A Dagger Through Dimensions - Chapter 13

Alice, My Invisible Secretary

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Chapter 13

While I stayed at the apartment, I completed my search for everything written or stored inside the rooms. Feeling I had a suitable understanding of my life with Adele and our situation, I next moved to the private detective occupation of Lane Dagger.

To be honest, I planned on getting out of this office as soon as I could. Realizing that I’m not cut out for this work as a detective, I’m thinking that maybe I’ll become involved in one of the local radio stations. I still had hopes of becoming a talking head. Since television isn’t around here, I decided that becoming a radio announcer would be fun. Who knows, I might even have the voice for it.

My initial plan is to collect the files that are in the office for useful information, then wind down any commitments. I doubt there’s much for me to do since no one called the apartment looking for me during my time alone with Adele.

My quiet office can’t be that busy with work.

When I walked in, the empty chair at the desk swiveled around and I smelled a hint of perfume. I like it. The madness of what I witnessed reminded me to name my invisible secretary right then.

Yeah, I’m nuts!

“Hello Alice. Sorry I’m late, but I got caught up with my wife. I hope your day is going well.” I told her as I stopped at the large metal water cooler that sits on metal legs sitting by the door.

Now, I used the name Alice after I remembered a book called Through the Looking-Glass. I know many people have never read the second book about Alice’s adventures. Hell, I never read it either, but I remembered watching some old cartoon based on the book when I browsed the Internet. Obviously, there’s no web here, not even a damn TV, but my point is that everything in Alice’s world is reversed, including logic, after she pushes through the mirror.

The name suits this place. Alice’s world in the fairy tale is pretty fucking weird. But it’s got nothing on the damn version of Wonderland that I’m living in.

As I stood there considering what I said, I’m pretty confident that Alice wasn’t a ghost or spirit but more like a presence inside this office. It appears that she’s here whenever I arrive. I consider Alice as the perfect A.I. in a world that doesn’t have much in technology.

I’m curious if she’ll got mad at me using that name.

The chair holding my invisible secretary turned back around and papers start shuffling on her desk. It caused me to shrug at the non-response and look over at the water cooler. The glass carbuncle filled with water beckons me since I’m sweating inside my wool clothes. I pull out this ridiculously small paper cup from a holder on the stand. When I pour the water, the carbuncle shakes and gives out a blu-lop sound as a large bubble rises inside. I smile like a kid and do it a couple of more times after swallowing down the water.

Sometimes the simplest things can be fun, I decided.

While Alice continued to work, I headed back into my office and closed the door. I needed quiet time to analyze the black book and pull together a raft of thoughts filling my mind since I’ve arrived. Taking another notebook from the desk drawer along with a pencil, and began to lay out some of my thoughts.

First, turn Adele into my happy wife and keep that relationship in place. Under that list, I made a note that I needed to remove Lloyd from causing my problems.

I opened the little black book and looked up Lloyd Childress’ name again. I noted he’s a lawyer with his retired father and he’s known for some shady dealings that are just on the right side of legal. Unfortunately, I needed more details about him. Something about how he looked at me made me think there might be useful information for me to exploit.

As I leaned back, I noticed the letter on my desk from Adele’s lawyer. Then, I quickly picked it up and opened it. The name on the outside return address was from the office of Childress and Son. Lloyd signed the letter inside. I already understood that Lloyd was doing the same thing as Lane did to Adele. Play with her emotions to get to her fortune. Even if not, I busted him in the face, so I knew he would come after me out of revenge. I shook my head at the thought. To protect Adele, Lloyd remained my target.

Let’s be honest, it’s to protect myself as well.

A few minutes later, I flipped the intercom switch.

“Say, can you tell me how to get to the library?”

A sigh coming from the speaker showed she thought I was a dunce for not knowing something so simple. After she gave me directions, I finally asked her if she was upset because I called her Alice.

“Why would I be upset when you use my name?”

Man, I’m damn lucky. Or is this whole place rigged to know my thoughts?

My last thought scared the hell out of me.

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