Chapter 11: Shadows of the Past
Back at his motel room, Adam locked the door and placed Julian Kane's business card on the nightstand. The old heater groaned in the corner, filling the room with uneven warmth. He tossed his jacket over the chair and sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the card.
"Julian Kane," he muttered. "What's your angle?"
"Big if. He knew about Chambers and the note. That's not public knowledge. Either he's part of their setup, or he's a very well-informed outsider."
Adam blinked. "You think he could be a time traveler too?"
He rubbed his temples, the weight of the day catching up to him. "Alright, let's dig into this guy. What do we know about Julian Kane?"
Adam reached into the nightstand drawer, pulling out a worn yellow pages directory. "Going old school. How do people live like this?"
Flipping through the book, Adam searched for "Julian Kane." Nothing.
"What now?"
Adam sighed. "Of course. Alright, library it is."
The downtown library was a relic of another era, with towering wooden shelves, creaky floors, and the faint smell of paper and ink. Adam walked past rows of desks where students and researchers poured over stacks of books.
At the reference desk, a bespectacled librarian smiled at him. "Can I help you?"
"I'm looking for information on a Julian Kane," Adam said. "Is there a way to search public records?"
The librarian nodded. "We have microfilm archives for newspapers and a public records terminal in the back. Start there."
He followed her directions to a dusty corner of the library, where a bulky microfilm reader and a yellowed terminal awaited.
"Funny," Adam muttered under his breath.
After an hour of scrolling through old records and newspaper articles, he finally found something:
"Julian Kane, tech consultant," Adam read aloud. "Involved in a lawsuit against a major corporation... interesting."
"Let's see..." Adam squinted at the screen. "Kane accused a company of stealing his invention. Filed in '88, but he lost the case. It doesn't say what the invention was."
Adam jotted down the details and logged out of the terminal. As he left the library, a chill ran down his spine. The air felt heavier, as though he were being watched.
He turned around, scanning the street. Nothing.
"Where?" Adam whispered, trying not to look suspicious.
Adam glanced casually in that direction. The man leaned against a lamppost, pretending to read a newspaper.
"Fantastic," Adam muttered. "Now what?"
Adam wandered through the downtown streets, weaving through crowds and taking random turns. His follower stayed close but never got too near. Eventually, Adam reached a busy plaza with plenty of exits. He ducked into a department store, maneuvering through the aisles and slipping out the back entrance.
From there, he sprinted down an alley and into a neighboring block. He didn't stop running until he reached the motel, panting as he slammed the door behind him.
"For now," Adam said, catching his breath. "But this is getting ridiculous. If Julian Kane is connected to all this, he better have some answers tonight."
Adam nodded grimly, his resolve hardening. Whatever game he'd stumbled into, he was going to play to win.
End of Chapter 11