Reunited (Secrets of the Soul, Book One)

Chapter Seven

Once Stephanie and her friend left, Jack settled back on the couch and stared up at the ceiling, trying to process everything he'd learned that night, and everything he'd been forced to remember. It'd been several years since the move, but talking about it that night made it feel like it was only yesterday.

The anger and betrayal was fresh, leaving a wound he hadn't realized never fully healed. The more he thought about it, the more he realized that to be true. Even having fired his father and moving away from the family who'd been in league with him hadn't made it go away. It'd just kept it out of his face on a daily basis.

The thing he didn't understand was what he was supposed to do with this. He knew it was obviously still a problem for him, but he sure didn't want to go knocking at their doors to talk it out. They'd proven to him they couldn't be trusted.

He sighed, picking up his phone. He scrolled through and found someone had called recently. Jack's temper flared as he saw the area code associated with the number. The bastards must have found his somehow and called from one he didn't know. It was the only way a call from one of them could get through.

They're probably trying to worm their way back.

It had happened about once a year ever since he'd found out the truth. Usually, they left him a message filled with more bullshit than he could deal with, leaving him insulted that they actually thought he'd fall for it. Jack frowned as he realized the date.

They took their time on this round.

They were probably trying to get him off guard, making for an easier mark. He wouldn't let them. Not when he already had enough going on. A horrible thought came to mind and he grimaced.

Do they know?

He wouldn't put it past his family to use his current situation as a way to get back in his good graces. He couldn't figure out how they would, though. The few people employed here were paid well for their discretion, and they knew the possible consequences of breaking their agreement.

No, no one here would talk.

Deciding to push the vultures back of out his mind where they belonged, he chose to turn his attention back to the other part of the evening.

Elijah.

The name ran through his mind over and over, somehow ringing true, even though he wasn't sure he believed in any of this. The images he saw during the whole thing stuck with him so strongly, it was like he'd actually lived in that place, and lived that life.

According to her, you did...

He nearly laughed at the idea, but something in his gut told him there was more to this than some suggestions and imagination. The question was how to get any information on the guy he'd supposedly been to validate it before he went any further with this.

What are the chances, though?

He figured the name had to be a common one, and he didn't even have a place. Just a vague inkling of it possibly being in the Midwest somewhere.

This guy was twenty-three when he died, probably.

The information should make the search a little easier, but it was still going to be a tough one. He'd been known to google people he came into contact with, and it was always a mess. Almost too many results to bother with. He suspected it might be the same if he tried looking it up on any genealogy sites as well.

I need a lot more information. How do I get it?

He couldn't shake the feeling that it might be better to at least have something more to go on before Stephanie returned. Something that would allow him to have just a little more trust before he continued.