Chasing the Elusive 'H'

Chapter 2

Day One Continued.

“Chief, please let me explai...” I started, as I made my way to sit down in the seat across from his desk.

“Don’t start Mason” He interrupted, disinterested in what I have to say.“If you want the ‘H’ case so badly, you can have it”.

My eyes nearly popped out of my head. “I’m sorry sir, but I believe I misheard you” tilting my head slightly as I nervously gave a small smile.

After rolling his eyes, he repeated himself. “I said, the case is yours”

My heart soared. I sat up at the edge of the seat in eagerness. “Really?! Oh thank you, I promise to co-operate with the other investigators and do my b..”

“No, just you.” he said bluntly.

I was taken aback again. Just me? What about the other investigators?

“I don’t know if …” my throat became dry.

“What? Now you don’t want the case? Make up your mind woman!”

I froze. My brows furrowed. Something was up. The chief has never acted like this. I tried to calm myself quickly, as I know what he is like.

“Yes chief I will take the case, thank you for the opportunity” My head hung low, both in respect and defeat.

“Good,” His smile was anything but welcoming “I’d like you to set up at home. Taking the files and such there too, coming back to use facilities and ect, ect. You’ll have until this time next month to either come up with a breakthrough or solve the case.”

“What?!” My voice unusually loud.

“Well lets be frank, I don't like how you distract my staff. I’d rather you work on the case away from the office spac..”

I interrupted him this time “A month to complete this case?!” My voice sounded raspy.

“Or a breakthrough,” his eyes now snapping to his watch, indicating he’s getting impatient with me.

On that observation I started to stand up out of my chair. He continues, “But there's a catch….”

Grabbing my attention, I ceased leaving and sat back onto my chair “If you fail this case, I’m sorry to inform you, but you’ll loose your job.”

“What?! …. Wh-what if I refuse to do the case?” I questioned back.

“You’ll loose your job” He looked dead serious.

I was at a loss of words. This was huge, and I was quite sure that this was not his way to promote morale in employees. This was a clear message. I wasn’t welcome here. I never truly was.

Having not spoken for a short time he adds.

“Well, what use do we have of an investigator who refuses to take cases? Who has a record of being uncooperative? And what use do we have of someone who distracts my men all day?” He threatened. I opened my mouth to question his sources, but was beaten to him continuing,

“No use. So take the case or clean out your desk”

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I was escorted back to my office by the Chief. I had accepted the case, warts and all.

Dreading the other investigators knowing, I insisted that the chief inform the others for me.

He accepted. As we made our way through the doorway, I could see that my presence was known by Quinn. But I also noticed that he shifted himself back in his work when he saw that the chief was right behind me.

I started packing my things. This intrigued them, as I heard them shuffling to see and another striking up a conversation with the chief. He cleared his throat, trying to grab the men’s attention.

“Listen up! Phillips, Simmons, Quinn? Mason here is going to take on the ‘H’ case,” Their eyes snapping to the chief in one swift movement. “You are to cease your work and give all information to Mason, so then she has the best chance of doing her job.”

One started to protest but was cut off “If you have a problem, come and talk to me in my office.”

“So why is she packing her things?” Simmons asked the Chief.

“I’ve asked her to take her things home so she can work overtime on this case,” He stated “She’s also been asked to work on this case exclusively until she’s solved it or until she’s made a breakthrough. So that means she wont be back at work in the near future, unless she needs to use our facilities or research materials.”

I had just finished packing my essentials when he finished his statement. Nodding to the chief to signal that I had finished, he continued “Can you hand Mason the information she needs?, as she is leaving for home as of now.”

Quinn printed out the information that had only been written up, as it was still on the computer and added the sheets to the newest case file. Quinn was the one who came up to me with all the paperwork and added in an odd tone, “Good luck with solving this case Mason.”

I gently took the folders from his grasp to see the other two giving me a ‘Toodle oo’ sort of wave towards me, but of course the Chief didn't see this. I thanked Quinn aloud, to seem not like a spiteful b***h towards them and was escorted out by the Chief. I secretly thanked my lucky stars that I wouldn’t have to deal with my so called ‘co-workers’ for the foreseeable future.

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The car ride home was quiet. Sighing aloud, as I was finally able to relax. My belongings in a box sitting next to me, I laid my hand on top of it just to confirm that this wasn’t just a day dream.

And indeed it wasn’t. I looked out the window, now worried for my career’s future.

“It’s do or get fired” I breathed aloud. “… What the f**k did he mean that I was distracting his staff?” I huffed. “And I’ve never not taken cases before!” It was clear to me now that he was using some form of emotional blackmail. “What an ass hole!” I continued, not caring what the cabbie thought of my unladylike behaviour.

I stared out the window, cursing under my breath until the cab made a complete stop in front of my building. I payed the fare and made my way to the elevator doors, taking my low heels off and placed them in my work box whilst I waited for the slow elevator to reach me. “Stupid elevator” I cursed. Sulking I made my way inside the small box. After pressing the button to the ‘13th’ floor, my body rested against the wall adjacent to the command board, my head softly hit the wall shortly after. My things in a box pressed up against my stomach to ease my back.

The ‘Ping’ took me off guard as I nearly got lost in a daydream whilst waiting for my destination.

I shuffled towards my apartment’s door, fiddling with the keys in one hand whilst struggling to keep the box up in one arm. With a few failed attempts at unlocking my door, I was finally able to enter my apartment. Nearly dropping the box on the floor entirely, I made my way towards my home phone. Hitting the answering machine button, I continued onward towards the fridge as per usual.

“You have two new messages. Message one.”

“Hi Abigail… It’s Clarke, we need to discuss a time for a plumber to come and preform a routine check in your apartment. Please call back so I can organise this for you asap”

“Message two.”

“Beep .. Beep .. Beep .. Beep”

“End of Messages.”

I rolled my eyes. Life of the party I am.

I sighed. Still looking in the fridge a ridiculous amount of time, still undecided about what my stomach wants. I looked over at the time on the kitchen’s clock. It’s not even 4pm, no wonder I’m not hungry yet. Still stressed about the events of the day, I decided to make myself a Bailey's drink and watch whatever is on TV at this time. As I openly poured the heavenly cream liqueur into my glass I flicked through the channels, hoping for anything interesting. I happened to land on a station with a dramatic background and music to match.

Soap opera. Meh.

It’s better than watching the news at this time of day, I thought to myself. I filled the rest of my glass with milk, the measurements weren't to scale, but that didn't matter to me right now. I sat down with my drink and watched the show halfheartedly. Soap operas were so fake. The acting was stale. The scenes seem so melodramatic. Frankly I can never follow it, because it goes from one story to another. But it was good to at least pretend that others, even fake stories like this, have it worse than me.

Bringing the Bailey's bottle and my milk carton along to pour another glass when needed. After half an hour and three ‘drinks’ in, it seems like I’m just taking the piss out of these poor actors.

“Antonio stop, we can’t! I’m faithful to my husband!” Blonde bimbo number four says to foreign pushy man.

Me, clearly tipsy commented, “You better listen to her Antonio, he’s gonna come home and then he gonna whoop yo ass!”

Antonio seems a little too persistent, and starts groping and grabbing in places that you’d hope children weren’t flicking to this channel right now.

“No! Antonio, I know I said I love you but my husband can arrive home at any minute” she pleads again, ‘pushing him away’ in a sorry attempt sort of way.

“This is clearly harassment here” I say with my hand outstretched towards the TV, the other holding my baileys’ drink in a semi-classy way.

He stops playing with her to pull her close to him. He caresses her cheek in one hand and her waist in the other. She starts to calm down as she looks deep into his eyes, mesmerised. He kisses her deeply, enough to make any girl weak in the knees and pulled away tenderly. He gives small kisses starting on her jawline slowly going downwards her neck, as he speaks his next words.

“But Cecilia, I want you. I need you. I cannot stop thinking about you. You are the reason I wake up. The reason I eat…. The reason I breathe. Cecilia, I Love you with all of my being”

The scene goes on a little longer before I realised my vision became blurry. It was at this point I noticed I was crying. At this revelation, I turned off the TV and proceeded to stare at the blank screen. I was at a loss for words for the second time today.

I know it wasn’t the man’s acting skills that got to me emotionally, but his words did.

Ever since I received this job, I haven’t had time nor put in the effort to date or start a family.

I’ve basically put my love life on hold for my job.

Maybe after this month, maybe things will be different. Maybe if I loose this job I could have a life again and if I solve this case or come up with a breakthrough...

Laying down on the couch, I began to think. In no time I was deep in thought of the future of this ‘do or be fired’ case. If I solved the case, would things be different? I had to be hopeful, right? Like if I prove myself, my co-workers wouldn’t have a leg to stand on. I would be the wannabe investigator who took on a case that three investigators couldn’t c***k in the past.

I don’t know if it was the alcohol, but I suddenly had courage. A twinge of confidence.

Faith that I’m more than just a pretty face, a daughter of the mayor and a wannabe investigator.

And if I fail? Well at least I went out trying. I smiled at my new found positive outlook on my situation. As I came to this thought, I started to zone out. At peace with myself. Content with myself and my ability to do this case.

Weariness soon took over and darkness engulfed me in a dreamless sleep.

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