Stretching Skies [A Collection of Short Stories]

Charlotte's Cafe

              The jangling bell of a door swinging open to a cafe stirred through the chatter of customers. Harrison peered over the rim of the newspaper he was reading, for once off duty from his detective work, however still in his mode of investigation. A cute couple had appeared in the doorway to Charlotte Weldon's Cafe — also known as Charlotte's Cafe for short.

            The two were bubbling over a sort of story, engrossed in the topic as they walked to the counter where foods and drinks were displayed. While conversing, the girl pointed eagerly at a picture of a latte. The boy nodded and sifted through a wallet he had whipped out from his pocket, and exchanged a few words with the cashier. After a few nod and an exchange of words, the boy passed over what seemed to be fifteen dollars, and the cashier vanished into the back room. Only moments later, the cashier came back with two lattes firmly held in both hands. He merrily handed the two drinks to the couple and wished them on their way.

            Harrison sipped at his own drink, a simple chocolate milkshake. His mind was still jarred by his most recent case, Raymond's disappearance. All evidence Harrison and his team had gathered by far pointed to the solution that the thirty-five year old man had been kidnapped, with the possibility of even being murdered. However the only evidence had been gathered by far was the scattered materials of the man's home, which could've been caused from some completely different reason.

            Currently, Harrison's team was searching for evidence as to Raymond's whereabouts. He would suggest that Raymond wanted to leave, but leaving a home in an utter mess didn't quite sit right with him. Harrison and his team had also been informed by Raymond's cousin, Diana, that they had organized a meet-up and she found him missing. That was where the case had originated, to be exact. She could be a suspect, but to what crime? They needed to find out before throwing around accusations.

            "Hey, Harrison! How's it going?" A woman sat down in the empty seat in front of Harrison, and dutifully he closed his newspaper and placed it to the side, yanked free of his thoughts. The woman's hair was a light dirty blonde, neither blond nor brown yet with a natural shine to it. Her eyes were a glittering golden brown, and she had orangish-brown freckles speckling her face.

            "Charlotte, hey." Harrison greeted with a bob of his head. The young woman flashed him a smile full of dazzling white teeth, and she blinked fondly at him.

            "Any new cases?" She asked curiously, pinning her hair behind her ear with a brush of her fingers. "Or are you on a break after tracking down Will?"

            Harrison huffed a sigh, pressing his lips together with a furrow of his brow. "Another case. It's a bad one this time."

            Charlotte wrinkled her nose, leaning back in her chair thoughtfully. "What of?" She inquired.

            Harrison felt discomfort creeping up his spine, and he fiddled with his thumb.

            "I can't say, Charlotte. I'm really sorry." He admitted at last, his eyes fixed on his chocolate milkshake. Distractedly, he sipped at it, taking his time as to not meet Charlotte's disappointed gaze.

            "That's a bummer." She said at last to break the awkward silence that had snuck between them. There was an uncomfortable glitter to her golden-brown eyes that vaguely unsettled Harrison. "Could you at least tell me how bad it is?" She pressed.

            "I've already informed you that I cannot give away any information of the case." Harrison said firmly, his voice firm. Charlotte's eyes flashed defiantly and she opened her mouth to object, but Harrison's cold stare quieted her, and silently she clamped her mouth shut.