Dead Alive

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 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.

petite mid-aged woman who worked

She chuckled and said,

house more

started to walk to the till when

I forgot to mention

man? I quickly scanned my brain for anyone who could possibly be looking

did he look like?

tall, black coat, hat on

I asked Anne who

to the supermarket, and if you have any family nearby. The whole thing did not sit well with me so I

mumbled as I paid

possibly be looking for me and

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

was something