“James…, are you there?” The phone crackled, familiar yet jarring in the dead quiet of James’s study.

Marcus's voice always got through, no matter the walls built around his life.

“I'm here, go ahead,” James responded.

On the other end, Marcus hesitated… It was uncharacteristic.

“I've got information you need to hear,” he said.

James sat on his study desk, flicking on the desk lamp. The rain hammered against the window behind him.

“This is late Marcus, what is ...