Back again with another update. I know they're shorter than previously but that helps me get them out quicker. Thank you to those who have stuck around while I was not able to write or update. Happy reading! - Sevy14
I woke when the sun rose. Its soft arms stretching out across my room hitting me in the face as I had forgot to shut the curtains. Downstairs I heard movement and I halted my breath, listening. It was my Father. He was up early I thought. I listened as he maneuvered about the kitchen, down the hall and then out the front door. From out of my window I looked and watched as he walked up the street before getting into a carriage and riding out of sight. Seeing him brought back all of the anger, but the tears did not come. For this I was thankful. I was still in disbelief about the events of the previous day and felt sick to my stomach at my Father's actions. As I sat brushing my hair before the window, watching as both humans and bird came to life in the early morning sun, I contemplated Detective Inspector Shine. What did he gain from this? Aside from me. Surely there was more. Father was a clumsy business man, this whore house was truly operated by my Mother(and me). Not him. He only profited and spent it all. Hence, my predicament. I knew that I had no way out of this, short of disappearing to another country, but for all I knew the Detective Inspector would have be tracked down and dragged back. With him, the rumors were bountiful and seemingly endless, but also, unclear what was truth and what was fiction. He was, quite simply, a mystery. I dressed and made my way down stairs as quietly as possible, laying my coat upon one of the kitchen chairs. I was thankful for the late nights that everyone here kept, it meant quiet mornings. Which I so often enjoyed alone and in peace. There were some apples on the counter, I grabbed one. A piece of bread and I spread butter across it and bit into it. My hungry stomach growled with joy and I looked about, shocked at its loudness. I let the water come to a bubble, but not a boil as I did not want it to whistle and wake anyone, especially my Mother. I drank a cup, my body soothed by its warmth. Tea provided a mental sense of stability, even as my world had just come crashing down about me. I donned my coat and slipped the apple inside. With a final look about I made my way down the hall and opened the front door as quietly as possible, slipping out.
The street, still empty I looked about before tugging my coat closer to me and then stepped out on the cobble and took myself away from home. As I walked I looked about, hoping to not be caught by my Mother or Father. Soon, I turned the street and was out of site of the house. I sighed, a breath I had not realized was held tightly in my lungs. I made my way across the streets. As I neared my destination my heart began to race and I could feel the sweat forming upon my face. I stopped, pressing my coat down and reassuring myself. Breathe I thought, breathe. Coming into view, the large brick building now felt ominous and dread fell over me, like night falling across the city after each day. There must have been a shift change as there was no one in front of the building standing guard and I looked about to see if anyone was paying attention, but only the bakers, milkmen and window knockers were up and about, each focused on their early morning duties. I slipped into the door, opening it slowly and looking about, but finding no one. To the left of the main desk I saw his office and I knocked, but received no answer. Again I looked left, right and behind me, but no one had come through. I dared to test the doorknob and found that it turned, unlocked it was. I pushed the door open and entered quickly and quietly, shutting it behind me. I thought I might faint if anyone had caught me and I felt light headed and ill. Looking about I took in the room. It had a large desk with folders and papers atop it. There was a bookshelf behind the desk to the side, it had books and folders within it. A couch to the other side of the room, a pillow and blanket folded neatly upon it, the cushions pushed to one side. Clearly someone had slept here, He, had slept here. In the corner was a coat rack with one coat, boxing gloves, shirt and pants upon the hanger and a spare change of shoes on the ground below. Lastly, before the large desk, two chairs and against the wall, in the corner, a third chair sat. With another look about I moved forward and sat in the corner chair, slouching slightly in the stiff chair, and waited. My nerves, were dancing, my throat was dry. I pulled out the apple and began to eat, out of boredom, but more so I was not shaking from anticipation.
"Report!" I bark as soon as I opened the door.
"No new souls, Sir." The sergeant said. "Just the usual scoundrels."
A nod. "Any visitors?" I inquired as I flipped through the register, looking at the names of those brought in last night.
Shaking his head, "No, Sir." He paused, "Are you expecting any?" He asked. The man-No boy couldn't even look me in the eye.
"No." With that I turn and make my way to my office. I open it and step in and stop. "Sergeant!"
"Yes Sir?"
"Come. Here." I say. My eyes not leaving the individual in the corner of the room. The hurried steps of the desk sergeant are in my ears and in a second he is by my side. "How long has she been here?" I ask, indicating to whom I am referring with a nod of my head.
"I-I... I am not sure Detective Inspector." The sergeant responds. The floor was practically shaking from his trembling.
"Perhaps you need a different station, as you clearly are incapable of doing your job." I pause for a split second. "Return to your post sergeant!" I spit out. With that, I slam the door shut, not even waiting for his response or an excuse. "Emmylyn, what brings you to my office?" I ask the girl, who tried and failed to hide her startled eyes.
"I-" I stop and rise. "Good morning Detective Inspector." I say and look at him. He looks at me, giving me a once over, before taking his coat off and hanging it up, his hat following suite. I will say this, the rumors about D.I. Shine were true, he was impeccably dressed.
"Do your parents know where you are?" I ask her as I make my way over to my desk. I watch as she moves forward, cautiously, eyes watching me closely.
I start to roll my eyes but stop and shrug instead, this, I was sure did not go unnoticed by the man with a hawks eyes. "Does it matter? I am with you." I respond. At my response or perhaps at my tone he raises his eyebrows.
"And how long have you been 'with me?'" I question. Again a shrug. That will drive me insane, she will have to stop that.
"I left after the sun came up... After Father had left." I say. He did not respond and looked at me, face unreadable. "If Father was actually worried about me, Mother or his whores he would have security posted outside the place. He is not. He does not. He has never. That would be too responsible for the man." I finish with a huff and look to my left and out the window. His eyes though, were still on me.
I do not suppress a smile. "Still upset, then." I state.
I look back at him, our eyes meeting. "Of course. I am allowed to be upset at being bartered and sold for like cattle. No matter how you or he try to spin it, that is what has happened." I continue after a few seconds, "And also, that is a fact. If Father took his horrible gambling seriously he would always have security outside the place, Mother wants it but Father always takes the money to gamble. He is terrible and some day, someone will burn that den of sin down."
"Den of sin?" I say, smiling and leaning back in my chair.
Shrugging, "Well, it is." He doesn't speak and I begin to fidget. "Do you know where my Father is?"
I look at her, studying her features. While nervous, she holds her anxiety well enough for someone who is not street smart. "Contrary to popular gossip, my Dear, I do not have eyes on every corner or ears in every house." At this she raises her eyebrows slightly and nods.
"Right... So you are just not going to tell me where you last saw him or heard of his last whereabouts, that is what that means, correct?" I counter.
I smile at her but do not answer. Smart bird.
I sigh heavily. "When is this thing supposed to happen?"
"When do you want it to happen Emmylyn?" I ask. She looks at me sharply, a myriad of emotions flutter across her face, but none distinct enough to name.
"That did not answer my question Detective Inspector Shine." I press.
"No, no it did not Emmylyn. I told you to call me Jedediah." I remind and give her a pointed look.
"We are in your station, it would be inappropriate, Detective Inspector." I finish and level him with a look of my own.
"Do you intend to sit here and ask me questions all day?" I ask. As fun as this little tit-for-tat is, I did have business to attend to.
I look away and then back, "I do not have much of plan, I am not working for them anymore." He raises his eyebrows and makes a face. "Not like they paid me anyway." I mutter quietly. At this his face morphs into an amused one, which was irritating. "What are those?" I ask, pointing at the files behind him on the bookshelf.
I do not look behind me, the change in subject unexpected. "Cases." I say.
"Cases... Unsolved?" I ask, our eyes meeting.
I nod to her. "Yes. Unsolved." She sits back in the chair and nods slightly, her mouth making a silent 'oh.' "Well, as lovely as-"
"Can I look at them?" I ask. My interruption and question threw him, his eyebrows nearly flew off his face and the whites of his eyes were huge.
"Look at them?" I return. "You are not a police officer or detective."
This time, I do roll my eyes and as I sit back I cross my arms. "Obviously. But, they're unsolved and I am bored."
"So that means I should allow you to look at those files?" I counter her statement.
"Yes. Not like you are doing anything with them. What could be the harm?" I ask.
"You are not taking them home to look at." I state. "Now-"
"No! Here! I will look at them here-There!" I say, pointing at the corner and looking back at him.
"I am sorry I cannot allow that." I respond. "Now let's get you home, shall we?"
"Let's not." I say looking at him sharply. "I do not want to be there."
"You want to be here," I say, "Looking at files that are not fit for a woman to see." I ask with a shake of my head.
"I want to look at them. I like puzzles. That is all unsolved cases are, puzzles." He gives me an undecipherable look. "Besides, you don't even have to pay me." I say, with a sheepish smile.
Making a face, "I had not intended to pay you. Nor allow you to look at the files." I push the chair back and rise, "I will have the desk sergeant call you carriage." She does not move from her seat, only her head follows me. "I do not have the time or patience to play games Emmylyn." I say. My voice gruffer than it had been.
"Of course not Detective Inspector... It's just that... Well... I already looked at one of them." At this admission, his eyes turn to slits and mouth goes taught. My stomach starts to tighten and threaten to flip flop. "I was bored waiting for you." He does not speak or move. "And I know I should apologize but... I am not sorry. I would like to look at it more closely. Please?" Still, nothing, he is just staring. I wonder if he is contemplating strangling me.
"Is this your way of trying to get me to break the agreement with your Father?" I ask after my initial response of anger wanes slightly.
"No! No. I am serious." I respond. He nods at this.
"I am sorry. I cannot allow you to look at the files." She rises, as I speak. Her frame smaller than mine. "What I can do, is have the desk sergeant get you a carriage to take you home."
I glare at him. I did not think he would let me look, but really, what was there to lose? Not like they would solve them anyway. "I can walk." I state. It was more of a huff than adult response.
"No! Emmylyn, but until we are wed, it is not safe for you to be walking unaccompanied. I will have him call a carriage." I respond. This time anger flashed across her features, unabashed and alive. To be truthful, it humored me. She was a little bird and I, an eagle. She stood no chance.
*Knock. Knock.*
"Detective Inspector Sir?" The desk sergeant opened the door and poked his head in, looking from D.I. Shine to me and back to Shine again. "A man is here to see you. It is about his daughter."
I nod and look at Emmylyn, "Send him in." I turn and make my way back around to my chair and sit. She watches me, again, rolls her eyes.
The door opens, "Jo-Detective Inspector I-Emmylyn!" Joseph stands there, shocked.
At the sight of my Father I sigh and drop down into the chair across from D.I. Shine. Great. Just great.
"Emmylyn what are you doing here?" I ask my daughter. My surprise obvious to both she and D.I. Shine.
I glower at him. But do not answer. I had no desire to speak to the man. I turn my head forward and make eye contact with D.I. Shine.
Her look to him and then to me was telling. What had I gotten into? This was a bigger hassle than I needed right now. Than I ever needed. "Your daughter seems to be unhappy at her current lodgings and has informed me she is no longer going to be working for you." I tell the aghast man.
Looking from Emmylyn to D.I. Shine and back again my mouth is open and then I shut it. "Ah! And so she is here...?" I say, rather lamely.
A nod. "Correct Joseph. It has occurred to me that perhaps she and I shall wed immediately, since she is clearly no longer going to be listening to you." At this, she blanks. Her face going a paler shade and she glares at me. "Besides, she does not want to return to your home, isn't that right Emmylyn." I say.
Glaring. "Can I read the file?" I ask.
"No." I answer her. Turning to Joseph I say, "Shall I see if I can get us a justice for this afternoon, Joseph?" He seems stunned and unsure. "Joseph!" I bark.
"I-Yes-I don't know." I stammer. "I-I should ask her Mother, I suppose." I finish.
"Why ask, you do as you please without a care for anyone else." I mutter to myself. The look Detective Inspector Shine gives me is hard and I shrink back and look away. I wasn't wrong. My Father did not care what others thought, especially if it was myself(obviously) or Mother.
"Emmy I..." I give him a look. There was no true way he could contest that. I was right and he knew it. He looked away, out the window and back to Detective Inspector Shine and then back towards me. With a sigh, "I suppose. If that is what you want Emmy..."
"I don't want any of this." I say hotly waving my arms. "You!" I point at him. "You did this. You." I sit back and grunt loudly. D.I. Shine looks amused, which only irritates me further.
"I will see if I can't find her a dress then Jedediah." My Father says, giving me a once over.
"Don't bother. It isn't a real wedding. Just a business transaction. What I'm wearing is just fine." I sneer. I don't look at either one of them. This, was not how my day was supposed to go. Of course, neither was yesterday...
"Very good. I will send you a note with the time and place. Until then Joseph." I say dismissing him. He goes to speak but at my shake of head he ceases and shuts his mouth. After offering one final look between myself and his daughter he turns and exits the room, shutting the door behind him.
I glare at D.I. Shine. "Now may I please look at the file?" I ask.
"I told you no. Do not ask again." I counter. "What am I going to do with you, hm?" She shrugs and does not offer assistance. "I could put you in a cell." I muse.
"What could be more imprisoning than being a bartered piece of cattle?" I question looking at him. He rolls his eyes.
"You will have to get over that. You could have been meat, soon to be tendered, instead of bartered cattle to be housed and kept." I say. While her head faces the window, her eyes look back at me. "I will have the desk sergeant call you a carriage." She starts to talk but I raise my hand, cutting her off, "To my home. That way you can poke your nosy nose about your soon to be new home." I rise and move about the desk stopping and gesturing that she does also. She sets her jaw gets up reluctantly. What did I agree to? I think with a shake of my head. She will be bad for my reputation and it is exhausting trying to be so pleasant all the time.
Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed it. Please let me know what you think. It seems so odd to write D.I. Shine in such a soft way, but I have no doubt that the man could pretend to be a soft gentle soul to get what he wanted, even though he was anything but. Have a great night. - Sevy14
