Watch, Wait, Take

Chapter 3. Josephine McBride

I am rudely awoken by the wale of sirens. I gasp awake sitting up in bed with the sunlight streaming through my window. I feel disorientated for a moment. I rub my eyes to wake myself up. I look over at my clock. It's only 6:30am. Groaning, I rise from bed. I have only lost half an hour sleep. Not much point in going back to sleep now that I am awake. I get ready for work slowly and make a fresh pot of coffee. I put the TV on to watch the news while I sip my coffee. A luxury I don't normally have.

BREAKING NEWS

"The body of a female was discovered around 6am this morning. Homicide detectives arrived at the scene at around 6:35am. Details are yet to be revealed. Identity of the female is still to be confirmed. Looks to be a young female around 25. Foul play is believed to be involved. Police are advising everyone takes care until more information comes forward. Anyone with any information of an attack from last night around the hours of 4-5am around the area of the 'Seapool Bar' is urged to speak to police as soon as possible."

Even after the news anchor had finished reporting, I was still riveted on the end of my seat. The 'Seapool Bar' is opposite where I work. I blinked hard and decided that I was overreacting and reading too much into the situation. It was just a coincidence after all. Picking up my workbag, I head for work, locking the door behind me.

As I round the corner of the 'Seapool Bar', I am met with crowds of shocked faces, patrol cars, police tape, and news cameras. News anchors are pestering police with questions. Everyone wants answers. I try to push my way through the crowd and get to work.

"Detective, any news on the identity of the young woman?" One of the news anchors yelled at a detective heading to his car.

I recognize the man. The late diner from yesterday! I watched him closely now. Every move he made for any twitches in his face as he answered. He showed nothing but a stone-cold expression of a man detached from his work. A man just doing his job.

"We have reason to believe we know the young woman's Identity. We are still waiting for someone who knows her to identify the body. She doesn't appear to have any relatives. If anyone knows a Miss Josephine McBride, could you please contact the police? We need to identify the body before we can proceed."  

With that, he got into his car and closed the door on the reporters, now with more questions.

I blink hard to fight off tears. I still can't believe he said Josie's name. Shock set in and made my knees weak. I didn't feel them buckle beneath me or the cold, hard concrete slam into me as I landed heavily on the floor. I realise then that I am crying. I wipe away the tears, try to regain some composure, and stand up. No one even noticed me fall. I continue to work. My shift will be starting soon. I need to focus and then I need to leave and never come back here.

As I cross the street to work, I feel someone watching me. I look over my shoulder to see the stone-faced detective watching me from inside his car. Our eyes locked for a moment and I saw a question in his eyes. I quickly turned away and went inside the building to safety from his harsh, icy gaze. I took deep breaths of oxygen gulping as though deprived. Only then did I let the tears flow uncontrollably from my face.

"I need to hand in my notice Paul. I'm sorry to leave you like this, but I have a family emergency. I don't know how long I will be gone for. I understand the position I am putting you in and I am sorry. I can finish today's shift, but I really can't come in tomorrow. I know I have let you down. You have been so good to me and I am grateful. I really am."

"Christ Annie! With a murder investigation opposite we will be swamped all the reporters and regulars at the 'Seapool Bar' will only have here to come to. The detectives working that case will have to come here. I need you right now and you are leaving? Your tips could be doubled from all the customers!"

"I know Paul. I'm so sorry, it's just bad timing. I will advertise my job for you in the paper and online. I will even put a poster up in the door. The customers will see it and with all the extra business, I'm sure someone will fill the spot quickly."

"Ok. Not much I can say really, you have left me no choice. I can't exactly say no. I just hope I can find someone quickly."

I leave the room and let out a deep breath. I feel as-though I had been holding it in since I walked into the room. I will sort all the advertisement on my lunch hour. I walk behind the bar and find the old poster advertising a job vacancy. I go over to the door and put it up.

I put a note on the bar and one on each table about the job vacancy too. Someone is bound to take it. Just as I look up from my thoughts while I wiped the bar, I saw the stone-faced detective walking towards the restaurant. A flit of panic goes through my heart. I have to try and stay calm. I have done nothing wrong.... but then neither had Josie. My thoughts back on Josie. Poor, poor Josie. A lump clogged my throat and tears filled my eyes. I blinked hard and cleared my throat as the detective walked in.

His icy gaze slowly analyses the surroundings. His gaze then finds mine and he locks it. I am unable to look away, transfixed to his eyes and paralysed to the spot. He crosses slowly to the bar, his eyes never left mine.

"Diet coke, please ma’am." he nodded at me. He finally releases me from his critical gaze.

I avoid looking at him now as I get his drink. I add ice and slowly slice a fresh lemon. I add a straw and set the drink down in front of him with a small black napkin. 

He drinks the coke in large gulps, rudely ignoring the straw, his gaze on me the whole time. I do not look at him. I already made that mistake once and I was vulnerable and exposed. That is too dangerous a position to be in. As he puts down his empty glass, he pays me for the drink and gives me a $5 tip before turning and leaving. He never said another word.