Their Heats Desire

Chapter 6

Lilia Harding heard through the grapevine that this PI was the man to see about finding people. As she stands in front of the office of PI Simon Sinclair, she considers carefully what must be done.

Lilia scolded herself for not doing something sooner. At this point she did not care what AJ had to say, she needed to find her daughter.

Simon Sinclair, a PI, was in his office going over another case file when a woman in her mid-forties walked through his door. He assessed her with just a look. Simon could tell that she was a looker in her younger days. Not that she isn't one now. Her hair was deep brown, he could tell she dyed it. She has a walk that would stop traffic even now. She must have been a model or something along those lines. Yet there was something about her face that said there was trouble in her life.

Trouble was his business and if he could help her with hers he would. There was something else about her he just could put his finger on, but he would wait to hear what she had to say before drawing any conclusions. Simon was the first to speak, ‘how can I help you?’

The name she said is Lilia Harding wife of business tycoon JA Harding.

That was what he was trying to figure out, where he knew her face. With a name like Harding in this town, how could he not know? It’s a name that no one would ever forget, it’s not often a black man rises to his station. Everyone knew him or of him.

Simon could hardly wait to find out the reason that Lilia Harding was in his office. He sat up in his usual manner waiting with pen and pad in hand to jot down all vital information. Mrs. Harding began her story. “I need your help in finding my daughter.”

“Well you’ve come to the right place; now tell me when did you last see her?”

“December . . .” She said knowing that it’s been about 6 months now and the trail might be very cold.

“Well, Mrs. It's July, and people usually come to me sooner than this.”

“I thought she would have called or come home but I was wrong.”

“Alright tell me everything you can about her. What was she wearing the last time you saw her? Where do you think she might go?”

“Mr. Sinclair.” She started when he interjected.

“Call me Simon please.”

“Okay, Simon! It’s not like that, Sonia’s not a teenager or a runaway . . . she’s 25 years old and pregnant.”

“Mrs. Harding, your daughter’s an adult, why are you coming to me for help?”

“My daughter left home just when she found out about her pregnancy, well there’s more to it than that but I have to find her. She should be about 5 months old by now. I just need to say I’m sorry and be a part of my grandchild’s life.”

“Okay then begin at the beginning.”

While filling Simon in on some of what happened, Lilia thought about the events that lead up to Sonia leaving home. Things between Sonia and Justin had gone so wrong for so long. Justin’s a proud, hard-headed man who refuses to change. Sonia’s so much like her father that they clash. Lilia knew someday this would happen but not like this over something so...

Lila sat in Simon Sinclair’s office looking at the picture she had with her. “My daughter is a very bright beautiful young woman and I’ll never forgive myself for what happened.”

“Mr. Sinclair Sonia’s life was a very sheltered one for so long until she began working outside of the home. A whole New World opened for her, oh she didn’t act wild or party but she did become silent, and evasive hanging out with her co-workers and things of that nature. I knew when Sonia started dating, which she never told us about. That was something my husband didn’t allow and so it was exciting even to be able to hang out and go to social parties. You see all the time Sonia was being sent to private schools and had tutors, Sonia never complained it was more about pleasing her father and doing whatever he asked until…”

“Anyway, Justin did get a little crazy when Sonia told us she was pregnant. Things happened so fast that day that I couldn’t stop them. I agreed that Sonia wasn’t ready for this child, but who is? Then Justin said something he just shouldn’t have and I didn’t stop him I just stood there and let it happen.” Lilia began to cry.

“Mrs. Harding, believe me when I say that I will do my best to find your daughter.”

“I believe you will, Simon, I believe you will. I need to make my family whole again.”

“Look, why don’t you go home? I'll be in touch.” He helped her out of the chair and led her to the door, handing her some more tissue.

Before she left Lilia said. “Simon this matter needs to be handled with the utmost care . . . my husband does not know anything of what we discussed and that I’ve hired you to find our daughter . . . so please use my cell phone number any time day or night no matter how late. Whatever you find out, I want to know about it.”

“Yes, Mrs. Harding I understand.” And he did understand this must be hard on her marriage too.

Once Lilia was in the hall she pulled herself together, someone of her stature and elite station should never show her emotions in public; so, Justin would say. Somehow, she had to make Justin understand that they need their child and grandchild in their life, and find a way to make things right; also, her marriage. Things between her and Justin have been strained, they’ve been sleeping in separate rooms and staying out of each other’s path. Only at social events do they act like husband and wife. Their friends and associates don’t bother to ask about Sonia anymore because they’d get the cold shoulder and a change of subject from Justin. Lilia never crossed Justin about talking about Sonia only because it would hurt too much.

Lilia would hate to lose the love of her life but this was something they will have to get past or move on without each other. The thought made her shiver. One day Justin will have to admit he was wrong, she hopes he soon because he’s going to be a grandfather whether he wants to be or not. Lilia walked to the waiting limo and got in. She told Fredo to drive her home and not to mention to Mr. Harding where they’d been.

Simon went over what Lilia Harding told him, he could tell there was a whole lot to this story that she left out. It had to be something major for Sonia Rose Harding to leave home so suddenly with a baby on the way. That’s not his concern but he would like to know.

Simon hated these cases, rich spoiled kids running away from home when they have daddies’ money and everything at their disposal. This one’s worse, there are babies involved. An adult woman left home not letting her parents know where she will be, obviously keeping the baby away from them.

Simon started with phone calls to Harding Electronics. The place where Sonia Rose spent most of her time, trying to find herself he hoped. His goal is to try and find out whom she hung out with, even if she was seeing anyone in particular at work. Mrs. Harding also wanted to know who the baby’s father was. That would be the hard part, now comes the legwork. Questioning anyone who knew her, going from place to place either getting the answers he needed or not. Darn, he hated that, but it's part of the job and must be done. He will start in Virginia with Rita Harding Lee and see what he finds there. Mrs. Harding warned him that Rita would not cooperate and was likely to be helping Sonia.

Once Simon began it was hard getting any information from anyone that knew Sonia. Mr. Harding gave specific instructions that no one was to mention Sonia again. Everyone was to erase her from their memory just like that. After two weeks of short non-significant answers, Simon Sinclair PI left Seattle for Virginia.

One thing he hated was flying, but it was part of the job. The flight was long, but he handled it. When he got to town he didn’t use his full name and just tried to blend in. He went as a salesman just traveling through trying to sell a specific product and asked questions, but the locals were not talking.

For the next couple of days, he checked the town area hospitals and the four medical centers in town and on the outskirts of town. Nothing . . . no one would give out any information. If frustrated to the hilt, he didn’t have any additional information for Mrs. Harding yet.

Two days later he called Lilia to get Rita Lee’s address; the one she gave him was incorrect. She informed him that it was the only address she had. Now he should go searching because Mrs. Lee seems to have something to hide or someone. He then headed to the city record department; maybe there he would have some luck.

He kept wondering where Sonia Harding could be. His search led him to one dead end after another. Yet he was determined to find Sonia Rose Harding all the same.

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One night as Sonia’s getting ready for bed her thoughts wandered to Alec. Sonia didn’t want to think about the man who fathered her baby and left her, but did, now and then. He was the first man to pay her any attention and it made both her and Alec’s parents happy with their union.

Alec Winsor, son of the Winsor fortune, would go on living the high life without her in it. Now and then she hoped he would think about her and wondered where she could be. Maybe even think some other man was making Sonia happy. She hoped he felt bad for the way things ended between them . . . he could have handled things better. Sonia knew young women would throw themselves at him or want to be in his bed. He probably would forget all about her. He’d pretend to be happy but was not.

Sonia found out through her aunt that Alec continues to work for Harding Electronic avoiding her father at all costs. She never really told him what happened between her and her father except it was not good. Before she left Seattle, her father yelled at everyone, worked longer hours, and tried to make his employees work longer and harder than ever. Sonia knew Alec thought that her father had found out about them sleeping together. Alec would feel safe for now but sooner or later father will find out.

When Sonia left she did not tell Alec anything. The situation with his parents was not good, they were always disappointed with him for one thing or another other and it's possible they’re disappointed about him breaking up with her. Alec will get it right someday and someone will love him for who he is.

Turning from side to side she went from thoughts of Alec to thoughts of her mother. She was a part of the problem, not the solution. Her mother was not bad, but she goes along with whatever JA says. Sonia could not stand it any longer she sat up. “Ah mother, why couldn’t you love me more than him?”

Way across the country in Seattle, Washington Lilia Harding felt something shift in her. She sat up in her bed and cried out. “Sonia!” It’s been a while since she’s felt that tie between them. She must...at all costs find her daughter and fast. She no longer cares what Justin had to say she was going to make amends with Sonia and have her grandchild in her life.

Lilia sure hoped that Simon can come up with Sonia’s whereabouts soon.