on the evening of september 10, 2001, i took richard to sea-tac airport, where he left on the ba non-stop flight to london. i was supposed to join him two days later, as sarah, his sister, was getting married on the weekend.
i went out with friends for dinner that night, and when i got home to kirkland, late on the evening of the 10th, i had two voicemail messages on my home answering machine. one was a friend. the other was a prank caller. it was a male, american accented voice, calling from a public place the police later confirmed was likely a bus or train station. i could hear the crackle of voices in the background, and the voice said "in the names of all of the officers of your company." he then laughed, and hung up.
i don't like prank calls and didn't get them often. this one was odd but not threatening, but i still saved it, called my friend to let her know i was home, and i mentioned it to her. "strange." she said. i agreed. the next morning it seemed even stranger.
on september 11, i woke early and phoned my sister's house to chat with my sister and mom before leaving for the gym. they told me the news. richard had already called in the middle of the night to let me know he had arrived safely in england, several hours prior to the attacks.
i didn't make it to the gym or to sarah's wedding in the end. and the call may have been just a very odd coincidence, but i haven't forgotten it.
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