Watch, Wait, Take

Chapter 4. The beginning of a new life

I walk home alone that night. It's pitch black. I never leave work in this light, but tonight I made an exception, as it was my last. I left Paul interviewing a few potential replacements for me. I climb the stairs to my apartment with a lethargic motivation. I round the corner to my room at a sluggish pace. I will pack tomorrow morning and be gone by tomorrow afternoon.

I complete my nighttime ritual and climb into bed without eating. I fall quickly into a soundless sleep.

I was startled awake. Glancing at my clock, it was only 7:30am. I was hoping on getting a lie in until 8am before packing.

I groan, roll over, and slip my slippers on. As I pad over to the door, walking up with each step, my nerves waver as the hairs on my arms and neck stand on end again.

I am starting to regret my lie in. I should have packed up and left last night. Again there is a knock on the door. I jump back startled, shaking now, staring at the door willing the person on the other side to go away. I gather the courage to go to the peephole to see who it is. Before I can focus my eyes, there is another knock at the door a hammer now.

"Police! Open the door,” yells a male from the other side.

I recognize the all-business voice from the other side of the door as the detective from yesterday. I need to be sure it's him before opening the door. I creep silently closer to the door. Peeping through the hole, I see the detective flanked by two patrol officers. I quickly unlock the door and slide the bolt back, leaving the ball and chain in place. 

"Hello detective. Can I help you?" I ask with the door open only an inch or two.

"I have a few questions. If we could come inside." 

"I'm afraid I just got up. I need to pack. I have a family emergency. I don’t have long. I'm afraid I don’t have time, sor-"

"Ma'am. It will just take a few minutes. We are investigating the death of a young female." he shoots back. All patience gone from his voice now.

I regard him for a few short seconds before nodding and closing the door to undo the chain. I open the door stepping inside and the detective, followed by the uniformed officers, entered my apartment. I close the door and slide the bolt home, locking the door and once again slide the ball and chain back.

I turn to see the offices all-staring at me. 

"Coffee?" I ask, trying to keep my voice calm and steady.

"Yes, no sugar" replied the detective.

I look to the other officers and they nod, not saying a word, but looking me up and down. 

"You can sit on the sofa there. I will bring the coffee in." I say emotionlessly, trying to let them know I am not happy about the home invasion.

I cross to the kitchen, feeling their gazes following me. I brew the fresh pot of coffee. As it's brewing, I pour cream into a small jug and get my sugar bowl ready on a tray. I then add a small plate of cookies. Enough to be hospitable, but not too many so they know they are welcome no longer than necessary. I carry the tray swiftly to the sofa and set the t it on my coffee table. I matter of factly turn back to the kitchen. I don't look or make eye contact with any of the officers, but I feel there gazes silently watching me.

Once the coffee finished brewing, I set four cups of on the side. I took the coffee through two at a time to the sofa, setting each on the table. I settle on a chair opposite the sofa of officers. I make a mental note that the uniform offices were once again flanking the detective. Although all sitting on the sofa, they were guarded. Just like I am guarded.

"How can I help with your investigation, detective?" 

I get straight down to business, no small talk. I don't have time.

"You work at the little restaurant opposite the 'Seapool's' correct?" the detective asked, referring to his notes.

"Correct." I reply, I wont give away information I am not asked for.

"Did you see anything suspicious last night on your way home from work?"

"No." I tell him coldly, not breaking eye contact and returning with a stare just as closed and icy as his.

"During your shift, did you notice any new people or strange behaviour?"

"No. No more than the usual."

"Anyone you know of that comes to mind? Anyone you believe to be capable of assaulting a young girl?"

"Non that I can think of."

"Can you think of anyone that would want to harm her?"

"No. Josie had no enemies. That I know of anyway. Everyone loved Josie."

"So you know the victim?" he asked with a flash of triumph in his eyes.

"...Yes" I admit through clenched teeth. I need to be more careful.

"We will need you to identify the body."

"Ok, but I don’t have long."

I don't want to see Josie like that.

"We will go straight after we are done here then." 

The first sign of emotion flashed through his voice. Irritation.

"Ok, will it take long?"

"Ma'am.... I don’t think you are grasping the seriousness. A young woman was murdered last night and you seem to want to be anywhere but here. All you can focus on is getting out of here as fast as you can. May I ask why?"

"Detective.... I don't know what you are insinuating. I am trying to co-operate as much as possible in the hope that I can provide some information that may aid your investigation. I am focused on getting out of town. I have a family emergency in another state. I am losing daylight and don't want to be driving through the night." I mimic his tone through my retort.

The detective silently regarded me for a moment. In the time, I regain my composure. He glances at the two detectives sitting either side of him. Raising his eyebrows, he flips through a few pages in his notebook.

"I spoke to your previous employer, Mr Paul Bonchi. He says you quit yesterday, correct?"

"Yes." I reply offering no explanation.

“May I ask why?” The irritation was now showing in his eyes as well as his voice.

“The family emergency, I may have mentioned earlier, I don’t know how long I will be gone, I thought best for Mr Bonchi if I quit and let him replace me” I said with a raised brow to the detective.

“I see.” He raised both eyebrows back at me and glanced again at his notebook. “Are you not coming back after your ‘emergency’ Miss Evans?” There was a hint of accusation in his voice.

“Well, yes, but I don’t know how long I will be gone. It wouldn’t be fair to leave Paul indefinitely”

“Was compassionate leave not an option?” There was even more accusation and doubt forming in his mind now, I could hear it in his voice and see it in his eyes, he was watching me, every more, every word I said, I had no room for mistakes now.

“Well, yeah but as I have said I don’t know when I will be back. It just didn’t seem fair.”

“So, Miss Evans. What is this family emergency? He leaned in closer, pen poised on his notebook.

“Detective….” I tried to change the subject off myself, before they dig too deep and uncover the holes in my story. “I just remembered something about that night Josie….” I paused to regain composure, before continuing.

“Go on, Miss Evans.” He pressed eagerly.

I have him now, hanging on my every word.

"There was a man, judging on his appearance was a middle aged truck driver. I had never seen him before. He was very drunk when he left the restaurant I work in. He crossed over to the 'Seapool' he was spewing up his guts when Josie, came into talk to me about the punters. Then she left to go to the 'Seapool' to see if they had any punters for her. The drunk trucker, he was propped against the wall. He seemed transfixed almost hypnotized by Josie. He couldn't take his eyes off her. He followed her into the 'Seapool’ bar opposite my work”

“Will you be able to come down the station before you leave, so our artist can get a full description of him? I take it you don't know his name?"

"Yes, I suppose I could. No I'm sorry I don't know his name."

"You said miss McBride came into your work place and was speaking to you about the punters?"

"Yes."

"What exactly did she say?"

"She was asking, if any of the punters could be a good client to her. When I said not, she went to the 'Seapool' to see if there were any.... suitable punters over there."

"What was she looking for Punters for?"

"Business. She was just trying to build up more of a clientele, after her Jerry had a drug overdose the funeral cleared her out, she needed a boost in her income, the only way she could do that was look for new clients."

"And what was her business called?"

"She is a.... working lady, on the night shift."

"Working as what?"

"Personal.... pleasures...."

"She was a prostitute?" The detective asked it so nonchalantly, business like almost coldly but there was a note of shock in his voice.

"She preferred.... preferred to be referred to as 'working lady, on the night shift'."

“Did she have any ‘regulars’ she may have mentioned?”

“None that I am aware of, Detective” I let the irritation in my voice show now, and I glanced at my wristwatch, in the hope he gets the message. 

"I see..." He scribbled in his notebook.

"Sorry, Detective? I was wondering if we could go to identify the body now? I want to get that out of the way. So I can grieve properly for my dear friend Josie.... She was the only real friend I made since I moved here last year."

"Yes, certainly Miss Evans."

The detective stood up closing his notebook and clicking his pen. Both uniform officers flanking him stood up in sync with each other. I grabbed my keys and we left the apartment at the same time. Locking the door behind us, we all moved as a unit, silently to the entrance of the apartment building.

"I will drive you in my car if you don't mind. I will then take you to the station to meet with the artist and get a profile on the man you saw the other night following Miss McBride. I can then drop you off back here for you to continue your packing."

"Yes, that’s fine." I reapplied softly.

I follow him to his car both of us walk in silence. I still feel a sense of resentment towards the detective. Perhaps because he has the job I long to do. To feel the adrenalin pulsing through my veins, my heart hammering against my rib cage, to hear my pulse in my ears, when bringing down a perp.

Once we reached his graphite colour Mitchubuishi Colt he opened the door for me. Once inside, we drove in silence for most of the journey.

"Detective?" I said no longer able to take the silence. "What is your name, I didn’t catch it before."

"Avon" He replied bluntly without emotion. "Detective, Avon."

The rest of the journey was silent. The drive to the Police Department seamed long with the awkward silence. When we finally pulled into a space in the parking lot at the back of the building I realized we hadn't yet gone to see the body.

"Detective Avon? Weren’t we going to go to see the body of Josie first?"

"Yes, but a change of plan. This will take longer to process so best to do this first."

"Ok, thanks for telling me." I said gruffly and sarcastically, I pushed my way out of the car and headed over to the entrance of the building. Leaving Detective Avon behind.

Once he caught up, he kept up. Silently he escorted me through the crowded busy lobby of the station, officers walking to and from rooms, phones constantly ringing, chattering officers, coffee brewing, papers printing and copying, tapping of keyboards, radios crackling. I take it all in for a moment trying to keep walking.

It’s been a while.

"Dave, this is Annie Evans. She is going to describe a trucker to you. We are going to run the image you get from her through the database see if we get any hits. You can take a seat there Miss Evans, Dave will talk you through the rest."

And with that he walked a way.

"Hi Miss Evans" Dave smiled politely at me.

"You can call me Annie, I never was one for the formalities." I smile back at him.

"In that case you can call me Dave." He laughed back. "Do you know how this process works?"

"No, sorry." I lied.

"This is a simple process. You just have to tell me what you remember about the man you saw. As detailed s possible, but only what you are sure you remember. This can be a big help in the investigation, even if we don't get a hit on our online database... are you ready to get started? Any questions?"

"Ok, we can get started, thanks." I smile at him.

"So what was his face shape like?"

"Quite round, he was quite big, for his height- he wasn’t very tall I would estimate about 5"8 at the most."

"Did he have any distinguishing features on his face?"

"He had an old scar of his chin, and baggy, wrinkled eyes, middle-aged possibly 45"

"What about his hair?"

"None existent really, the little he did have was thin and gray. He was also a smoker I could tell by the lines on his upper lip and stains on his teeth, he must have just had one the stench was strong of tobacco. Heavy drinker, not a healthy eater or regular exerciser."

"Wow, you're good at this" Dave laughed. "Its like you know what I am going to ask before I ask you" He smiled at me, leaned closer and whispered "That’s a good thing, makes my job a hell of a lot easier." He laughed and leaned back in his char. I smiled and laughed along with him.

Shit. I'm starting to slip up. Stop rushing take your time. Don't leave any trace.

"What about his eyes? colour? Shape? Lashes? Eyebrows?" Dave asked rolling up his shirtsleeves.

"Well.... its hard to say as he was drunk so they weren't fully open, and they where blood shot. I think they where blue- but I really can't be sure. He didn't have many lashes or eyebrows, the few he did have where quite fair, my guess would be he used to be blonde or ginger when he had colour in his hair. He had read flushed cheeks from the alcohol, but I could still see a few broken capillaries a result of smoking, alcohol and cold weather."

"Wow, you really notice a lot of helpful details! You would make a great officer! I would be surprised if we didn’t get a hit of this when we are finished." He winked at me and I laughed in response.

"I couldn’t be an officer.... couldn’t deal with the lack of food and sleep, never mind the horrors of the job." I slide back in my seat. Dave laughed. I have to be more careful. 

"Ethnicity?"

"White, American. I would guess from Texas, by his southern, twangy, drawl. Though I suppose he could have just spent a significant amount of time there. He isn't necessarily from Texas. Doesn't really narrow it down now I think about it."

Shit! I'm not an officer. Don't act like one. Let them do their jobs.

"That’s a pretty good conclusion and great thought process.... you sure you don’t want to become a detective?"

I just laughed, what else could I say?

"That’s all. Thanks Annie, you did a great job. Thank you for the information and your cooperation." Dave smiled at me as we both stood up. "I will take you to Detective Avon, as soon as this has printed. If you could just take a look and let me know if this looks like the man you saw. If not how does it need changing."

I crossed to the screen on the other side of the desk.

"Yes that’s him, I can almost smell him! Looks exactly like him."

"Great I will get this printed. If you would like a drink of water, there is a dispenser just there." He pointed to the other end of the corridor and in the corner was a dispenser.

I left the room while Dave printed the image he had made up from my description. I grabbed a disposable cup and filled it with icy cold water. I gulped at the crisp, clear, refreshing liquid as though I had never tasted anything so fresh. I had another cup, then another. Gulping the water and swishing it around my mouth. Dave appeared out his office, closing the door behind him. I quickly poured another cup full of water and tried to make it last, as we walked to Detective Avon.

On the way Dave and I exchanged small talk. Once we reached Avon's office, Dave knocked on the door and waited, for Avon to signal him in.

We went in, Dave showed Avon the photo we had designed.

"Upload it and let me know as soon as we get a hit."

Dave nodded and went to walk out the room, before turning to me, "Nice to meet you Annie, thanks again for your help.... I’m sorry about your friend."

Without a word detective Avon picked his jacket up off the back of the chair and walked out the room, leaving me alone.

"Aren't you coming Miss Evans" Avon said reentering the room.

I stood and followed without a word. Once in the car, Avon spoke again, gentle this time, almost caring.

"Are you ready to see the body of your friend?"

"Yes" I replied bluntly.

"Are you sure, it will be hard."

"I know it will be hard, detective to see my friend lying there on a slab, cold and lifeless, the last time I saw her she was breathing, had a beating heart, we where smiling and laughing together. So no, the answer to your question is no, I am not ready to identify the body of my friend Josephine but there is no one else to identify her so it has to be me, I just want this to be over, I want you to catch her killer, I need to leave so the sooner it's done the sooner I can leave. I am losing daylight."

The tears spilled down my cheeks and dropped to my legs. I wiped the wet streams away with the back of my hand and focused ahead as Avon silently turned the key releasing a grown of life into his car and pulled out of the police parking lot.

"You are a man of few words aren’t you detective" I finally said, after regaining my composure.

"Yes, Miss Evens I am." was his short reply.

"Please, call me Annie, Miss Evans was my mother." I said, trying to sound animated.

Avon never replied. He stared ahead at the road.

When we pulled into the parking lot, I sat in the car still as a statue, until Avon circled around the car and opened my door. My guess was it was more of a 'hurry up signal' than a caring, gentleman gesture.

As I stepped out I hugged myself, I was shaking not from the weather it was a scorching summers afternoon and I was sweating in the heat but the fear of what was about to come, what I would have to face, if not Josie, then another young woman.

I knew it was Josie, even before I stepped into the building. I just knew.

Everything happened in a blur. I don’t remember having any convocation from the moment I stepped through the door. I don't remember hearing anything, all my senses numbed and all emotions frozen. I followed the person in front of me into a chilled room; a body lay under a sheet. Avon gave a nod to the other man who seemed to materialize out of nowhere. Without a nod he unveiled the face of the corps.

I gave a sharp intake of breath and staggered backwards in shock. Avon caught me, steadied me. I steadied myself and looked at the pale features, she didn’t look like Josie, pale, cold, frozen. The main thing about the body that didn’t look like Josie was the eyes, frozen open and locked on the celling.

"Yes" I whispered. "That’s Josie." I turned and left the room calmly, walking alone, down the corridor and out into the beating sun and stifling air. I took gasping breaths trying to cleanse my lungs of what I had just seen. Tears spilling over my eyelids now and sobs escaping my aching throat.

On the drive back to my apartment, neither of us spoke. I got out the car quickly once we pulled up outside by apartment block. I didn’t say a word to Avon.

I unlocked my apartment door and stepped inside. Locking the door behind me I sighed surveying the apartment. I head straight to the bedroom, for a little lie down after an emotional day.

I don't remember falling asleep. I remember waking up with a start. Nothing woke me but my own memory willing me awake. I need to leave!

I pack my belongings as quickly as possible, in as little cases as possible. I load my car and drive away without looking back.

I breathed a deep sigh of relief as I watched the buildings get smaller in the distance. The pressure and stress melting away from my shoulders with every mile I drive.

I breathed a deep sigh of relief as I watched the buildings get smaller in the distance. The pressure and stress melting away from my shoulders with every mile I drive.

Punching the radio button and flicking through to Capital FM I turn the volume up to hear Sam Smith- Too good at goodbyes playing. I leave it on, turning it up a few extra notches; the song was fitting for the moment. Sam smith reaches a scale all of his own. I listen to the talent playing over my radio, I feel moved by the words and emotion put into the song. I feel myself starting to cry, cry for my friend Josie. Who did this to you?