Charming. I forced a chuckle. “Well, you know, don’t rule it out, until you know if I’m any good.”
He looked at me again. “Are you? Do you have references?” Fuck. I hadn’t thought of that.
“I’m sure I can get some. I’ve wrapped up a few cases recently. Happy customers. Mostly I find people. It’s pretty much my specialty.”
His eyes cleared a little. Maybe a little too much. “Is that why you just happened by today? I mean, it’s a bit of a long shot, isn’t it? I have a son who seems to be missing, and suddenly a guy who specialises in finding missing people turns up. What a lucky coincidence.”
Wow. His words had more than a little bite.
“Hey. No need to start casting aspersions, sir. I’m just offering a helping hand. You seemed like you needed help. This place looks like a fucking disaster area. I guess I couldn’t help watching you from across the road. I could tell you were connected to the place in some way.”
He stared at me as I stood up again, pulling my gloves from inside my helmet.
“Was I looking for work? No. But it was unexpected to cross paths with someone in your position today. I’m between cases, so I thought I’d offer. Here.” I pulled a business card from my inner jacket pocket.
“Just keep this, and if you change your mind, you can reach me. I swear, I’m legit. But I’m not going to beg for work. I should get going.” I slipped my armoured biker gloves on, because I might be reckless at times, but I’d recognised the need to keep all my fingers.
“I hope you find your son, sir. Take care of yourself.” I strode away, strapping my helmet on, as I approached the beast. I watched him follow me with his eyes, as I straddled the bike, and flicked the side-stand in, then I hit the starter switch, and felt that bad boy roar to life between my legs. At least I could enjoy this. Even if I’d failed at the first fucking hurdle.
**********
JULIE
I barely paid attention at work all afternoon. That poor man wouldn’t leave my thoughts. He looked so broken and desperate. Walking away from him had been so hard. I should have just phoned work, and told them I’d be late, or something. I hoped that someone else saw him, and decided to help. Eventually, because I couldn’t relax without checking on him, I sent a text.
Me: This is Julie from earlier. I just wanted to see how you’re doing.
Lame, but I didn’t know what else to say. I couldn’t ask if he was okay. Why the hell would he be? He didn’t reply straight away, which didn’t do anything to alleviate my concern for him. What if he’d passed out? Or worse. What if he’d had a heart attack or something, and everyone just walked past and left him there?
That would be your fault. Leaving him there, just to go back to your boring life. Selfish little slut.
I groaned, rubbing at my eyes. I was tired, so the voice was back. That was all it was.
“I need to go early today.” Sally, the useless, lazy cow, suddenly piped up. I stared at her for a moment, because I honestly couldn’t see the point in her existence. Yep, definitely tired. And cranky.
“Tough. I need help finishing this, or I’ll be here until about seven again.”
She pouted, those drawn-on eyebrows moving even further up her forehead. “I have a date.”
Lucky her. When was my last date? I couldn’t even remember. I know I’d have gone home after, and messaged Cassidy, and told her all about it. I missed having someone to talk to like that. I don’t think I even realised how much I counted on her, until she wasn’t around. And she never said goodbye. She’d have said goodbye, right? If she left by choice, I’m sure she would have.
“Sally, you do bugger all as it is. I need you to stay, please. I can’t get this finished alone.”
She glanced up as our manager walked past. “Oh. Mrs Davis!” She hurried after her, and returned a few minutes later, shooting me a smug grin. “I’m leaving early. Deal with it.”
Bitch.
She only did that because you’re too weak to fight for yourself, you pointless slut.
Oh god. Why me? Why now? I grabbed my mug, to go and get more coffee, before I acted really out of character, and slapped her. I was practically shaking with rage that… as the voice in my head had so accurately pointed out… would have to be swallowed down, and dealt with, because I’m too weak. I hide from conflict. I take on too much. I take the easy road. Always. Easy for everyone else. Not for me. I’m a doormat.
When I returned to my desk, I could see my phone flashing a message alert, so I opened it.
MrClarke: Thank you for checking. A man brought me a cup of tea after you left. I’m fine. I spoke to the police again, but they still don’t seem interested.
Me: I’m sorry to hear that. They were the same with Cassidy. This is weird, I suppose, but do you want to get a drink later? We could pool our resources and try to find out what happened?
There was a long pause, and I wondered if he’d decided I was definitely hitting on him. I wasn’t. I really wasn’t. I liked older men, but I didn’t feel that way about him. I just saw an ally. Someone I could lean on, and work with.