Pieces Part 1

Rumors

The dream dissipated to the bright lights of Tina's manager's office. I slowly sat upright on the mauve carpet floor, massaging my head.

Her scent. I never would've imagined that being her most profound impression on me, yet here I was, engulfing the deepest breaths I could. I salvaged anything that wasn't the metallic, rotting musk that permeated our apartment.

It never happened.

Tina still left a mark on this room. Her portrait on her desk was plastic-wrapped, and some boxes were stacked next to the table's legs.

She never left.

A sense of calm eased my shoulders. I was set to slump back onto the floor again when I heard people talking outside.

"Oh, dang! Did I fall asleep!" I gasped while springing from the floor. Sometimes, Tina would let me lounge in her office when I was too tired to go home after one of my graveyard shifts. I couldn't remember yesterday's schedule from the top of my mind, but I couldn't see how else I ended up face-down in her locked room. I mused; I'd better sneak out before my boss busts me.

I crawled up to the square-shaped slit in her door—with the wall's windows being covered by blinds. I didn't want to draw attention to myself by peering through anywhere too conspicuous.

My attention drifted to a huddle across the office. There, my boss stood in front of a bunch of my colleagues—now that I counted it, it was the same cast of workers who'd clock in on any given day. Their backs were turned to me, so I couldn't read their expressions. My boss was huffing and wheezing through his breaths as usual.

"Is all of our team gathered here?!" He shouted, running a pen down his clipboard. So, they're having a meeting. I'd wait until there was an opening for me to leave.

Uncharacteristically, my boss took a while to get to his announcement. He gazed down at the paper on his clipboard and cleared his throat.

"I'm sure you have all heard the news," he started in a serious tone, "we will not speak on it here. However, I will say that if any of you need personal support or guidance through these dark times, help is only a call away." He seemed to slide a cue card out from under his sleeve, then buried it out of sight. "We have specially trained operators that can be reached through the mental health line—I'm also available to be spoken to privately."

I slowly withdrew from the slit in the door. I told myself I had to see what was happening, but I couldn't calm my calves from their trembling state. It was like I was getting lighter and lighter, inches away from slipping out of consciousness again.

"Relax, Moe," I grunted as I pressed my hands against the door. There was no way out of this. I needed to confirm what was unraveling before me.

My boss reflected an expression of genuine hurt and confusion. "I know our mental states are in the absolute gutter right now, but work must go on. I love you guys. If the police ask for any information, please cooperate with them to the best of your abilities." He turned his back on my colleagues outside, saying, "You're dismissed."

Silence shadowed his exit. It wasn't until he was well out of sight that whispers began to bubble, and the entire office became a haven of gossip.

"You think Moe killed Tina?" I heard one person ask. I positioned myself to scope out who was gossiping nearby. Two of my colleagues were exchanging wary—but faintly amused—glances.

"Oh, I know he did!" The other person exclaimed. My fingers curled into fists, and my throat burned. Each word from their mouths was like being bludgeoned with a sharp, massive spear.