novel 88 - 5. jake

by nick nelson

part 5 of ?

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you thought you had it made, didn’t you, jake? but something has gone wrong, hasn’t it? just like it always does. one little thing trips you up. just like it tripped up all the great men whose lives you love to read books and watch movies about - julius caesar, hannibal, genghis khan, napoleon, hitller - they were all tripped up by one thing. and now it is your turn. * it all began on a foggy night when jake was reading one of his favorite books - harold lamb’s book about alexander the great. there was a loud knock on his door. who can that be, jake thought, my visit from the welfare department is not for another eleven days. he put his book down on the floor beside his worn out “easy chair” and opened the door. a heavy set man and a thin woman stared at him - the man with more a bit hostility than the woman. they both wore heavy overcoats and fedoras. although it was not that cold outside. they looked like police, but then, most people were in the police one way ot the other, either full time or volunteers are you jake johnson? the man asked in a surprisingly soft voice. that is what i call myself, jake answered. calls himself! the woman laughed. what have we here? we are from the identity police, the man said. we can show you our badges if you like. or you can call information and verify us, the woman added. that won’t be necessary, jake replied, but there must be some mistake, as i do not have any identity. do you mind if we come in? the man asked. not at all. but i do not have anything to offer you in the manner of refreshments, or any comfortable places to sit. or much light, the woman added, looking around the tiny apartment, but that is all right, we are used to it in our line of work. i am mister outside, the man said, and this is ms inside. ms inside closed the door behind her. jake sat down in his chair. he turned the brightness up on the lamp beside the chair. do you know, or have you ever heard of, a man named henry fuller? mr outside asked. no. are you sure? it is a pretty common name. i do not know many people. he is a serial killer. i do not know much about serial killers. really? that is not what our records show, ms inside confidently asserted. what? what are you talking about? our records show that you are an avid collector of books about serial killers. what? that is just not true. ms inside walked past jake’s chair to his small but overflowing bookcase. mind if i take a look at these? be my guest. next