“Hello, handsome…”

The voice on Leon’s mobile phone is sultry, like whiskey and roses, and a welcome change from the piercing ring he heard moments before. Leon rubs his eyes and groans softly. It’s 7:00 am. “Heard you were looking for me.”

“Ada…”

“Where are you?”

He hesitates, then speaks.

“In a motel.”

“Rough night?”

He laughs lightly, but doesn’t answer.

“Where are you?” he asks.

“I’m around,” she says.

“You’re alright.”

“Were you worried?”

Leon turns his head, expecting to see Claire.

She’s not there.

“I haven’t heard from you,” he says, picking up the note on the pillow.

“Did you miss me?”

“Where’ve you been?”

“Had to lay low for a while. You know how it is.”

Leon doesn’t respond. He’s reading the note. “You’re upset with me,” she says.

“No,” he murmurs.

“I can tell.”

“Am I gonna run into you again?”

“Eventually,” she says. “I have a couple of loose ends to tie up. Then I’m all yours.”

Leon closes his eyes. “Unless you’ve got other plans.”

He shakes his head.

“No.”

“Really? I heard you were on a mission.”

“Not anymore,” he says.

“Guess my timing’s still good.”

“Yeah.”

There are more words exchanged, more coy innuendos. Not much is revealed about where she’s been, but then, that’s always the case. They make plans to meet, as they always do. Then they say goodbye.

Leon packs his things, looks around the room.

She hasn’t left a trace of herself behind. He thought he might be able to find something of hers, something small, maybe on the floor. A keepsake; funny enough. All he has, though, is the note. It reads:

We can’t do this anymore.

I’m sorry.

If someone asks if you know me, tell them the truth. Say no.

Claire.

Claire is the ghost now.

Ada is still Ada.

Leon, however, is someone else again.

Some things never change.

He folds the note up and puts it in his wallet. It stays there for a very long time.

pia Z