Temperance effect – A clean getaway

“Lie to them.” This is the message he reads on the phone. This was more than casual. It was urgent. He is staring straight ahead. Something, maybe instinct, was telling him eye contact would be dangerous.

The security guards only hesitate for a minute before repeating their demand. One of them lightly kicks his shoe. Then they are silent and brooding as they wait. Jeremy only hesitates a millisecond before responding.

“Samuel.” His voice sounds hoarse from lack of use. Then he clears his throat and tries again.

“Samuel.” This time he is more firm, and he keeps his eyes forward. The security guard that had nudged Jeremy was the first to continue.

“What’s with the suitcase, sir?” There is a snide twist in the tone, of the last word.

Temperance effect- A clean getaway

Jeremy pulls the suitcase closer to himself. He isn’t sure why, but he knows it’s important. So important his life may depend on it. Also, he is handcuffed to it. Suspicious was his middle name, at the moment. Therefore his mind races, and he tries to get his head around the absurdity that he has lost a year of his life.

Couple this with the pressure he was now under, and he felt on the verge of a nervous breakdown. He looks at the nearest guard and gives him what he hopes is a defiant look, and replies with an abrupt tone.

“Is it against the law to protect one’s belongings?” He turns his head and looks at the station wall again. Furthermore, he is getting ready for what he knows will be a shakedown. With this in mind, he feels surprised and uneasy, when the phone in his pocket buzzes again.

At the same time the station guard asks for identification. Jeremy feels his palms break out in a sweat. His heart rate accelerates, and he feels the edges of panic settling in. The phone buzzes again and this time Jeremy brings it out of his pocket. It is his ID. He looks at it and feels bewildered. Furthermore he reads the name Samuel Jenkins beneath his picture. His current pic. Beard and all.

Clean getaway

Additionally there is a small message beneath everything. It is simple, but only adds to his confusion. Show them.

He shows the phone to the nearest guard who examines the details and then smirks at Samuel. Similarly, he nudges the other guard, who also takes a look at the image on the phone. Neither one seems very amused, even with all the smiles. In fact, they look disappointed.

Jeremy can’t figure it out, and is dangerously close to being in a panic. His mind keeps coming back to what he was going to talk about, at last night’s meeting. A year ago. He feels himself swoon and comes dangerously close to fainting. However the nudgy guard speaks up and gets Jeremy moving.

One Word

“Time to clear out pal. Station authority says you been here all night. Time to move on now.” He glares at Jeremy. The next moment they walk away and Jeremy doesn’t hesitate. He gets up and begins walking toward the door. Then he wonders if he can go home. And immediately wonders if he still has a home. Furthermore, he doesn’t even know what city he is in. The phone in his pocket buzzes again. He pulls it free, and sees one flashing word, that pushes his pulse into overdrive. “Run!“