Seth left the flat closing the door quietly, not only because Ira had fell asleep after the exhausting evening and he had no interest in the usual post-sex discussion with her. He wasn't the extroverted, flamboyant guy anymore, the guy who made himself heard everywhere he went. Now he opened and closed the doors quietly. Every door.
The street was quiet, and it being a Wednesday night, it was a bit surprising. But Seth didn't mind; in fact, he welcomed it. His change had been almost complete. Back then he used to move with a kind of a swing, now he walked slowly, not missing a thing. He was in a constant state of alert, even when sleeping.
Seth kept looking for clues as to what to do next. His instructions hadn't been completely clear, or at least he didn't remember them that way. After all, when he was told what to do it was moments before being released from hell. You don't pay much attention when you're about to go back to life, you just nod and say 'yes' in the hope you will be released as soon as possible.
When he finally decided to cut all the ties with his former life (or at least the ties he could afford to cut), he left London in a hurry. He made the arrangements with Sean for his kids to be looked after, and then he just disappeared. Rome, Barcelona, Paris. Nothing on those cities rang a bell, or made him believe he was close. He refused Tromso on the grounds of being too obvious, but Belgrade would surely provide a hint. In the city where dark shadows were part of the city's charm, he was sure he'd get a tip. As he was chatting a hot blonde girl who seemed a good sex prospect, the waiter whispered "Hackesche Höfe" in his ear from behind, only that the waiter wasn't behind him. He was by the blonde, taking her order, hoping to cut Seth off in taking her to bed. For all he cared he might have succeed, he never knew how that ended. He took off that night, after finding where Hackesche Höffe was.
It was Berlin.
The street was quiet, and it being a Wednesday night, it was a bit surprising. But Seth didn't mind; in fact, he welcomed it. His change had been almost complete. Back then he used to move with a kind of a swing, now he walked slowly, not missing a thing. He was in a constant state of alert, even when sleeping.
Seth kept looking for clues as to what to do next. His instructions hadn't been completely clear, or at least he didn't remember them that way. After all, when he was told what to do it was moments before being released from hell. You don't pay much attention when you're about to go back to life, you just nod and say 'yes' in the hope you will be released as soon as possible.
When he finally decided to cut all the ties with his former life (or at least the ties he could afford to cut), he left London in a hurry. He made the arrangements with Sean for his kids to be looked after, and then he just disappeared. Rome, Barcelona, Paris. Nothing on those cities rang a bell, or made him believe he was close. He refused Tromso on the grounds of being too obvious, but Belgrade would surely provide a hint. In the city where dark shadows were part of the city's charm, he was sure he'd get a tip. As he was chatting a hot blonde girl who seemed a good sex prospect, the waiter whispered "Hackesche Höfe" in his ear from behind, only that the waiter wasn't behind him. He was by the blonde, taking her order, hoping to cut Seth off in taking her to bed. For all he cared he might have succeed, he never knew how that ended. He took off that night, after finding where Hackesche Höffe was.
It was Berlin.
He left Belgrade in a hurry, getting a hint shook the lethargy off him. Now he had a place to start, a clue to follow until the next one, which in turn would push him forward into his quest... his head didn't stop working all the way to Berlin. By the time he got there, he was almost expecting to find someone waiting for him at Funkturm to point out in which direction to go next.
He arrived there in the early hours of the morning, and there wasn't a soul in the Bus Station. The excitement, the rush.. it all almost faded back to the dull state of mind that followed the drama and the haste of his escape out of London. He felt a black claw of desperation crawling up from his stomach, threatening to grab his throat and choke him to dead... and that was exactly the moment when he finally realized what was at stake. Yes, he knew what he had promised and why he did it. He had never forgot that in order to save Sean and himself from an eternity in Hell, he had sold his soul, and not the proverbial one; but the gravity of it all never caught with him until that very moment, when he understood the consequences of him failing wasn't just another black mark on his record. They would be claimed back, and as bad as it was before, this time would be much worse. It wasn't just his life that was on the line, it was Sean, his family and kids.. and his own kids as well. And Her, of course.
It wasn't something to be scare of, it was something to be absolutely and deeply terrorized about.. and yet Seth found himself surprised to realize that what he felt was fury. He just had enough, he'd taken enough bullshit from the world, and as he felt the anger spreading over his skin like a warm tide, his mind got the clarity he had been desperately seeking. One step at the time, never forget what the goal was, never let any circumstances distract him from the path he had to follow. He was a man on a mission. Finally.
So, first things first: a flat, an informant... and a girl.
He arrived there in the early hours of the morning, and there wasn't a soul in the Bus Station. The excitement, the rush.. it all almost faded back to the dull state of mind that followed the drama and the haste of his escape out of London. He felt a black claw of desperation crawling up from his stomach, threatening to grab his throat and choke him to dead... and that was exactly the moment when he finally realized what was at stake. Yes, he knew what he had promised and why he did it. He had never forgot that in order to save Sean and himself from an eternity in Hell, he had sold his soul, and not the proverbial one; but the gravity of it all never caught with him until that very moment, when he understood the consequences of him failing wasn't just another black mark on his record. They would be claimed back, and as bad as it was before, this time would be much worse. It wasn't just his life that was on the line, it was Sean, his family and kids.. and his own kids as well. And Her, of course.
It wasn't something to be scare of, it was something to be absolutely and deeply terrorized about.. and yet Seth found himself surprised to realize that what he felt was fury. He just had enough, he'd taken enough bullshit from the world, and as he felt the anger spreading over his skin like a warm tide, his mind got the clarity he had been desperately seeking. One step at the time, never forget what the goal was, never let any circumstances distract him from the path he had to follow. He was a man on a mission. Finally.
So, first things first: a flat, an informant... and a girl.
A flat. An informant. A girl. His three milestones in the road to salvation weren't achieved in that order. The easiest was the flat. He still had enough funds from the money Joni gave him, so that was the first thing he got: a flat in Sophienstrasse, around the corner from Hackesche Höfe.
The informant had to be chosen carefully, so he went for the girl instead after the flat. It wasn't that he had any particular preference about how the girl had to look, it was more how she should NOT look: not a blonde, Rory was a thorn on his side, despite all the time that had passed. Not a red-haired, please. That would hurt even more because she was even fresher in his thoughts. He smiled sadly.. would he had to settle for a bald girl? He didn't: he saw Ira the first time he visit the Café Cinema. She was a gorgeous brunette, skinny and with an amazing pair of blue eyes that drilled him when he used the absurd cliché "Hey.. is this place taken?" with her. The same pair of eyes that shone as she said "No".
Ira was refreshingly new for him. They talked about books and movies until long after they were the only two people left. The barman, a handsome guy with a cool air about him, let them stay while he read on the bar. It was her who realized it was too late to catch a tram and it was him who offered his flat to spend the night. She stayed from then on. The sex was amazing, but "Ira" was the Latin root of "Wrath", and... boy had she "Wrath" inside of her! "You should be red-haired", said Seth one day, "because of your temper". "Guess what?", she answered. "I am. I just dye my hair". Of course.
He had the flat and the girl, now he needed the informant, the person to feed him with gossip, new data, news about the city. After looking around he settled for the barman of the Café Cinema. He didn't look docile or easy to manipulate, but there was something about him that Seth found comfortable, safe. He felt as he knew him all his life.
The informant had to be chosen carefully, so he went for the girl instead after the flat. It wasn't that he had any particular preference about how the girl had to look, it was more how she should NOT look: not a blonde, Rory was a thorn on his side, despite all the time that had passed. Not a red-haired, please. That would hurt even more because she was even fresher in his thoughts. He smiled sadly.. would he had to settle for a bald girl? He didn't: he saw Ira the first time he visit the Café Cinema. She was a gorgeous brunette, skinny and with an amazing pair of blue eyes that drilled him when he used the absurd cliché "Hey.. is this place taken?" with her. The same pair of eyes that shone as she said "No".
Ira was refreshingly new for him. They talked about books and movies until long after they were the only two people left. The barman, a handsome guy with a cool air about him, let them stay while he read on the bar. It was her who realized it was too late to catch a tram and it was him who offered his flat to spend the night. She stayed from then on. The sex was amazing, but "Ira" was the Latin root of "Wrath", and... boy had she "Wrath" inside of her! "You should be red-haired", said Seth one day, "because of your temper". "Guess what?", she answered. "I am. I just dye my hair". Of course.
He had the flat and the girl, now he needed the informant, the person to feed him with gossip, new data, news about the city. After looking around he settled for the barman of the Café Cinema. He didn't look docile or easy to manipulate, but there was something about him that Seth found comfortable, safe. He felt as he knew him all his life.
Jam, for that was the name of the bartender in Café Cinema, wasn't Seth's first choice as informant. He liked the bar, and he spent a good deal of time there, but at the beginning he would spend most of his day on the courtyards in Hackesche, hoping to find someone or, better, be found. He stayed in a couple of bars there trying to find his informant, but none of them had the atmosphere Café Cinema had. So he found himself coming back there more and more often.
The first time Seth heard his name he thought he heard wrong. "Jam?". The guy smiled and nodded, but it was the girl by her side -and it was rare the occasion where Jam hadn't a girl around him- who answered for him. "His name is James, but we call him Jam because he's sweet.. but he tastes better when licked". Seth lifted an eyebrow looking in Jam's direction, but he kept serving his drinks with a wicked smile. He finished pouring and turned to the girl with a grin. "Honey, be a dear and take these to Karl and Anneke, would you?". The girl kissed the tip of his nose and left with the two glasses, both guys looking at her swinging her hips. When Seth looked back to him, Jam's smile was still there, but his blue eyes were cold and serious. "What is it, Seth? What do you need to know?".
Seth licked his lips, taking his time to answer. Jam seemed to know not only that he was looking for information, which wasn't really hard to guess, but also his name, which was much more promising. Was he the person Seth was looking for?.
"How do you know my name?". Jam's smile grew bigger and his eyes shone with a strange light. "You should know there are few things a good barman doesn't know about his clients. So, out with it. What do you need to know?". Seth nodded, looking at him with an nonchalant smile, although his mind was working at an extra pace. How much could he confide in Jam? How do you tell a total strange you're looking for a demon without looking like a nut case?
The first time Seth heard his name he thought he heard wrong. "Jam?". The guy smiled and nodded, but it was the girl by her side -and it was rare the occasion where Jam hadn't a girl around him- who answered for him. "His name is James, but we call him Jam because he's sweet.. but he tastes better when licked". Seth lifted an eyebrow looking in Jam's direction, but he kept serving his drinks with a wicked smile. He finished pouring and turned to the girl with a grin. "Honey, be a dear and take these to Karl and Anneke, would you?". The girl kissed the tip of his nose and left with the two glasses, both guys looking at her swinging her hips. When Seth looked back to him, Jam's smile was still there, but his blue eyes were cold and serious. "What is it, Seth? What do you need to know?".
Seth licked his lips, taking his time to answer. Jam seemed to know not only that he was looking for information, which wasn't really hard to guess, but also his name, which was much more promising. Was he the person Seth was looking for?.
"How do you know my name?". Jam's smile grew bigger and his eyes shone with a strange light. "You should know there are few things a good barman doesn't know about his clients. So, out with it. What do you need to know?". Seth nodded, looking at him with an nonchalant smile, although his mind was working at an extra pace. How much could he confide in Jam? How do you tell a total strange you're looking for a demon without looking like a nut case?
"Well, shouldn't a good barman know what I'm looking for already?". Seth tried to joke his way out of a difficult answer, while bonding a bit more with Jam. The barman laughed softly and nodded. "Fair enough!", he conceded. "Let me see. If my old nose still serves me well, you are the kind of guy who would be looking for a flat, a girl and an informant". He grabbed a glass and added some ice cubes in it. "You've been coming around here for about a week, not looking really homeless, so I'd say you've got the flat already. The girl...", he grabbed a bottle and poured a generous amount of liquid into the glass while grinning. ".. well, we both know you got Ira, which already generated some animosity against you around there". He pointed to the right corner of the bar, without looking. Seth turned and saw a good looking guy, his grey eyes full of hate, fixed on him. He noticed the guy already the first day, when he left the bar with Ira, but dismissed him as a threat. Seth smiled at him and then looked back at the bar. Jam was still looking down, pouring liquid from another bottle. He smiled. "But of course, you've already noticed that the first day, when you left with Ira". He grabbed the glass and placed it in front of Seth with a wink. "So that leaves us with the informant, which is what you're looking for. Am I right?"
Seth grabbed the glass and took a sip of the drink. It was the best thing he'd tried in his life. He nodded his appreciation and put it down again. He looked into Jam's eyes.
"Direct, to the point and no bull. Just the way I like it", he said. "Are you him, then? By the way, whatever it is", he pointed at the glass, "it's the best damn drink I've had in my life".
Jam nodded. "Well, thank you! It's called 'Negroni'. And no, I'm not him". He placed the bottles back where they belonged. He looked in the direction of a guy two tables to the left.
"He is".
Seth grabbed the glass and took a sip of the drink. It was the best thing he'd tried in his life. He nodded his appreciation and put it down again. He looked into Jam's eyes.
"Direct, to the point and no bull. Just the way I like it", he said. "Are you him, then? By the way, whatever it is", he pointed at the glass, "it's the best damn drink I've had in my life".
Jam nodded. "Well, thank you! It's called 'Negroni'. And no, I'm not him". He placed the bottles back where they belonged. He looked in the direction of a guy two tables to the left.
"He is".
Seth looked at the guy reading the newspaper. The was nothing on him that could have given Seth any clue that he was an informant, although there was something on him he didn't like. He give Jam a nod and walked to the table.
"May I take this sit?", he said, smiling. The man answered, still looking down. "Of course you can, Seth". He looked up. What impressed Seth the most wasn't the creepy smile, nor the crooked nose. What made him clench his teeth was the red eyes, and the evil he could see on them. "What the fuck were you doing? I've been waiting you here for ages..".
Seth sat down, his glass still on his hand. "Who are you?". The man licked his lips and showed his teeth. He gave Seth a spine-chilling smile . "I am who you were looking for. Your... sponsor", he laughed hoarsely but softly. "I'm the one who's going to give you your missions, and the one you will report after". He shivered and growled quietly. "If a name must be given, you can call me... Thomas".
The first impulse Seth felt was to jump over, grab his head and turned it quick, snapping his neck. But there was Sean to think about, and the consequences of failing. And obviously, Thomas wasn't human. He seemed more like a beast trapped in a man body, the needed disguise to meet with him. He would have risked his chances, which he considered to be 50-50: he'd brake Thomas neck or he'd end up with his heart ripped off his body. But either way Sean would have ended up back with Tomi, a fate worst than death. "I can see you're weighting your chances against me, boy", Thomas hissed, " and you better forget it". He passed him an envelope. "Your first mission". He went back to read the paper.
Seth looked at the envelope and then back at Thomas. "What do I have to do?". Thomas looked back, the red eyes showing anger and something else Seth couldn't grasp. "Well, it's in the fucking envelope, of course! Now get lost.."
Seth opened and read the first line. "Dirk Hall. London".
"May I take this sit?", he said, smiling. The man answered, still looking down. "Of course you can, Seth". He looked up. What impressed Seth the most wasn't the creepy smile, nor the crooked nose. What made him clench his teeth was the red eyes, and the evil he could see on them. "What the fuck were you doing? I've been waiting you here for ages..".
Seth sat down, his glass still on his hand. "Who are you?". The man licked his lips and showed his teeth. He gave Seth a spine-chilling smile . "I am who you were looking for. Your... sponsor", he laughed hoarsely but softly. "I'm the one who's going to give you your missions, and the one you will report after". He shivered and growled quietly. "If a name must be given, you can call me... Thomas".
The first impulse Seth felt was to jump over, grab his head and turned it quick, snapping his neck. But there was Sean to think about, and the consequences of failing. And obviously, Thomas wasn't human. He seemed more like a beast trapped in a man body, the needed disguise to meet with him. He would have risked his chances, which he considered to be 50-50: he'd brake Thomas neck or he'd end up with his heart ripped off his body. But either way Sean would have ended up back with Tomi, a fate worst than death. "I can see you're weighting your chances against me, boy", Thomas hissed, " and you better forget it". He passed him an envelope. "Your first mission". He went back to read the paper.
Seth looked at the envelope and then back at Thomas. "What do I have to do?". Thomas looked back, the red eyes showing anger and something else Seth couldn't grasp. "Well, it's in the fucking envelope, of course! Now get lost.."
Seth opened and read the first line. "Dirk Hall. London".
"I don't get it... do I have to kill him?". Suddenly, he felt the hairs on the back her his neck stand on end. He felt her presence, smelled her, before he could hear her. "Of course not, silly. Who do you think I am, a killer?". She had a sensual voice, but the last thing Seth felt was lust. His stomach shrunk as he clenched his teeth. "Tomi", he whispered.
He turned slowly and there she was. Standing by the chair, beautiful, breathtakingly gorgeous and evil. "Can I sit here?". Thomas jumped to his feet and pulled the chair for her. He helped her and then took his sit back in front of Seth. "Good dog", Seth whispered with contempt. Thomas' eyes shone with anger, but Tomi calmed him down with a gesture. "Now, why would you confront my dear Thomas?", she smiled. "Ah, the same old Seth. The idealist". She laughed softly and then lit a cigarrette. "Ok, I don't have much time, and I hate being here. I came because I considered fair you get an explanation about your job. I don’t want you to complain after". She grinned. "You don't have to kill Dirk. It's not him I want. He's just a tool, a... collateral damage, if you will". She licked her lips, obviously enjoying the whole thing. "Around him there's a person, the name you'll find in your orders, and that's who I want".
Seth looked puzzled. "I don't get it. If you want that person, can't you just get him.. or her?". Fury flashed on Tomi's eyes. "I can't get anyone I want. There must be a reason. And that will be your job. To give me that reason..", she smiled again, but Seth could feel she wasn't comfortable. "Then how could you got Sean and me?", he asked.
Tomi sighed. "Honey, I'm not here to discuss the dynamics of Hell, nor my agreement with... you know. I'm here to make sure you get it. The mission's sheet..", she pointed at the envelope, ".. gives you all the details you need. I've just made clear what your task is", she stood up. "See you soon, babe". She left with Thom as, leaving him alone.
He turned slowly and there she was. Standing by the chair, beautiful, breathtakingly gorgeous and evil. "Can I sit here?". Thomas jumped to his feet and pulled the chair for her. He helped her and then took his sit back in front of Seth. "Good dog", Seth whispered with contempt. Thomas' eyes shone with anger, but Tomi calmed him down with a gesture. "Now, why would you confront my dear Thomas?", she smiled. "Ah, the same old Seth. The idealist". She laughed softly and then lit a cigarrette. "Ok, I don't have much time, and I hate being here. I came because I considered fair you get an explanation about your job. I don’t want you to complain after". She grinned. "You don't have to kill Dirk. It's not him I want. He's just a tool, a... collateral damage, if you will". She licked her lips, obviously enjoying the whole thing. "Around him there's a person, the name you'll find in your orders, and that's who I want".
Seth looked puzzled. "I don't get it. If you want that person, can't you just get him.. or her?". Fury flashed on Tomi's eyes. "I can't get anyone I want. There must be a reason. And that will be your job. To give me that reason..", she smiled again, but Seth could feel she wasn't comfortable. "Then how could you got Sean and me?", he asked.
Tomi sighed. "Honey, I'm not here to discuss the dynamics of Hell, nor my agreement with... you know. I'm here to make sure you get it. The mission's sheet..", she pointed at the envelope, ".. gives you all the details you need. I've just made clear what your task is", she stood up. "See you soon, babe". She left with Thom as, leaving him alone.
Seth stared at the envelope for a while, afraid to pick it up and afraid to leave it untouched at the same time. He leaned over the table, resting his forehead in both hands and sighed.
“Are they bad news, Seth?”, asked a soft voice. He shrugged and turned, smiling. “Nah, Jam. They’re aren’t news, really. But I guess you can’t say they’re good…”.
Jam nodded and went back behind the bar. Seth stood up, picked the envelope and place it in his back pocket before moving over. “Can I have another Negroni? I seem to need it..”.
The other man nodded and prepared the drink without saying a word. When he placed the glass in front of Seth, he finally looked at him. He was smiling, as he seemed to be all the time. “Cheers, mate”, he said. Seth took a couple of sips. “Damn, man. That’s some good shit…”, he said, his eyes closed.
He sat there until the glass was almost empty, which gave him time to think. He couldn’t afford to hesitate, nor to have his conscience messing what he MUST do.
“Look, Jam… I have to go and it’s better I don’t face Ira right now. Would it be too much to ask to leave a message for her with you?”. The smile of Jam didn't flick for a second as he nodded. Seth grabbed a paper from the bar and wrote a quick note.
"Where are you going?", the barman asked as he took the message.
"London"
Jam nodded. He placed Seth's message under the counter and took a blank paper. He wrote an address on it and passed it back to Seth.
"The name is Tom. He'll set you up down there".
Seth smiled softly. "Why, man?".
"Because if I don't look after you, who will?", Jam answered with a laugh. "Go, do what you have to do".
“Are they bad news, Seth?”, asked a soft voice. He shrugged and turned, smiling. “Nah, Jam. They’re aren’t news, really. But I guess you can’t say they’re good…”.
Jam nodded and went back behind the bar. Seth stood up, picked the envelope and place it in his back pocket before moving over. “Can I have another Negroni? I seem to need it..”.
The other man nodded and prepared the drink without saying a word. When he placed the glass in front of Seth, he finally looked at him. He was smiling, as he seemed to be all the time. “Cheers, mate”, he said. Seth took a couple of sips. “Damn, man. That’s some good shit…”, he said, his eyes closed.
He sat there until the glass was almost empty, which gave him time to think. He couldn’t afford to hesitate, nor to have his conscience messing what he MUST do.
“Look, Jam… I have to go and it’s better I don’t face Ira right now. Would it be too much to ask to leave a message for her with you?”. The smile of Jam didn't flick for a second as he nodded. Seth grabbed a paper from the bar and wrote a quick note.
"Where are you going?", the barman asked as he took the message.
"London"
Jam nodded. He placed Seth's message under the counter and took a blank paper. He wrote an address on it and passed it back to Seth.
"The name is Tom. He'll set you up down there".
Seth smiled softly. "Why, man?".
"Because if I don't look after you, who will?", Jam answered with a laugh. "Go, do what you have to do".
London was a pleasant change compared to Berlin. Maybe it was because Ira had started to invade his life, establishing herself as fixed part of him. Seth knew it was going to happen, that even when she swore she didn't want anything serious she'd feel comfortable and eventually settled. She was that kind of people, but Seth was not.
He had a place to stay in London, family and friends, but Seth wanted to keep them separated from what he was there to do. He had finally opened the envelope Tomi left him and read the contents. It was clear enough what he had to do, but that didn't help the sickness he felt in his stomach when he though about how to do it. It would have helped if his task was a brutal one: he could kick the shit out of many, he was fully trained for a fight. Even stabbing or killing someone would have been better than what the letter said. But it wasn't brutal, of course. It had to be subtle because that was the way Tomi and her demons worked. Probably not because they liked it (Seth could very well picturing her enjoying while afflicting pain, she was sadistic like that. He'd seen it and suffered it) but because they weren't given to much freedom to work. There were rules, and the whole thing wasn't about breaking them, not even bending them... it was about finding loop holes.
Seth went to the address Jam had given him and found himself in a very cozy, friendly pub. He had no problems identifying Tom: the guy behind the bar had the same light about him that Jam has, a charisma that was quite hard to resist. He walked to him.
"You must be Tom", he said offering his hand. "I'm Seth. I was sent to you by..."
"Jam", the other cut him with a soft smile. "I was waiting for you, Seth", he said, shaking his hand. "It's a real pleasure to finally meet you. Jam had told me a lot about you...".
Seth nodded, looking at him with a confused smile. Why would Jam talk about him with others?
He had a place to stay in London, family and friends, but Seth wanted to keep them separated from what he was there to do. He had finally opened the envelope Tomi left him and read the contents. It was clear enough what he had to do, but that didn't help the sickness he felt in his stomach when he though about how to do it. It would have helped if his task was a brutal one: he could kick the shit out of many, he was fully trained for a fight. Even stabbing or killing someone would have been better than what the letter said. But it wasn't brutal, of course. It had to be subtle because that was the way Tomi and her demons worked. Probably not because they liked it (Seth could very well picturing her enjoying while afflicting pain, she was sadistic like that. He'd seen it and suffered it) but because they weren't given to much freedom to work. There were rules, and the whole thing wasn't about breaking them, not even bending them... it was about finding loop holes.
Seth went to the address Jam had given him and found himself in a very cozy, friendly pub. He had no problems identifying Tom: the guy behind the bar had the same light about him that Jam has, a charisma that was quite hard to resist. He walked to him.
"You must be Tom", he said offering his hand. "I'm Seth. I was sent to you by..."
"Jam", the other cut him with a soft smile. "I was waiting for you, Seth", he said, shaking his hand. "It's a real pleasure to finally meet you. Jam had told me a lot about you...".
Seth nodded, looking at him with a confused smile. Why would Jam talk about him with others?