“Another Life” – Part 2

He dropped his bag on the green chair by the window of his living space and headed to the kitchen. The entire drive home he ruminated about the possibilities this email had presented him. Does he really have time, or money, to chase ghosts? How could he be certain this was the real Jordan? Should he even try contacting Sarah? What did Jordan look like now? Who would know his connection to him well enough to pull a stunt like this if it were a prank email? It had to be real and what had to be done had to be done.

After slamming a glass of water he shakily pulled out his phone.

“My Ida,” he stared at his contact list. It still had the little star next to her name signaling her as a favorite.

He clicked his phone to lock it and shoved it back in his pocket. He had nothing to say to her. “don’t be stupid,” he mumbled to himself. “Oh hey, long time… yea so I got this email… dumb ass.” He refilled his water and went back to his green chair to sit. “This needs to be stronger,” he muttered, wiping his face while glaring at the clock reminding him only troubled folk start this early. He was troubled. He was overwhelmed. Did he really just walk out of work like that? Fuck it…. There’s no time and yet he’s unsure where to start. Ugh! Why is he so flustered? It’s been literal decades, well, not if you count that one time he accidentally caught a whiff of a lead from another guy’s anonymous source that could have been a hint eight years ago. “Dumb ass,” he said to himself again. Out loud once more so perhaps he’d learn a lesson this time.

He pulled out his laptop and opened his work chat.

“Hey Charlie, are you busy?”

“Nah dude, what’s up?”

“I have a favor to ask you, can you stop by my house later?”

“Becauuuuuuuuse….?”

“Because I have a favor to ask you?”

“Sounds kinda sketchy….”

“I don’t have all the details yet.”

“I’m just playing. See you at 7ish”

“Thanks.”

Charlie send a thumbs up and Adam let out a deep sigh alerting him his shoulders had been practically at his ears this whole time. That step was done. What should he do next? Call her? No. Not yet. What was the rush? It’s been a almost a decade, it could wait. He needed to validate the email and see what other intel he could gather from its digital signature.

“Why now?” he wondered, reclining back into the chair. He could feel himself getting peeved. It’s not like he was living the dream but he had thought he was doing alright for himself. House, car, cat… cats? Whatever, he was employed and steadily making his way toward an uneventful downright average living, no fuss, no mess. Now he was angry. “This piece of –,” there was a knock at the door.

While his train of thought was interrupted he didn’t budge from his chair. He wasn’t normally home at this hour so he wasn’t expecting anyone right now. Probably some canvasing volunteer or a kid earning his stripes by means of his soul. “Sorry kid, not mind to give,” he thought smugly but the knocking got louder. 

“You better have cookies, kid!” He shouted as he made his way to the door. He kicked some junk mail and fallen pens out of the way, further evidence of feline mischief, and opened the door.

“Ida.”

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