The Mystery of Chad Harris: Fate Delivers Us, Chapter Twenty
 
 
 

" Well, George, that was the third club, and the third strikeout.", Chad said, munching on his french fry.

" Not a total strikeout. Someone remembered the voice."

" Yeah, but, no name and no face."

" True. But, we’ve got a little while to go."

They ate their  meal in silence, and George caught Chad looking at him several times,  as if he wanted to say something to George, but, couldn’t.

" Chad, is there something you want to say to me?"

" Yeah….I wanna know why you didn’t run?"

" Run?"

" Yes. Your wife is Black, but, you never ran from her and your kids."

George nods. " This is about your father."

" Yeah. He was a bigot who split on my Mom. Can you tell me what kind of a man can sleep with a woman, but, won’t be seen with her?"

" Chad, you’re old enough to know the answer to that. We have an entire part of the country that could be the laboratory for that. How could Thomas Jefferson write what he wrote about slaves in this country, all the while having a near forty year relationship with Sally Hemings? The man had HOW MANY children with her?"

Chad nods. " I know."

" Plus, Chad, this was twenty-five years ago. I can tell you. It was TOUGH. "

" But, you made it."

" I know. There were times when I thought I wouldn’t."

" You thought about walking out?"

" Actually, no. I was afraid, in those early years, that Maggie would ‘wise up’, and realize how much easier she’d have it if she dumped me."

" Dumped you?"

" Maggie was a catch. And, as hard as it is being Black, there’s still a comfort in an all-Black relationship. Things that she could have gotten from a Black partner that I couldn’t give her."

" But, she stuck it out with you."

" Because I lucked up. She loves me. And, I was smart enough to know that the kind of love she’s given me is special, beyond color. Chad, I don’t know what to tell you about your parents. All I know is that somehow, two people of different races met and became involved, and you were the result. I think you should keep an open mind. Hear what they have to say. Their story might actually surprise you. But, you’ve waited all this time. You’re not a boy, but, a man. Life doesn’t sometimes work out the way that we ‘plan’. Any of a dozen scenarios could have happened to break them apart. Hear their story first and then make a judgement. "

Chad nods. " I hear you. Mr. A, I’m scared. Really scared."

" Why?"

" So much time in my life, in my dreams, my nightmares, my quiet moment, all come back to finding my parents. For years, it was hypothetical. Being around you, it doesn’t seem to be hypothetical. Even if we don’t find them, Mr. A, this is a turning point in my life. Because, I can’t say that the search wasn’t top knotch, cause it is. I will have to either deal with my parents, or deal with not ever knowing. REALLY dealing with the possibility of not ever knowing. I’m at a scary place."

George reaches out and puts his hand on Chad’s shoulder. " Chad, you’ll be fine. Not only because you’re a terrific young man, but, because you have friends that will help you get through it. You aren’t alone, Chad. You have friends, and that’s a good place to begin a new life."

Chad tried to stop the tears from welling up. " I know."

" So, why don’t we finish, and let’s see if we can get some success."
 

Chad and George go to the last address. Everything else was a bust.

They knock on the door, and a young woman answers.

" May I help you?"

" I’m looking for a Victor Kozinsky."

" That was my grandfather."

" Was?", George asks.

" Yes. He died a little over a year ago."

George looked over to a defeated Chad.

" Well, M’am, my name is George Alexopoulos. I’m a private investigator, and I was  hoping to talk to your grandfather because of a singer that might have been in his club around twenty-five years ago."

" Twenty-five years ago? My, you aren’t looking for anything hard. You can come in."

They go into the living room.

" I was wondering if your grandfather kept any records from the club."

" Actually, when he sold the building seven years ago, he got rid of all of them."

" I see. Well, thank you for your time."

They were almost out the door when she called, " Wait!"

" Yes?", George asks.

They watch her as she goes to a drawer and begins digging in it, coming up with a card.

" My grandfather had one bartender that stayed with him for nearly thirty years. I would have to think anything my grandfather knew, he would know. This is the last Christmas Card I got from him."

George looked at the postmark, which said Arizona.

" Thank you so much for you help.", George said, as they left the house.

" So?", Chad asked.

" We’re on our way to Arizona. I’ll make the arrangements."
 

George and Chad fly out to Scottsdale, Arizona the next morning. Once they settle in, they get a rental car, and find their way to the Nursing Home.

There is a young woman who greets them as they arrive inside.

" Mr. Alexopoulos?"

" Yes."

" I’m Natalie Benker. My grandfather is who you’re looking for."

" Nice to meet you. This is Chad Harris." They all shake hands.

" Mr. Alexopoulos, I’m going to warn you. This facility primarily deals with Alzheimers patients. My grandfather’s in the last stages of it. I don’t know how much help he can be to you."

" Thank you, but, we’d still like to see him."

They all walk to the her grandfather’s room. " Grandpa? These two men have come a long way to see you. "

George greets the man. " Nice to meet you, Mr. Fiori."

" Do I know you?"

" No. My name is George."

He looks at Chad. " Who are you?"

" My name is Chad."

" What do you want?"

" Do you remember The Blue Note?"

" Of course I do. I work there. In fact, I think I should be leaving for my shift."

" Grandpa, your shift doesn’t start for a few hours."

" Yeah?"

" Yeah."

" Who are you?"

" I’m Natalie. I waitress sometimes at the Blue Note.", she says sadly.

" Oh."

" We wanted you to listen to us. I’m…I’m from a record company, and I’m trying to find this girl. I think her voice is terrific, and I think I can do things for her."

He looks suspiciously at George, who signals Chad to play the CD player. He is quieted by the voice coming from the boom box.

He sighs and says, " Holiday."

" What?", George asks.

" You’ve got good taste. Holiday will make you a mint."

Chad felt his heart leap into his throat. " So….you know her?"

" Of course, I know her. She’s been packing ‘em in every night for months now. Phrasing like Holliday. The soul of Sarah Vaughn. She can stop you in your tracks when she pours it on. Plus, her signature flower."

" Flower?", George asks.

" The flower she always wears in her hair. Oh man, you’ll not have a hard time selling her. Not with a voice like that. And, her presence. Plus her beauty."

" Sir….do you have a name for ‘Holiday’?"

He looks at George, and then looks around the room and scratches his head. " I don’t remember. Why can’t I remember? Why can’t I remember?" He begins to get more upset, and his granddaughter goes over to him.

" We can find out the name later. But, maybe you should tell them more about Holiday. Listen to the music.."

He does that. They are all silent, and after a few minutes, he’s smiling again. " That Holiday. She could make ‘em cry with that song about the baby. Especially when she would sing it being pregnant."

" She was pregnant?", George asked.

" Yeah. Real rat. I don’t know what she saw in him. Her, I know. That caramel skin, the eyes that could stop a man in his tracks across a crowded room. A skin smooth as silk, like porcelain. She could stop traffic. And, then, when you heard her sing, you realized that you didn’t even know her. How could you, when she had all that to give in her music. That voice…"

Chad stared at the man, almost mesmerized. " The guy…..you didn’t like him?"

" Nah. They all wanted her. I still don’t know what she saw in him. But, she didn’t give any guy a second look until him."

" Mr. Fiori, do you remember her face? ", George asks.

" Yeah. I could tell you about her face."

" Well, we’re going to go. I’ll come back later.", George said.

" You….you leave the music. Love Holiday’s voice."

" Sure. We’ll leave the music. It was nice talking to you. See you soon."

" After my shift."

" Yes….after your shift." George, Chad and the granddaughter went outside.

" I can’t believe it. I haven’t seen him that coherent in almost two years."

" Well, I want to come see him tomorrow morning."

" Sure, but, I don’t know how he can help you."

" I’m sure through my contacts that I can find a sketch artist. Your grandfather is going to give us a face to go with the voice."

" Alright. What time?"

" Nine a.m."

" I’ll make sure that I’m here."

" Thank you so much.", Chad said, offering his hand.

She walked away and Chad smiled at George.

" It’s really gonna happen, this time…isn’t it?"

" Yeah, Chad. I can feel it too."