HTTP 404

Don't You Go All Detective On Me.

Samir found Joseph restlessly pacing up and down the hallway. An old, tattered phone book lay on the ground, along with a bunch of newspapers. Various cuttings from different sections of the Daily Telegram were highlighted, and, to Samir’s surprise, they were in fact of the same advertisement.

He picked up a cutting and read it.

“No way Joseph. Don’t get caught in this conspiracy shit. The police track your calls around here, you know that right?” Samir’s voice was loaded with scepticism. Joseph was the last person he’d expect to fall for the advertisement.

“It’s probably just a scam.”

“No Samir, you don’t understand.”

“Joseph, I’ve known you for nineteen years. Your brother died a martyr, yes, but you have to forget about him and move on.”

“FORGET ABOUT HIM!” A fury overtook Joseph and his eyes turned red.  Samir was taken aback and an apologetic look spread over his face.

“I’m sorry; I didn’t mean it that way.” But Joseph was too busy muttering to himself. Samir picked up a few words here and there, but nothing made sense to him. Seeing his confused stare, Joseph told him what had happened – the university, his brother’s death, the newspaper not covering the story.

“Now I’m just trying a find a way to reach this number here without being tracked. I think it will give me a lead into the X1, and I think they have something to do with the Daily Telegram not publishing a story.”

“There’s an old public phone near the university. I’ll drive you up.” Samir spoke firmly.

Obliging, Joseph got into the back seat of Samir’s sedan. Thoughts rushed crazily through his head. He had no idea what he was about to get into, but the anger that boiled in him over his brother’s death fuelled him yet again to keep going. His life needed a bit of adventure anyway.

Driving through the old streets of Shaked, Joseph felt a sharp pain cut through his leg. Rolling up his pants, he gasped.

“Shit. It got infected.” Joseph winced in pain.

“What did?” Samir didn’t take his eyes of the road. He was carefree towards his career, but not his survival.

“Oh. The other day, I got late for my exam. I went down into the basement to get the old pushbike and got bitten by a rat down there. I was in a rush then, but I totally forgot about it, with all that’s been happening...” Joseph trailed off.

“There’s an antiseptic and bandage in the small compartment in front of you. I would do it myself but I don’t think the police would appreciate that.”

“Yeah, alright.”

Joseph applied the antiseptic and clenched his teeth. It stung badly. Rat bites normally carried some form of disease, and luckily for Joseph he hadn’t presented symptoms of anything. However, a wound, if left untreated, was likely to lead to an infection - which could soon spread to other parts of the body.

“How’s it going with Mira then?” Joseph tried to lighten the conversation.

“Decent. I asked her if she wanted to hang out after work, she said yes, but I think I’m friendzoned.” Samir chuckled, but his eyes had a serious look in them.

“What?” Joseph knew his friend was hiding something from him, and he was right.

“I’m pregnant.”

Joseph stared at Samir with a blank look on his face. Then, as if on accord, both burst out laughing. This was why Joseph loved Samir – he could kill any sort of tension with one of his jokes.