The Boy and the Bookstore

Chapter 11 - The Funeral

“Ouch” Charlie said as he entered through the back window falling to the floor of Sam’s apartment. “Sam you here? You haven’t been answering my text or phone calls lately.” Charlie said getting to his feet. “My sister is pretty ticked off you skipped out on your date.” Charlie soon drew quiet as he walked through the empty bedroom and noticed a chaotic looking apartment. The dishes weren’t done and some plates were even smashed against the wall. Charlie stepped over the broken shards of glass and headed back towards Sam’s other rooms. He peaked in his bedroom and noticed his mattress was standing up against the wall and all the papers he had tapped to his wall were now on the floor. He looked into his office area. His printer was broken and smashed apart against one of the walls. His laptop was nowhere to be seen. All the books he had collected were scattered a crossed the room and his coffee table had been broken into two pieces. Only his small couch remained untouched. Charlie assumed this was probably where Sam fell asleep after he let all his rage out or in a worse situation this was where Sam was sleeping when somebody broke into his apartment and came after him. Charlie went back to his bedroom to re-examine the chaos. There was a tie and dress shoes sitting next to Sam’s dresser that he had never noticed before. Charlie opened up his cell phone and tried to call Sam again but it went straight to voicemail. Charlie decided he was going to go down to the garage and hoped that the guys there knew something. They were probably the next closest things that Sam had to friends other than the few older ladies he was having affairs with.

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After he went down there he realized they weren’t much help. All they could tell Charlie was that Marcus would never do any jobs around this time of year. He told them he went on his vacations and it was usually with his family or with one of the ladies he was currently having sex with. One of the guys gave him a number to one of the ladies. Charlie decided he was going to call her and see if she knew anything.

“Hi, I’m Charlie. I’m one of Marcus’ friends. I was wondering if he was with you or if you knew where he was?”

“I’m sorry who is this and who are you looking for?” a younger lady sounded on the phone.

“My name is Charlie. I’m one of his friends from school. I’m sorry maybe I have the wrong number.”

“Do you mean Sam?”

“Uh… yes I do. He didn’t tell you his name was Marcus?”

“No I know who he is. He’s told me a lot of things.”

“Are you, are you Sam’s new girlfriend?”

“Oh God no. I’ve known Sam for a while now.”

“And how do you know each other? I was told you’re one of his new flames but I guess it’s not a real reliable source.”

“I’m Sam’s former counselor.”

“Former? I didn’t know he had a counselor.”

“Well he hasn’t had any sessions with me for a while now. It’s been at least two years.”

“What was he seeing you for?”

“You know I can’t discuss that. It’s all confidential.”

“Ok yeah. Well I’m trying to find him and can’t reach him. He’s not answering his phone and he’s not at his place and it’s completely trashed. Do you have any idea where he might be?”

“He trashed his place? Hold on a second let me look at something.” Charlie could hear the lady flipping through some paperwork. “Oh no.”

“What? What is it?”