After Dark: Chicago Fire (Science Fiction Anthalogies Book 2) by Mark Lee Ryan

Chapter
1
    Jeremy doesn’t know why he is
wandering down Chancery Lane, but having cleared his thoughts he has been
summoned and faces the red front door of No. 23. Before he has time to think
about knocking, the door opens and he is greeted with, ‘Hello Jeremy. Thank you
for meeting me.’ An upbeat and broadly smiling Julie Nancarrow introduces
herself and shakes Jeremy’s hand before inviting him into her large apartment,
located in the upper market area of Bridgeport.
    ‘Hello Julie. It’s nice to meet you. I
gather you have something you wish to share with me? Jeremy adds. ‘Yes, yes I
do. My family and I are haunted by a mystery, and whilst we concede that our
father Thomas Stevens decided to leave, it still hurts, when we have had no
contact from Dad in over 36 years.’ Jeremy can see that Julie is saddened by
the circumstances but needs to know more. ‘Julie, let’s start from the
beginning and tell me everything’, Jeremy diplomatically asks.
    ‘Jeremy have you ever heard of the
great Chicago fire that occurred in June 1980 in Lincoln Square?’ Julie asks.
Jeremy thinks for a moment and then adds, ‘No. That was before I moved to
Chicago. In fact Julie, I can’t say I’ve even heard it mentioned.’ Julie looks
into Jeremy’s eyes and with little emotion she replies, ‘I think Chicago has
had that many crimes and events of significance that some just don’t get
brought up. In any event it is a long time ago now and well, time moves on.’
She continues and adds, ‘My Dad was one of three land owners within the large
industrial estate, and all three ran large businesses within that land holding.
Dad owned a steel manufacturing company and it was big. Really big! Neither
Dad, nor his two partners wanted to sell. So it’s hard to understand really,
but the story goes that the three of them burnt the property down, collected
the insurance monies and then all three left town. Dad had separated from Mum,
but to this day I have never heard from him and neither have my brother and sister.
Its gut wrenching, not knowing why he would choose to desert us and move on.’
Jeremy could see the pain in Julie’s eyes.
    Julie explains that her parents had a
messy and bitter separation so her mother doesn’t really care about her father,
and has since remarried. Julie adds that with two young children she would love
them to know their grandfather who Julie says would now be in his late sixties,
and she too never really had time to get to know him. His partners were similar
age and the three were very close, so in some ways it would make sense that if
they decided to leave Chicago they would all do the same, she adds. Jeremy
leaves Julie, but he knows that they will meet again and he is keen to help.
She walks him to the door, thanks him and the pair say their good-byes as
Jeremy slowly wanders the dimly lit street.
    Keen to get answers Jeremy focuses his
attention. He focuses on Thomas Stevens. No sooner has he focused on Thomas and
he looks around surprised to be back in his apartment. Jeremy looks around and
shakes his head. This is a first he thinks to himself. Normally when I focus, I
end up walking a street, facing a door, meeting in a park? Jeremy shakes his
head again, sits at his kitchen bench and ponders what has gone wrong. He again
focuses on Thomas Stevens. He really focuses. He looks around but still remains
in his own living room. Jeremy cannot understand what’s wrong. He decides to
focus on Thomas Stevens, partner Richard Walker and goes through the same
routine focusing and clearing his mind, shutting his eyes. He expects to open
his eyes and be walking a street, a road that is new but again he simply
remains in his apartment. Jeremy is dumb founded. What is wrong he wonders?
Jeremy starts to think that the power he had has been lost. Lost and he is now
a mere mortal again!
    He sits and stares around the room, pondering
and assessing the situation. He decides to focus on the third partner