Chapter 4:

April 24, 1997

Springfield, IL

Ross Marler's Office, 11:15 am

Ross had immediately arrived at his office, after having to call a cab after the ripoff garage vandalized his car and told him everything would be alright by tomorrow morning. Ross sincerely doubted that, but he had more pressing issues at the moment, starting with Roger's suddenly leaving Springfield.

It's not like Ross liked the guy, they had butted heads time and time again once as romantic rivals over Holly, who Ross had once dug up dirt on when he was hired to represent Roger after he raped Holly, something Ross always regretted. Ross becoming involved later on with Blake certainly didn't help, either with Roger threatening Ross to reveal their relationship to the press unless he gave up his Senate seat, but in the end, Roger had slowly accepted his and Blake's relationship and marriage. At least that was what Ross thought until Roger decided to get him back by marrying Dinah! Fortunately and unfortunately, their marriage was short-lived when Dinah decided to get involved with Roger's estranged son Hart, who she later plotted with to gaslight Roger into having a mental breakdown and had sent to a psychiatric hospital.

Their relationship was revealed at Roger's mental competency hearing in court, with the judge wanting to place them under arrest. Ross was ready to argue with the judge, but Roger pleaded with the judge not to do so as he would drop all the charges against them, claiming that he had changed.

Ross of course doubted that, considering he was convinced that Roger had a part in Dinah getting locked in the grain silo at the Jessup farm, where she nearly died of suffocation before Roger got her out and made himself look like the hero. A part of Ross wanted to ignore Roger's disappearance, for as far as he was concerned, which almost everyone in Springfield would agree upon, they were much better off without him and his manipulative ways. But he couldn't. He just couldn't.

It was almost too convenient on Roger's part to leave Springfield. Ross did not doubt the fact that Roger had left, that was certain. He had heard the franticness in Holly's voice when she had called him to inform him about it. She also told him that Blake felt he was keeping something from her when he lied to her about the supposed business meeting that Amanda had sent him on. That convinced Ross immediately that something was wrong, but what he couldn't understand was what.

What was Roger keeping from his daughter that made him lie to her and leave town?

Ross picked up the phone, and dialed.

Blake Marler's House, same time

Michelle Bauer was at the Marler house babysitting the twins when the phone rang.

She ran over to get it just as Blake entered the house.

"Marler residence," Michelle said.

"Hello, Michelle. It's Ross. Is Blake home?"

"She has just arrived," Michelle said, turning to Blake, waving at her.

"Could I please speak with her? It's really important that I must."

"Of course," Michelle said, before covering the mouthpiece. "It's Ross. He wants to speak with you about something important."

Blake ran over and grabbed the phone from Michelle. "Hello, Ross?"

"Blake, I just heard about Roger leaving Springfield from Holly. How are you feeling?"

"Scared, Ross," Blake said. "I'm really scared. I have no idea where he went, and that worries me."

"Holly said that you felt Roger was keeping something from you when you spoke with him last night. Do you have any idea what it might be?"

"I wish I knew, Ross," Blake said, shaking her head. "At first, I thought it had to do with his relationship with Amanda Spaulding, but now I'm not too sure."

"That's fine, Blake," Ross said. "I completely understand."

"You have to find him, Ross," said a frantic Blake. "I can't lose him again."

"Look, I'll try to find him, Blake, but there's really not that much information we can work on."

"Just promise me you'll find him, Ross," Blake said.

She heard Ross sigh over the phone before he said, "I promise."

She heard the phone click. Blake lowered the phone and placed it back on the receiver.

"Did something happen to Roger?"

Blake turned around to find Michelle looking at her with concern in her eyes. Blake had completely forgotten that Michelle was standing by the whole time during her call with Ross.

"Michelle, there's no easy way to say this," Blake said, making eye contact with her. "You have to promise me you'll keep this to yourself."

Michelle felt her heart beat quickly, as she nodded.

"Roger left Springfield last night," Blake said.

"What?" Michelle asked, her face a mask of complete shock. "Do you have any idea where he is?"

Blake shook her head. "We're trying to find him."

"Shouldn't we call the police and let them know Roger's gone?" Michelle asked innocently.

"Oh, please," Blake said. "The police aren't exactly fond of my dad. They're not going to do anything about his disappearance."

"Well, what about Frank Cooper?" said Michelle. "You're friends with him. Maybe he'll help you find your dad."

"I don't know, Michelle," Blake said. "His dad doesn't like my dad very much, given his relationship with Jenna Bradshaw. Plus, Frank was busy busting my dad's chops last year when Dinah and Hart were gaslighting him to crack. Also, he's a detective now. How do we know that he won't inform his superiors about this?"

"It wouldn't hurt to ask," Michelle said, shrugging.

With that, Blake made up her mind.

She grabbed the phone and called the police department, wishing to speak with Detective Frank Cooper. It took a few minutes until he picked up.

"Cooper?"

"Hey, Frank. It's Blake. I need a personal favor from you."

"Sure. What do you need?"

"I need you to help me find someone," Blake said, before biting her lip. "The problem is that I don't want the entire police department to find out about it."

Blake heard silence over Frank's end.

"May I ask exactly who you're looking for?"

"I'll tell you if you promise me not to tell anyone else about it," Blake said.

"Blake, I--" Frank started to protest.

"Frank, please. Just promise me you won't tell anyone."

Frank sighed. "I promise. Now will you tell me who you want me to look for?"

Blake hesitated before she told him about her dad leaving Springfield without a trace, and her suspicions that something was wrong. Frank didn't say anything, but Blake could tell he was listening due to his breathing. Finally after she finished, Frank spoke.

"You're going to get me into a whole lot of trouble, Blake. I'm not sure if I can withhold this information."

"You have to, Frank," said Blake, pleading with him. "My life depends on it. My dad's life depends on it."

"How can we be sure there's anything wrong with him?" Frank asked. "I mean, as far as I'm concerned, he could've skipped town after--"

"My dad did not steal from the Spauldings, Frank," Blake insisted.

"How can you be certain about that, Blake?" Frank asked. "More importantly, do you have anything to corroborate that statement?"

"I know he didn't," said Blake. "I know you and the entire town have never gotten along with my dad, but I know for certain that he didn't leave Springfield because he stole from the Spauldings. I could tell by his--"

Blake's eyes widened as she remembered her dad's voice when they last spoke with each other. "Oh my god."

"Blake, what is it?"

"I had it all wrong this whole time," Blake said softly. "All this time, I thought that my dad left because it had something to do with his relationship with Amanda, but I was wrong. It has absolutely nothing to do with that. Roger leaving has nothing to do with Amanda or the Spauldings."

"Blake, I'm starting to get confused here," Frank said. "What do you mean that it has nothing to do with the Spauldings? Do you know something that I don't?"

"I can't believe this," Blake said quietly. "Frank, I know why my dad left. It doesn't have anything to do with the Spauldings, his health is the reason he left."

"His health?" Frank repeated.

"It makes so much sense now, Frank," Blake said. "There's something going on with my dad's health that would make my mom and I worry. That's what made him leave."

"Explain."

"When I was speaking with him, the slur in his voice was making it difficult for him to speak," Blake explained. "He tried hiding it, that's why I barely noticed it."

"A slur?" Frank asked.

"It had been bothering him for months," Blake said. "He said it was a minor stroke, but that was a few months ago."

"When was this?" Frank asked.

"Back in September," Blake said.

"Alright, I'll get in touch with the doctor that treated him, before I stop by the apartment complex where he was staying at and question the manager."

"Frank, are you going to find my dad?"

"I'll do my best," Frank promised before he hung up.

"Everything is going to be alright, Blake," Michelle said. "I'm sure Frank will find your dad in no time. He's a good cop."

"He's one of the best," Blake murmured.

"Listen, I have to go," said Michelle. "But call me as soon as you find out something about Roger."

"I will," Blake said before she traded goodbyes with Michelle, who left.

Blake then called Lillian at the hospital and told her she didn't feel well so she wasn't coming in for work, before calling her mother at the Journal. Her mother didn't answer, so she left a message saying to call her as soon as she could. She called Ross back, but the line was busy, so she hung up. She later called her brother Hart who was at Matt Reardon's house, helping him overlook plans for Cedars' new activity room. Hart didn't answer either because Matt had locked up both him and Dinah, who was also working on the activity room, in the shed to keep them from arguing and force them to make up. She decided to check up on the twins who were in their playpen.

Blake bent down and leaned both her arms on the railing, resting her chin on top of her hands, watching them play. All she could do now was wait.