of Marci's office and met the pitiful gazes of the residents. A few of them turned away while others approached them.

“They gon' find Ms. Mattie. Watch what I say, here?” said one woman.

“She'll be back in no time,” said one of the men.

Gabrielle and Joshua accepted their soft hugs and nodded at their optimism.

“It's bedtime. Let's all get to our rooms,” Marci said, as if using a teacher's outside voice.

The siblings, with Marci in tow, took slow strides to their mother's room. When they entered, they smelled Mattie's favorite perfume. At home, she misted the master bedroom with perfume or simmered citrus potpourri. She'd made her bed as she did when they lived at home: neat and quarter bouncing tight. They opened drawers, her closet, and looked under her bed. Save two coats, a half-eaten package of Berry Burst Oreos, and an unopened box of Dixie cups, her belongings were all gone.

10

“I
suggest you tell your mother not to call the house after eight o'clock,” Beryl said, parking in front of the library.

Alice concentrated on the shelving carts she'd have to stock, the interlibrary loans she needed to process, and the dream she'd had the night before. In it, time stood still, and on her wedding day, Daniel stood with her in the ladies dressing room. He looked distinguished in his black tuxedo. He told a few jokes, then his countenance became serious. He lifted her veil and said, “I can see farther down the road than you. You don't have to do this if you don't want to, Baby Girl. There'll be other men. There'll be other relationships.” She hadn't dreamt of her father since he died; the dream made her feel safe, like Daniel was looking out for her. If the scenario in her dream had happened thirteen years ago, she would have kicked off her pumps, hiked up her wedding dress, and made a beeline for the chapel's gothic front door.

“…that's why I didn't want you to have the cell phone she gave you. She would be calling all times of the day and night.” He waited for her response. “Alice, do you hear me talking to you?”

“Hallowed, I want the money back. We need the money back.”

“I told you don't ever question my authority!”

Alice held her ground. In her usual meekness, she said, “Hallowed, I know there is more to the story. The truth will come out. It always does.”

He yanked her arm as she reached for the door. “You're playing a dangerous game. I don't know what you've done with the Alice I married, but she better be here when I pick you up from work this evening.”

“It always does,” Alice said, dropping Hallowed and snatching her arm back. She headed into work with her father's voice in her head.

She opened the door and vowed to use the fifteen minutes she had remaining before start time to pull herself together in the ladies room. Tears had flown freely the past three months, something she wasn't accustomed to. Something was dying inside her, and she didn't know what to do. Startled by the presence of her acquaintance, Synaria, Lindsey, the branch manager, and Harvey, another page, she paused.

“What are you doing here?” Synaria asked. “We thought you'd call in.”

“I—”

Lindsey walked up to her and placed her arm on her left shoulder. “It's so awful. Your mother was with us three weeks ago doing senior crafts, now this!”

“You all should sue Grand Oak. No way my mother would walk away from a facility and no one could offer an explanation about anything! Anything?” Harvey raised his voice in anger.

The three of them formed a semicircle around her, making her stomach flip.

“What are you all talking about?”

Synaria took the lead. “You don't know what's going on? The Mattie's Call about your mother. You didn't see it?”

Alice's heart raced. They didn't watch TV often in their home. “I went to bed as usual. TVs are evil and no one has called me…” Beryl's words resonated,
Tell your mother not to call the house after eight.
The phone kept ringing last night, and she assumed a bored prankster had too much time on his hands. “Oh God.” Alice leaned against the wall as Synaria and Harvey steadied her. Lindsey pressed the automated button for the door.

“Take her in the break room. I'll get some water from the fridge.”

Noting her trembling hands and wobbly knees, Harvey picked her up and put her in a chair in the break room. Synaria fanned her face with an
O
magazine left on the table.

Alice struggled to catch her breath but managed to gasp, “When? What…”

“Calm down. You don't need to be here. I can take you home or to relatives, but there's no way you can work with all this going on.”

Lindsey wiped the icy water bottle with a napkin and gave it to Alice. She cosigned Synaria's words. “We need to get you back home. I can call in extra help for the next few days, but you should be with family right now.”

“Please tell me what happened.”

“About ten o'clock last night, there was a television and radio break reporting a missing woman from Grand Oak Acres. When they displayed her face on the screen, I remembered the times you brought her in. She wanted to know why you kept calling me Syn and asked you if I was devilish.”

“Where did she go?”

“Not sure. The reporter said she walked out with some people after a Christmas pageant.”

Alice winced. Her mother begged her to attend the function and she blew her off.

“Drink the water and breathe. Please.” Lindsey disappeared and returned with a bag of yogurt nut mix.

“Who do I need to call for you? Your husband shouldn't have gotten too far. Maybe I can call him and have him come back,” said Harvey.

“No!” Alice said, more forceful than she intended. “I mean, he can't leave work.”

“What about your brother and sister?” Synaria asked.

Alice's voice lowered almost to a whisper. “I don't know their numbers by heart.”

“Are they in your cell phone?”

“I don't have a cell phone.”

Synaria kept her poker face intact. She waited as Alice gulped the water, formulating a solution for the crisis. “Tell you what. Let me take you home or I'll drive you to your brother's or sister's place. You all can wait together.”

“Let me go home first, then you can take me to Joshua's house. I need to pick up a bank statement and get a few things before Beryl gets home.”

Alice grabbed her purse, dizzy and stumbling back a step, grateful for Synaria's generosity but unsure of how to tell her the truth. She was the last person Gigi and Josh wanted to see.

11

S
ynaria played the speech over again in her mind. Ms. Mattie's disappearance wasn't the appropriate segue to broach the subject, but she'd take it. She'd been silent too long and wanted Alice to know she was more than an acquaintance. She was also a friend.

“Are you hungry, Alice?”

“I ate breakfast earlier. I'm surprised I haven't thrown it back up. I'm so worried about Mama.”

“I remember where you live. We should be there in no time.”

Synaria had never been inside Alice's house. Twice she visited: once to drop off a book, a second time to give Alice two Club Dutch ovens for her mother. Both times her husband met her at the door and wouldn't allow her to speak to Alice. When he dropped her off at work, Synaria stood outside smoking and looking at his wicked frown. Before she'd snuffed out her Virginia Slim, she heard him yell insults at Alice's back and she exited the car. It wasn't until she updated emergency contact information employees that she realized Alice's husband had a real name—Beryl. Her frequent restroom trips, crying spells, and puffy face made Synaria feel helpless. Was it depression, abuse, or both? They were close in age but worlds apart in living conditions. She wanted to get to the bottom of the matter.

“Mind if I ask you something?”

Alice sighed and tinkered with the door handle. “Is it personal?”

“Yes and no. You can tell me it's none of my business and I'll change the subject.”

“Ask what you want. I need someone to talk to,” Alice said, grateful for the chance to be heard.

She eased into the grilling. “I've been concerned about you lately. Your work hasn't suffered, but it's obvious something is going on.”

“My money's gone!” she blurted out.

Synaria glanced at Alice quickly before turning her attention back to the highway. Too many questions would shut her down, and she was proud of the bit of progress they were making.

“Hallowed, I mean, Beryl, did something with our savings.” Alice said the words so fast her lips twitched.

“Calm down. Start from the beginning and speak slowly.”

“Two years ago, we joined Quest for Excellence Ministries.”

“The Ponzi scheme church on the news!” Synaria lowered her volume. “Sorry.”

“Hallowed Crenshaw invited a speaker in. He told us he wanted us to be wealthier and enjoy God's fruits. The moment the speaker took to the podium, I had a bad feeling. He told us we'd get a big return on our investments by pooling our money. We'd invest in gentrified areas that were experiencing rapid growth.”

“What does Hallowed mean?”

“It is how the men of our church are addressed. At your church the words ‘Reverend' or ‘Pastor' are probably used. Quest leadership believes men are the heads, the leaders, and should be addressed as such. Women are not allowed to preach there or take the podium in the pulpit either.”

“Oh.”

“Anyway, I realized a few weeks ago the money I'd squirreled away all these years was gone.”

“How did you find out?”

“Hall—” She let out a low cough. “Beryl left a bank statement out. That was my money! Money I brought to the marriage and saved up till now. Gone!” She snapped her finger.

“I read an investigation has been launched against the church. I hope you get a little of the money back.”

“I won't. I researched similar schemes on my lunch break last week. Few, if any, parties recoup anything.”

“Why do you stay married to Beryl?”

“I don't believe in divorce.”

“Do you believe in abuse?”

“Beryl's not abusive. He can be overbearing at times…” Alice heard how pathetic she sounded. She touched Synaria's arm. “Syn, I'm scared.”