Page 24 of Primary Seduction
“Why, what’s wrong?” Trent could tell he had all of Samuel’s attention now.
“I’m not sure exactly. I keep misplacing things or outright losing them. One minute, they’re there, the next they’re not. When I saw the doctor last time, he gave me B12 to help my memory. It doesn’t seem to be working. I’m worried…I’m worried it’s dementia or something. I don’t know, Samuel. Everything feels different. There’s something not quite right.”
“Jesus, Trent, why didn’t you say something earlier?”
“Because I thought I wasn’t remembering where I put them. I didn’t think anything of it until the things started actually going missing.”
“Does anyone have a key to your place?” Samuel asked, ever the lawyer.
“Only Jocelyn and Harper.” Trent got up off that sofa and began to pace around.
“Is there any particular time you’ve noticed this happening?”
“No, but I’ve not really been paying attention.”
“What’s gone missing?”
“My watch, you know the one Mum and Dad gave me, the one that belonged to Grandpa, and some gold cufflinks. There’s been other stuff as well, but I can’t remember what.” Trent rubbed his forehead with his fingers, feeling a headache coming on again. He stopped and stared at the bookcase, not really seeing anything as he tried to work through the issues.
“Well, both of those seem like they are worth money. I’m sorry to ask, and I don’t in all honesty believe they would, but are you sure one of your kids hasn’t taken them because they need the money or something?” Samuel sounded like he knew the answer already, which he did.
“They wouldn’t do that. Both would ask for money with no hesitation.” Trent frowned when he thought back to his conversation with Jocelyn. “They’d prefer to go without instead of asking for money.” His vision centred in on the shelf, and he looked in confusion. Scanning the remaining shelves, he found everything else in place, but that one shelf seemed wrong. “Holy fuck,” he whispered.
“Trent? TRENT!” Samuel’s voice came through the phone loudly enough to get Trent’s attention.
“I’m here,” he said quietly, gaze still stuck to that shelf.
“What the fuck is going on?”
“There is a pair of bookends on my shelf that I don’t remember putting there. I’ve never even seen them before. Shit, Samuel, what the hell is wrong with me?” Trent dropped onto the sofa and rested his head in his hands. He could hardly breathe, his breath was harsh, he was dizzy.
“TRENT!” Samuel’s voice seemed like a million miles away. “Fuck, I’ll be there in a few minutes.”
Trent kept hearing Samuel’s voice in his ear, even when he could no longer hold the phone up. Banging sounded on his door and it roused him a little. It took him a few minutes, but he was able to get up and open the door. He looked at Samuel in confusion.
“What are you doing here?”
“Shit, Trent, you scared ten years off my life.” Samuel came in a shut the door behind him. He took charge, ushering Trent back to the sofa and sat down next to him. “Right, tell me what happened.”
“What happened, when?” Trent was confused. He’d just been talking to Samuel, hadn’t he?
“Half an hour ago? What made you go quiet on the phone? You told me about the bookends, and then went silent.” Samuel spoke softly as if talking to a scared child.
“Half an hour? I don’t remember. I remember seeing the bookends—” he pointed to the bookcase, “and then sitting down when my headache got bad. Then nothing until you just turned up.” Trent looked up at Samuel and whispered, “What’s wrong with me, Sammy?”
Samuel shook his head. “I don’t know, Trent. But we’re going to find out. Today.” He stood, withdrawing his phone and made a call while walking into the kitchen area. Trent could’ve overheard if he tried, but he was too tired. He laid his head against the back of the sofa and rested his eyes.
“Trent?” A slight nudging brought him out of his sleep.
“What?” he asked, eyes still closed.
“You have to get up now. We have an appointment at the hospital in half an hour.” Samuel looked down at him, worry creasing his face.
****
Chapter 5
Max
