Chapter Two

Benson

I woke up this morning to massive alerts on my phone. As I glance down to start reading some of them, all but maybe two are from the news app. They were about the man that I unalived yesterday. They still have no leads, and they won’t either. I’m that good.

I had a message from my mother asking if I heard about the man that was killed last night. Yes, mom, I did. I know all too well about it. Did I tell her that? No, absolutely not. My mom thinks I’m a successful business tech guy. Let her and everyone else think that.

I don’t have a job to do today, thankfully. You know, my real job, the unaliver. I guess we will see what my day brings. I’m going to head down to the coffee shop and get some breakfast.

“Hi mom,” I answered the phone as I was walking down the sidewalk. “How are you my love?”

“Oh Benny, I just wanted to hear your voice and make sure you are okay. I don’t know why you needed to move to that horrible city! Come back home!” My mom never liked the fact that I moved here. For the past three years she has been hell bent on getting me to move back home.

“Mom, I will be home soon to visit. I mean Thanksgiving is coming, I definitely am needing a delicious home cooked meal.” I open up the coffee shop door and head in.

“Benny, you need to find a woman. A good wholesome woman who will treat you right. Someone to cook for you.” My mom has always wanted me to meet someone nice. Having spent most of my adult life in the military, it was definitely a let down for her. Not the fact that I was serving our country, but that I didn’t meet anyone. I couldn’t meet anyone.

“Well mom, I’m next, I will give you a call later. Love you, mom.” I hung up the phone in just enough time to place my order.

As I stand there waiting for my coffee and pastry, there is quite the line of people behind me. Thank goodness I got here when I did. “Benson.” My order was up. I went over to an open table by the window and sat down. As I sip my coffee, I start scrolling through my phone. I have never seen so many articles about the unaliving of one of my victims.

I glance up from my phone, looking around. No one takes notice of me sitting here. I’m always under the radar. Do they deep inside know what I did, what I do? Am I not attractive? Do I intimidate people? No one ever makes eye contact, ever.

I look back down at my phone and notice a new message notification at the top of my screen. Ugh, I was truly hoping for an easy day today. I pull down my notification and see a message from an unknown number. “Hi Ben, I was referred to you for a job. I was wondering when you were free to talk?”

I glance around to make sure no one notices me, still nothing. I text back quickly, “call me later, we will chat.”

I finish eating my pastry and head out into the brisk November air. I place my phone in my pocket and head down the street for a walk. As I approach the subway, it’s quite busy today. I wanted to head down to the scene. I wanted to see how it’s doing this morning, if any strange activity is occurring.

I know, going back to the scene, why would I do that? Well sometimes it’s better to frequent the spaces where you commit the crime so as not to look suspicious. I hop on the subway car and head down to Williamsburg.

The subway is definitely something you become accustomed to living in the metro like New York City. Of course though my past vehicles included hummers and aircrafts so it’s quite the different scenery.

I hold on to the pole as there is absolutely nowhere to sit today. You see all walks of life, you have your elderly, youngsters, hot moms, single dads, and those wannabe thugs. They’re all here. Again, everyone is paying attention to themselves and not me. I’m beginning to think it’s just me.

As we approach my stop, I head out of the subway car. Thankfully it doesn’t take long to get to Williamsburg on the subway from my apartment. As I walk up the stairs and onto the sidewalk, it’s a short distance to the brownstone that Mr. White was unalived. It is definitely a different space than where I live. It’s a wonder why he lived there being as big of an influence as he was in the metropolitan.

I approach the area, cop cars lined up in front of the row of apartment buildings, many people being questioned, people still standing around as if the lifeless body was still on the sidewalk. It wasn’t, thankfully.

I glance over and notice that there is a juice bar opened and head in. The first thing I notice is the woman working behind the counter. She is quite attractive. Long brown hair pulled back into a ponytail, beautiful brown eyes and luscious lips. I don’t even know why I’m looking, not like she would be interested in me anyways.

I head up to the counter and begin looking at the menu.

“Welcome to Andie’s Juice, what can I get for you today?” The woman welcomed me with a smile.

“Well I’m not sure, what do you recommend?” I asked her.

“Personally my favorite is the strawberry banana smoothie.” She replied, again with a smile.

I glance again at the menu and look back at her, “well then a strawberry banana smoothie it is.”

I pay with cash and place a tip in the tip jar. I step to the side while she makes me drink. As I glance away and look outside at the police presence, I notice she glances at me.

“Quite the interesting turn of events out there isn’t it?” She says to me, continuing to process my order.

“What?” I turn back around, trying to take my eyes off of the events outside. “Oh, yes, is that where that guy got unalived last night?”

“Unalived? That’s the first time I’ve ever heard someone call it that. You mean murdered?” She says to me as she places a lid on the drink.

“Um, yes, sure, murdered.” I truly am trying to not act like I know anything more.

“Yes, that’s unfortunately where it happened. It’s definitely not something you want happening outside your shop. I had to close up early last night because of it, they wouldn’t let me stay open.” She replied.

“Oh, I’m sorry to hear that.” I grab my drink and head over to one of the tiny tables facing outside.

I notice that she’s standing there, glancing outside and back at me as I’m sitting here fascinated with the ongoings.

Andie

As I opened up shop today I noticed that there was quite the police presence still on the block dealing with the murder last night. Hopefully they will allow me to stay open today. They better not even come over here, unless they plan on buying something. I didn’t see anything, I don’t want any issues.

I’m truly glad that I don’t live around here. The only reason I opened shop up here was because of the real estate costs. The rent here is less than half the price as a store front by my home. Some day, maybe I will move my business there, but for now, here is where I stay.

As I stand here watching out the front window, a customer comes in. Wow, I’ve never seen him around here before. He’s definitely attractive. Probably married, but attractive none the less.

“Welcome to Andie’s Juice, what can I get for you today?” I said with a smile, trying not to look like I was staring at him.

After the gentleman ordered, he sat at one of the tables looking out the window. I noticed he was very engrossed in what was going on outside.

As he finished up his drink, he walked the empty cup to the trash can. Glancing back over at me, “it was nice to meet you…” He waited for a name.

“Andie. You know, like Andie’s Juice.” I replied.

He smiled, “ahh, yes, you did say that but I didn’t want to assume that was your name. Very nice name.”

As he started to walk to the door, “and your name was?”

He turned around and smiled, “Benson.”

“Benson. Nice to meet you.” I smiled as he continued to walk out the front door.