Dead Alive

CHAPTER I

I made a mental note to start making a grocery list before going to the grocery store. Standing in the

aisle looking like a lost five-year-old is not good for a grown man’s image. I had never been good at this

shopping stuff. I glanced around and grabbed a carton of milk, cereal, bananas, shaving blades, and

coffee.

I waited in line behind a large woman with a screaming toddler. Patience was not my strongest point. I

contemplated leaving everything and walking out but the thought of brushing my teeth with no

toothpaste one more time made me cringe and I decided against leaving. It was finally my turn to pay

and I proceeded to a young woman who was chewing gum in a really annoying manner. She must

have been new because I did not recognize her. The drive from the grocery store to my place was a

short one. I was not sure whether it was really short or I was just really used to it. I had been going

there for the past 6 years. Well Stacie had been going. I just played chauffeur so that I could check out

the music store next door.

Pulling up in my driveway, something caught my eye. Right at my door is a brown box. No labels, no Property belongs to Nôvel(D)r/ama.Org.

stamps. I looked around for a sign of the person who had delivered it and there was no one. I stared at

the box anxiously for a while before carefully lifting it up. It wasn’t heavy neither was it light. Inside my

living room, I placed the box on my coffee table and quickly looked around for a tool to open it up. In

the kitchen, a steak knife sat on the table almost as if wanting to volunteer. My heart was pounding in

my chest and a bead of sweat rolled down my temple, I stared at it for a while. My hand trembled every

time I lifted it to touch the box. After hesitating for a while, I opened the box. Inside was an article about

Stacie’s accident. I had seen that one. With the headline “famous journalist killed in a car accident”.

Nothing new there. I had read all the articles that had been writing surrounded her death.

A white envelope caught my attention underneath the article. In it were 4 pictures of Stacie. I could tell

that the pictures were taken without her knowledge. In all four pictures, she had on the same green

coat. Her favorite coat. In two of the photos, she sat in a café as if waiting for someone. The name of

the Café was not really visible. Just the last letters showing.. ma’s café. It could be anything. Emma’s,

mama’s, Gema’s. The list was endless.

I tossed everything back in the box and sat back. What was it that Stacie was working on that cost her

her life? She had been quite cagey and jumpy the days leading to her murder. Never wanted to discuss

anything. Some journalist oath I suppose. Never reveal your sources and that sort of thing. I thought of

the other two photos in the envelope. In one of them, Stacie was on the phone. Her facial expression

was hard to read but she had that little line between her eyebrows. In the last one, she had her back to

the camera and was walking away. I scanned the picture for a few more minutes. Somewhere in front

of her was a man in a black coat and hat standing to the side. He had on dark shades and his hands

were in his pocket. On his jacket was a badge that I did not recognize. Was the person taking the

picture aware of the man? Were they together? I sighed. The man could be anyone. He could have

been waiting for a friend or wife or a taxi. There was no proof that he was watching her. Right at the

bottom of the box was a book. Nothing was written on the cover. Inside, the pages had been cut in the

middle. A square right through and in it was a single key. None of this made sense. What was the key

for? Who sent this? I got up to put my groceries away when I realized that I did not get any toothpaste.

“shit! “ I murmured

Was it worth a trip back to the grocery store? I decided against it as I switched on the kettle to have a

cup of coffee. No sugar either. Now It was worth the trip. It was a cool day and everyone seemed

happy. Kids played outside while their moms talked over the fences.

“Forgot something? “ said a voice behind me in the grocery store.

I didn’t have to turn around to know who it was.

“Yes. Toothpaste and sugar” I responded to Anne. She was a petite mid-aged woman who worked at

Sam’s grocery store for as long as I could remember.

She chuckled and said,

“You ought to get out of the house more Danny. The sun is good for your brain.”

I smiled and started to walk to the till when she suddenly said,

“There was a man here yesterday asking about you. I forgot to mention it earlier when you came. “

A man? I quickly scanned my brain for anyone who could possibly be looking for me. No one came to

mind.

“What did he look like? “ I asked.

“Not too tall, black coat, hat on his head, shades and no manners.”

“What exactly did he ask about me?” I asked Anne who had now moved on to pack candy bars and

chocolates.

“Wanted to know where you lived, if and where you work, how often you come to the supermarket, and

if you have any family nearby. The whole thing did not sit well with me so I said that I only know your

name. Nothing more. Nothing less. “

“Thanks, Anne” I mumbled as I paid for my stuff and left.

Who could possibly be looking for me and why?

As I began to drive home, I felt very uneasy and suddenly nervous about everything that has been

happening. I notice a van coming ahead. It drove past me and I briefly glanced at it. The windows were

dark but it had a badge on the doors. I look at it suspiciously.

That badge. There was something about it.

Where have I seen it?

I arrived home after a few minutes. My mind still on the badge. I couldn’t shake it off.

The colors red and black were dominant on it and a symbol that I couldn’t quite make out. Something

shaped like a bottle or stick.

I was whisked out of my thoughts by Mittens as he had come over from the sunny window where he

had been enjoying the sunlight all day. I bent down to pat him when something at the corner of the

couch caught my eye. A piece of paper. It looked like it had been torn off a larger page. It was definitely

an official document. I could tell from the initial sign-on it... CAA.. as I stood to scan the piece of paper

a little closer, that’s when it hit me. I felt chills as I looked around my living room.

I stood still for what felt like eternity and fear took over my whole body. I finally found the courage to

take step towards my bedroom. Everything seemed to be a mess. The drawers had been opened and

left that way. The mattress had been pulled from the base. I looked around a little more as anxiety filled

me. Something crashed in the kitchen and sent me into a panic. I froze and waited to hear another

sound. Silence. I grab a baseball bat and made my way to the kitchen. It was just Mittens playing in the

pantry. I finally exhaled. I wasn’t aware that I was holding my breath. Looking around the kitchen

everything seems to be the way I left it. A lot of thoughts and questions crossed my mind. Am I in

danger? Is someone after me? Is this related to Stacie? It has been two years. Why now?

The living room seems to be where the intruder spent more time. Everything was a mess but nothing

was broken or taken.

What was the intruder after? The front door had no damage. No forced entry. They must have come

through the back door. I stood there in a daze and then it hit me.

The brown box.

It was gone.