AN: I don't like that Sandra left...
Old Habits
The evening was late. DAC Robert Strickland was still tied to his desk. Several reports were to read and to sign. The pile seemed to be endless. Most of the reports were standard and written according to the usual procedure, but the sheet in his hand Robert read for the third time.
It was a UCOS case and the report cross-referenced to another case, which wasn't filed in the computer system. Even the file number seemed to be odd, but maybe the second case was too old.
Sandra would know.
Immediately Robert was on his feet and hurried down the stairs.
It was weird to enter the UCOS office in the evenings, when the team had left after work and only their DSI was still finishing some paperwork. The night-lighting made the place spooky.
"Sandra, do you know something about this Merryman-Miller case?" Robert asked, while he entered her office.
He stopped and looked at the clean desk.
Gone. She was gone.
How could he possibly forget this!
DSI Sandra Pullman had left UCOS two weeks ago. No way to pop around again for a quick question, a file or even some chat about everything and anything (in a DAC way).
Robert Strickland turned around. He had to break with these old habits – all of them.