![IMG-PHOTO-AR.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmd7nxmimqTKE38h9Gpw85Jnr8ExNqG9gVgYr5cmhNmTjX/IMG-PHOTO-AR.jpg)

I was still on the trail of the Shadow I.T.

It had been an even rougher week than the last. I kept asking questions and following up leads but my face was starting to hurt from the doors that had been slammed on it. It was starting to put a strain on my marriage as I arrived home, night after night from work, smelling of cheap caffeine and frustration.

*You gotta let it go, baby? This Shadow I.T. thing. It's messing with your head, like a labrador eating vegan cheesecake.*

Every time I would take off my fedora and hang up my long coat whilst shaking my head. 

*Lass, if it looks like a duck and it quacks like a duck, then it's a fucking duck. And it won't be the first time that I have fucked a duck just to hear it quack.*

*But what does that even mean?*

She would cry.

I would shake my head even more and lock myself in the study with some Irish coffee and some smoky blues.

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Then it happened, one morning I stopped in Java Joe's for a pick me up on the way to work. The man behind the counter wasn't named Joe but he served a hell of a coffee.

I had just finished my second double when trouble walked in. 

She was a leggy broad. Like a camel but with skinnier feet and less spitting. She sidled up to the counter next to me and ordered a double *Hot Lava Java.* I couldn't help but nod approvingly. My eyes drifting for a moment over her *humps.*

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She turned and faced me once she had her expresso in hand. 

*You looking for something?*

I raised an eyebrow. 

*Who's asking.*

She raised an eyebrow even higher than I just had. Then pushed a slip of paper over the countertop. 

*One-eyed Jack sends his regards...* 

She got up and left. Slowly I unfolded the slip of paper. On it was scrawled two words. 

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I threw down a twenty and swiftly left. Outside it was raining hard. I gazed up at the top of the building I worked on. From way down below I could make out a shape. walking back and forth. This was it. Time to crack this case wide open. I crossed the road and flashed my pass before barreling up the stairs to the roof.

Twenty minutes later I pushed open the door to the rooftop. I was slightly out of breath after climbing all 36 flights of stairs. No matter. This thing ends now, I thought grimly. 

Through the rain I could see a man pushing a brush about. For all intents and purposes, *sweeping.* I wasn't fooled. I approached him. 

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*Alright mate?*

I ventured. 

He looked up at me, rainwater slicking down his face. 

*I've seen things you wouldnae believe mate.*

He swept a bit more, a seemingly pointless task in the rain.

*Bins oan fire in the back alley.  Tramps pissin in the dark near the front gate. This job, it means nothin. Time tae fly.*

His head bowed forward. I took a tentative step forward.

*You alright mate?*

He looked up.

*Aye man, just rolling a joint.*

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I could see now he was and using his head to shelter the rain from his hands. It looked like this was a dead end, like every other lead. I swore and stomped back in the building to my desk. 

I decided this was it. The good lady was right. I was getting nowhere looking for the mysterious Shadow I.T. It was time to give it up. Go back to just being an ordinary Joe in and ordinary office. I opened my email.

There was only one unread item flashing away. It was a meeting invite from *El Jefe.* 

It was titled. 

*Shadow I.T.*

My heart began to race. The game was back on! The meeting was scheduled for next Tuesday. I would have to wait but at least I had something concrete. I felt better than I had in weeks.

I quickly pulled out my phone and tapped a message to the good lady. 

*Polish your panjanno lady, tonight its party time.*

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDWtESy4fOs