Her Silence

Chapter Five

"I have always depended on the kindness of strangers." Blanche DuBois

It's been over twenty-four hours since Jacob's meeting, and all that has developed has been the whispering and glaring among the staff at Tidy. From what I'm aware of, no one has come forward admitting to stealing the money as of yet, and I've come to the conclusion that the thief is either in desperate need or simply has no heart. The camera above the till sits there dauntingly; if the thief wants to make another attempt then they would be undeniably mad. The bar is quiet today and not many of the members of staff are working, but Jacob is darting around red in the face from stress and looks as though he is looking for someone. I'm behind the bar pouring myself a glass of water when he glances my way and makes a beeline towards me. He begins to form incoherent sentences, looking away from me every now and again, until he puts both hands on the bar and looks me dead in the eye.

            "Rosie, would you come to my office?" I blink slowly. I already know what this is about – if I'm to be told that I'm being blamed for stealing the money because of my financial situation and my background, I will be throwing hands. "Someone is in there who you need to talk to, but I need to be in there as a witness." I pick up my glass of water and follow him, a few of those who are working looking my way. As we get closer to the office, I see the back of a very familiar person, and stop in my tracks. I tap Jacob on the back. 

"Why the hell is he in there?" He looks at me gravely and opens the door without saying a word. This is so unlike him; he can't seriously believe that I'm the one at fault here? James turns around and greets me with a broad smile. At least one of us here is having a good day.

            "Rosie! Take a seat. This is nothing to worry about, just a few questions." My inner conscience rolls her eyes and I sit down begrudgingly. Jacob perches on his desk, his fore-finger and thumb rotating in circles on his chin. As I turn around I can practically feel his eyes staring daggers into the back of my head and I never thought I would be in his bad books. I look up at James, and as he is about to open his mouth, I hold my finger up. Ladies first.

"Explain. Who the hell are you?" James chuckles, looking down to the floor and then back up again.

            "Rosie I'm the detective chief inspector of the local police department." My jaw unhinges as my mouth hangs open in pure shock. "When you first saw me here on Friday night, Jacob had called me in to report the missing money. I bought you the umbrella yesterday on my way here to discuss further action with Jacob whilst the camera was being installed above the till and waited around until your break was due."

            "Well that rules out the idea of you being a stalker." It's the only remark I can come up with. I cannot even believe what I'm hearing right now and take a sip of water to distract me from my uncontrollable shaking leg.

            "I don't think working for the police and being stalker exactly go hand in hand." We look at each other and he winks, and I automatically know deep down that James is on my side in whatever this is. Quite frankly it's all I could ask for.

            "Why am I here?" I ask. Jacob's voice pipes up from behind me and I whip around to look at him.

            "You're here because some of the members of staff believe you are taking the money." I raise an eyebrow. "I do not believe these accusations, but I thought I'd bring it to attention." I appreciate this at least, but it does not explain why he has been acting so sketchy towards me.

            "Does it not occur to them that if I was stealing the money I wouldn't work as many hours as I do? Why would I devote seven days a week to this place to earn money if I could simply steal it? And how could I still turn up here knowing I was guilty?" I rhetorically ask all of the plausible questions to bring sense into the room. Just wait until I come across the staff themselves.

            "Although your friends- well, I wouldn't call those who are blaming you friends anymore- those who believe it's you are not important. Not for one second do I believe you are to blame here, and nor does Jacob." James looks at me knowingly, but then frowns. "What I'm now about to tell you, however, may make you feel uneasy." I look at Jacob, then James, and gulp in anticipation.

            "We believe that someone caused the man to have a seizure on Friday night intentionally. It was awfully planned, as I was there to witness everything. The intensity of your anxiety is enough to cause disorientation, and with the right amount of persuasion you could easily be manipulated into thinking you did take the money that night. To say it straight, we think someone is trying to frame you." My head goes into my hands and I can only think of my Mother.

*****

James' true identity is out... did any of you have an inkling that he may have been secretly working away in the background all along?

Now the plot really begins the thicken! What did you think about Jacobs behaviour? I hope you enjoyed this chapter!

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