Jay:This is surreal. Now they think I’m dead?
Aleeza:There is no mention of them searching for a body. There might be more that the police aren’t saying. Something that’s leading them to believe this.
Jay:Yeah, because finding just my coat doesn’t mean a lot.
Aleeza:Your coat, phone, and wallet. Do you lose your phone and wallet often?
Jay:No, I’ve never lost them. I use my debit card for everything. I can’t imagine going long without it.
Aleeza:I assume they’ve checked your banking activity and it hasn’t been used since then.
Jay:Yeah, I assume. This is ... wow.
Aleeza:Jay, do you want me to stop investigating this? Cancel the podcast? I feel like we’re exploiting your misfortune for our own gain.
Jay:No, the fuck you are. You’re not exploiting anything. You’re trying to SAVE me. Maybe the Jay from your timeline is dead, but I’m not. Don’t let me go, Aleeza.
I bite my lip. He’s right. This is now about saving his life, not about getting him back. The Jay in my timeline isn’t coming back. He’s gone. But I can still save the Jay I know—the one from five months ago.
Jay:Besides, this news story tells me one thing loud and clear—I didn’t jump into the water. Or go in intentionally in any way.
Aleeza:How do you know?
Jay:My fall coat. It’s a vintage wool duffel coat. I’m an excellent swimmer—but not with a waterlogged wool coat on. I wouldn’t have had it on if I went for a late swim.
Aleeza:That’s a good point. What about shoes? What do you think you would have been wearing?
Jay:Unless I’m working out, I’m always wearing my eight-hole Doc Martens. I can’t swim in those either. Did they find my boots?
Aleeza:Not that I’ve heard.
They could still be on his body, wherever it is. I feel nausea in my stomach.
Jay:What did you find out at Jack’s? Or do you remember it at all?
Aleeza:I remember a lot.
Jay:How much did you drink, anyway?
Aleeza:About three drinks. I’m a lightweight. And I shared a joint with Jack.
Jay:And knowing Jack, it was probably laced with something.
I cringe at the thought of that.
Aleeza:How well do you know Jack? He said some cryptic things about you.
Jay:Jack is an interesting one. I would say he’s the only one in that group I’m still friends with. He’s both the most and the least trustworthy one of them.
Aleeza:Is he an addict?
Jay:I have no idea. Probably. He’s tortured, that’s for sure. I really don’t know why. He’s rich as fuck.
Aleeza:Someone said he hasn’t been sober since the fall.
Jay:He certainly wasn’t sober last night. What else did you learn?
Aleeza:I think Taylor might be the Birdwatcher.
