Shadow I.T. #3!

in #life7 years ago (edited)

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I was still on the trail of the Shadow I.T.

It had been an even rougher week than the last. I kept asking questions and following up leads but my face was starting to hurt from the doors that had been slammed on it. It was starting to put a strain on my marriage as I arrived home, night after night from work, smelling of cheap caffeine and frustration.

You gotta let it go, baby? This Shadow I.T. thing. It's messing with your head, like a labrador eating vegan cheesecake.

Every time I would take off my fedora and hang up my long coat whilst shaking my head.

Lass, if it looks like a duck and it quacks like a duck, then it's a fucking duck. And it won't be the first time that I have fucked a duck just to hear it quack.

But what does that even mean?

She would cry.

I would shake my head even more and lock myself in the study with some Irish coffee and some smoky blues.

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Then it happened, one morning I stopped in Java Joe's for a pick me up on the way to work. The man behind the counter wasn't named Joe but he served a hell of a coffee.

I had just finished my second double when trouble walked in.

She was a leggy broad. Like a camel but with skinnier feet and less spitting. She sidled up to the counter next to me and ordered a double Hot Lava Java. I couldn't help but nod approvingly. My eyes drifting for a moment over her humps.

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She turned and faced me once she had her expresso in hand.

You looking for something?

I raised an eyebrow.

Who's asking.

She raised an eyebrow even higher than I just had. Then pushed a slip of paper over the countertop.

One-eyed Jack sends his regards...

She got up and left. Slowly I unfolded the slip of paper. On it was scrawled two words.

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I threw down a twenty and swiftly left. Outside it was raining hard. I gazed up at the top of the building I worked on. From way down below I could make out a shape. walking back and forth. This was it. Time to crack this case wide open. I crossed the road and flashed my pass before barreling up the stairs to the roof.

Twenty minutes later I pushed open the door to the rooftop. I was slightly out of breath after climbing all 36 flights of stairs. No matter. This thing ends now, I thought grimly.

Through the rain I could see a man pushing a brush about. For all intents and purposes, sweeping. I wasn't fooled. I approached him.

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Alright mate?

I ventured.

He looked up at me, rainwater slicking down his face.

I've seen things you wouldnae believe mate.

He swept a bit more, a seemingly pointless task in the rain.

Bins oan fire in the back alley. Tramps pissin in the dark near the front gate. This job, it means nothin. Time tae fly.

His head bowed forward. I took a tentative step forward.

You alright mate?

He looked up.

Aye man, just rolling a joint.

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I could see now he was and using his head to shelter the rain from his hands. It looked like this was a dead end, like every other lead. I swore and stomped back in the building to my desk.

I decided this was it. The good lady was right. I was getting nowhere looking for the mysterious Shadow I.T. It was time to give it up. Go back to just being an ordinary Joe in and ordinary office. I opened my email.

There was only one unread item flashing away. It was a meeting invite from El Jefe.

It was titled.

Shadow I.T.

My heart began to race. The game was back on! The meeting was scheduled for next Tuesday. I would have to wait but at least I had something concrete. I felt better than I had in weeks.

I quickly pulled out my phone and tapped a message to the good lady.

Polish your panjanno lady, tonight its party time.

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So happy to hear you are not just an "ordinary Joe" anymore...lol...as if!

HEhehe, One a Friday I aint thats for sure. I think thats due to the almost hallucinatory amount of coffee I take to celebrate the oncoming weekend hehe!

While I always vote, I don't always stop to comment on the meesterboom posts. But when I do, it's just to here them Quack.

Get out dat rain homie!

It's hard rain!! ;O)

Yes! Now we finally will know... Although, comming from El Jeffe, dunno. It might be a diversion. Why would the dark layer trust him to open up pandora's box?

Oh wait! Got it figured out...

But, as Uncle Boom always ends: A gentleman never tells.

Have a great weekend mate!

I hope you have a cracker too. I am quite fascinated by the meeting!

You probably have the right of it though! I thinkI know how it might go myself!

Thanks, can imagine you look forward to the meeting. And I'm sure you know how it'll go. :-)

TGIF! Don't need any coffee. Just the beer. Forget Shadow IT. You'll have it solved before Tuesday, Boom!

I might have, or I might be incredibly hungover!!

Wayhay! I did not expect that you were still on the trail of the mysterious Shadow I.T.! This has turned into a gripping noir of a tale! What was a conspiracy post has turned into a hardboiled, balls to the wall, detective story. So happy to see that the good lady is as supportive of this as you are to here Red Tent-ery.

What awaits Boomsby in that ominous meeting? Surely, El Jefe is just a red fish used to throw you off the scent. Will they be whipping out One-Eyed Jacks and have a manly swordfight? Tune in next Tuesday to find out! Oh hey, you have a gum stuck to your shoe...

A manly swordfight, that's how all good situations should end. Perhaps it will and someone will be pronged. The good lady of course can't stop being soo supportive!! Hehe

Really? Here I thought that good situations all finish with happy endings?

SO SUPPORTIVE!! Positively oozing with it. I feel like you can gather it in jars and sell them online.

Nice post. I enjoyed it, but no steamy saxophone theme reference? Perhaps some Dragnet or Perry Mason next time to set the mood? Ha ha.

Oh dammit!! You know on the other two I have the mike hammer sax solo one at the bottom and I forgot for this one! I am going to edit and put it in!! Cheers!!

Panjanno?

This is not a word I've ever heard before, but in this context it could mean literally anything.

Ha! 5 minutes later and I only just understood the leggy broads message.... these stories have so many goddamn layers of amaze.

Hehehe, I try to add a bit more than it seems at first to them. IT makes is more fun in the writing! :OD

And I made up panjanno!

Well then, excellent word-smithery... in this case I'm going to take it as "a gentlewoman's lady parts".

You'll get that Shadow IT/I just know you will...

And in that case you would be absolutely right!! Bless the gentlewomen! :O)

Great story as always. I really look forward to your daily blog. OK, I was LMAO about "just to hear it quack." :) :) :)
@tincanjunction

Why thank you very much! Just to hear it quack. Iliked that myself!

I'm still laughing at the last episode. And moment with the slip of paper lol.
Please more of it, it's very good, man!

Hehe, thank you! I shall try to keep it coming :O)

One-Eyed Jacks, the only film directed by Marlon Brando.

And a fine film too. Always a sucker for a western me!