Chapter 42: Whispers in the Shadows
The hum of the deactivated device lingered in Adam's mind long after the room had gone silent. He leaned back in his chair, staring at it as if waiting for it to spring to life again. Henry had drifted off on the couch, snoring softly amidst the chaos of Adam's cluttered apartment.
Adam's phone buzzed, and the glowing text appeared on the screen:
He sighed, rubbing his temples. "You're really leaning into the whole spy-thriller vibe, huh?" he muttered.
"Yeah, no kidding."
Adam's gaze shifted to the window. Outside, the city was alive with neon lights and the distant sound of cars cruising the streets. The 1990s had a charm of its own, but it also felt heavy with a strange kind of danger, as though the past carried more mysteries than the future ever could.
He decided to clear his head and stepped out onto the fire escape. The cool night air brushed against his face as he took in the sights and sounds of the neighborhood. From his vantage point, he could see a nearby diner bustling with activity.
Fifteen minutes later, Adam was sitting at the counter of the diner, a cup of coffee steaming in front of him. The place had a vintage vibe: checkered floors, red vinyl booths, and a jukebox that played classics from Elvis and Sinatra.
"Late night, huh?" the waitress asked, setting a plate of pie in front of him.
"You could say that," Adam replied, offering a faint smile.
She tilted her head, studying him. "You look like you've got a lot on your mind."
"You have no idea," he said, glancing at the reflective surface of the coffee.
The bell above the diner door jingled, and Adam instinctively looked up. Two men in dark suits entered, their movements sharp and deliberate. His pulse quickened.
The waitress followed his gaze. "Friends of yours?"
"Not exactly," Adam said, slipping his phone out of his pocket.
Adam's fingers itched to grab the device from his bag, but he knew better than to reveal it here. He casually pushed his coffee cup aside and reached for the bill.
"You leaving already?" the waitress asked, surprised.
"Yeah. Thanks for the coffee," he said, sliding some cash onto the counter.
Adam slipped out the back door just as the two men scanned the diner. He ducked into the alley, his heart pounding in his chest.
"Thanks, Captain Obvious," Adam whispered, pulling out his phone to call a cab.
As he waited, he felt a prickle at the back of his neck. He turned and saw a shadow moving along the alley wall.
"Great. Just great," he muttered.
"Going somewhere?" a voice called out.
Adam spun around to see a tall man step into the dim light. He wore a leather jacket and a sly grin, his hands tucked casually into his pockets.
"Who are you?" Adam demanded.
"Just someone who's very interested in what you're carrying," the man said, his eyes gleaming.
Adam's phone buzzed urgently.
"Yeah, I gathered that," Adam muttered.
The man took a step closer, and Adam backed up until his heels hit the wall.
"Look, I don't know what you're talking about," Adam said, trying to buy time.
"Oh, I think you do," the man replied, pulling a sleek, futuristic-looking device from his pocket.
Adam's eyes widened. "You're not from here, are you?"
The man smirked. "Let's just say I'm not stuck in the past like you are."
Before Adam could react, the man raised the device, and a pulse of energy shot toward him. Adam dove to the side, the beam scorching the wall where he'd just been standing.
"Okay, that's new," Adam muttered, scrambling to his feet.
Adam grabbed a nearby trash can and hurled it at the man. It wasn't much, but it gave him a split-second advantage to dart down the alley.
He burst onto the main street just as a cab pulled up. He yanked the door open and dove inside.
"Drive!" he shouted.
The cabbie blinked in surprise but hit the gas. As they sped away, Adam glanced back to see the man watching them, his expression unreadable.
When Adam finally reached his apartment, he locked the door and slumped against it, his chest heaving.
"Yeah, no kidding," Adam said, rubbing his face.
He looked at the device sitting on the table. It seemed small and harmless, but he knew better now. Whatever it was, it had drawn the attention of people—or things—far more dangerous than he'd anticipated.
And this was only the beginning.
End of Chapter 42