talking.”
Sigmund stopped his thoughts of running as the stranger suggested. Obviously this man was prepared for that tactic – he probably had several associates nearby. Despite all misgivings, there didn’t seem to be a choice. Still, Sigmund’s mind kept saying, Don’t let him in! Don’t let him in! Sigmund stepped aside and let him in.
Clicking on his electric lamp, Sigmund put out the candle – the smell of the extinguished wick diffused through the room. The stranger walked in and sat down in one of the plush, cushioned chairs in the living room. This man had complete control of the situation, a situation that Sigmund was still trying to grasp.
Invitingly, as if this was his own home and Sigmund was the intruder, the dark stranger said, “Please sit Mr. Shaw. I have something that I must discuss with you.”
Sigmund slowly lowered himself down in the seat opposite the dark stranger. Despite the calm, almost amused look the stranger kept, Sigmund felt anything but.
The stranger continued, “Ah good. Now we can talk like gentlemen. I understand your hesitancy but believe me Mr. Shaw, as I already said, we can both benefit from this discussion.”
Sigmund said nothing. He unconsciously had taken his father’s watch from his pocket and was rubbing the cover with his thumb, like he often did when he was nervous.
Sensing that Sigmund was not going to ask any questions, the stranger started, “I know you want answers. Who I am? How do I know about the empty necklace box? Why haven’t I had you arrested? And most importantly,” he paused, his face calm but excitement behind his eyes “what do I want?”
Sigmund continued silent, he felt that he didn’t need to speak the obvious. The clock next to his door ticked away the seconds of quietness.
“Mr. Shaw, the necklace that you were trying to steal was a ruse. We knew someone would try to steal it and we have been watching the hotel for over a week now. I was starting to think that our plan was for nothing, until you showed up tonight. On a side note, how did you hear of the necklace?”
Sigmund didn’t want to be too specific so gave a truthful but vague answer, “I overheard a conversation.”
The dark stranger considered this for a moment, then said, “Fair enough. We had whispered rumors of this necklace all around London hoping someone with your kind of abilities would hear it and act. In any event Mr. Shaw… may I call you Sigmund?” Sigmund nodded, not too concerned about formalities at that moment. “You see Sigmund, we have need for someone with your talents. We need someone who knows how to be, what did you say when I arrived, oh yes, ‘cautious’. There is a meeting in two nights that we need you to be at, without you actually being at it, if you understand my meaning. If the meeting proves the claims that are being made are indeed real, we would like you to procure the object of the meeting. Once that is done, we will meet again and you will be rewarded well – somewhere in the realm of what you must have thought you would have received by pawning the necklace.”
Sigmund sat for at least a minute, just trying to comprehend what was being said. Money, a meeting, ruse…. He was very uncomfortable to have so much unknown going around him. He had always been the one who had all possibilities mapped out, something that was required or else he would have been jailed a long time ago. He was still struggling with the basic fact that, despite his best efforts, he was found out. There was much more happening but he had a hard time getting past the one thought, he was found out .
During this time the dark stranger simply looked at Sigmund, not demanding, just patiently waiting for Sigmund to take all this in and ask the inevitable questions. The clock continued to interrupt the silence.
Finally, Sigmund asked, “You keep saying ‘we’. Who is ‘we’?”
“Straight to the
Sigmund stopped his thoughts of running as the stranger suggested. Obviously this man was prepared for that tactic – he probably had several associates nearby. Despite all misgivings, there didn’t seem to be a choice. Still, Sigmund’s mind kept saying, Don’t let him in! Don’t let him in! Sigmund stepped aside and let him in.
Clicking on his electric lamp, Sigmund put out the candle – the smell of the extinguished wick diffused through the room. The stranger walked in and sat down in one of the plush, cushioned chairs in the living room. This man had complete control of the situation, a situation that Sigmund was still trying to grasp.
Invitingly, as if this was his own home and Sigmund was the intruder, the dark stranger said, “Please sit Mr. Shaw. I have something that I must discuss with you.”
Sigmund slowly lowered himself down in the seat opposite the dark stranger. Despite the calm, almost amused look the stranger kept, Sigmund felt anything but.
The stranger continued, “Ah good. Now we can talk like gentlemen. I understand your hesitancy but believe me Mr. Shaw, as I already said, we can both benefit from this discussion.”
Sigmund said nothing. He unconsciously had taken his father’s watch from his pocket and was rubbing the cover with his thumb, like he often did when he was nervous.
Sensing that Sigmund was not going to ask any questions, the stranger started, “I know you want answers. Who I am? How do I know about the empty necklace box? Why haven’t I had you arrested? And most importantly,” he paused, his face calm but excitement behind his eyes “what do I want?”
Sigmund continued silent, he felt that he didn’t need to speak the obvious. The clock next to his door ticked away the seconds of quietness.
“Mr. Shaw, the necklace that you were trying to steal was a ruse. We knew someone would try to steal it and we have been watching the hotel for over a week now. I was starting to think that our plan was for nothing, until you showed up tonight. On a side note, how did you hear of the necklace?”
Sigmund didn’t want to be too specific so gave a truthful but vague answer, “I overheard a conversation.”
The dark stranger considered this for a moment, then said, “Fair enough. We had whispered rumors of this necklace all around London hoping someone with your kind of abilities would hear it and act. In any event Mr. Shaw… may I call you Sigmund?” Sigmund nodded, not too concerned about formalities at that moment. “You see Sigmund, we have need for someone with your talents. We need someone who knows how to be, what did you say when I arrived, oh yes, ‘cautious’. There is a meeting in two nights that we need you to be at, without you actually being at it, if you understand my meaning. If the meeting proves the claims that are being made are indeed real, we would like you to procure the object of the meeting. Once that is done, we will meet again and you will be rewarded well – somewhere in the realm of what you must have thought you would have received by pawning the necklace.”
Sigmund sat for at least a minute, just trying to comprehend what was being said. Money, a meeting, ruse…. He was very uncomfortable to have so much unknown going around him. He had always been the one who had all possibilities mapped out, something that was required or else he would have been jailed a long time ago. He was still struggling with the basic fact that, despite his best efforts, he was found out. There was much more happening but he had a hard time getting past the one thought, he was found out .
During this time the dark stranger simply looked at Sigmund, not demanding, just patiently waiting for Sigmund to take all this in and ask the inevitable questions. The clock continued to interrupt the silence.
Finally, Sigmund asked, “You keep saying ‘we’. Who is ‘we’?”
“Straight to the
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