With her police issue taser raised and ready to inflict pain, Alicia steps into the lounge room, step by step, making no noise, listening for any unwanted presence. The robotic vacuum zips along the floor, bumping into furniture.
She relaxes, but just a little.
A voice coming from the next room startles her, "Door is open. Temperature falling. Please close the door. The door is open. Temperature falling. Please close the door."
Alicia crosses the room and heads for the kitchen, to discover the refrigerator door is wide open. She shuts it and rushes to her phone on the table, gripping the taser tighter. Taking deep breath she mitigates her panic before she dials a number.
"Alicia," says a voice, powerful and stern, enough to drive her fears away.
"Dad," she says, then realises she's breaking protocol. "There was someone inside the house."
The pause caused her stomach to cramp, then, "I'll send a squad immediately."
"It's no big deal."
"They'll be there anyway."
"I'm okay."
"I'm sure you are. Hang tight," and hangs up.
Instead of waiting around for her colleagues to arrive, Alicia sets out to search the entire house, inside and out. A routine sweep through every single room, cupboard, corner that culminated with no sign of any other trespass.
Only the one squad car turns up, with two plain-clothed officers she doesn't recognise. Alicia expected more but understands why her father didn't unleash the beast, deciding it better. The last thing she wants is overkill. She takes the officers to the kitchen and shows them the refrigerator, briefing them on events.
"I haven't seen you around," she tells the tall female detective. The other officer, a constable, opens the refrigerator and begins taking notes.
"I'm Detective Ranique Bailey, from the Southern Precinct. I've been assigned to assist your region. You guys need help on a few fronts so, here I am." Bailey smiles, obvious in her attempt to appear friendly and caring. Alicia accepts that the entire force knows of her situation and expects she'll be given that extra special attention, something she does not want and hopes to avoid.
"Are you sure it wasn't Nathan?" asks Bailey.
"I don't know. Why would he do this?"
"He's not himself, lately."
Alicia rubs her eyes. "I don't believe it was him."
"There's no forced entry. Your phone wasn't stolen. All that's missing is a popper juice."
"That's just it. Nathan doesn't drink poppers."
"Well, its good that he's keeping healthy. You shouldn't drink them either," she says, light-heartedly. "They are full of sugar."
Alicia can see the woman is trying her best to be less of and awkward stranger and more of a colleague. "I don't drink them," I tell her.
"Oh. I'm sorry." Bailey falls silent, figuring it out quick. Alicia lets it linger, deciding it best to let the investigation run its course, and be done with it. She is certain nothing would come of it.
A rumbling machine echoes from outside.
Alicia reacts, "Ah, shit."
The other two cops snap to alertness, "What's wrong?"
"It's bin day." Alicia dashes out towards the front of the house, to the street where the garbage truck's hydraulic arm is picking up the bin and dumping the contents into the opening.
Alicia runs to confront the truck screaming, "Wait!"
The garbage truck moves on to the next bin. Det Bailey jumps in front of the truck, showing her police badge at the operator. She turns to Alicia, "What's wrong?" reacting to the distress on Alicia's face.
"I need my garbage back," Alicia tells the operator.
YOU ARE READING
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Tajemnica / ThrillerAs a grieving parent, Nathan [The Caveman] Caves struggles to come to terms with his son Julian's death, his son's online legacy, and a malicious internet troll that has wreaked havoc on his life. Determined to drown out his heartache with vengeance...
