Uncharted Territory

One

The flashing red and blue lights caught her attention long before she reached the scene. To make room for emergency vehicles and news vans, traffic had slowed and was being redirected by two male officers. Yellow crime tape blocked off a portion of the road, a covered stretcher being rolled to the awaiting ambulance car. She inched her jeep along behind other vehicles, eyes wide with curiosity, memorizing all that she could see. When she neared a familiar face, she lowered her music and rolled down her window glass.

“Keep it moving Sybil.”

Her words stuck in her throat at the reproach. Her hazel eyes searched the guarded browns of the familiar officer’s, and at the realization that no information would be given, Sybil scrunched her nose disapprovingly and followed the flow of the traffic passed the busy site.

Leaving the unfortunate scene behind her, she made a slow right into the parking lot of the care center and parked. A few coworkers doted the lot, talking in hushed tones amongst themselves. One of the women from the gossiping group spotted Sybil’s fiery mane and stalked over. With her work bag in one hand, Sybil stepped down from her jeep and slammed its dark green door shut.

“What’s going on?” She looked from the road to the approaching woman with a frown.

“A body was found in the street.”

Shock etched along her features at the statement, her mind already working to understand how such a thing could happen. “Who? What happened?” Sybil studied her coworker and best friend. In her dark turtle neck and jeans, Anna shook her head, she secured her arms around herself as though fending off the chill in the air as well as the entire situation.

“I don’t know. They say it looks like a gang attack.”

“Gang attack? Here, in Melbrooke?” Sybil lifted her gaze to the street once more and frowned. “That’s not possible.”

Both women continued to watch the scene unfold further down the street.

“I don’t know Syb’. People are talking saying it might be trouble moving in from inland coming out here to us.” Anna sighed. The worrier of the pair, she had already toyed with the idea of packing up and living elsewhere. “Families will be scared.”

Sybil moved for the main entrance of the building with Anna in tow. “Why would they be scared?” She stepped to the front desk and scribbled her signature down, then she fastened her own nametag on. “We’re fine here.”

“But the bo—” Anna slanted her gaze to the girl at the arrival desk, whose ears were pink with betrayal of eavesdropping. “Let’s go in.” Together the duo walked down the wide hall, decorated with children"s arts and crafts, and brightly colored posters, until they reached Anna’s classroom. The door was already open, her assistant having everything already organized and ready for the preschoolers. “People are worried because the body was found right in the street. Right outside our doors basically.” Anna pushed a small chair to its rightful round table and looked over at Sybil who remained leaning against the entryway. “There’s gonna be a town meeting too. I’m going.”

“I mean, yeah, I get the town meeting part, but that shouldn’t stop them from bringing their babies here for us to take care of.” Sybil glanced down at her watch and frowned. “Hey, is Kerry here?” At Anna’s shrug Sybil turned back into the hall, and with a wave of her hand, headed down the way they had come. She called behind her, “I’ll talk to you at lunch.”

Her own room was down the first hall on the left from the main lobby. She reached her closed door and let out a frustrated huff. ‘What are assistants good for if they aren"t dependable? Better yet, what is my assistant good for?’ She wondered. She opened the door and flicked her lights on, and a piercing scream ripped through her.