“Yes,” I reply testily. “He looks like that. No different. Who is he?”
“He’s Jacob ‘The Cobb’ Edwards. One of the world’s most famous band managers.”
I nod. “Cool.”
“No,” Dex says. “Well yes, cool, but also not cool because this photo was taken on the infamous Hybrid tour. In 1974.”
I try and do math. It’s not my strong suit.
“That was forty-two years ago and he was definitely fifty-something back then,” Dex goes on, back to scrolling. He pauses. “Oh. Right. So aside from the fact that he should technically be in his nineties, he’s also dead.”
“What?” Perry and I say in unison as we both look at his phone.
There on the Wikipedia page for Jacob Edwards is his picture, plus his birth date in 1919 and his death date in 1975. It says he died in Prague during Sage Knightly’s European solo tour when a crypt collapsed on him.
“I’m remembering it now,”’ Dex says slowly, looking off into the distance, “just the mythology of the band, how the curse that befell them, the deal with the Devil, didn’t really end on the first tour. People say Jacob was doing some weird voodoo shit down in that crypt and we all know how weird voodoo shit turns out.” He pauses and looks at me. “Except for you Ada, but you can imagine it ain’t good.”
“So he’s a ghost after all.”
“A ghost that our neighbors can see,” Perry muses, “let alone hang out with.”
“So he faked his own death then?” I guess.
“I think we need to talk to the neighbors,” Dex says, starting to walk down the sidewalk.
Perry and I follow. “So you can harass Sage about music rights?” Perry questions with a quirk of her eyebrow.
“Kiddo, I always have an ulterior motive.”
***
Though during the drive back to my house the conversations in the car turned to lighter topics, such as the music video Dex was creating for an up-and-coming band called Only Mostly Dead, the minute we pulled in behind my dad’s Taurus in the driveway, silence fell between us.
As the three of us walked up the stone path to the front door, The Knightlys’ house looked as empty as it had earlier—no cars in the driveway, no lights in the house, no noise.
I really wasn’t sure what was going to happen. To be honest, the fact that Jacob either faked his death or was already dead, wasn’t too much of a concern. If anything I just wanted to know what his comment had meant, the one about the young having courage. That wasn’t a throwaway line. That meant something and it meant something for me.
Dex knocks at the door, three quick raps and I automatically tense, thinking I might wake up any second and this is yet again a dream.
But nothing happens. Perry reaches out and squeezes my hand, sensing what I’m feeling, reminding me that this is all very real in the here and now, even if it feels kind of silly. What exactly are we going to say if someone answers?
And it doesn’t seem like anyone is going to answer anyway.
“The cars are gone,” I point out, my voice hushed for some reason. “No one’s home.” I start pulling back on Perry’s hand but then there’s the sound of someone on the other side of the door and I’m pretty sure all three of us just sucked in a collective gasp.
The door opens and a tall, bulky man of Hispanic descent with thick white hair, green eyes, and golden skin appraises us, a dark brow raised in curiosity even though he doesn’t look all that surprised.
“Can I help you?” he asks.
I expected Dex to talk but he’s actually gone mute. Speechless, maybe.
“Hi,” Perry says, elbowing Dex to the side. “We’re your neighbors.” She gestures to the house with a tilt of her head. “I’m Perry, this is Dex, that’s my sister Ada. We just wanted to come over and introduce ourselves.”
The man’s eyes fix on mine. Though he’s got to be pushing seventy, he’s handsome and I’m a bit stunned by his gaze. “My wife talked to you the other day. I’m Sage.”
“From Hybrid,” Dex is finally able to say. He clears his throat, composing himself. “Big fan.”
Sage gives a wane smile. “Have you listened to my solo stuff?”
Dex nods enthusiastically. “Sage Wisdom, Bloody Twat, Tricky Times, An Album for the Dead and Dying, The Devil in Shasta.” He lists them all off without missing a beat.
And it seems to impress Sage. It’s impressed me, the fact that the man standing before us has had quite the career. It kind of makes me wish I spent some time listening to his music, then again I wouldn’t want to turn into a grinning fan-boy the way that Dex is all of a sudden. Dex has always had an aura of cool about him but right now he could be just about any dork drooling over his idol. What a twatwaffle.
“Wow,” Sage says slowly, maybe even with a touch of embarrassment. “You really do know your stuff.” He opens the door wider. “My wife isn’t home right now, but she’d love it if you came in.”
We enter the house. I’d only been in here a few times when the old neighbors were here, my mom having dragged us all over for dinner once or twice. Even though the Knightlys just moved in, the place already looks different. It feels different. I’m a strong believer in houses having vibes, and the vibe of this house has totally changed. In fact, every hair on my arm is standing up and I feel hyper-aware. It’s not a bad vibe per se, just one of energy, like the walls are brimming with static.