“Well, so who’s Matilda?” she asked.
“She was my secretary,” I said. “Well, she was someone I met in a strip club. Had good skills and took my virginity.”
“Eh? So I wasn’t the one who took it?” she asked.
“Well, I did lose my memories, so technically, you did take my virginity,” I explained.
“Ah makes sense,” she replied.
I was surprised she bought that.
“Now I think she’s still in the company,” I said.
“But if she is, won't she be on your brother’s side by now?” she asked.
“Well, I doubt it. Those two aren’t really the best of companions,” I sighed. “Believe me when I say there is no way my brother would ever see eye to eye with her or vice versa.”
“So that’s good news then,” she crossed her arms. “What’s the plan of attack? You could just go up there and announce your return.”
“Well, that wouldn’t work,” I said. “I’ve seen a lot of doppelgangers in real life. It won’t be difficult for my brother to write it off as another case of someone trying to steal an inheritance.”
“A blood sample then,” she suggested. “You could have him run a test.”
“Doubt it,” I sighed. “He might just plainly refuse.”
“This is tougher than I thought,” she sighed. “You don’t have any direct family member you could approach?”
“Blake is the only sibling I have, and my father’s death, and my mom,” I stopped. “That’s it, my mom.”
I opened my phone and found the text I had gotten from my mom. The text read:
How's my little photographer doing? Were you able to get the job? Well, knowing you, I know you did. Congrats. Your dad is getting better, and I was able to get some money to pay for his drugs. Be sure to come to see him soon. He misses you. We all do.
I was about to dial the number but stopped.
“What’s wrong?” Aria asked. “Aren’t you going to call her?”
“My dad is dead,” I said. “He has been gone for nearly three years now. This message wasn’t from my mother.”
Come to think of it, I was never able to call the number as no one ever answered. All I did was exchange texts with my supposed mother.
I dialed the number either way.
It rang a few times before the recipient picked up.
“It’s about time,” the voice said.
“Hunter?” I called. “I see it makes sense now.”
“Sorry, it had to be this way, Nick,” he said. “Trust me, I didn’t want to have anything to do with this.”
“It’s too late to say that now don’t you think?” I asked.
“Well…not yet, at least,” he replied.
Chapter 7
Allies in Strange Places