Jake Randolph: Origins Pt. 18

I waited until the neighbor left and then went around to the fenced-in backyard. There was a large swimming pool which had a partially deflated beach ball wandering aimlessly around on the water like a sad lost child looking for its mother.

I passed the trash can, removing the lid to see if I could find anything that might clue me in to where Claudia was. The smell of rancid food and the buzzing of flies inundated my senses.

After a couple of minutes rummaging around in the garbage I thought, What kind of career path have I chosen?