3rd Floor

“Yes, and for God's sake, why did you have to go and drag me here? I hate Italian, and I hate low lit places.” Linux whined under his breath.

“Do you recognize the man she’s with?” Tarrin asked again, keeping his voice low.

Taking several glances at the table, Linux could only see the back of the man's head.

“Not really, when they first came in, I thought he looked familiar. Why are you asking?” Linux responded, trying to look natural and cover his mouth so his words wouldn’t carry.

“Thats Jared Chaser, from Rapture Investments.” He murmured.

“Oh!” Linux almost yelled, slapping the table causing his fork to fly off and clink on the floor.

Tarrin shook his head at his friend.

Linux quickly reached out a foot and tried scooting the fork back closer. Josey looked over towards them because of the noise and Linux froze with his leg extended out from the table. looking at the ceiling.

“I can’t take you anywhere.” Tarrin commented under his breath.

Suddenly he and Linux heard the guy snap at Josey, and it was about Tarrin.

“Why is he asking her about you?” Linux whispered after he quickly reached down to retrieve the escaped fork.

“I’m not sure, however, I will find out.” Tarrin responded, concerned.

“So, you never told me why we had to go incognito in this little food place. It’s stuffy in here.” Linux complained as he waved his hand to fan himself.

“My uncle asked me to come and see who took over Bob and May’s shop. He’d hadn't heard from them in over a week's time since he discovered his favorite coffee shop was no long here. He suspects it has something to do with this new establishment...and how they acquired it.” Tarrin said in a low voice as he watched Jared rush through the door to the kitchen.

“If they are friends of your uncle’s, then they must be ancient. They probably sold it and retired.” Linux said matter of fact.

Tarrin shook his head. He also knew Bob and his wife May. They would have kept this place open if only for sentiment.

“No, they didn’t retire, otherwise my uncle would have been able to contact them. They aren’t answering their phones, and no one in the neighborhood has seen either of them for almost a month now. I’d say he has reason to be concerned.” Tarrin responded as he took a peek over to where Josey was sitting.

Josey was fidgeting with her fork, waiting calmly for Jared to return. She noticed the man in the wide hat turn in her direction so she looked back as he stared at her. Smiling and looking away, Josey could have sworn both of them looked familiar.

Jared suddenly came bursting out of the kitchen doors.

“Josey, let's go.” He said in a rush, grabbing her arm.

‘Wha..why? We haven’t even eaten yet!” She said stopping as Jared pulled at her.

“They don’t have what you ordered. They’re ..out of Caesar dressing. Let's go to that food stall on Cubis Street, your favorite one. Then we can walk along the beach.” His words didn’t sound sincere at all to Josey.

She could feel something was up, but that was also Jared’s personality, and she had come accustomed to him changing plans at the last second.

“Oh..I guess that’s fine. I didn’t think you liked street food.” She said as she gave in and they headed out the door.

Tarrin was about to go after them, but caught himself. ‘Why was he worried?’ he thought to himself.

“I wonder what that was about?” Linux asked, poking at the lone parsley left on his plate.

“Not sure.” Tarrin responded not liking the urgency in Jared’s voice.

Just as he wondered if it had something to do with the owner, the door to the kitchen swung open and the owner came out, now sporting a black eye.

“Alrighty fella’s, anything else I can get for you?” He asked as he pulled out the little black bill fold from his back pocket and laid it out on the table.

“No. We’re ready.” Tarrin responded, holding out his credit card.

“What happened to your face?” Linux asked, having no couth.

‘Ahh, yeah, hazards of being in a rush in an unorganized kitchen. Pan fell from the shelf and hit me.” The owner replied, half laughing to Linux as he took Tarrin’s card.

“Well, you should really organize your kitchen then. If you're running the place by yourself, it would help out you in the long run.” Linux’s idiocy made Tarrin shake his head and kick him under the table.

Linux yelped, and the young owner, suddenly feeling uncomfortable, rushed away with the card to cash them out.

Tarrin and his friend stood up and went to the counter waiting for their receipt.

“Can I ask you a question?” Tarrin suddenly said, making the young owner slightly jump.

“Oh, uh yeah, ask away.” He responded nervously.

“I knew the previous owners of this building and I can’t seem to contact them as I owe them some money. You wouldn’t happen to have a forwarding address, would you?” Tarrin asked calmly, eyeing the young guy.

“Ha ha, funny thing, the forwarding address, um, see they signed the sales contract and I never heard from them again. They were supposed to, um, meet me with the keys to the place, but I ended up having to put locks, new locks, on all the doors. So, sorry, I can’t help you.” Tarrin wasn’t buying his response, but let it go for now. 

“I see, thank you.” Tarrin gave him a fake smile and took the receipt from his hands.

Walking out the eatery's door, Tarrin pulled out his phone. He called his uncle to confirm his suspicion. His uncle didn’t pick up, but Tarrin figured it was time for his uncle’s water aerobics, so he wouldn’t be picking up anyway. Leaving a message, Tarrin hung up.

Walking to Linux’s car Tarrin turned around to survey the tall building. The eatery occupied the first floor, but there were still two floors above it.

Tarrin pulled his phone up to take a picture of the building when he noticed the window ac units on the 3rd floor going hard. It was starting to get chilly so he found it odd that both  sounded like they were on full blast.

“See a ghost?” Linux said whispering in Tarrin’s ear hoping to scare him.

“Good try.” Tarrin said not moving an inch.

“What are you taking pictures for then?” He asked eyeing the building as he leaned against his car.

“No reason, for the moment. Let's go.” Tarrin replied opening the passenger door and getting in.

“Are we headed back to our place or?” Linux asked getting in the drivers side and starting the car..

“Our place? When did my place become our place?” Tarrin asked as he reviewed the pictures.

“Well, you know what I mean. Might as well be our place. I’m there every other night to give you treatment and I’m there at least once a month to tie you up.” Linux responded, suddenly laughing at himself for that he said.

“Drive.” Tarrin said as he rolled his eyes.