I was scared. There was nobody here and I didn’t even know where I was. The cold enveloped me in a dark haze. Nothing could be seen through my eyes. I thought everything was hopeless, that is until I saw her.

A spasmodic cry broke my isolation and I could hear the bantering of footsteps coming towards me. As her face seemed to appear out of the dark fog I waved my arms and shouted to her, “Hello!” I didn’t seem to care that she was crying, I just wanted to know where I was.

At first she wanted to pass me but something stopped her, she caught a glimpse of my face and froze. I walked up to her slowly, she had thoughts of turning the other way and yet she stayed. “Warren?” She said trying to smile through the tears. I thought a minute if that was my name, Warren? It sounded familiar. I replied, “What are you doing here?” Trying to sound as if I knew what was going on.

She tried to talk but stumbled to speak, after a final hopeless attempt to respond she broke down and began to weep in my arms. I felt the weight of her hands in my pockets as she hugged me. “What’s wrong?” I said, “You can tell me.”

Her eyes shined as she looked up to my face, “Tray, he took the jewels... he’s working for the OSS!” I tried to look shocked. I didn’t understand how that could make her cry, that is until she shouted, “How could he try to kill us? We trusted him! He was my only friend...” She lost the use of her legs and knelt on the ground and for some reason I wanted to do the same. I didn’t know what to do. I went by my instincts and ran my fingers through her hair in a comforting way saying, “It’ll be okay.”

“The OSS will be after us.” She said,”We got to get out of here!” She lifted herself up slowly. “Where are we going to run?” I wish I knew, I felt so bad for this girl. Obviously she was in an enigma, but I was just as involved. What should we do?

I grabbed her arm and started to dart down the ally we were standing in. She clearly didn’t expect this, she almost shouted when she felt me jerk her arm. I had to go somewhere. I had to help this girl. I had to hide. I barely knew who I was other than my name and yet it felt like my whole world was right behind me; I felt so meaningful.

I saw a parked car outside of a tailor shop. I stopped in front of it and tried to open the door, it was locked. “Let me try...” The girl took out a coat hanger from her handbag and shoved it through a slot in the door. There was a sudden click and the door swung open. She sniffled and stepped inside. I heard footsteps coming form across the street and jumped into the car hoping the person didn’t see me. I waited with my hands against the steering wheel until the pedestrian walked away, after that the girl hot-wired the car and started it up. It was an okay car, a black model-T with a missing headlight. The window was cracked and the seats were worn but for and escape car, it was perfect. Nobody could find us in this thing. There were more model-T’s than people around here.

I wondered where we were heading; I didn’t even know where we were in the first place. “ Where are we going?” I asked. She thought for a moment, “London. We can still get our jewels back before he has proof that we stole them. He’ll have nothing to present to the OSS. We’ll be off the hook.”




I wondered how such a sweet-looking girl could get into such trouble. A jewel theft? Judging by what I saw so far I would expect her to be some mild mannered banker’s wife. How could I get into so much trouble? I didn’t feel like some outlaw, and inferring to my reflection in the mirror, I would say I look like normal guy.

The morning came, we parked just outside a factory warehouse in a town called Parker. It was only a mile or two away from London. I looked at the girl sleeping next to me. On her hand was a wedding ring, same with me. Was I married to this girl? Is that why she felt so close to me? I feel kind of bad, I don’t even know her name.

Why is it that I can only remember back to when I woke up in that alleyway? Was it because that Tray guy somehow gave me amnesia when he tried to kill me? I seem to have more questions than answers.

The girl woke up a little after I did. When she woke up she called me “honey”. I was really staring to believe she was my wife. She started the car and drove out of the parking lot we stayed the night at.

It was a clear day, not a single could in the sky, much different from last night. I could see everywhere around me, it was the most beautiful day I can remember, actually, the first day I can remember.

We traveled across London and ended up parking across the street from the Minister Suites. The hotel was a modern landmark built in 1921, only two years ago. People considered it a place for the royal and powerful. I felt very important just walking through the front doors. The girl talked about the place on the way to London and told me where Troy was staying, room 48 on the fifth floor. We has to take the stairs because the lift operator would probably ask us who we are and such. When we found his room I stood to the side of the door keeping watch in the hallway while she knocked on the door. Nobody answered. She tried several times again. Once again no answer. She gave out a sigh. “Great, now what? Do you think we can break in?” I shook my head a walked towards the door. I inhaled deeply and kicked the door as hard as I could. It wasn’t hard enough. Instead of bursting down the door I kicked a hole right through the center of the door. “Good enough.” The girl said. She positioned her hand through the hole and turned the knob. The door creaked loudly when it opened. We slowly entered the room thinking Troy might be hiding. I checked the bathroom while she checked under the bed. “Come here quick!” She yelled. I ran to the bedroom thinking what could of happened when I found her standing over the bed holding a wooden box. “It’s the jewels...” She said, puzzled. “Why would he leave them here?” She turned the box towards me and I saw what was inside. These weren’t just the average diamonds and peals, they were the crown jewels! “We stole the crown jewels!” I blurted out with remorse.

She looked at me and smiled, “And now we stole them back.” I didn’t understand anything that was going on. I couldn’t believe the ruse we just pulled on the king and queen of England. I don’t even know how I did it or how it ended up here.

“How did the jewels end up here? And why did Troy leave them here?” I asked thinking she wouldn’t think I knew.

“He was staying here to meet up with the OSS. He must of ran off to do something. We don’t have much time until he comes back. Lets go.” She lightly walked outside the room and graced her way down the hallways acting like the richest woman in London (At that time she probably was too). I followed behind her and into the car. We drove off pretty nonchalantly. Nobody at the hotel could of expected us of any wrongdoing.

“Now what?” I asked.

“We go on with our plan.” She wisped her long hair in the wind. She looked so beautiful at that moment and I really hoped that she was my wife. I wondered if there was any way I could find out without making a fool out of myself.

“So honey...” She paused, “Warren... do you find it peculiar that we are the most wanted people in Europe right now...”

She must have seen the look on my face when she told me this. What else have we done to become the most wanted people in Europe? It can’t just be this. “What do you mean?” I asked.

“Everyone wants to find us and throw is in jail.” She smiled, “But there’s no proof saying that we did anything wrong so what can they do?”

She was starting to change. The first time I saw her she was weak and crying, now she seemed to be a bit iniquitous. The way she talked seemed so cold and evil. The thought was lodged inside my head, maybe we’re not as kind as we look.

The car moaned with the agony of rust and neglect. The road tossed us to and fro in our seats. My nose caught a silent aroma of saltwater, we were in Liverpool.

Past the parapet, an iron shed stood opposing the ocean. As the car stopped beside the shed a cloud of dust arose from behind the it and wisped into the sky. There was my sanicle partner at crime standing in front of me knocking on the door. I could only guess what we were up to now. I was supposed to know everything but I knew nothing.

The door slid open to reveal a heavy set man, clearly in the mafia. His voice grinded while he spoke, “Come in, the boss is waiting for you.” I trailed behind not wanting to appear as if I was of no importance. I wanted to see what was going to come of this.

“You got the stuff.” A voice proclaimed. Engraved in the corner of the room a dim lamp kindled on a mahogany poker table. A silhouetted figure on the opposite side of the table motioned for the girl to sit across from him. “Tony, glad to see you again.” Tony... I finally knew her name. “You’ll see that all the money is here.” A bugling briefcase slid across the table. In return, Tony opened the box and shined the glimmering jewels in the mob boss’s eyes. She stood holding her money and said, “Nice doing business with you. Hope to see you soon.” The man did not speak but snap his fingers. The room became plagued with silence. Outside, something was approaching, fast. “The OSS...” Tony proclaimed.

The peace was shattered as a thousand reports rang in my ears. I fell to the ground in fear, closing my eyes, hoping it would all go away. That’s the last thing I can remember.

I was strapped to a cold metal board. I squinted from the bright light above me. I drifted in and out of consciousness.

A man stood above me. “Welcome back Warren.” He said, “Or should I say Jacob.”

I couldn’t talk. I was too weak. I knew I must have been hit by a bullet in my back. I could feel it.

“It’s me, Tray.” He smiled down on me. My mind started to breath again.

“Tray?” I moaned. I’ve heard his name somewhere before. But where?

I began to reel again. Once again I drifted into a coma.

My eyes opened. I felt potent and susceptible. I wasn’t strapped to my bed now but instead tucked in tightly. I pushed my sheets away and sat up. Tray was standing outside talking to a doctor. I approached the door and muttered.

“Jacob?” Tray said. He turned to look at me and smiled when he saw me standing next to him.

“Who are you?” I asked.

“Who am I? I think I should start with you.” Tray gestured for me to take a seat across from my bed, “This Tony girl really had you thinking you were Warren. What you don’t know is that she’s the one that gave you amnesia. She discovered a powder, that when inhaled, will knock you out and when you come to, won’t remember anything.”

“Why would she do that?” I was hit with a paroxysm of emotion. This is who I am? This is my supposed identity?

“She was going to use you to take the heat from the OSS. She would plant some jewels in your pocket and when she got caught all the signs would point to you. It didn’t work though. The mob told us everything in turn for a year of parole.”

I was about to cry. How could I be used like this?

“As for you, your real name is Jacob. You’re married and have a wife and kids in a nice little house in York, not far from where your adventure began.”

“Okay...” I sighed. “So who are you?”

“I work for the OSS. You can call me Tray. You may remember what Tony told you about me. Most of that is right, other then that killing thing... well actually...” He gave me an ascetic look.

My heart raced. He pointed the gun at my head, his hand shaking against the trigger.