Patterns of a Bloodline

Chapter five

Seated by the window in the remote corner of the living room, Julian's mother was smoking a cigarette. With each puff, she closed her eyes, striving to relax. In a moment when her son might have needed her the most, he wanted nothing to do with her. Not even a third cigarette could calm her mind.

Upon hearing a knock at her door, she extinguished her cigarette and tossed it out the window. Quickly closing the window, she grabbed the air freshener from the coffee table and sprayed it liberally around the room. Once she was satisfied the room smelled more of fresh linen than cigarette smoke, she moved to answer the door.

"Who is it?" She asked through the door.

"Hello, my name is Rasheeda. You may not be familiar with me, but I have a few questions if you have a moment."

The name sprang to mind, and Julian's mother cheerfully swung the door open, "Ahmad, Rasheeda Ahmad! So glad to see you. Please, make yourself at home!" She kindly ushered her inside.

Julian's mother's hospitality kicked in. Before Rasheeda could even ask her first question, she was offered a cold glass of water and a comfortable spot on the couch. With the television now turned off, she extended her hand across the table.

"Patina." She said with a warm smile.

"Nice to meet you, Ms. Patina!" Rasheeda responded, shaking her hand gently. She crossed her leg over the other and sat up a bit straighter, her interlaced fingers resting comfortably on her knee.

"I cannot believe you are sitting here in my home. You are shaking the city like a true activist! So, what brings you here today, Rasheeda?"

"Well, I'm just going around chatting with the residents, hearing their thoughts, and seeing if they're able to lend their support." Rasheeda began.

"Right. This is a time for us to rally up."

"Most certainly," and then Rasheeda asked with a friendly tone, "Do you have any children, Ms. Patina?"

She nodded. "I do. I had two. Now, I have one." Patina's voice faltered as she remembered her other son.

"Passed on?" Rasheeda asked gently.

Patina shook her head. "Yes." She tried to say more, but the words wouldn't come out.

"I'm truly sorry for your loss," Rasheeda said with heartfelt sincerity, "Losing a child, having to say goodbye before they've even had the chance to truly live, it's unimaginably painful. My heart is with you. And just to let you know Ms. Patina, there are other parents just next door who are going through a similar heartache. The only difference is, they don't even have a body to bury or any sign that their child is still alive."

Patina let out a breath, "I understand. That's why I'm all in to lend a hand however I can. Join the search teams, pass out flyers, you name it. Count me in!"

"Thank you for your offer," Rasheeda responded with a smile. "However, I've been informed that your family's resources could be of greater benefit to our community."

Patina braced herself, suspecting the conversation would shift towards Julian and his unknown associates. Despite allowing Julian more freedom and privacy than most parents, she was cognizant of the circulating rumors about her son. She had, in fact, amassed considerable evidence supporting the validity of these rumors. However, she never discussed this matter with anyone, including Julian.

"Resources? And who might have told you that?" Patina asserted with a peculiar smirk, tilting her head with certainty.

"Ma'am, it's clear. Julian, your son, can help protect these kids. They are scared to walk to school, even if it's just five blocks away. Parents are afraid to let their kids play alone in the courtyard. It's gotten to the point where people are asking me if stopping their kids from going outside means danger will come inside. We don't even feel safe in our homes anymore," Rasheeda said.

"I'm not certain where you're getting your information or how you know my son's name. However, I stand by my initial offer. We can organize another search party--"

"Ms. Patina, I don't need the kind of help you're offering. We've failed many times, you've seen it on the news. The Sheriff has lied publicly and repeatedly, even to himself, and especially to the frightened children who fear they could be next. Every time a child disappears, it's quickly dismissed. You've seen this, even if the news segments were brief. They simply don't care," stated Rasheeda firmly.

Patina, seemingly lost in her own thoughts, gradually withdrew from the active conversation. Rasheeda, recognizing the change in her demeanor, remained patient and gave her a moment of silence. She understood that, given the fact they were still sitting in the quaint comfort of Patina's living room, there was a chance that Patina might be contemplating whether or not to offer the help that Rasheeda so desperately needed. Although it was a tense silence, Rasheeda was optimistic. However, she was also acutely aware that if Patina was indeed considering her proposition, she would likely need more persuasion. She was prepared to do just that, ready to emphasize her need once more if required.

"I'm really sorry if I've upset you. I promise I'm not as daunting as those edited news stories make me out to be. I'm here because I deeply care about the children who are missing and seem to have been forgotten. I want to extend a helping hand. Your son can be a part of this. The people he works for, they've always been protected by this community. All I'm asking is for them to do the same for us. Our people have every right to feel safe."

Patina stated, "My son no longer lives here. I can't even get a response from him over the phone. I have no idea what he's doing or where he is, and I can't provide the help you're expecting. I've given all that I'm able to currently offer. You can either accept it or find help elsewhere. Would you please leave my house?" she asked as politely as she could.

Overwhelmed with a sense of defeat, Rasheeda slowly picked herself up from the chair where she had been sitting. With each step she took, her heart weighed heavily in her chest, a vivid reminder of the disappointment she was feeling. Patina walked by her side as she escorted Rasheeda towards the exit. As they neared the door, Rasheeda paused in her tracks, turning around to face Patina. For a moment, time seemed to stand still as the two women stood there, inches apart, their eyes locked in a profound, unspoken understanding.

"I assure you, I hold the utmost respect for a woman in her home. However, by the expression on your face, Ms. Patina, it's evident that you're well aware of your son's activities. When the inevitable fifth child goes missing, because I'm certain there will be a fifth, rest assured, I will return. I suggest you text or leave a voicemail for your son, letting him know that Rasheeda Ahmad is seeking a conversation with him." Without waiting for Patina's response, Rasheeda proceeded confidently down the hallway.

Patina shut the door, a sour hint of reality still hanging around her taste buds. Stress levels were shooting up as she chewed over the surprise pop in from Rasheeda Ahmad. The timing, honestly, stunk. Julian was hardly in the mood for playing superhero in the neighborhood right now. Plus, Patina was pretty clueless about the nitty-gritty of Julian's job or who he worked for. But then, it hit her: maybe this was her ticket to getting closer with her son.