Armed with a folder full of photos – the best he’d managed to get from the security footage, zooming in on the faces of his six subjects – Michael set off for the office building he’d spent days observing on video. As an afterthought, he’d added a picture of Laura, too. His first point of contact was the woman who worked there – the woman in white.
Approaching the Hell Corporation reception desk, Michael managed a smile in response to the cheerful greeting he received from the dark-haired receptionist. He pulled out his official identification and started the spiel.
“…would like to speak to this woman on matters of national security, as she may be able to assist us with our enquiries,” he finished, producing the photograph of the smiling woman in the white dress.
The receptionist smiled down at the photo before beaming back up at Michael. “Oh, you mean Mel?” she asked. “I’m sure she’d be delighted to help!”
Michael wanted to write the name down, but he managed to resist the urge. He’d ask the woman for her full name during questioning, anyway. No need to look like a dumb donkey who can’t remember three simple letters – this Al Himar investigation has us all looking like asses, with a terrorist group none of us have ever heard of and can’t find…
He signed the visitor book and clipped the badge to his shirt as the perky receptionist spoke to Mel on the phone.
“She’ll be right out,” the girl told him with an impish smile.
Michael lifted his lips in the semblance of a smile, but was arrested partway through by the click and creak of a door opening on his left. The woman in white – actually, today the woman in light purple – waltzed out of the open doorway, her beaming smile directed at Michael. His response was to look equally happy to see her, though he’d never met the girl before in his life.
“Always happy to help ASIO,” she said, holding her hand out to him.
Michael happily shook hers and followed her as she led the way inside the office.
The lavender lady peeked into a meeting room and ushered Michael in, closing the door behind him. She enthroned herself in one of the chairs and turned to Michael with an eager expression. “So, how can I help you?” she asked.
Michael was more than a little flustered. Most of the people he’d questioned weren’t at their ease at all, but this girl seemed perfectly composed. “Ah, um…I had some questions…and I wanted to ask…”
Her smile didn’t falter as she nodded, gesturing for him to continue as if he was relating a fascinating story. Michael wondered what she was doing for lunch.
He cleared his throat and tried again. “Would you mind if I recorded this, just in case I miss anything? It’s standard procedure.” He carefully took out his mp3 player and set it on the desk, the question still floating in his eyes.
She nodded, still smiling.
He pressed the player on and waited for the tiny screen to tell him it was recording. “Okay. Ah, could you please state your full name?”
Her smile vanished. “Melody Angel.”
He didn’t laugh. He wanted to arrest her parents for giving her such a cruel name. “And your occupation?”
“Executive officer, employed by the Helpful Angels Agency, on temporary contract to the Hell Corporation.” Mel’s smile returned. “I’ve been on such contracts with Hell Corporation for more than two years.”
Not so temporary, then, Michael thought. I’d try to keep her around, too.
“Do you remember much about the events that occurred here on 28th February this year?” he asked, trying to keep his voice emotionless.
Mel frowned a little. “Nothing comes to mind. That was months ago! Can you remind me of anything particular that happened that day?”
You were wearing a pretty white dress and you met a woman with enormous boobs. Michael cleared his throat again. “There was a girl on the floor in the foyer. I believe she may have been injured? You were one of the people who came to her aid, I think.”
“A girl on the floor…oh, that’s the day the lift broke!” Mel exclaimed. “The lift stopped when I was going down to lunch, the lights went out and when they came on again, she was lying on the floor of the lift.”
Fuck. Just what I don’t need. Another bloody mystery.
YOU ARE READING
Going Down (Nightmares Prequel)
Mystery / Thriller“Find Al Himar. That’s one terrorist who’s going down!” After a dead terror suspect’s body is found, anti-terrorist operatives search her house. The only clue she left was a handwritten diary. Cryptic references to Al Himar and six people are all th...
