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

Sam went to the place in the park where he and Ivy used to leave notes. He lifted up the rock and left one. What he had written was harsh, but, the talk with Madelaine had really opened his eyes. Attraction to Ivy was one thing; risking the world that he had because of it was something altogether different. Sam sighed as he lowered the rock. He hoped this would rid him of Ivy. He had taken the night off. He was going to spend it enjoying his family and Grace – the most precious things in his life.

TC and Chad were in the kitchen discussing Boston sports teams and shucking the corn that Eve had left before she left for the store with Madelaine to pick up a few items. There was a knock on the back door.

" Come in.", TC said.

" Hey guys."

" Mr. A, what brings you here?", Chad asks.

" I need to talk to you. Chad, we’ve caught another break."

" Do you want to talk in the living room? I’ll finish up here, Chad.", TC offers.

" Coach, to be honest, I’d appreciate it if you were there with me."

" Ok. The corn can wait. "

TC and Chad go into the living room with George.

" So, Mr. A, you saying that I caught a break?"

" Yes, Chad. Do you remember Orville Perkins?"

" That old man who burned my birth certificate. Or what I thought was your birth certificate."

" Yes, him."

" But, I thought you believed he couldn’t tell us anything. That he was crazy."

" He may be crazy, but, there are other ways of finding out things. I’ve had contacts looking into things concerning both Orville and Crystal – the only two people who have claimed to know anything about your birth. I think I’ve hit paydirt."

Chad took a big breath, and softly said, " Ok."

" Well, I told you that I looked into Crystal’s past. Her father got out of jail suddenly, and all his bills had been mysteriously paid. Well, looking into Orville’s past, he had a much higher income than someone who would hang out at a blues club would have. So, I had someone check, and fortunate for us, Orville was audited by the IRS."

" IRS? What does that have to do with anything?"

" It means, Chad, that we have detailed financial records about Orville’s income for several years, including the year that we believe you were born."

" The government keeps records for THAT long?", TC asks.

" Yep.", was all George would say.

" So, what do the records say, Mr. A?"

" Like I said, these were detailed records for Orville. They jump in income arrives the year before you were born. It is even higher the year you were born. It decreases, but, is still significant the year after you were born. And, only drops off the next year. Orville, it seems, was some sort of very expensive consultant. The thing is, the three different companies that paid him were from totally different fields. No way logically that this one man could be working for them in any serious capacity."

" Hush money.", TC says.

" That’s putting it mildly.", George says.

" What are you thinking. Mr. A?"

" I think that Orville was a spy."

" A spy?"

" Yes, for your father, or a member of your father’s family. They hired Orville to keep an eye on your father and mother, and to report back to his family. I think that was the first year."

" And the rest?", TC asks.

" I think it was a payoff. The payoff for disposing of you, Chad. In my gut, I feel Orville and Crystal were paid to make sure that you never were to be with your mother. I think that you were kidnapped from your mother, and that they made sure that you weren’t with your mother."

" They took me from my mother?"

" I can’t say for sure. Only your father would probably be able to shed light on the situation."

" Well then, let’s go see the Sonuvabitch!", Chad said heatedly.

" That’s the only thing. I don’t know WHO your father is. I can only tell you what I think his last name is."

" What is it?", Chad asks.

" Crane."

" Thank you for going to the store with me, Mother Russell. I’m sure that they’ll enjoy tonight’s meal. I don’t know why, I just felt like fixing an all-American meal tonight. Corn Chowder, Pot Roast and Vegetables, with Apple Pie for dessert."

" I don’t mind, Eve. I’m glad we got the chance to spend time alone. I was wondering how things were progressing between Whitney and Chad?"

" In all honesty, I don’t think much lately. When Chad hit that last dead end with regards to his parents, it really shook him. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him as sad as he was after that. He’s always been such a positive person, but, this shook him to the core. Whitney is just trying to be a good friend to him. I don’t think he can handle anything romantic right now."

" Well, they’re too young anyway. I’m glad they’re taking it slow. You seemed to have changed towards Chad."

" Ok, yes, I admit that I was very harsh with Chad. It’s just because I’m protective of my family. Nothing is more important to me. But, he’s not a bad person. I realize that."

" I know you do, Eve. You’re fiercely protective of them. I can see it. They need your protection. A mother’s love is the most fierce. You’ll do anything to make sure that your family is safe. Or, you ought to."

Eve glanced over to Madelaine. Something about her mother-in-law always gave her a little chill on her back of her neck. Madelaine always seemed to be speaking with double meanings in everything that she said. Of course, Eve thought, I could be paranoid. They finished the car ride in silence.

" I can’t believe we’re on our way to the Crane Mansion.", Chad said, from the back seat of George’s car. TC and George were up front.

" Chad, if you don’t think you can do this, we don’t have to."

" No, Mr. A. If Alistair or Julian Crane is my father, then I want to hear it from them."

" You know Chad, the Cranes aren’t known for their truth telling.", TC volunteers.

" I know, Coach. But, I’ll look them in the face. I’ll be able to tell whether or not they’re lying."

" TC, you gotta promise you won’t lose your temper.", George says.

" I know, George. I think of what they probably did to Chad and his mother, and I want to beat Julian down. But, not before the truth is revealed. I’ll be on my best behavior. But, I’ll be another pair of eyes."

" Thanks, Coach. Having you with me means a lot."

" No problem, Chad. I’m honored that you want me there. But, if the truth is with the Cranes, we’ll know what it is by the end of tonight."

" Damn straight on that.", George says, determined as he always was, when he smelled that he was at the end of a case.
 

" TC? Chad?", Eve says, looking at the unfinished corn sitting in the kitchen. Madelaine brings in the rest of the groceries.

" I wonder where they went?", Eve says, looking at Madelaine, who is as confused as Eve is. Eve goes to put up the cream for the soup and sees a note on the board on the refridgerator. It’s from TC and it says, ‘Check the answering machine’.

" Eve, I’m going to put on some music, so as to make it more pleasant for cooking."

Eve and Madelaine both go into the living room. Madelaine is  looking through the CD’s and finally selects one, while Eve pushes the memo button on the answering machine.

She hears TC’s voice. " Baby, sorry about the corn. George arrived and has a lead about Chad’s father. You’ll never guess….he thinks it’s a Damn Crane! We’re on our way over there now."

Eve doesn’t get the chance to digest that when she hears a voice from the past booming from the sterero system. Eve turns to the music in shock.

" WHERE DID YOU GET THAT?!", Eve yells at Madelaine.

Confused, Madelaine is even more shocked when Eve comes over to her and begins to shake her. " WHERE DID YOU GET THAT MUSIC?!"

Madelaine looked and found the case for it, and thrust it into Eve’s face. " Here!"

Eve stared down at the CD and had a flashback:

" I want you to have this." Chad shows her a CD  and hands it to her.

" What’s this?"

" It’s a recording of my mother’s voice. Mr. A helped get it onto CD. I guess I got my love for music from her. I think it’s magnificent. I just wanted you to have it. You’ve been supportive of me trying to find my parents, and even though you haven’t been gung-ho like the Coach, you’ve just tried to spare me the pain that I’m feeling right now, and I respect that. I know you’re not into music all that much. But, in your spare time, I hope you enjoy it."
 

‘ A recording of my mother’s voice…… A recording of my mother’s voice….. A recording of my mother’s voice……… A recording of my mother’s voice’

It’s going round and round in Eve’s mind.

She begins to shake, and  Madelaine comes over to her, concerned.

" Eve, what’s wrong?….Eve? Eve?"

When she looked up at Madelaine, she had tears in her eyes.

" He said it was a recording of his mother’s voice.", Eve said slowly.

" Who said it?", Madelaine asks.

" Chad."

" Ok….I don’t understand."

" Mother Russell…..this is a recording of MY voice."