Death Dates

My New Place

I leave the station with Maisy following close behind. I'm happy to leave the busy place.

It has been hard to see what I thought I knew turn into something I would have never seen. It's a mystery. It's a new way. It's a new life for me.

~*~

Maisy takes me to an old car. It's blue with rust stains on all sides. It's smaller than the other cars, with their shiny new coats. A long boot paturdes from the back. She's a beautiful piece.

"She's not much but she's enough," Maisy walks to the drivers door to unlock her. "I'll drive you there. It used to be my old place."

We clamber into the rust bucket and Maisy tries to start her up. She coughs and splutters and sighs.

"Looks like we're taking my car."

"Give me a minute."

I jump out and lift the bonett. Rust all over the car's components. I study ever detail of the engine and see the battery is up pluck. I reconnect her, up the bonett down and rub my hands together.

"Try that." I call to Maisy.

She starts perfectly. I get back in and seatbelt up.

"How'd you do that?"

I shrug.

*

It's not a twenty minute drive, with a little speeding, and we are unlocking the front door to a little apartment. We walk in in silence.

There's a little phone table on the right side and stairs above it. I front of me I see large windows looking out over the city. There are two sofa's, one is a lounger, a couple of chairs and a little oak coffee table. I walk in a little further and see a small kitchen on my right with a breakfast bar.

"Take a look upstairs."

I bound up the stairs to see two door ways with no doors, both on my right. I'm heading for the farthest one but I'm stopped by how large the closest room is. I stare.

The room has a double bed in the middle of the left wall. A little desk and computer on its left and a door on it's right. On the left wall is a sliding door wardrobe. The door to the right of the bed is an en suite bathroom.

The room at the end of the wall is a second bedroom, smaller than the first but with all the same details.

**

Back downstairs, Maisy is in the kitchen boiling the kettle.

"Like it?" She asks when she sees me.

"Like it?!! I love it!!"

I'm still shocked by the fact a white apartment can be so magnificent.

"Glad you like it." Maisy chuckles at how gob smacked I am. "Tea?"

"Yeah, please."

We sit for two minuteless hours talking about how Maisy got working at the station and how excited she is to become a bride. She's something special and good company.

"I think we better get back." I say suddenly remembering the file I have to make sense of.

"Yeah they'll be looking for us. I only get thirty minutes lunch."

We laugh as we start getting ready to go. Mugs in the sink, lights off.

"Here," Maisy hands me some keys "house and car."

I nod and shut the door behind us. Just as I'm locking the door a voice calls from behind us.

"May."

"Oh God not again." Maisy whispers.

"What?" I say and turn to see a large man running towards us.

He's tall maybe about six foot. He's got short blonde hair cut like Jay's. He's wearing a red flannel and dark blue jeans.

"Hey." Maisy says rather too enthusiastlly.

"Hey." He pants the stench of garlic evident in his breath. "I thought you moved out?"

"I did. I'm showing your new neighbour her new place."

"Hey I'm Calvin."

"Razzy." I say and shake his large bare hands. They remind me of someone else.

"Nice to meet you."

His hazel eyes look deep into my eyes.

"We're just getting back to work..."

His gaze breaks as Maisy speaks.

"You work in the same centre."

Maisy nods to try and hurry up the conversation. She starts to tug at my arm.

"I'll walk you out."

"I'm sorry we got to run. We're already late." I say and get away with Maisy before he stops us.

Before we know it we're back at the station and Captain is looking for us.