Crises in Love (Zora and Jaylan)

Adela was a real sport, answering every question thrown her way, "Oh gosh, that's a tough one, and let me think..."

She rolled her eyes in thought, then her face lit up as she said, "Right, I remember now. The first time I saw that kid was when they moved in. He was just about yay big.

Adela gestured to indicate the size, then continued, "I could tell he was just a newborn, fresh as a daisy. I saw this lady carrying him up the stairs, and being the nosy neighbor I am, I asked her who she was looking for. She said they were moving into apartment 3B. That was the first time I saw them."

"And you didn't ask what their relationship was?" I asked, my curiosity aflame..

"I did ask, actually." Adela perked up as she chatted, "The woman told me it was her son's child. Poor thing, the daughter-in-law passed away, and the son had gone to find work out of town. She went on to say that her in-laws were fighting with her over the baby, so she took the kid and hid out here in this apartment. She also mentioned that her grandchild couldn't just be handed over to them, especially since they were not the most reputable folks. Otherwise, her daughter-in-law might still be alive. Who knows what's true or not, but it sounds pretty heartbreaking. Such a shame for such a beautiful child to be without a mother." Adela sighed, "That kid was so striking, and you wouldn't forget his face."

Tears began to well up in my eyes.

Adela gave me a quizzical look, "What's this about? Even if you're cops, why are you looking for her? Something's up?"

"I..." I was at a loss for words, glancing over at Ronan.

Ronan quickly stepped forward to help me out, "We're family on the mother's side. I'm the uncle, and she's the aunt. The child was taken from us. It's a long story. We've been searching for three years. The mother is alive and well, and it's just that losing her child made her a bit out of sorts."

A tear finally escaped and ran down my cheek.

"See, I knew something was fishy. Why else would they be cooped up inside all the time? That no-good woman." Adela was full of righteous indignation, "Oh dear, did she run off again?" Ronan nodded, "Yes, that's why we had no choice but to call the police."

"Oh right, some folks were looking for them a few days ago. What was that about?" Adela inquired, adding, "They didn't look like good news. All grim and menacing."

"Yeah, they were sent by the child's paternal uncle. They don't want the kid to come home." Ronan half-truthfully wove the story.

"Adela, do you have a photo of the woman or anything that could help us find her?" I asked on a whim.

Adela shook her head, "No, catching a glimpse of them was rare enough."

Hannah quickly instructed Adela, "You seem like a responsible person, and you're sharp. Here's my number. If you hear anything about this family, please assist us and give us a call.

But for today, to avoid spooking anyone, please keep this under wraps. Don't tell anyone, not a soul, about anything related to this matter or if something else comes to mind. Please, just ring us up."

"Sure thing. You're the police, and I can rest easy. Otherwise, I'd be wondering what kind of folks are sneaking around someone's house in the dead of night, and that would be improper." Adela now explained with a smile.

After all this commotion, leaving the complex, it was nearing 3 am.

On the drive back, overwhelmed by fatigue and disappointment, I didn't want to speak a word. Adela's account kept replaying in my mind.

I imagined what the woman looked like, whether she was kind to my son, and where the child might have ended up.

By the time the car pulled into Serene Garden Homes, I had fallen asleep.

The next day, when I opened my eyes, it was still pitch black. I lazily rolled over and murmured, "What time is it? Why isn't it light out yet?" Thinking it was still early, I let myself drift back to sleep without a worry.

I slept until I woke naturally, turning over in the soft, comfortable bed, when suddenly it hit me that something was off.

I reached out, feeling the unfamiliar bed, and startled, I sat up.