Kim, who had been standing beside him, offered a sympathetic pat on his shoulder. “It’s okay, Jack,” she whispered. “Let’s not jump to conclusions. There might be a reasonable explanation for all of this.” Jack nodded, trying to compose himself. The situation was becoming increasingly baffling, and he knew he needed more information to make sense of it. The woman fixed her gaze on him, and he noticed a subtle shift in her eyes. Was it pity? Guilt? Recognition? Then, she finally spoke.
“I can’t imagine how unusual this must be for you,” she replied sympathetically. “I wish I could offer you more answers, but no, the name Elise doesn’t ring a bell. This is quite a bizarre situation.” She added, “If there is anything I can do to help or if you need someone to talk to, please don’t hesitate to reach out. You have my card.”