Rewriting Time

Chapter 1

Running most of the way from the subway to his home, Sebastian barreled through the door of his apartment like the very devil was hanging onto his coattails.  He couldn't believe how wrong this day was turning out to be. It was bad enough that his meeting with his publisher didn't go the way he wanted it to, but to have a guy die on him in the subway?

Okay, that wasn't really his fault. But still!

Taking a few deep breaths to calm himself, Sebastian walked to the minibar, poured himself a shot of scotch and finished it in one swift gulp, his frayed nerves getting much needed relief. If Lizzie could see him now, she'd be livid. Sebastian mentally kicked himself for going there again. With a shake of his head, Sebastian flopped down on the couch and raised his feet on the coffee table.

Murdered! That man was murdered. And right after telling him those...those insane things. Was he trying to warn him? Why? He didn't even know the man. Frustrated, Sebastian threw the tumbler against the wall where it shattered into a million pieces.

"Sebastian, you're a mystery writer, try to analyse this objectively!" he chastised himself. Swinging his feet off of the couch, he grabbed his trusty notebook and scribbled down the facts, or what he thought to be facts.

Name: Unknown

Age: late sixties - early seventies

Appearance: Middle-Eastern, salt-and-pepper beard, dark eyes and hair, height about 5'10"

Clothes: 20's style (?), well-tailored, expensive-looking

Significant details: Pursued and shot twice in the chest by unknown men, passed along an old pocket watch to a complete stranger.

He'd almost forgotten. Slapping a hand to his forehead, Sebastian fished out the mysterious object and placed it on the coffee table. He flipped open the lid and removed the pocket watch, placing it on his palm. He knew enough about pocket watches, especially those from the '20's and '30's, so he could safely say that this one was heavier than usual. It's twin lids were almost identical, both etched with intricate patterns, except for the engraved S.C. initials adorning the front. Gold Roman numerals ran around the mother-of-pearl dial which was cut out at the center to show off the complex inner mechanism of the watch. What made Sebastian conclude that this was no ordinary, store-bought timepiece, however, were its matching opal-tipped sidewinder and gold encased opal Fob attached to the double Albert chain.

It was an exquisitely crafted piece, made especially for...whoever S. C. was.

Of course, one could argue that S.C. - with the S being Sebastian (as the dedication on the lid of the box indicated), born on the same day as he , October  7 - was too much of a coincidence.

And he was not a big believer of coincidences.

The only conclusion that his analytical mind could reach was that someone was playing a prank on him. Someone who knew about his obsession with anything related to the 1920's.

Unfortunately, two things easily debunked his theory. First, only Lizzie knew about his obsession. Second, no one would go as far as murdering people just to play a prank on him.

Okay, so no one in his right mind would pull a prank this elaborate, he conceded. What else could explain the bizarre events of today? 

It still could be a prank, his stubborn self insisted. Huffing in annoyance at his inner voice, Sebastian grabbed the crystal box, determined to squeeze it dry of information.

Bingo!

At the bottom of the case, under the white cushion, was a small card declaring the item had been 'designed and crafted by Toledano Jewelers, Pearl Avenue, Beachcastle'. Whispering a silent thanks to the gods of technology, Sebastian typed the name of the shop onto his phone to check if it actually existed. It did. And it wouldn't close until 8PM. He glanced at his watch and punched the air with glee - 7:30! Pearl Avenue was a couple of blocks away, he'd be there before closing time if he walked fast. Returning the pocket watch to its crystal case, Sebastian stashed it inside his hoodie and jumped to his feet, eager to solve the mystery that had been hounding him since he bumped into that old man.