Page 7

Chapter seven

B ob sipped his Texarkana Blend brew as he climbed the stairs to his office on the second floor of the Station. He enjoyed starting his day with at least an hour of peace and solitude before the madness of running a supernatural community took over. The sun was barely out by the time he made it in, and the court didn’t start for another hour. He smiled to himself as he opened the door to his office at the top of the building.

The second floor, more accurately the third if you counted from street level, was the quietest part of the building if that was even possible. Nobody else wanted to climb all the stairs to get to the top. Isis, Bartholomew, Constantine, Shorty, and himself were the only ones with offices up there, and Abby, Bob’s secretary.

“Boss, I’m so glad I caught you.” TJ rushed into the room.

“Caught me?” Bob turned to face the disheveled young man. “Good morning, TJ. Why should you be tracking me down so early in the morning?”

“I know how crazy Mondays are around here,” TJ clarified. “I figured if I didn’t get a hold of you early, I might never see you all day.”

“You do have a point.” Bob leaned against his desk, drinking his coffee. While he enjoyed making his own blend, the Texarkana Blend from Taste and See was still his top second. He made a mental note to himself to make a trip and grab a few more bags.

TJ shifted back and forth, looking over his small green notebook. Bob had required all the team to carry notebooks with them anytime they were in the field. It was reassuring when they used them.

“Okay boss, you said to always let you know whenever we had a death in Haven,” TJ started his report. “This morning, we pulled a drowned victim from Bringle Lake.”

Bob froze in place with his coffee halfway to his mouth. Placing the cup on the table he stood, and really inspected TJ. His hair was messy, but he was wearing coveralls at least two sizes too big for him, instead of his cargo pants or scrubs uniform.

“We have a drowned victim?”

TJ nodded.

“How old?”

“Mid-twenties,” TJ replied, checking his notes. “He was going to the A&M right across the street. We found a couple of bottles of rum near the water.”

“This is horrible.” Bob examined TJ again. “Were you in the water?”

TJ looked down at his clothes and rubbed his head. “Yeah. I really need to bring more clothes to work.”

Bob shook his head. “TJ, we have an entire quartermaster in the building that his sole purpose is to requisition gear, uniforms, and food for the team. Before heading back to the hospital area, stop by and order yourself two weeks of uniforms. Make sure to get extra scrubs, street wear, and full water gear.”

“We have water gear?” TJ’s eyes widened.

“Please tell me you didn’t get in the water with your pants and shoes?”

“No.” He shook his head but didn’t meet Bob’s eyes. “I took my shoes off before getting in.”

Bob just blinked at the young man. “This is your first week alone, right?”

“Yes, sir.”

Letting out a deep breath, Bob rubbed his face. “I know the medical staff is very short handed now. You are splitting shifts with Cory, right?”

“No boss. It’s just the Doc and I on the staff,” TJ replied softly.

“What?” Bob shouted.

Footsteps were heard from outside Bob’s door as Shorty and Abby, a young lady with long red curls, ran into the room. Shorty had cargo pants with a black turtleneck on. Abby, on the other hand, had a long red dress, giving her a Shirley Temple vibe.

“Thank God you are early,” Shorty said as he stopped in front of the desk.

“Boss,” Abby said, carrying a stack of papers. “How did you get past me? I was watching out for you.”

“Abby, you really don’t have to beat me here,” Bob informed her, probably for the tenth time. “You don’t start till eight.”

“I would seriously make for a horrible secretary if I’m never here when you get in,” she mumbled. Her bangs covered most of her eyes when she spoke.

Bob shook his head, but Abby’s sweetness made him smile. He hated the idea of having a secretary, but Isis had made him. With the amount of paperwork that took place at the Station, Bob was getting behind. Abby had been a godsend. Her typing abilities were superior to anyone at the Station, except Bartholomew’s, not to mention her organizational skills were exceptional.

“Fine, but we will adjust your schedule,” he conceded.

Abby looked up, big brown eyes sparkling with joy. “Thanks, boss. I really like being here. It’s pretty boring in my loft.”

“Abby, you need a life,” Shorty announced from behind her.

“I have a life,” Abby muttered. “I’m a runner. Last month, I even joined the local club.”

“We really need to work on your definition of life.”

“Shorty, enough,” said Bob, stopping the teasing before it escalated to Abby blushing for hours. “Can we get back to work? TJ, explain to me why there are only two of you on the medical staff?”

TJ pursed his lips and glanced between Bob and Shorty. The silence dragged on as Bob waited, but TJ didn’t answer. Shorty dropped his head back and took a deep breath.

“Fine, I’ll say it.” Shorty waved his hands in the air.

“What is going on?” Bob asked.

Abby backed away from the room but stood on the threshold in case she was needed.

“Nobody wants to work with Angela because she has become a bitter, evil witch,” Shorty informed his old friend.

“What?” Bob stared at everyone in the room.

TJ slowly nodded in agreement. Abby covered her mouth in shock. Shorty just shrugged.

“One of you better explain,” ordered Bob.

“I haven’t been here long enough, boss,” TJ defended himself. “I really don’t know what’s going on. The doctor is under a lot of pressure and at times she is pretty short.”

“‘Short’ my ass,” Shorty jumped in. “She is bitter because that goofball George dumped her for the hot nurse, and they ran away to Fiji.”

Bob raised his hands while he blinked slowly to clear his thoughts. He took his coffee and drank a very long sip from the cup before speaking. “That’s not what I was told.”

“You made it a big deal that you did not want to hear gossip, especially the personal type,” Shorty clarified. “We were avoiding details.”

“Change of rule,” Bob told them. “I need to know the crazy details that could create a hostile work environment at the Station.”

“Got it.” Shorty beamed. “Wait till I tell you what’s been going on.” Shorty rubbed his hands together and laughed.

“Not all at once or right now.” Bob pointed at Shorty, who was ready to unleash months of gossip on the poor guy. “Back to the medical staff. Everyone is gone?”

“Yes.” TJ answered.

“Great.” Bob finished his coffee in one long gulp. “This is going to be a three cups of coffee kind of day.”

“I’m on it,” Abby shouted from the door and ran towards her area and where the third espresso machine was located.

TJ smiled as he followed the young woman’s movements with his eyes.

“You know,” Shorty moved closer to TJ. “She is single and is new in town. She could use a nice young man to show her around.” He leaned closer and whispered. “She doesn’t even have a car. She did share one with some pyscho roomie she had, but the girl left her stranded.”

Bob snapped his fingers in front of Shorty. TJ blushed. “Don’t be playing Cupid again. If I remember correctly, it was your idea to hook up Angela and George together.”

“Oh, no.” Shorty backed away towards the door. “You can’t blame that mess on me.”

“I’m just saying,” Bob continued. “Angela did not have any issues until you started meddling in her life.”

“Boss.” Abby shuffled into the room, holding an extra-large mug of dark espresso for Bob. “Here you go.”

“Thank you, Abby, you are a saint.” Bob took the cup from the young woman but held to her arm. “Abby, what happened to your arm?”

Abby looked down and tried to pull away. “It’s nothing.”

Shorty and TJ both walked closer to inspect the bruise covering most of the inside of her forearm.

“Girl,” Shorty jumped in. “If you were seeing someone, I would have put money they were beating you. Are you seeing someone? Cause I’ll take a trip over right now and show him how he needs to be treating a lady. Or is it a she? In that case, we will get Isis to put her ass in place.”

Abby swallowed hard and shook her head furiously, making her long red hair bounce from side to side. “I’m not seeing anyone. Nobody is beating me. I just . . .”

“Abby, what are you not telling us?” Bob urged in a softer voice.

“It’s embarrassing,” she admitted.

“Not more than looking like a Pi?ata,” Shorty informed her.

“I can’t remember,” Abby finally told them.

“How?” Bob asked.

“Are you on drugs?” Shorty prodded.

“Gods, no.” Abby backed away from the group rubbing her arms. “I just get random bruises.”

“What do you mean by random?” asked Bob, walking closer to her.

“I have tendency of just waking up with bruises, nothing major,” Abby struggled to explained.

“How long has that been going on?” Shorty asked, raising an eyebrow at Abby who’d started to sweat.

Abby dropped her head. “Ever since the doctor put me on Ambien. I used to flip between horrible insomnia or crazy nightmares. I really wasn’t coping well.”

“What kind of nightmares?” Shorty asked.

“Nothing I’m telling you,” Abby pointed a finger at the smaller man. “Let’s just say I’m grateful the Ambien knocks me out.”

“That’s it!” TJ shouted, making everyone jump.

“What’s it?” Shorty asked, glancing at the young man, confused.

“It’s the Ambien,” TJ explained, rushing to Abby’s side. “Have you ever woken up some place different than your bed?”

“Nooo,” replied Abby slowly backing away from TJ.

“I’m sorry Abby, not trying to scare you, I promise.” TJ raised both of his hands in a calming gesture.

“I don’t know about scaring her, but we are now all confused,” Shorty added.

“Are you saying the Ambien is causing her to bruise like this?” Bob tried to clarified.

“Not the bruising, but is probably causing her to sleepwalk,” TJ explained.

“Seriously?” Shorty asked.

“In some people, Ambien is too strong and can cause some serious side effects,” TJ continued in his most professional medical voice. “One of my neighbors broke her arm in the bathroom because she was sleepwalking and tripped. Not the first time she has been hurt.”

“Ouch,” said Bob, eyes wide.

“Jesus,” added Shorty. “We can’t be having Abby sleepwalking. She lives alone on a second floor. She could walk off the balcony.”

“No!” Abby covered her face. “I don’t want to die, but I have horrible insomnia. The Ambien is the only reason I can function each day.”

“It doesn’t sound safe,” Bob informed her. “Is there anything else out there?”

“Have you ever tried Lunesta?” TJ asked softly.

Abby shook her head, with tears ready to roll down her face.

“It’s a softer version of Ambien but also prescription based,” TJ explained. “Many people that have adverse side effects with Ambien have switched over and have seen significant results.”

“Brilliant plan,” said Shorty.

“How would you feel about switching?” Bob asked Abby.

“As long as I can still sleep,” she said meekly.

“I’m not sure how much sleeping you were really doing, or just being comatose,” Bob informed her. “As soon as Angela logs in, head to the basement, Abby, and ask for a new prescription.”

“I can explain it to the doctor when she walks down,” TJ volunteered.

“Perfect.” Bob clapped his hands together. “In the meantime, Abby, I need you to pull all the resumes and applications we have received for medical staff.”

“Am I looking for anything specific?” Abby asked, relieved the attention was away from her.

“Looking for paramedics, doctors, and even helpers,” Bob explained. “Anyone that has ever mentioned working with patients or a combat medic. At this point, we will take them all. Give all the files to Pete and let him know this is priority one. He will understand.”

“Yes, boss.” Abby nodded, hair bouncing around, and rushed out of the room.

“Let’s see if we can get you some help.” Bob turned to TJ. “Can you handle things for a couple of weeks alone?”

“We got this, boss,” he replied. “As long as we have no more weird deaths.”

“Yes, back to the body,” Bob reminded them of the purpose of the visit. “What happened?”

“One of the Naiads reported a body at the bottom of the lake.” TJ pulled out his pad again to report.

“Another dead body?” Shorty interrupted.

“Yes,” TJ said, flipping pages. “Young man. We found him wearing only boxers and socks.”

“Heart attack?” Bob furrowed his eyebrows.

“It doesn’t look like it. He had a nasty cut on his head,” TJ clarified. “But he was also a shifter.”

“Two dead shifters in two days?” Bob pondered. “I don’t like it.”

“It sounds like very different deaths,” Shorty stated.

“True, but I don’t believe in coincidences,” said Bob. “Not after working for the horsemen for this long. TJ, I need the full report. I’ll go inform the family this morning.”

“About that.” Shorty raised his hand.

“What’s the problem?” Bob faced his friend.

“That’s why I’m here so early. We have a line going around the corner,” Shorty explained.

“A line? Where?” Bob moved towards the window to glance outside.

“People waiting for court,” Shorty informed him. “Remember, we moved the waiting area inside? But it’s out the door.”

“I drove around and missed it,” Bob told them. “Is the spell holding up?”

With the increase of supernatural beings in the local area of Texarkana, the Union Station was getting a lot of visitors. The humans had neglected the Union Station building for years. Instead of renovating it and adding more attention, Virginia Black, Isis’s godmother, and the head of all the witches, had placed a spell on the building and the surrounding areas. The spell concealed the true appearance of the building from humans, and even some of the supernatural beings.

“Pete is monitoring it, but we are reaching maximum capacity with all the people outside,” Shorty told him. “I came to see if we could start court earlier.”

“It doesn’t sound like we have a lot of options,” Bob replied. “TJ, do me a favor. Once you have an ID from his prints, please contact Bartholomew. See if he can go and notify the family of the deceased.”

“Of course, boss.” TJ saluted.

“Thank you and don’t forget to remind Angela about Abby’s new prescription.” Bob patted TJ on the back. “Let’s go, Shorty. Bring me up to speed on all these cases.”

TJ ran out of the door. Bob took his coffee and followed Shorty out. Another day in the neighborhood.