The Interesting Case of Henry De La Vega

Ten days ago.

"Anton Dee?" The female bank cashier called at the counter. The man in a black suit and 'ray ban' shade stood up and presented his ID at the bank teller. Mr. Dee removed his Rayban shade, where a 10-millimeter sized brown mole a little below his right eyelid is visible. The cashier took a good look at the client's ID to verify if it was him. It only took her a few seconds.

"Here are your 250 thousand cash. Please acknowledge here Mr. Dee by signing on the form." Mr. Dee obliged by signing his signature on the withdrawal slip. He placed the money in his black bag and left.

That morning, the traffic in the city was at a standstill. Mr. Dee decided to walk to the A____ restaurant where a client is waiting. His phone rang, and he nervously picked it up.

"I am on the third table. I will signal for you when you enter." The man's voice was deep and a bit husky.

"Alright. I will be there. The money is here."

The restaurant's walk is not far, but the day was particularly dusty from an undergoing pipe laying construction on a busy intersection. Mr. Dee was at that moment seems lost.

"Don't hang up. I want you to guide me in the direction."

"Turn left when you see the newsstand. "

"Ok, I see it. I am turning now."

"Don't rush yourself."

"I'm not."

"Did you bring the documents?" Mr. Dee asked.

"Yes, in fact, I have special instruction for you. But am not mentioning it here."

"Do you think this would go away?"

"I bet you 100 percent; it will."

"I want to destroy it so badly."

"Shred-it. Burn it. Throw it away. That's your call. You can do whatever you want with the rogue documents."

"Are there more where it came from?"

"This is the price of the documents. I am not guaranteeing the others I cannot find."

"But what if there are more?"

"Calm down. I am giving you a favor. Remember?

"Sorry."

"Ok, I can see you walk. Try to compose yourself before entering the restaurant."

"I am. I am grateful for this."

The voice on the other line is extremely manipulative. "You should! I could have to charge you more. But the price we agreed is enough for me."

"You are giving me a new identity, right?"

"Yes. "

"May I know what my new name is?"

"Henry De la Vega. From now on, after our meeting, you will be using that name. You have to leave the one you are currently using—that mole of yours. Have them remove. "

"Ok. But can I use the ID now?" Mr. Dee was a few steps away from the door of the restaurant.

"Yes, of course. I guarantee it is clean. It is you. Every establishment will honor them."

From afar, Mr. Dee can be seen inside the restaurant through the glass wall as he shook hands with another man.

"Thank you for coming," said the man.

"As promised, the money is here with me."

The man handed him a piece of tissue with scribbled notes. Mr. Dee kept it in his hand and slid them into his pocket.

"Your life will surely be changed after this meeting, "the man said

Mr. Dee was ecstatic. "That is the goal. That's why I came here."

"Try to act more composed. You are giving yourself away," said the man.

The staff from the restaurant approached them. "Sir, would you like to order now?"

"Thank you, miss. But my friend here is not yet ready."

"Okay, I am just over at the counter when you need me," the attendant was delightful and casually left with her smiley face.

Mr. Dee stood up.

"Excuse me. I am going to the bathroom. Can you hold this bag for me?"

"Of course," said the man.

Mr. Dee asked the counter staff for the direction of the comfort room. He was directed to go straight and to turn left at the back of the restaurant. Inside, a man came out from cubicle number 1 and went straight to the sink to wash his hand. The man looked at him on occasion. After the man left the comfort room, he took the instruction out of his pocket and carefully read them. Select cubicle number 3. Which he did. Inside, he looked around and saw that aside from the waste can, tissue roll, and the toilet bowl -it was relatively empty. He checked the instruction further. It said - open the trash. He did open the trash and found the rogue documents placed in a similar black bag he carries. He checked the inside and found an ID and passport with his picture on it. It was made with professional sophistication. The name Henry De La Vega was written on them. He got a new address and birth-date etched on the documents. He checked the other papers included in the bag. It was voluminous with various notations from its source department, and it got almost everything he had asked. He checked his nerve, and it was uncontrolled. His hand trembled from the mere touch of the rest of the documents he hated. He took a deep breath, which he paused for around 5 seconds long. Then he expelled the same breath as he had dashed through a marathon finish line. The joy he felt was immense. It filled his entire being with so much satisfaction, and he cannot describe the feeling or intensity of his extreme euphoria.

After that moment of silence in the cubicle, Mr. De la Vega flushed the tissue paper with instructions in the bowl. It was part of the drill. He went out of the cubicle and composed himself in front of the mirror. His new name suited him well. When he went back to the table, the man was already gone. Mr. De La Vega went straight to the restaurant door to leave - the black bag with rogue documents on hand.

Mr. De la Vega walked on foot towards United Avenue's Intersection and 5th, where he hailed a cab. He directed the driver to a remote area in the outskirt of the city. When the cab driver had dropped him, he went to a small abandoned house and began to unpack his things. He planned it all along. That after he separated his credentials. - the rogue documents had to be burned. He placed the black bag on a stack of dried wood and slowly poured some gasoline on top. He lit a match, and the fire immediately engulfed the bag in flames. "Goodbye to whoever you are. You deserve it."

As he rode back to the heart of the city, he cannot seem to contain his curiosity to look at himself through his cell phone camera.

"I am Henry De la Vega." He repeated to himself as he gazed at his camera gadget. He took a selfie and mumbled to himself.

"Yes, I am Henry De La Vega. Just call me Mr. De la Vega." He looked a couple of times again as he tried to accustom himself to his new identity. The cab driver casually heard him and asked,

"Are you okay, sir?"

It was a necessary distraction.

"I am. Please don't mind me," as Mr. De La Vega let out a big toothy smile.