Two Princes and a choice

Chapter Six

THEY worked together silently without saying anything. Though Hayley attempted to talk but Will responded with a grunt or not at all so she stopped trying to be friendly zipped her mouth and continued with her work. All thoughts of Waldorf had been forgotten while she worked. Will did not need briefing because it seemed he had gotten the hang of it so she focused on the customers and their orders.

He was to clean the windows, mop the kitchen area twice a day and then help at the counter. The hours at work dragged out in silence that Hayley wasn’t certain if he was really there or it was a mirage.

She was taking her fifteen minutes break at two in the afternoon when the thoughts of Waldorf came rushing back. She wondered if Bill Okoro was following her advice or he had turned a deaf hear to it. She had known by seeing that she had put a serious dent in his ego but she just hoped he followed it. She wanted them to get the murderer.

She now knew what the others meant by their messages. They all knew she was very fond of Waldorf and according to their policy (which Diane had written) anyone who was one of their friends’ friends is their friend.

Sighing, Hayley thought about Waldorf how he must have felt before he died. Seeing the murderer and knowing he had to die that it was inevitable. The pain as life left him. She shuddered and bit into her sandwich lunch.

When she had left his house they had parted with smiles not knowing that it’ll be the last time she would ever see him. She felt tears coming and wiped it away. The man was like a father to her, why did he have to die such a cruel death? She remembered the times they had worked together, his jokes and advice. He had been so kind and caring not only to her but to others. Sniffling she finished her lunch and went back to work.

Closing time was six and after collecting her pay check was off. The sky was grey and gloomy looking threatening rain. Hayley pushed the door open and stepped out, Will came out after her and she saw him climb unto his bike and put his helmet on. She started walking along the pavement hoping the rain doesn’t start until she got to the pub.

The wind was blowing heavily and droplets of rain had started to fall. Hayley clung on to her skirt that was billowing in the breeze and decided to stop and catch a taxi. She stood there for a long time with no luck waving frantically at speeding cab but none stopped. She gave up hope and continued riding.

‘Want a ride?’

Hayley glanced sideways at Will on his bike, his helmet on.

‘Huh?’

‘You are going to king’s boulevard right?’ he gestured forward with a toss of his head and she nodded wondering how he knew. ‘I’m going somewhere around there so you want me to drop you off or walk in the rain?’

‘Huh?’

He smelled of lemon. Hayley smiled and inhaled the smell of lemon wafting from him with the aide of the wind blasting. She had the insane urge to wrap her arms about him and rest her head on his back as he rode but mentally slapped herself. The sky was now steel grey and the clouds had gathered together. Street lights were on. Will stopped in front of the pub and she climbed down. She removed the helmet and handed it over to him. ‘Thank you,’ she said.

‘You work here also?’ he gestured with a lift of his head to the pub

‘Yes,’ she nodded.

‘Here,’ he was holding an umbrella out to her. ‘It’s gonna rain on your way back.’

She took it. ‘Thank you,’ she said but her voice was drowned by the noise of his bike starting and he rode away. Sighing, she entered through the back door put on her apron and carried a tray. There were many people in the pub, different odour drifting from sweating humans. It was hot almost suffocating and the smell of cigarette was stifling made it almost impossible to breath in air. There were more people with leering glances. Hayley didn’t miss the sly wink and lusting gazes.

She felt light headed and wished they’ll all go away that time would move by quickly and she would be on her way home.

Darryl punched in Hayley’s number and dialled. He held it to his ears and waited while watching the rain land against his windows. This call cannot be connected please try again later, thank you. Darryl grunted in frustration and let his shoulders sag. Oh good lord. He stared out the window at the rain lashed at his window. He could hear the wind howling and thought of Hayley. It was an hour past her closing time she would be out there in the rain soaking or under a shelter she won’t be in the pub not with those animals. No. she wasn’t at home he had called her mother.

He shuddered at the thought of her being in the same room with a leering late customer, the avaricious pub owner won’t mind or he might even be the one. Oh, if I could just reach her, if the call will just go through. If he knows she was safe he would be at ease. With a sigh he flopped on the bed. He looked out the window again and exhaled heavily.

Darryl wished he could go out, search for her. But he was sure his parents would take him for a mad man dashing into the rain in search for “some girl” and prevent him from seeing Hayley any further.

He closed his eyes and willed himself to think of her safe, somewhere safe.