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Everyone else that was present was either outside or going outside. Troy sat on one of the bar stools with gloom cast over his expression. His shoulders were hunched in defeat. It was kind of funny. The other workers were fumbling with mops and buckets, probably confused at where or how to begin. Or why it even happened in the first place. I pulled out my phone and texted Ryan the details of what had just happened. At the same time a police car drove into the parking lot with it’s sirens on full blast.
“The cops?” I say looking outside. I had this little flame of hope that Luca, the mayor, was also with them. What was I doing? Calling him Luca meant that I had formed an attachment with him. He was a broken man, with kids, and a dead wife, and he was my boss. I had no business forming romantic attachments with him but a part of me always felt a tug in my chest at the thought or sight of him. Recently I’d been led to wonder if he was at the other end of the rope, pulling. And then there was Holden. Cheers to the life of ‘zero drama’ I promised myself.
Stella walked over to where I stood with Troy. She dropped her phone on the counter and searched her bag for something. Just before the phonescreen dims, I notice her call log. The police hotline for the town was displayed at the top at 06:15. I looked at my watch comparing the time difference. She had called the cops ten minutes ago. Before the incident happened. How did she know to call them?
Could it be that…
“The prankster really thought this one through.” She says interrupting my thoughts.
“Yes, they did.”
Am I imagining things or did I catch the flicker of a sneer on Stella’s face? Her clothes were as white as they were at the beginning. We had sat at a table at the far corner of the store, far away from the reach of the sprinklers.
But what if it was just a coincidence? What if I was making things up? I’d have to be sure of my suspicions before telling anyone.
“Evelyn, I have to go. Sorry our meeting was… disturbed.”
“We’ll talk again, probably at the fundraiser?”
“Yes, perfect.” She says, flashing me a smile that was supposed to be bright and enthusiastic.
And with that she left, bypassing the officer coming into the store walking a little faster than usual.
“Why would anyone call the cops?” I ask aloud and Troy answers.
“They have some detective work to do. There’s definitely no way someone would’ve snuck into the shop and set the thing up without leaving any evidence behind.”
The puzzle pieces moved.
“The perpetrator must be an inside man or have access to the keys…”
“It’s even a punishable crime.”
“Breaking and entering?”
“Exactly. Breaking and entering.” The officer walks up to us and immediately Troy straightens up. His usual flirtatious manner transforms to something more responsible. He was probably only ever that way around me. His father owned the coffee shop and someday he would be the one running things. Right now, I see how prepared he actually is for that kind of responsibility even though he only worked as a barista.
The officer, Mr Jones, as says on his name tag- takes him aside for questioning. Why would anyone in this peace loving town want to do something like this? What was their game plan? Suddenly my phone starts to buzz in my purse. I take it out and look at the name calling. Holden. I ignored the call before thinking. He sends a text instead.
Evelyn please stop ignoring me.
I ignored that too. I was in no mind space to deal with him at that moment. I needed to get home before the floor started to spin in my face.
* * *
The next dayat the office Ryan hounded me at the entrance.
“Girl you look like a mess.” I knew I looked horrible. Holden had called three more times that night and I’d lain awake listening to my phone ring, trying to sleep. Ignoring the guilt that had twisted its vines around my neck that was now suffocating me at the ungodly hours of night. I knew I couldn’t ignore him forever, it was a small town. But I couldn’t bring myself to talk to him just yet. What would I say? I could barely understand the things I felt and the people that caused those feelings that confused me. By people I mean Luca (and Holden). There was a time when I would’ve juggled both men, kept them at bay from the truth that I was never going to ever fully settle for the thing that they so obviously wanted with me. But these two were brothers. And Holden and I were already a thing. Plus, Luca was my boss. I must’ve gotten a headache from all the thinking and slept off but I knew it the moment I woke up that I was going to have a bad day. I could feel it in my bones.
“The devil is here today.” Ryan says right before I brush past him to my office. I glance at my reflection on one of the glass mirror doors. Even my outfit reflected my mood. A boring carton skirt with a boring cream sleeved shirt on plain black flats. I skipped the blazer today.
“Yeah right.” I murmured under my breath low enough for him to hear.
“Well don’t say I didn’t warn you. We’re having a meeting concerning the fundraiser at the board room. Chap chap.” He clapped his hands and right before leaving he turns to me and says “Oh and do something about your hair, it’s a little….”
The look on my face gives him enough warning and he finally leaves.
“Someone woke up with an attitude.”
