Missing Count

He pulled into his reserved parking spot in his expensive black Mazda. The fortish man stepped out in snake skinned boots and adjusted his black slacks, talored fit for just him. The soft hands pulled out a suit jacket from the back of his car and he slipped it over his solid white shirt.

After grabbing his suit case and Starbucks coffee, Simon walked into the tall building made of glass.

He nodded his graying head to the security officer and stepped into the elevator that was already filled with three other people, dressed almost like him. He and the passengers landed on the fourth floor. He stepped off and entered his office across the maze of cubicals.

As he sipped his coffee and sat down in his large chair, his secretary, Mrs. Henderson, arrived with her notepad.

"Good morning sir." She said with a cheerful grin.

He smiled. "Good morning. What is on the agenda today?"

Henderson gave a shrug. "Nothing new, I suppose. You have a meeting today with the H.R person and I received an email about a new shipment."

He nodded. "Wonderful. I love talking to H.R. I guess I need to bring out the weapons for a fight." He laughed.

Henderson laughed at the man's joke and glanced to her notes. "Oh yes, an employee of our's, Jacob Mitchell hasn't showed for work for two days. No call ins or sick days."

He nodded. "Give me his number and I will call him."

Henderson's slender hands tore off a sheet of her notepad that already had a phone number written on it. "Thought of that already sir."

Simon took the piece of paper and read out the number as he dialed it on his office phone. The phone rang as he tapped his index finger on the glass desk in front of him. Finally, after four rings, a voice answered the phone.

"Hello?" Asked a shaky woman's voice.

"Yes, hello. I am trying to reach Jacob Mitchell." Simon said in a loud voice.

There was a sniff from the woman. "Who is this?"

"This is Simon Tucker, I am just wondering where he has been these last couple of days."

The woman sniffed again. "Simon Tucker? You mean, Old Ducky?"

Simon gave a confused look. "Well ... Yes. That was my nickname back in High School, but how did you know that?"

"Jake told me." The woman said, almost choking up. "I am his mother, Lisa Mitchell."

Simon glanced around the room for a moment and leaned back into his chair. "How did Jacob know my nickname? Did we go to school or something?"

The woman scoffed. "I remember you coming over to our house, Simon. You and Jacob were close friends, if I recall."

Simon rubbed his left temple with his free hand. "Jacob ... I don't remember ... Oh yes, I remember now." Simon said. "He is working here?"

Lisa choked again. "You didn't know?"

"Well, to be honest, I get a lot of people going in and out around here. It is kind of hard to keep up with the faces." Simon laughed.

"You two spent your entire life together in high school and his name never reminded you?" Lisa asked in surprise.

Simon gave a little fake laugh. "Well, I should be ashamed because I interviewed the man and never recognized him." He cleared his throat. "But, that isn't the reason why I called. He has missed a few days of work and I was wondering ..."

Lisa sniffed. "I guess it wouldn't matter to you, since you forgot all about him."

Simon rolled his eyes. "Ma'am, all I am trying to do is my job. Just have him call my office A.S.A.P. He is looking a termination notice if he doesn't."

"It doesn't matter anymore ... Jake is dead." Lisa said.

Silence fell between the two for a long moment. Simon stared through his glass door to the cubicals in shock.

"He died?" He said, in an almost whisper.

"Shot himself ... Two days ago." Lisa said near sobbing.

Simon stared down at his senior ring on his right hand. "Shot ... Himself?"

"Will that be all, Mr. Tucker?" Lisa interupted.

"Yes ... I am sorry for your loss." Simon said, but before he could finish his last word, a click was heard at the other end of the line.

Simon, shocked and speechless, leaned back into his chair and stared through the glass door at the cubicals. "Oh my God." He whispered.