The Midnight Caller

12. A Friendly Challenge

"Did you have to wait for long, Mr Bedford?"

A warm gust of wind swept by as Gabriel's gaze fell on his simple-minded assistant. For reasons beyond his comprehension, she appeared even more insufferable that particular night. Her feet were encased in a pair of pumps and the fabric of her little dress glided across her skin like the breeze accompanied by it. Her wild curls had been set free, bouncing lightly with each step. Complete with a dash a colour on her plush lips, she was akin to an exquisite meal in a fancy restaurant he could hardly afford.

Naturally, this was not what he said to her.

"As a matter of fact, I did," he said, swallowing with considerable difficulty. "You're ten minutes late, Ms Thompson." His sour mood didn't seem to affect her, however. Her smile stayed intact as she apologised and made her way out the door to the sedan that waited in front of her apartment.

"Mr Bedford?" she called out when he failed to make an appearance.

"Yes, I'm coming, dear God," he muttered, thoroughly annoyed. His nose caught a whiff of her subtle perfume as he settled beside her. His borrowed suit and the rest of his shabby attire paled in comparison, he realised.

"Is something the matter, Ms Thompson?" He raised a brow at his assistant, who now blushed at having been caught staring at his chest.

"It's nothing," she mumbled. "I happened to notice you wear your necktie like my father did is all. I found this habit of his rather strange."

Gabriel looked down at his necktie, a dark blue affair, which his seventy-year old neighbour had done for him out of pity. He didn't even know how to do one.

"I see," he said, disinterested. His words had the intended effect and she didn't speak again until they reached the venue.

Having made their way inside, he looked around the place, impressed. Superintendent Jones had truly outdone himself, Gabriel thought as they walked past the large glass doors. The Lockwood force had spared no expense for this year's annual party. Gabriel himself had never been to one before, but from what he had heard, none of them lived up to this one.

"This is my first time attending an employees' party," Charlotte confessed lowly. He didn't offer words of encouragement or worse, the fact that it was his first time too. Instead, he studied the guests, most of who were familiar faces he had encountered during work. Try as he might, he couldn't help but acknowledge the absence of one face in particular.

A vague memory of Devin's accounts of the previous years' parties came to mind. It was he who had described to Gabriel in excruciating detail every single happening at the events, so it was as though he had seen it himself. The latter remembered his friend's concerns about the possibility of his many dates fighting to claim the spot beside him as his partner and the hairy man who served last year's beer and left a few strands with every serve. He remembered how the man had looked forward to this year's party, talking animatedly of his plans every night. How it was he who had wanted to stand in Gabriel's stead, watching the bustle in the hall. It had always been he who had thrived in a crowd. It bothered him- it was as though he had stolen his place there.

"Detective Bedford," came Superintendent Jones' unpleasant voice. Gabriel was convinced the man could read his mind and never failed to choose the worst possible time to speak to him.

"Superintendent Jones," said Gabriel in the same careless drawl. His eyes instantly fell on the woman next to him- there stood Shreya Mishra, lovely as ever. And yet, he couldn't find it in him to feel anything but indifference towards the pair. His heart refused to thump faster at the sight like it once did, seeming to have rejected her like a grafted organ.