Jeremy knew he was in big trouble when Marcel said those words. What more could he want from him that he hasn’t told him yet?
“What is it?” He asked with a sense of dread.
Marcel stood up from his seat, and began to circle the drug addict asking, “How many types did you and Elijah meet physically?”
“Thrice,” Jeremy answered that one, having remembered it vividly, “The first time; he got me to agree to working for him, and the second time; he met to give me payment, and the third time; it was to crash his fiancée’s wedding. Every other conversation was over the cellphone and encrypted. Dude, is super smart.” He chuckled at the end yet regained himself when he saw the frown on Marcel’s face.
He’s super smart, huh? Marcel made a mental mockery of that statement. The fact that he and Elijah were even being compared pissed him off. He had been here before Elijah, but then the dude comes out of nowhere and tries to take over everything. When it comes to reputation, Elijah was nothing compared to him and he was going to prove that when he got his hands on him.
Marcel went on, “If you can remember much, then you can recall distinct features. What did you notice about Elijah?”
“I told you already, dude is super careful,” Jeremy groaned, he was getting tired of it, all he wanted was his fix, “Perhaps, I might be able to think properly if you give me the drugs. I can’t even concentrate!”
But Marcel chuckled mirthlessly, “Nice try, Jeremy. Now think harder! There must have been little details you noticed that you didn’t put many thoughts into until now and trust me, it would be very useful to me.” He pushed him further.
.....
Jeremy shook his head in denial yet said, “His voice didn’t sound natural. He looked like he had a device with him that distorted it and made it harder to tell what he really sounds like.”
“Good. What did you notice about his hair? The color? The texture?” Marcel wanted more details, ready to make a mental sketch with the information he would receive.
Jeremy’s brows were furrowed as he thought hard about the few times they met, “No, I don’t think so,”
“What do you mean you don’t think so?”
“Each time we met he was bald.”
“That’s impossible,” Marcel shook his head, “From the blurry photo we have of him, he had a head full of hair. So either he’s wearing a super realistic mask like he’s famed for or your lying to me. I’ll take the first option though.”
Jeremy released a relieved breath, he had been wondering how he would explain to Marcel that he was telling the truth.
“If that’s the case, you won’t be able to describe what he looks like obviously.” He turned to Jeremy, “What about his height and weight? That should be easy to figure out.”
“I-I can’t tell.” Jeremy gulped, “He was definitely tall but confusing, one day he’s bulky and the next less bulky and the next, he’s bulkiest. It was as if he was playing mind games with me.”
“Sea green? Amber? Red? Contact lenses aren’t hard to find.”
By the time Jeremy was through, Marcel knew finding Elijah was a lost cause. But then, Marcel refused to believe that he couldn’t find one man! Was this some sort of joke? No, he had to try harder.
He was close to giving up when Jeremy suddenly shouted,” I remember something!”
“Wait! What is it?!” Marcel looked at him positively.
There was an eat-shit grin on Jeremy’s face and he knew at that moment that this was the advantage he has been looking for.
“Well, what is it? Spill it out already!” Marcel was impatient.
“I would, only after you give the drug to me,” He made the greatest mistake of giving Marcel a condition.
At once, Marcel who had leaned a little bit towards him to hear the news, straightened up immediately. All traces of warmth disappeared from his face and Jeremy stopped laughing abruptly. What has he done?
Marcel put his hands into the pocket of his pants and took a deep, calculated breath, before saying, “I hear you have a little brother, he looks better in person than in the photos.” He subtly threatened him. That is if you can call that “subtle”
All blood drained from Jeremy’s face, it seems he bit more than he could chew. Marcel was not as soft-hearted as he thought he to be.
Marcel bent so that his eyes were on the same level as his, “The next time you are going to threaten me, make sure you are up to the challenge.”
He pulled back, “Now, do tell me. What do I need to know about Elijah, Jeremy?” he asked in a voice that suggested he was not accepting any more tricks up his sleeve.
Jeremy had no choice but to confess to him, “I think Elijah’s left-handed.”
“You think?” Marcel didn’t want a hypothesis anymore, he needed real fact! Anything that would give a lead on Elijah!
“The second time we met, when he tossed the drug to me, he did it with his left hand. Although we didn’t interact often but now that I think about it, he favored his left hand.” Jeremy said.
There was silence for a while as Marcel thought over his words. He then said,
“It’s not much but it’s something that I can work with. ”
Jeremy was grateful for the fact that he was able to help out because he asked for payment in the next minute, “My drugs then.”
“Of course, your drugs.” Marcel pulled out the pouch from his pocket and the man was elevated thinking that he was about to hand the drug to him only to receive the shock of his life.
Marcel pocketed the drug right in front of him saying, “Do you know that withdrawal symptoms typically persist for up to three weeks? The symptoms gradually fade during this time. You’ve spent a week already, two weeks would pass in a blur. Don’t blame me too much Jeremy, I’m only trying to help your life.” He smirked even though it was the truth.