529.
Edward's favorite number. He loved it. Simply because it's a square number.
23. The square root of 529. His second favorite number. Today is October 23.
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529. The number of times I've texted Edward's phone after he passed away in hope of a reply.
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529. Edward's house number.
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529. My hospital room.
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I wake up in a haze. I expected to be cramped in a dryer but instead I'm spread out on a hospital cot.
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An officer near me speaks. "Jade, correct?"
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"Yes," I croak.
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"May I ask you what the number 5-2-9 means for you?"
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Wow it's been a while since I've actually heard someone say it like that. I usually head five hundred and twenty nine, not just five-two-nine.
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"It... represents the mental and emotional utopia or paradise that remains unharmed after the death of my lover," I say neutrally.
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The officer looks shocked at my response. "I was just wondering... Since you've been repeating the number in your sleep without even realizing you're in a room with that number."
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I say nothing.
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"Let's get to the point. You are going to be charged because you broke into Brandsmart. You—"
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"But I didn't steal anything! I was... simply on my way to give the security guard a meal since he looked hungry," I interject.
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He chuckles some. "Miss Jade, that 'officer' is dead. Were you referring to the dead officer that was never hired by Brandsmart?"
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...
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"What?! Of course he works there! I saw him in the uniform and—"
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"I don't have time for games. We took a blood sample of the guy and got his identity and the manager of Brandsmart showed me a list of all hired and fired employees of the last 5 years. This man, Derek White, was fired about 3 and a half years ago, after being caught and arrested for killing a man in some park a few years ago."
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And finally all the puzzle pieces are fitting together.
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It was a setup.
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"Officer? May I ask on what date did this 'officer' kill a man?" I ask.
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"It was May 29."
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