Lost Souls - Book 2 "Convergence"

Chapter 9 - Friday, September 25th

"I'm sorry, Miss but the position has already been filled."

Tabby felt her hopes plummet and a sick feeling churn in her stomach. "Can I leave my resume anyway, just in case something opens up?" She tried to sound confident, nonchalant, hoping to leave a good impression. Inside, she wanted to scream and cry with the unfairness of it all.

Four places. She'd been to four places, scattered all over the goddamned city, to apply for openings that were non-existent by the time she'd arrived. This scene had played out almost every day for the past week. She'd leave the house early, hit the coffee shop with her newspaper to check the job listings, and armed with a stack of resumes, head out, in hopes of landing a job...any job that would have her. She wasn't picky. She'd do just about anything for a pay cheque right now. Petra had been more than generous but it bothered Tabby not to be supporting herself and she wanted to contribute.

So far, she'd passed out so many resumes that it was a wonder that the city wasn't blanketed in white papers with her work history on them. Despite her determination, Tabby had struck out time and time again. With the economy in the toilet, there were precious few jobs available and too much competition for the ones that opened up. In fact, the only real prospect she'd had was at a bar, stripping for drunk losers sitting semi-comatose by a shoddy stage. She'd taken one look at the place and hadn't bothered getting off the bus. She wasn't that desperate for work...yet, but that had been on Monday. On Thursday, the job at the bar was still available and Tabby had no choice but to seriously contemplate it.

Steeling her resolve, she had taken the crosstown bus, found the bar and had gotten as far as going inside. When the fat, balding manager had come out to greet her, her courage had evaporated. The way he had instantly ogled her, undressing her with hungry, reptilian eyes, had immediately reminded her of Gerry's greedy, pig-like stare. She'd bolted without a saying a word, running out of there as fast as she could go. The minute her feet had hit the sidewalk outside of the sleazy bar, Tabby had doubled over and lost her lunch.

Today hadn't gone much better. She had several more no-go's to add to the list, including cleaner at a no-tell motel, fast food clerk, grocery store cashier and the best of the lot, a data entry position at a tech firm. Each had given her the same polite response: I'm sorry, Miss, but the position is no longer available.

She'd really had high hopes for the tech place. That had been the most promising of her entire week. After the woman in their HR department had taken her resume and promised to keep it on file, Tabby had slumped her way onto the bus home, trying hard not to break down and cry in public.

What a shitty week. All Tabby wanted to do was get home, curl up on the sofa and lose herself in some mindless TV. Maybe Petra would be home tonight and they could order pizza and a movie, but more likely, she'd be out with Diego. It was Friday night after all and only losers without a life or money stayed home instead of going out and having fun.

By the time the crowded bus had reached her neighbourhood, Tabby's bitter disappointment had settled into the dull numbness of depression. Tomorrow will be another day, she thought. Maybe luck will blow her way, she just had to keep at it. Not really believing her little pep talk, she decided that some exercise would go a long way in lifting the big, black cloud hanging over her head.

She got off the bus and had to squint against the bright, late afternoon sun. Stepping out of the way of the other pedestrians, Tabby took a minute to revel in the warmth on her face, letting the sun's heat bake some of her stress away. She'd purposely gotten off the bus a couple stops from her apartment so that she could walk off some of the day's disappointments. It felt amazingly good to be out in the sun and fresh air after being crammed into a smelly, claustrophobic bus and Tabby was determined not to let her disheartening day taint the pleasure of a beautiful afternoon. September was almost over and soon the weather would turn chilly as autumn set in and she was going to make the most of it while she still could. Besides which, she was unemployed. It's not like she had anything better to do.

Her stomach grumbled, reminding her that she hadn't eaten since breakfast and was trying to decide what to do about dinner when her phone chimed in her pocket.

A text from Petra popped up on the screen.

Petra: Where are you?

Tabby shifted her satchel so that she could text back her reply.

Tabby: Just walking home, why?

Petra: Awesome. Wait for me out front and I'll pick you up.

Pick me up? Tabby wondered what Petra was planning. She typed out her reply.

Tabby: Ok. But you better not be texting and driving!

Petra: lol. 'course not silly! I just stopped for gas. Be there in 10.

Ten minutes was plenty of time for Tabby to make it home so she tucked her phone away and enjoyed the rest of her walk with a spring in her step that had been markedly absent a moment ago.

Distracted by Petra's message and by the lovely weather, Tabby wasn't paying as much attention to her surroundings as she should have been. Lost in happier thoughts, she didn't notice the nondescript minivan parked across the street from her building and thus, paid no attention to the man with the camera sitting on the driver's side or the fact that his telephoto lens was trained on her while she waited for Petra on the sidewalk.

Petra's black Prius pulled up beside the curb and Tabby climbed in. "What's up?" she asked after buckling her belt.

Petra moved smoothly back into traffic and smiled brightly at Tabby. "It's been a crazy week and this is the first chance I've had to come back and see you! I've missed you, girlfriend."

Tabby laughed. "You know you could have just called, right? Where we going, by the way?"

"I'm starving and if I know you, you haven't eaten all day. I thought we could grab dinner and have us a catch-up."

Tabby's stomach let out an embarrassingly loud rumble, excited by the prospect of food coming its way. Petra giggled. "See, I knew it. I'm in the mood for a burger. Sound good to you?"

"I could murder a plate of french fries," Tabby agreed, happily. She wasn't sure if it was the anticipation of food or getting to spend time with Petra, but which ever it was, she was suddenly feeling much better than she had all week.