“Excuse me sir?”
“Sir”
“Oh huh… Yes?”
“Is this your bag Sir?” The Stewardess mentioned to the brown satchel bag she had pulled down from the overhead locker.
“Yes, yes that’s mine” I inquired.
“We need this space for another larger bag, do you need anything out of this one? We’ll be moving it down four rows” She smiled back behind heavy makeup.
“No that’s fine, I have my phone” I replied trying to match her smile.
“Be sure to turn it off” And off she went with my bag with a practiced efficiency.
Watching her go I smiled to myself before turning back into my seat, it was time to endure the long flight.
….
“US AIRWAYS FLIGHT 2070 TO PHILIDELPHIA NOW BOARDING GATE 10” The PA boomed overhead as I and the other passengers wondered almost lifelessly down a never ending corridor of O’Hare International.
I was in no hurry as I could already see the queues forming for Customs, so I took the time to get my bearing back after the long flight, eventually slipping into the end of line 4.
“Passport Please Mr….”
“Braden Coke” I replied rummaging through my brown satchel as I have been for the last few minutes, the sweat was beginning to form on my brow as I looked up meekly to the gruff old Customs officer.
“Um… I seem to have lost it?” I said, more of a question than a statement.
“Sigh…” It was audible across the hum of the crowded airport as the Customs officer stared back at me almost blankly before picking up his phone dialling quickly.
Moments later I found myself in a plain white room with a window to the corridor outside but no external windows, a simple desk with the contents of my brown satchel spread across it, and myself sitting facing Officer George Harden who was making quick notes on this pad.
Finishing he looked back up to me.
“So Mr uh Coke, you’re in quite a bit of trouble here, no passport, no wallet, no form of identification at all?” He left that last bit hang for a moment “And….. The social security number you provided quite frankly isn’t you?” He said once again tapping the photo print out of ‘Braden Coke’ a man who although a similar age to me, clearly looked different.
“Look I have never seen this man before in my life, and… and… I don’t know what to tell you… I’m Braden Coke, and that’s my social security number” I replied utterly frustrated. What the hell was going on I screamed in my mind.
“OFFICER HARDEN, PLEASE REPORT TO FRONT DESK” The PA sounded making George look up at the ceiling.
“Look, think about your story and the situation you are in… And when I get back, how about we start afresh, with the truth this time ok?” He said as he stood up to leave the room.
I sat with my head in my hands for a moment, my mind was a blaze in muddled thought, a semi state of shock of what was happening, I could tell that panic was beginning to set in as I tried to steady myself and think logically… I must be able to prove who I was somehow… Think…
I stood slowly, hoping the movement will calm my thoughts as I walked over to the long window looking out into the corridor. At the far end maybe 20 meters down what seemed to be another endless corridor, I could see Officer Harden chatting to another man in a black suit…
“Ooooo” I joked to myself thinking of the serious looking man in black, although I laughed to myself I immediately frowned, my situation was no joke.
“What the @#$%%!” I said out loud.
Staring in horror as the man in black, one moment chatting the next he produced a small handgun and with no remorse put two bullets into Officer Harden’s chest…
Time slowed… I could see the empty shells falling to the floor after they silently dispatched Harden. The man began to catch the lifeless body… Moving towards an open door… He dragged the body inside…
“What the hell, what… what… holy #&$%... #$%#... Oh man” I rambled to myself as I practically leaned against the glass, my heart thumping in my chest… I must… What… What should I do… I only had moments to react to this new terrifying situation; the man would be back at any moment…
“Holy &$^&!!!!”
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