Chapter 8: Cats in the Cradle

Cori and Edward drove up to KTMJ the morning of November 15th. Thursday would be their second last day at work before the weekend. The Monday following they'd be on a plane to Nebraska. Mr. Stone and Zach were outside again, this time talking together chummy before the doors.

Cori mocked them as she parked the car, "Oh, man, good times at the Iceberg Lounge. Nothing like drops and hookers, am I right, son? Ho ho ho!"

Edward chuckled, "I'm just gonna keep low today. Monday is coming up fast, I need to be good."

Cori replied, "Okay. You getting excited?"

Edward smiled to her, "A little, yeah. I've never seen anything outside of this shithole of a city. So, maybe some countryside is just what I need."

"You'll love it," she said, "It's quiet in Blue Valley."

He leaned in, "And you'll be there." He pecked her quick, like they could do it for the rest of their lives without a thought.

He opened the door and she called, "Ruskers and corn, baby! Have a good day!"

"You too, I'll text you."

She watched him walk inside, he turned to give her another wave before opening the doors. Then she drove herself to the Times building. Inside she was greeted to the usual shuffle of kids straight out of university playing with their hand-held consoles at the desks. The occasional experienced journalist in high heels or blazers. Then her nook, the outcast wall with Manny. He somehow woke up every morning bushy tailed and fabulous. A brilliant scarlet scarf over his shoulders, a designer tee shirt, and ripped denim skinny jeans. He was a bigger guy, sporting some pudge but it made him approachable and jolly. Sheek and flamboyant. Somehow his voice was enough to put her in a good mood.

Manny whistled, "Damn, mami. You lookin' hot today."

"Not as fabulous as you, Manferd," she said back in a joking English accent.

"Check your emails!" He called over the wall.

Cori said, "Okay?" Then pulled up her recent mail. It was from Manny's desk.

She asked a bit scoldingly, "What is this?"

"Just open it."

He started to peak over the wall when she did, and her face went from confusion to spurting laughter in moments. It was an invitation compiled of random memes, fart sounds, voice bits and screeching music. Then ultimately ending in a zoom in frame of Manny and his boyfriend, Steve wearing princess dresses, sparkles and chimes as they held their hands out passionately to the screen. It said 2nd anniversary party at Simmon's Bar.

Cori said in a fit of laughter, "What the fuck was that?"

"My invitation, baby. You are invited! To me and Stevie's anniversary, we hosting it at the Sim. We gonna get drunk and dance like old times, you in? Bring yo' boyfriend! What's his name, Edwin?"

"Edward. He… wouldn't go. He's not a fan of parties."

"Well, I know from past experience you are! Leave your man at home, it'll be bussin. Come on, you love Steve!"

"I don't wanna leave him home alone while I go drink, that's kinda shitty."

"What kinda man don't let his woman run loose now and then? Steve and I been together for two years. You know why? Cause we let each other do what we wanna do, cause' we trust. I know you wanna, come on…"

Cori scrunched her lips and asked, "Tomorrow?"

"9pm, baby. We gonna be goin' till last call."

Cori smiled then and said softly, "Okay, I'll go."

Manny leapt with his arms up and toddled to Cori's chair, who stayed seating but scooted away. Cori whined, "No. No! Stop!" He teasingly hugged her and gave her a big, wet smooch on the cheek (which she tried to fight from with a hearty laugh).

"You got your slobber on me, you weirdo." She chuckled as she wiped her cheek.

"We gonna dance on tables and fucking cry, bitch! Woo! The Sim, baby!"

He walked off to the coffee with his hip swinging swagger, Cori snickered in her throat as she pulled her phone out of her pocket. She was going to text Edward on her plans for tomorrow, then a phone call from her staff phone rang.

"Hello, Coraline Atkins. Writing papers no one reads since 2016. How may I help you?"

Gordon was on the other end, "Charming. You answer all your calls that way?"

"Just this one. Trying it out, didn't work for me. What's up?"

"Well… I got good news. Or… maybe bad news depending on how you see it. I spoke with Detective Coates in Coast City. Believe it or not she remembered you. She was the initial investigator on your sister's case. She's got a hell of a lot of clout in the force, there. She's retired now, but she was able to convince a former colleague to reopen the case. It's in the works now, they're just assembling a forensic team."

Cori clasped her mouth, tears already falling down her cheeks. She bounced in her office chair and asked, "It's open?! It's being investigated right now?"

"Right now," said Gordon, "You'll be getting a call in the next few days from Detective Kowaski, he's handling the proceedings."

Cori shot up from her desk with happy feet, her hand flapping excitedly, "Oh my God! Oh my God! You're serious?! You're not fucking with me, right. This is really happening?"

Gordon chuckled on the other end, "It's really happening. I take it this is good news."

"Thank you! Thank you, thank you, thank you! You are… the best cop in that precinct! The best in Gotham! You have no idea what this means to my family and me, Lieutenant. Just thank you!"

"You're welcome, Cori. Maybe you will finally get answers and justice for your sister. I gotta go."

"Because of you! Thank you! Bye!"

Cori clapped them phone down and started spinning, happily raising her hands up and laughing shamelessly.

Manny came out of the break room with a coffee mug and asked, "What is it? Damn, girl. Results come back negative or what?"

Cori gasped, "The Lieutenant just called me. He spoke to some people in California. My sister's case is being reopened for investigation. They're gonna find her killer!"

Manny's mouth fell as he clapped his mug down to her desk and hugged her, "Oh, my God! Baby, that's amazing! Oh, you must be so fucking relieved. You gonna get that fucker!"

Then a glaring thought struck, "You know, unless he's dead or he's not in the database. But… shit, it's worth a try. Gordon said there's a good chance."

Manny affirmed, "Whether he's dead or not, girl, your family deserve some closure. You do, too. You are so brave and so strong, you fightin' for your sister even now. She's up there smiling down at you."

Cori wiped away her tears and smiled, Manny awed and pulled her in for another hug, the two jumped together in an embrace. Cori's elation was clouding all the doubt and suspense in reopening a chapter that had been abandoned. She may have not remembered most of it, but she would remember it today. Closure for her sister was just around the bend.

She went to the break room to call her mom. It was dreading, but she needed to know.

The face call popped up with her mom in a grocery store. She knew the store, well. As it was one she grew up going to.

"Hey mom, you at Spender Mart?"

"Yes, baby! Just getting ready for next week. Got us not one, but two fat ass turkeys! You should see them. Butterball, whatever the hell that means. I was gonna ask you, does Edward have any allergies? Please tell me he's not vegetarian, because I don't know if I can support the relationship if he is."

"No, mom. Edward is not a vegetarian."

"Thank God. I'm so excited to see you, peanut! We got the whole fam damily coming down! Sobo and jiji, and your aunt and uncles, your cousin, Kimmy. It's gonna be a full house on Thanksgiving Day!"

"You tell them about your thirty one year old boyfriend?"

"Not yet, see I was hopin' they meet Edward, focus on your relationship. And totally forget about Singh."

"Yeah, I don't think that's gonna work, mom."

"Oh, just wait. I'm a very experienced distracter. Haha!"

"I actually called to tell you about something. Something pretty important."

Her mom's face exasperated, "Oh, Jesus. You broke up with him, already? Honey, seriously."

"What?"

"Why can't you keep a relationship for more than three months, you're so damn picky. What he do? Eat with his mouth open? Fart in bed? Seriously, baby, they don't come from the sky kissed from God. You gotta go with the bad and the good."

"Mom. No, I didn't break up with Edward. We're still together."

"Oh!" She clasped her chest in relief down the food isle, "Mother, Mary, and Joseph. Don't scare me like that, kid. What's the scuttlebutt then?"

"I… I should probably tell you this when you get home, actually. It's a lot. You need to sit down for it."

"Now you've got me worried! No, you don't get to drop a bombshell like that and not tell me. Oh my God, honey, are you pregnant?! Is that why I need to sit down?!"

Her mom started hopping against her cart and Cori snapped, "No! It's about Cece."

Her mother went inward herself, her voice low and not as bubbly as usual, "What do you mean it's about Cece? What happened?"

"I spoke with a lieutenant here. He pulled some favours in Coast City and managed to get the case reopened. They are going to do some forensics to try and find her killer."

She waited for some kind of reaction, but her mother only reflected fear in the camera. Her eyes wandering up aimlessly as her mouth hung open, not even breathing into the mic. Cori sighed, "That's why I wanted you to be home before I told you. I'm sorry, I should have waited."

"Honey… I…" Her mother stuttered.

Cori rambled on, "But it's a good thing, though, right? Bring him before justice, finally. Her bones won't be cold, anymore, mom. We can put her to rest. Mom… mom, are you mad at me?"

"I just… I gotta go, I can't talk about this right now, Coraline."

"Mom, it's gonna be…"

She hung up abruptly, leaving Cori mid sentence with her tongue stuck. She dejectedly closed her phone, sitting up from the break chair and back to her desk wrangling in the reaction of her mother.

Edward was sitting at his desk in the quiet of KTMJ. The occasional ring of phones and clacking of keyboards didn't seem to break his chain of thought. A memory was taking his focus from the accounts on his table.

"What's your name? It's okay to be shy. I was a shy kid, too.

"Edward."

"My name is Thomas Wayne. What do you like in school, Edward?"

"I like… riddles."

"Riddles!"

"And puzzles and numbers."

"Riddles and puzzles and numbers! What if I told you our Renewal program could help a smart young kid like you go to a special science and math school?"

"Really?"

"Here's a riddle for you, Edward. What is always in front of you but cannot be seen?"

"The future!"

"That's right. And your future is bright, Edward. Because remember… you matter."

Edward thought to himself then, "Something's not right."

"What's not right?"

Zach stood over his shoulder, appearing out of nowhere looking down to his notes. Edward had written it down by itself on a piece of loose leaf. He covered it up with other blank sheets, "It's nothing."

"A little slow today, huh? Girlfriend keeping you up?"

"Uh, no. Sorry."

"That's okay, I'm slow today, too. Had a late night celebrating my promotion."

"Promotion?"

Zach pointed over to his new office, "Yeah, I got my own office now."

Edward saw the bronze over his door, Zach Morley, Junior Division Director. A job he should have gotten years ago. He sunk into himself again, Zach's voice muffling.

"Don't slow down too much. I'd hate to have to crack the whip on ya! Haha!"

"Yeah… I'm… almost finished with this divorce."

Then a disrupting slap hit his shoulder from Zach, "Thatta boy!"

He scornfully thought, "Fuck you. I'm not a boy. But… something's not right."

Cori texted her father and told him the news. Surprisingly he called soon after seeing it. He was always someone who texted, never called. She hoped the news would be received more positively than her mother.

"Hey."

"Hey," he replied, his voice a foreign yet similar thing, just hearing if brought back troubling memories, "You off today? I'm in Gotham today for work. I'd like to see you."

"Uh. No, I'm at work. I have a lunch, though. Did you see my text about Cece?"

"I did, yeah. It's good news. We can talk about it more, when is your lunch?"

"In an hour. You wanna meet at Fehler's? It's a few blocks from downtown."

"Yeah, I'll see you then."

They hung up and Cori had a strange awkwardness from the call. Unable to really pinpoint the feeling or why it was curdling her. She loved her father but matters always remained unresolved and hazed. Matters she remembered vividly at the worst times, yet she always forced them down to understand his point of view. He left their home when she was twelve years old, seeing her every summer for a few weeks but never being entirely present after Cece's death. She always tried to remember she didn't know the pain of losing a child. The alcoholism the aftermath, and all the collateral it caused. The flurry of chaos never talked through. His withdrawal from her remained even in conversations. There was a parent somewhere, some time ago. She forgot that era. He was just a little more than a stranger.

She texted Edward, "Hey, I'm gonna go to lunch with my dad, he's in the city."

"Your dad?"

"Yeah. Wish me luck."

She sat at her computer screen, the anxiety building as it approached 12:00pm.

It still didn't feel real even as she walked to her car and pulled from the lot. She hadn't seen him in almost five years. Just brief, droll phone calls. Relaying information, nothing more. He lived in Metropolis, but never came to visit. She pulled up to Fehler's with the lump in her throat so heavy it was hard to breathe. There was a pick up parked behind her. It was probably his. She caught the glimpse of his side mirror. A gruelling memory again, freezing her to the car seat. She couldn't see him in the windows against the reflection of the pale sky. Cori finally turned off the engine, opened the car door and it was like plunging into frigid water. She walked to the doors and the bell over it rang. Down the isle she saw him fumble from the seat and stand to her entrance. He looked how she remembered but older. His dark brown hair receding a little with streaks of grey. He had a moustache and always such sad brown eyes. An older and shorter version of Edward, even sporting the same large glasses. His wardrobe different than Edward's, though. Always with a checker button up tucked in his jeans.

She walked up to him unsure what to do with her face. Not sure if she should smile, make a joke to ease the tension after years of indifference. Say hello?

"Hello."

"Hey, Cori." He huskily said, holding his arm out awkwardly as if he was asking for a hug.

She went to hug him, and it was stiff on her end, but he patted her back. Something about hugging him was comforting despite the waves of uncertainty she had. She was willing to give this lunch a real try. A new beginning for the two of them.

He pulled away and said, "You look good." As if he was relieved.

"So do you. Sobriety looks good on you."

He nodded, pacing his eyes from her and back to the ground, "Thanks. Wanna sit?"

They sat down with a gap of silence, looking over the menus, both contemplating the next question to break the ice. Like some kind of blind date.

Cori finally said, "I told mom about the news. She wasn't too happy about it."

"Yeah, doesn't surprise me. Your mother… had it pretty rough after Cece. It's a terrible thing to revisit."

"You had it pretty rough, too."

"Yeah, well. I think it's a good thing. Been wanting to find Cece's murderer since the day. You did good, don't let her change that."

"I'm not," she stood up for her mom, "She's just scared."

"I get that. She… seeing anyone?"

Cori scoffed a smile, "Yeah. Not for long, though. Probably won't last long, either."

"Who?"

"Her thirty-one-year-old therapist."

Her father chuckled, scratching his temple, "Sounds about right. She still going on those… psychedelic trips?"

"She's settling down now. She's got chickens to take care of."

"She always liked to live with her head in the clouds. She still keeps tabs on you, though, I hope."

Cori said surely, "We talk everyday."

Her father was a little deflated at the statement, "Right."

"What about you? Seeing anyone?"

"Nah," he chuckled down to his folded hands, "Too busy with work. Hard to… find someone who understands the limits to sobriety."

"Yeah…" Cori tapered off, flicked her thumbs together and looking out the window.

"You… seeing anyone?" He asked.

She forced a smile, "Yeah, actually. Two months, it's been good."

"I'm glad. He's a good guy?"

"Yeah. He's great. He works at an accounting firm in Tricorner, we usually go for lunch everyday. Except for today, but mostly everyday."

"You should have brought him. I'd like to meet him."

Cori said sullenly, "Maybe another time. I'd like to get to know you first."

Her father's eyes wilted at the comment, fighting with his own discomfort. The elephant in the room was glaring now.

"You know me, I'm your dad."

"Yeah, but… not really. It's been a long time."

He pushed his glasses up his nose and looked down, "I know. I'm sorry, I should have reached out more. You're still my girl, that hasn't changed. I'd like to get to know you, too. You still working at the Gotham Times?"

"Yeah. You still working at the rigs?"

"That I am. I have a few jobs in Gotham here and there, figured I'd reach out to you when I got that text."

"You come to Gotham often?"

He nodded, "Yeah about every two months or so."

She couldn't bite it down, "You never reached out to me. Never… wanted to visit or check on me?"

He went pale, "I know. I'm sorry. I've just… I didn't know what to say, Cori. I didn't know how to approach… this conversation. I know drawing it out only makes it worse."

"Why? What we're you afraid was gonna happen?"

He went silent then, sighing and looking away. Cori didn't thwart her glance, that was subtly turning into a glare.

"Being sober brings up a lot of memories from… when I was drinking and knowing what I know now, I know I hurt you."

"What, like… listening to you and mom screaming at each other in the kitchen on a school night?"

"I don't remember that… exactly. Just remember I wasn't always there for you."

Cori whispered in a breaking voice, "Yeah. Clearly, you haven't been sober long enough."

"In meetings I talk about what happened to Cece… that it… really broke me, Coraline. To know what that man did to her body, what he took from our family. She was my first baby and I… the pain turned me into something I never wanted. Not for your mother, not for you."

"What about what you did to me."

Her father squinted his eyes and furrowed his brows, "I'm sorry?"

"Cece died, dad. I was still there. You died with her, right before my eyes. I watched it happen in slow motion. After every drink I lost you more and more. I watched you leave, and even after everything I begged you not to. I was pulling you back and you went anyway. You looked right at me, and you left. Then I was left… in your side view mirror watching you drive away. Mom tried to pull me away but I didn't leave that sidewalk, I waited. I trusted you enough that you'd come back but you didn't."

Her father muttered, "I didn't leave you, Cori, you still saw me. Every summer."

Cori coughed a laugh with glossing eyes, "Yeah. A whole two weeks of you sitting on the lazy boy with a six pack."

"Cori, I…"

"You know," she interrupted, her lip shaking through a wavy voice, "Even after all the fights with mom, you ignoring my arms up for you, the empty seat at my dance recitals, I still waited for you. I still trusted you. Hoping that one day you'd see me. Even now, I came to this lunch because I thought you wanted to see me. You're just here to… make an excuse for your absent fatherhood."

"That's not true."

"Cece died, but I still needed you."

"Your mom she…"

Cori leaned over the table with her finger raised, "Don't. Don't you fucking dare blame it on mom. She wasn't the one drinking, dad. You took out your shit on her and now she's fucked from it. She lost Cece, too, and you abused her."

He whispered, "I never did. I never. I would never lay a hand on a woman, Cori."

"You didn't have to. You went for her mind and her soul, and unlike a bruise those hits don't heal so easily. Just like me. Because I saw all of it, even when I tried to hold my ears, I'd hear all of it. You bruised me when you left, and when you looked at me, right in my face! You looked at me and got into your truck, I was crying, begging you not to leave me! Why doesn't that haunt you?"

"I couldn't… I saw what I was doing to you and your mother living there and I couldn't, Cori. I never said it didn't haunt me."

"Then why didn't you come visit me?! Call and say 'Hey, Cori, I'm in town and I'll be coming every two months, I want to see you' why didn't I get that call? Why today when it's only about Cece? She wasn't your only child, dad! I was there the whole time, but you chose your grief and your bottle over me, every time! Even when I was screaming for you!"

He snapped, "Would you!" Then he clenched his fist and bowed his head, "Would you keep your voice down, please?"

Cori froze as the tears streamed down her cheeks. Unable to conjure a word if they fell on deaf ears. Her peace was said, but he was still gone. She sat up and walked from the isle staggeringly, picking up pace.

"Cori… Cori, wait!" Her dad chased for her, but she didn't accept it. She jogged to her car, jumbling with the keys. He came out behind her.

She got passed her car door and he snatched it.

"I'm sorry, Cori. I am, please… I'm trying, I really am. I'm not ignoring you anymore…"

She pulled in the car door but his grasp kept it, she barked, "Stop! No, Stop! Enough!" She stuck her hand up for him to let go and he did. Cori slapped the door closed and started her car. He still hit the window.

"Baby, I'm sorry. I still love you, I love you so much! I miss you, everyday. I want to do better! I'm here now, I know you think I'm not, but I'm here!"

She drove off, leaving his voice in the side view mirror. Almost seeing her own pig tails and baseball tee in his place. Cori wept behind the wheel, trying to calm down so she could see the road. Her tears blurring her vision as every memory clamoured back to her. Every macaroni artwork she made for him slapped to the table to be ignored as he took another drink. Every time he shuffled passed her through the kitchen even when she had her arms up. Every curse word, terrifying shout and punch in the wall as he'd fight with her mother. The day she came back from baseball practice and saw her mother crying at the kitchen table. Only to look out the window and see him packing his truck with all of his belongings. She raced to him then, grabbing his shirt and begging for him to stay. Wailing for him to not go. He didn't say a word, just looked at her with the same sad but meaningless expression he had in the diner. No words or actions to make it understood. Just lost in his own world he barricaded from everyone. Even her. Leaving her in the side view mirror from that day onward.

Cori came back into her office just to set her things down.

Manny called to her, "Hey baby, what you have today?"

Cori didn't respond, just speed walk to the bathroom gasping from intruding tears.

"Cori? Girl, you okay?"

She ran into the stall, locking it and sitting over the toilet seat clutching her stomach. Her breath would return only to be stolen so quickly. The tiles below her nike shoes wet in tears.

She could hear her child self on that sidewalk clutched in her mother's comforting arms.

"Why did he leave?"

Her mother replied, "He left a long time ago, baby."