Coffin Killer

I need coffee

Chapter one I need coffee

Kaleb POV

I was awakened by a loud bang. I sat up from my desk, where I had fallen asleep. The once full bottle of whiskey is now empty in my hand. My head is pounding, and my eyes are blurry. I rub my eyes to clear them from sleep and the alcohol daze. The room is dark. The only light I see is the streetlight coming through the window blinds. The dim light causes shadows on the furniture in the room, making it look eerie.

I pick up my phone that's on my desk to check the time. It's 6.12am. I stood to attempt to walk to the office door, but I felt dizzy. I'm still slightly tipsy from the night before. My eyes were still in a sleepy daze and I felt myself tipping forward. I managed to grab the tall coat stand that stood by the door. I steadied myself and took slow breaths hoping that would help me regain my composure, and then I realized I was looking into an old cracked mirror that I had forgotten that was there. I saw the dark reflection of the room and saw my own reflection looking back at me. Bright blue eyes and shaggy blonde hair, I turned away from the mirror. I've always hated my f*****g reflection. I attempted to stand up and regain my steadiness, and I reached for the doorknob.

I open the door, and I'm blinded by the hallway light. I blinked my eyes a couple of times to adjust my eyes to the bright light. I step out and see the cleaner hoovering in the hallway. She dances away to unheard music, her hips swinging from side to side. She doesn't notice me at first. I wonder how it would feel to be carefree? Being a cleaner would give you access to all your private habits. I then realize that she must be one of the cleaners that could clean my office and I feel a little guilty about the mess I always leave.

I look up to her again. She has long blonde hair down to the base of her back. An hourglass figure, she is wearing a skirt and her uniform top. I may get lucky this evening. I stand up tall, straighten my hair and put on the best smile I could muster. This smile always works in bars, Let's just say I've gotten a few women to bed with me just smiling at them.

I'm about to leave my office door frame and that is when she turns, and I can see she is heavily pregnant. Her uniform is tight around her breasts and stomach. That is when I realized this was the cleaner everybody was gossiping about. I was about to turn around and head back into my office, but that's where she saw me. Her blue eyes grew wide, and her cheeks turned red. She took her earbud out of one of her ears and said

‘I'm sorry detective, I didn't realize you were here’, her face getting redder.

‘It’s fine,’ I grumbled, and returned to my room.

I walked into my office and shut the door. The room looks darker now, and I have to let my eyes readjust again. I walked back to my desk and turned on my desk lamp. I try to tidy the desk up a little. I throw the empty bottle of whiskey into the bin next to my desk, which is already full of papers and coffee cups. I try my best to sort all the case files and put them in a pile. I really need to try and get through the mountain of case work I have, but I just can't seem to concentrate.

I stood up, turning to the window, opening the blinds. I look out and I see cars passing. People walking up and down the pavement.

Screw the paperwork, I need a coffee. I turned from the window and walked towards the door. I grab my coat and walk out, locking the door as I leave. I headed down the hallway.

Only the cleaners are out at this time of the morning, and I'm glad, this is yet another morning of waking up in my office, and once again I'm doing the drunken walk of shame. I need to stop this, I think to myself.

I carried on walking towards the elevators, avoiding looks from the cleaners. As I reach the elevators, the doors open and a cleaner is inside. This time it's an older man. He's hunched over pushing a cleaning trolley. He looked at me. I notice he has deep wrinkles on his face, his eyes are darker blue, he has a scar over his mouth, which starts from the bridge of his nose down over his lips and finishes on his chin. I also noticed large faded tattoos on his neck. He moved forward, almost hitting me with his trolley. He muttered to himself, but I was unable to make out what he said. I moved aside to give him room and once he passed, I quickly walked into the elevator and pushed the button to the lobby.

The doors close and all I see is my stupid reflection again. I really hate looking at my own reflection. The elevator moves and I check my emails on my phone. I have 3 unread emails from my grandparents. I open and scan through them quickly, and it's nothing important, but I will need to remember to reply to them sometime today. The door opened and I left the elevator quickly.

I walked toward the main entrance. There was security at the door. As I got closer, I realized it was Jim. He's sitting in his usual seat reading the newspaper. He peers over and says

Morning Kaleb, another long night I see?

Yeah Jim, can't keep me away, I said with a mocking tone. He just laughs.

How are the kids? And the wife? I ask him

Same old. Catch you later, Kaleb

That's what I like about Jim, he's a man of a few words. For his age, he's pretty well-built. He's tall and muscular. His dark-colored skin started to show the wrinkles around his eyes. His hair, once dark as coal, started to grow an ashy gray color.