Hey, Am I Dead?

The rain pelted against the window of Alex Turner's office, a rhythmic reminder of the storm that had upended his life six months ago. The night of his near-fatal car accident was etched in his memory: the screeching tires, the blinding headlights, and the sudden, bone-jarring impact that had thrown his world into chaos. He had awakened in the hospital, disoriented and in pain, but alive. Little did he know, his survival had come at a price. Alex was a brilliant lawyer, renowned for his tenacity and unyielding commitment to justice. He had built a reputation for taking on the toughest cases and emerging victorious, his keen intellect and sharp instincts making him a formidable opponent in the courtroom. But since the accident, Alex had been grappling with a new and bewildering ability—he could see and communicate with ghosts. It started with fleeting glimpses and half-heard whispers, moments he had initially dismissed as the result of trauma and medication. But the visions persisted, growing clearer and more frequent. The first ghost to appear was his late grandmother, Margaret Turner, her presence a comforting yet disconcerting reminder of his connection to the afterlife. "Alex," she had said, her voice echoing with an otherworldly resonance, "you have been given a gift. Use it wisely." Alex had spent months coming to terms with this revelation, balancing his demanding career with the responsibilities that came with his newfound ability. The spectral visitors were a constant reminder that his journey was far from ordinary, and he was determined to use his gift to seek justice for both the living and the dead. First Client One rainy afternoon, as Alex was reviewing case files in his office, his secretary, Emily, buzzed him. "Mr. Turner, there's a Miss Sarah Johnson here to see you. She doesn't have an appointment, but she insists it's urgent." Alex glanced at the clock. His schedule was packed, but something in Emily's voice made him pause. "Send her in." A moment later, a young woman walked into the office, her eyes red and swollen from crying. She clutched a worn leather bag to her chest as if it were a lifeline. Alex gestured for her to sit down. "How can I help you, Miss Johnson?" he asked, his tone professional yet gentle. Sarah took a deep breath, her voice trembling as she spoke. "Mr. Turner, I've been accused of embezzling funds from my company. I swear I'm innocent, but no one believes me. I don't know what to do." Alex listened intently as Sarah detailed her predicament. She worked as a financial analyst for a mid-sized corporation, and a recent audit had revealed significant discrepancies in the accounts. All evidence pointed to her, and she had been suspended pending investigation. Her life was falling apart, and she was desperate for help. "I know it looks bad," Sarah said, tears streaming down her face. "But I didn't do it. I would never betray my company like that." As Sarah spoke, Alex felt a familiar chill in the room. He looked up and saw an older man standing behind Sarah, his expression one of concern and determination. The man had a spectral glow, a clear indication that he was one of the departed. Alex's heart skipped a beat—this was the first time a ghost other than his grandmother had appeared to him in a professional setting. The ghost looked puzzled for a moment then stepped forward, speaking directly to Alex. "Mr. Turner can you see me? Can you hear me? Please I need your help. My daughter is innocent. The real culprit is still out there." Alex took a deep breath, his mind racing. He had to tread carefully, as Sarah had no idea that her father's ghost was present. He looked in the old man's directing and gave a small nod. "Sarah," he said slowly, "I believe you. Let's start by going over all the financial records you have access to. We'll find the discrepancies and see if we can trace them back to the real embezzler." Over the next few days, Alex and Sarah worked tirelessly, poring over financial documents and emails. It was tedious and meticulous work, made more challenging by the skepticism from his colleagues. They couldn't understand why he was taking on a case with such damning evidence against the client. "Alex, you're risking your reputation on this," his partner, James, warned him. "Are you sure you know what you're doing?" Alex nodded, though doubts gnawed at him. "I have a feeling about this one, James. Trust me." Accessing the necessary documents was another hurdle. The company was understandably protective of their records, and getting permission to review them was an uphill battle. But Alex was relentless, using his legal prowess to navigate through the red tape. Sarah's emotional state was also a concern. She was on the verge of breaking down, her faith in the justice system wavering. Alex did his best to reassure her, but he knew that the only thing that could truly help was proving her innocence. Balancing his newfound ability with his professional responsibilities was a constant struggle. Alex often found himself working late into the night, guided by the spectral presence of John Johnson. The ghost would point out anomalies and offer insights that Alex might have otherwise missed. One night, as Alex was poring over the latest batch of documents, John appeared beside him. "Look at this entry," John said, his finger pointing to a suspicious transaction. "The amount doesn't match the corresponding invoices." Alex scrutinized the records, his heart racing. John was right. There was a pattern here, one that pointed to someone manipulating the numbers to frame Sarah. But every step forward was met with resistance. Colleagues whispered behind his back, questioning his judgment. Sarah’s case became a topic of office gossip, and Alex found himself increasingly isolated. "You're obsessed with this case," James said one evening. "It's not healthy. Let it go." "I can't," Alex replied, his voice resolute. "I owe it to Sarah. I owe it to myself." With John's help, Alex began to piece together the puzzle. The discrepancies in the financial records were too precise, too calculated to be the work of an amateur. It had to be someone with intimate knowledge of the company's operations. Then, one breakthrough night, they found it. A series of emails hidden deep within the company's server, all pointing to a high-ranking executive who had been manipulating the books for personal gain. The evidence was damning and irrefutable. As Alex prepared to confront the executive, he felt a familiar chill. John appeared, his expression grave. "Be careful, Alex. This man is dangerous. He won't go down without a fight." Alex decided to confront the executive, Richard Hale, in his office. He walked into the sleek, modern room, trying to keep his nerves in check. Richard was a tall, imposing man, and his eyes narrowed when he saw Alex. "Mr. Turner, what brings you here?" Richard asked, his voice smooth but with an edge. Alex placed a folder on the desk, containing the incriminating emails. "I have evidence that proves Sarah Johnson is innocent and that you've been embezzling funds from the company." Richard's face darkened. "You have no idea what you're getting yourself into, Turner. Walk away now, and I'll pretend this never happened." Before Alex could respond, the door to the office burst open, and two men in dark suits stormed in. They were the same men he had seen on a couple of occasions lurking around his office. "Mr. Turner, we need you to come with us," one of the men said, his hand reaching for a concealed weapon. Alex's instincts kicked in. He grabbed his briefcase and ducked behind Richard's desk, narrowly avoiding a gunshot that shattered the window behind him. The office erupted into chaos as Alex scrambled for cover, his heart pounding in his chest. "Don't shoot you i***t," Richard growled at one of the men. "You'll draw unnecessary attention fool." The ghost of John Johnson appeared beside him, his expression urgent. "Alex, there's a secret file on Richard's server. It has all the evidence you need. You have to get it." Alex nodded, his mind racing. He needed to get out of this alive and expose the truth. He charged at the men, spearing one with his shoulder and bolting out of the door before they understood what had happened. They probably didn't expect a lawyer to do that. Alex was an amateur wrestler during his Yale days. "Hold it right there!" one of the men shouted, but Alex didn't stop. He ran down the corridor, his footsteps echoing against the walls. As Alex raced through the building, he could hear the heavy footsteps of his pursuers. He needed to find a way to shake them off and get to the server room. He spotted an open door and slipped inside, pressing his back against the wall to catch his breath. John's ghost appeared beside him. "You need to hurry, Alex. They're right behind you." Alex nodded, peeking out the door. The hallway was clear for the moment. He made his way to the server room with John's guidance. John gave him the access codes for the server room. "You get to know a lot of things when you're dead," John said. Inside, Alex quickly located the main terminal and began searching for the file John had mentioned. His fingers flew over the keyboard as he bypassed the security protocols with John's help. Finally, he found it—a hidden folder containing detailed records of Richard's activities. He copied the files onto a flash drive just as the door to the server room burst open. The two men stormed in, their faces twisted with anger. "You're not going anywhere, Turner." Alex braced himself, ready to fight if he had to. But before the men could reach him, the ghost of John Johnson intervened. The temperature in the room plummeted, and the lights flickered. The men hesitated, looking around in confusion as John's ghostly form manifested fully, his presence sending a chilling wind through the room. The men looked around in confusion and fear, their bravado faltering as they tried to make sense of what was happening. Alex seizing the moment, lunged at the man he had speared earlier, slamming him into the wall. The second man started reaching for his gun but Alex kicked him hard at the groin. He bent over and fell to the floor writhing in pain. Alex bolted out of the server room, sprinting down the hallway with the flash drive securely in his grip. Alex burst through the emergency exit, the cold rain hitting his face as he dashed into the night. Alex sent the evidence to his police detective friend, who moved swiftly to arrest Richard Hale and his accomplices. Sarah came to Alex's office to thank him, her eyes filled with gratitude. "Mr. Turner, I don't know how to thank you," she said, tears of relief streaming down her face. "You saved my life." Alex smiled, but his thoughts were elsewhere. He had begun to embrace his gift, realizing that it was a part of who he was now. His reputation was boosted, and he gained a new sense of purpose. Sarah was exonerated, her name cleared, and her job reinstated. The company opened a thorough internal investigation into Richard's activities. Alex's daring actions had not only saved an innocent woman but also exposed a significant fraud within the company, earning him widespread recognition and respect. As he sat down at his desk, he felt the familiar chill. Margaret appeared, her expression proud. "Well done, Alex," she said. "You've only just begun." Alex nodded, a new determination burning within him. He would use his gift wisely, just as his grandmother had told him. There were more clients out there who needed his help, and he was ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.