Marcus: The M Series, Book Three (19 page)

“I don't understand. She was happy and was looking forward to your wedding,” she whispered, wiping her eyes with a handkerchief.

“I thought so, too. That last night...” I broke off, remembering this was her mother.

“She rocked your world, huh?” She smiled through her tears. “Marcus, my daughter and I don't go into detail, but she still talks to me about... things. I've encouraged her to ever since her first experience. Did she tell you about that?”

“No, we never discussed... experiences.”

My mother would faint if I was this open with her.

“He only had sex with her to see what sex felt like with a 'black' girl. At school the next day, he shouted to his friends in a crowded hallway, after dumping her, what they had done and his goddamn findings.”

I looked at her, stunned and disgusted. “Jesus! No wonder...”

“She made that comment to you in the pool house? Yes, that's why. He broke her heart and stole her virginity and she didn't tell me. A counselor who witnessed that scene told me after I went to the school to try to figure out why my baby was so stressed; she had gotten over a migraine and when it was time to go back to school, she got another.”

“Fifteen hours between,” I asked quietly.

“Yes. Did she tell you that?”

I nodded.

“That's why her disappearing like this is so confusing. She comes to me with everything, no matter how small... or so I thought.”

She stood and I hugged her. She gripped me tight and sobbed.

“Please, Marcus... you have to find her. I know she's in pain somewhere, as much as you and I are in, right now. Please don't disappear again. I couldn't... I won't be able to handle it again, especially with Mariah still gone.”

“I won't, Rachel. Matthew and I will figure something out.”

“Thank you, Marcus. I still believe you two can work this out. Whatever it is.”

11-11-11

I gripped the bridge of my nose and sighed. “Mother –”

“No, Marcus,” Mother shouted with her clapping, then heavily sighed. “Look, I want her found as much as you do, but I just want my children close to me for a while. All of them.”

“Mother, Cramp's been back three days now, and I’ll have my cell. Call me anytime you want; I’ll answer without hesitation.”

“No, Matthew. Don't you know someone who's just as good as you are? Has connections?”

“No one's as good as I am, Mother,” Matthew smirked.

“Still, there has to be someone,” Joshua questioned. “What about the guy you say is always a step behind you? The guy that screwed the nurse in the hospital?”

“Joshua,” Mandy gasped.

“Well, I'm sure he wanted to say 'fucked,’ Mandy,” Evelyn murmured. “I think he showed great tact and restraint.”

“Yes, he did but you didn't, young lady,” Dad snorted.

“Uh, Daddy... aren't I a little old to be called 'young lady'?”

“Never,” Dad assured, smiling.

Matthew turned to me. “I'll call Richards and find out when he can meet me.”

“No, I'll meet with him. I should do this.”

“Are you sure about all of this, son?”

“Yeah, Dad. I need to. It's been... difficult... since I haven't been able to numb the pain. I need to know, start to finish. And I miss her so much,” I said, walking to the window, shaking my head as I stared out of it. “I need to know what happened, what happens... every step.”

Matthew patted my shoulder as he walked out of the room. “Richards, please. Matthew Cannon. I have a very important case for him...”

“Marcus, whatever it is that made Mariah leave, please keep an open mind.”

I frowned at my sister. “What does that mean, Evelyn?”

“Just that, you can get angry and... unyielding. If it was enough to make her leave and break ties with everyone, then it has to be a big deal; huge. I'm just asking you not to belittle it, or walk away until you've thought it through, whatever the detective tells you.”

“Marcus,” Matthew called. “Are you going to work tomorrow?”

“Yes, but only at the hospital.”

“He can meet you there at one.”

“Fine.” I turned to Joshua. “I want Mariah to be his top priority. Get me some cash; two hundred should do it. I'm going to the apartment and pack; I don't want to be there anymore. Put that place on the market, I’ll find something later. I really need some sleep. I’m going to check into a hotel and stay there until… whenever. I’ll let you know which I go to after I pack.”

“Why don't you stay here? You still shouldn't be alone.”

“Mother, I'm thirty-six years old –”

Mother leaned forward from her perch on the couch. “Marcus, I am still your mother, and will be whatever age you are. I was very worried about you. I still am, darling. Stay here until this Richards guy finds Mariah; until you find something else, whichever comes first.”

“Mother,” Matthew interrupted. “You know either situation could take months, right? Are you sure you can look at this face that long? When are you going to shave anyway, Cramp?”

I turned my back to my parents and mouthed a 'fuck you' to Matthew.

Matthew chuckled. “Huh? I can't hear you, Cramp!”

I turned back to my mother. “Mother, if it'll make you feel better, Matthew and I both will stay here until Mariah is found.”

“Great!” My mother grinned. “Oh, I'm two-fourths happy!”

“Would you like Joshua, too? I'll send him to you for a while,” Mandy offered, smiling.

Joshua looks at her horrified. “What?”

“How about we all stay through the weekend,” Evelyn suggested. “Then, Marcus and Matthew can stay until Mariah is found.”

Matthew mouthed, 'I'm gonna kill you' to Evelyn.

Evelyn appeared to be confused. “Huh? What, Matthew? I can't hear you!”

Mother grinned again, this time at Matthew. “She's definitely your sister!”

“All right, you all go home and get whatever you need. Your mother and I expect you all back no later than seven tonight,” Dad murmured. “We’ll have dinner, together.”

“Wait... we have curfews,” Joshua yelped. “Mandy's the baby here; she should be the only one to have a curfew!”

“Hey,” Mandy shouted, chasing after Joshua, who had run out the door.

April 2, 2012

“Any word, Dr. Alexander,” Ms. Jones asked as we finish the paper work on a newborn that was just delivered.

I frowned, but soon realized she was asking about Mariah and relaxed. “No, Ms. Jones. She's been... elusive.”

“I hope you find her soon; the other nurses and I concerned about you. This weight loss is not healthy, Doctor.”

I smiled at her. “You sound like my mother.”

She smiled, and patted my back. “Doctor, there is something I think I should tell you, maybe I should've told you months ago.”

I studied her. She appeared alarmed, not like Ms. Jones at all.

“What is it, Ms. Jones,” I asked quietly.

“Well... don't shoot the messenger but –”

She stopped as soon as my cell vibrated on the desk.

“Dr. Alexander,” I answered, not recognizing the number.

“I'm looking for Dr. Marcus Cannon.”

“Richards?
I'm Alexander at work. Avoids confusion with my father. How can I help you?”

“One of my colleagues has obtained some very pertinent information I'd like to share with you tonight. Are you available?”

My heart stopped. I suddenly forgot how to breathe.

“Hello,” Richards called out in my ear.

“Did you find her,” I whispered closing my eyes, bracing myself.

“I really can't say. It's under suspicion. I'd rather gather more details, and meet with you tonight.”

“I'll be at Mariah's parents at six. You can meet me there; they need to hear something, even if it's suspicion.” 

Whatever the hell that meant.

“Text me the address, and I'll be there after six, not sure exactly how long after; I don't know how long it'll take to gather the rest of the info.”

“Fine. I'll see you there.”

I immediately sent him the address and turned to Ms. Jones, but she was gone.

I called Matthew and told him to have everyone at Rachel's at six.

He scoffed. “Why? Did Richards finally find her?”

“He said something is under suspicion.”

“Interesting. All right, I'll see you tonight.”

April 3, 2012

I couldn’t believe how cold it was in Chicago in April. California had me spoiled.

I was so relieved to hear Dad called ahead, and made sure I'd be able to get in when I arrived. Security escorted me right to Mariah's floor. I stepped off the elevator not knowing which room she was in, and started to the reception desk.

“That is not Marcus Cannon! What are you doing here?”

I frowned, thinking, who the hell knows me here? I turned in the direction of the accented voice.

“Holy shit! Pedro Garza!” I shook my old college friend's hand and slapped his back. “You're here? I thought you went back to Arizona.”

“I finished my residency there, then came here for an attending position. I know you stayed in California. What are you doing here? And at four a.m.?”

“Is Mariah Hollander your patient?”

“Yes, she is. Do you know her?”

I smiled at him.

“That's your wife?”

“My fiancée. We had a misunderstanding and she's here. How is she and my boys?”

“They're fine. So is she. She's needs more rest, but she should be okay. I have her under observation.”

“I want to take her back to California, Pete.”

“You know she can't fly. I cannot approve that, Marcus.”

“Listen, let me see her and we'll talk after. How long are you here?”

“I'm attending tonight and I have my regular hours, so I pretty much live here until eight, tonight.”

“Good. I'm going to go sit with her a while.”

“She's in there,” he says, pointing to a door behind me. “Don't upset her.”

“I won't.” I slapped his back again then go to Mariah's door.

Her bed was on the far wall. She was lying on her right side, sleeping peacefully. I quietly walked over and sat in the chair near her face. Her fingers and face were swollen from the pregnancy but she looked even more beautiful than I remembered.

She stirred and inhaled deeply. I froze when she mumbled something. It sounded like my name. She relaxed again then sharply inhaled.

“Stop. Go to sleep, please,” she mumbled, rubbing her belly. The rubbing stopped but her hand moved up and down. My breath caught; I was fascinated by the movement. After a few moments it stopped and her breathing evened again.

I gently moved her hand, lifted the covers and pressed my hand to her enormous belly, and felt a soft kick. It brought tears to my eyes. I was such an idiot! How could I have made her run?

Mariah moaned again as the kicking increased and I kissed her belly.

“Behave and let your Mommy sleep, son,” I whispered. I kissed her, then whispered again. “I missed you so much, baby. I love you.”

“I love you too, Marcus,” Mariah whispered back.

I grinned. Big. Even though it's in sleep, I felt elation. Still, I hoped she’d repeat it when she was fully awake.

I lifted her left hand and put her ring back where it belonged. I kept her hand in mine and kissed her lips. She swatted at me. I pulled back, smiled and put my head down on the bed and just stared at her face as I stroked her hair.

Next thing I knew, I was being wakened by pats on my shoulder.

“Come talk to me, Marcus,” Pete whispered.

I stretched and reluctantly followed him out of the room.

“Let me make a quick call, Pete. Her mother’s worried about her.”

He nodded. “Okay. I'll go check on another patient.”

I called Lisa's phone, just in case Rachel was sleeping.

“Marcus! Did you see her? Is she okay?”

“She doesn't know I'm here yet, but I've seen her. She's sleeping and she looks beautiful.”

“Oh, good. He's seen her! Everyone is still here. I'm going to put you on speaker.”

“What's your plan now, Cramp,” Matthew asked.

“I'm waiting to talk to her doctor. It's Pete from Stanford, Toad. He's going to talk to me when I finish on the phone.”

“You mean Pete Garza,” Evelyn squeaked.

I laughed. “Yes, Evelyn. He's already said he won't allow her to fly, so I'm thinking I'll rent a bus or something so she can be at ease.”

“That sounds like fun, Marcus,” Lisa exclaimed. “I'd like to fly out and ride back with you guys. Do you mind?”

I heard several of them say they wanted to, as well.

“How about all of you fly out and I'll find a tour bus or something that will accommodate everyone?”