Chapter One
Keilee
Insomnia and newly done braids is not a very good combination for a working woman. Especially one who strongly believes Mondays should be optional.
Did I spend most of the night awake? Yes. Will I be using the I hate September because of the memories it brings excuse? Also yes. Still, I walk into the precinct twenty minutes after nine, bags under eyes covered with makeup.
Officers talk in low voices around their work stations as I trudge up the stairs to the cyber investigations/security room. My coworkers are hunched over their computers in a silence that surpasses a graveyard.
Peter, the most annoying one and our boss' lackey, approaches me after I shut the glass door. "Hey Keilz." He greets with fake enthusiasm.
"Hi. And don't call me that" I reply walking away clearly disinterested in continuing with the conversation.
He follows me. "Chief was looking for you."
"Of course he was." I mutter under my breath.
"What?"
Reaching my desk, I put my bag and laptop on it and turn to face the persistent bug behind me. "I'll go see him. You can go back to your desk now." I shoo him away.
Peter and I have had a mutual hate ever since I made fun of our boss Mark Roach.
It's not like what I said was wrong. All I said was that I understood why he's called Roach because he is shaped like a cockroach and might have added that his bald head is so shiny it could be used as a mirror or for skating. But then big mouth Peter went and told him.
Point is, Peter is not my favorite person at the moment or ever. It's like he holds some type of grudge on me. If it's because I'm a better computer expert than him, I'll never know and quite frankly I don't give a damn.
I remove my wallet from my bag, planning on grabbing coffee after I see Roach. Easing out to the hallway we share with our two bosses, I spot Mark through his glass walls having a heated conversation with a young man.
I slowly start towards Mark's office who apparently decides he's done with whatever conversation he was having with the man by forcefully opening his door for the man. Judging by the way the man stays rooted to where he's standing I'd say he's not ready to drop the subject.
In the two years I've worked at this precinct I've known winning against Mark Roach is simply impossible. He continues ignoring the man's words by opening the door wider. Intrigued, I inch even closer to eavesdrop. "It has been three weeks and you keep telling me the same thing!" The man retorts, reluctantly stepping out of the office.
"We are the police! Allow us to do our fucking job!" Mark shouts and bangs the door in his face. I watch as the now distraught man releases a deep exhale and takes a seat on the three seater padded chairs outside Mark's office.
He leans forward and holds his head in his hands. Having received first hand spite from Mark every time, I think I know how he's feeling.
Without thinking twice and because he might pull out his tight curly black hair if he continues gripping it that hard, my empathy pushes me to him.
"Hi." I say softly. He doesn't reply. "Hey" I repeat as I raise my hand to poke his shoulder. Before my hand gets to his shoulder, he visibly flinches. "Don't touch me!" He bellows.
Ethereal deep set of hazel eyes meet mine in a sinister look. Like a kaleidoscope, they subtly reveal the shadows and demons that lurk behind them. With a rectangle jaw that could've only been carved by God himself and light brown skin that acts as a catalyst to his beauty, it is safe to say that describing this man as handsome would be preposterous.
He is Drop dead gorgeous. Although his familiarity doesn't go past me.
His fists clench to reveal bulging biceps through his black t-shirt. I must have zoned out because he waves a hand in front of my face, his eyebrows raised. I perch beside him. "He is an asshole isn't he?" My question hangs in the air.
Instead of walking away, my selflessness and some unseen force keeps me glued to the seat.
I continue. "I know Mark can be inconsiderate but maybe I could help..." I guess he is not much of a talker. I search through my wallet and find what I'm looking for. "Here." I hand him my card. "Call me anytime and we could possibly find a solution to your case."
He stares at the card longly all while not making any effort to reach for it. Eventually he sighs and takes the card. Without another word, he stands up and leaves. A thank you might have sufficed but oh well.
I'm not even sure if his case is IT related but he seemed so disturbed my kindness couldn't allow me to walk away. The door opens next to me. "Bakari. My office now."
Despite the modern nature of his office, Roach chose to leave it devoid of any decorations. With only a desk, three chairs and a grey shelf, the monotonous state of the office could drive anyone to sleep. The only sign of life being the potted plant that sits at the corner of the room. Even so, I doubt it's seen a drop of water in a long time.
Mark Roach, is the chief of police and the man who I'd drown in ice if given the chance. Unlike his body, his bald head is small, with a shininess that could be seen from space. His potbelly looks like it could fall out of his police uniform any minute.
"You were late" He accuses.
"Yes." I answer without explaining because a wise woman once told me, "Never make excuses for being late. If you wanted to, you would have been early."
"Well you can google how to keep time when you stay in the office today." He counters.
"What?" I scowl.
"You are off the case Keilee. It's best you stay behind while we go for the take out with the boys. We don't want you to mess us up now do we? Seeing as you can't even arrive to work early."
"I'm the one who found the leads on that case." I complain.
"You can be our eyes from here. Besides, the case is dangerous for you. If you know what I mean."
Working for the police IT department has its perks and pitfalls and sadly in my case, the cons outweigh the pros. I always try to pretend like it's his way of showing his hate for me because of who my father is and not the clear chauvinism. Because nowadays that word is highly abused.
Roach's endless chief of police duties and presence of our own head of department has never waived him off our department. In fact, if there was an award for meddling in only one department's affairs, Roach would have several. And while I'd love to give him a piece of my mind right now, I choose to let it go.
I give him an okay and head back to our office. The coffee long forgotten. It's moments like this that I wish I could just up and leave. But I'm not about to be jobless without a plan.
Neither am I letting my dad get involved. Because a job will be lost and it won't be mine.
My day is dominated by thoughts of the guy I met this morning. Every time I try to shake off the images of his pained and hopeless expression, an unseen entity keeps forcing them back.
The hope of him calling me causes my heart to flutter in joy. Even if he does call you, it'll be purely professional.
"Earth to Keilee!" I'm pulled from my train of thoughts by my best friend Kira who works in forensics.
I stand to hug her, her 5'7 towering above my 5'4. Her acne free warm skin with yellow undertones glows with radiant beauty. Her midnight black hair stretches mid back. Over her black jeans and tee, she has on a lab coat. She touches my high bun. "I love your new hairstyle"
"Akira Yun! Don't touch a black woman's hair without permission" I scold.
"Technically it's not your hair." Her mumble is low but I hear it.
"I spent two hundred dollars on it. That makes it my hair."
I met Kira on my first day at campus and we immediately clicked. Funny how we both ended up at the same workplace. She was the best thing to happen to me after those four years.
"The money was worth it." She compliments, sitting atop of my desk.
"Thankyou."
"I saw you talking to some hot guy by Roach's office." She continues, wiggling her eyebrows.
"Yeah I did." I reply
"And?" One thing my best friend will always be is excited whenever I speak to the male species.
"Roach was giving him a hard time so I offered my help and gave him my card."
Her smile is knowing. "I'm sure he'll call you."
"Don't be getting ideas in your head Kira. If he does call which I know he won't, it'll be purely platonic." In Kira's mind, our wedding arrangements are already happening.
"You know you've been single for the longest time you're probably rusty."
"You're one to talk."
"A wise woman once said; Why fall in love with someone when you could fall in love with food and fictional characters?"
"I'm glad you find me wise."
After Kira leaves, the rest of the day draws away quickly. But not without thoughts of a certain someone. Even as I drive home, do my skin care routine, immerse myself in a romance book and eventually try to find some sleep.
A/N
Hiii. Welcome to this world. I hope you'll enjoy.
