Definitely Dead by Kate Bendelow (howl and other poems TXT) 📕

been reported and thankfully there were no serious incidents to deal with. The day staff had finished an hour early with Kym’s blessing, leaving Maya alone to cover the late shift. She was grateful for the peace and quiet as it gave her the opportunity to deal with the statement requests that had been emailed to her.

The smell of fried chicken and chips still lingered in the office, championed only by the smell of printer ink and Chris’s boots, which he always left festering under his desk at the end of each shift.

Maya hummed along to the radio as she typed up a statement for an assault she had dealt with several weeks ago. She was so preoccupied with transferring details of her scene examination onto the statement that she didn’t even hear Andy arrive in the office.

‘Hiya, Maya, love. Are you on your own?’ His uncharacteristically pleasant demeanour made her instantly wary.

‘Erm, yeah. There’s nothing doing so Kym let the day shift finish early. How was the PM?’

‘Not so bad, long-winded as always. I’m just going to process my photographs before I go. Do you want a brew?’

That was a first. Andy was infamous for making himself a tea or coffee without ever asking anyone else. It was yet another regular bone of contention between him and Elaine.

‘No, I’m good, thanks.’ She nodded towards the can of Diet Coke on the desk next to her.

Andy fussed about as she concentrated on writing her statement. The boiling kettle soon drowned out the sound of the radio, which Andy was now tunelessly whistling along to. It was starting to grate on her nerves. She hoped he’d hurry up, sort out his photographs and leave her in peace. She groaned inwardly as he finished making coffee, rhythmically tapping the teaspoon against the side of his mug, before clattering it down onto the metal tea tray without even wiping it.

Distracted, Maya observed him out of the corner of her eye as he booted up the computer and removed the memory card from his camera. He prepared two blank DVDs with exhibit labels and proceeded to burn his photographic images onto the discs. The computer wheezed with effort as the process began. The computers were so old and slow that processing images took ages. She was horrified when Andy wheeled his chair over to where she was sat, clearly intent on striking up a conversation.

‘So,’ he slurped noisily at his coffee, ‘how are things?’

‘Erm, good thanks. You?’

‘Yeah, not so bad, not so bad. You okay after all that business with the journalist? Bloody horrible situation to be in. Could have been any one of us, you know. You shouldn’t feel bad.’ He leant forward and patted her forearm awkwardly. Maya had to resist the urge not to shiver with revulsion.

‘Kym spoke to me about it just before, actually. There aren’t going to be any repercussions from top office, thankfully. She’s told me to pretty much forget about it and move on.’

‘Yeah, good advice. Good advice.’ He took another slurp. ‘I bet you’ve got plenty of support at home too.’

‘Hmm,’ she replied non-committally.

‘Who do you live with again?’ he asked.

‘I live on my own.’

‘Moved out of your parents’ then? Do your mum and dad live close?’ Another slurp.

‘My mum is fairly local, yeah.’

Surely her vague answers and the fact she was staring avidly at the computer screen were enough of a hint that she didn’t want to talk to him?

‘Right. Good, good.’ He slurped again. ‘Boyfriend planning on moving in with you any time soon, is he?’

Maya had taken a sip of her Diet Coke and the shock of the question caused her to splutter on the drink as she swallowed. ‘What? No. He isn’t. I mean, I haven’t got one. I’m not with anyone.’ She resented the fact she was becoming flustered.

‘Right. Good, good,’ he repeated distractedly as he picked an imaginary piece of lint from his trouser leg. ‘So, no boyfriend then. So, what do you like to do when you’re not here then? Do you get out much?’

Maya was mortified. What was with the sudden interest and the ‘nice Andy’ act. God, he wasn’t going to ask her out, was he? He was notorious for his reputation with women but, surely, he didn’t think she would be interested. He was old enough to be her dad, and even that wasn’t a positive comparison given the circumstances.

‘I, erm, yes, sometimes. I’m quite a private person actually, Andy.’ Surely that was a big enough hint that she wanted to discontinue the conversation.

‘Oh, me and you both, Maya, love. Me and you both.’ He took another slurp. ‘That’s probably why we get on, similar like that, you see. Most of them in here can’t keep out of each other’s business. That Elaine can’t hold her own water. I’m like “too much information, Elaine”.’ He waved his hand in mock horror.

She was staring at him wide-eyed and open-mouthed now. He was acting so ridiculously out of character; she was even beginning to think he was on something. Why else would he make such a ridiculous claim that they got on. She was feeling decidedly uncomfortable in his presence now and he was making her skin crawl.

‘Do you own your own house then or rent? Sorry, I can’t even remember where you said you lived?’

‘Erm, Miller Court. Near The Eagle pub?’

‘Ah, yes. The Eagle. Did a stabbing there a few years back. Nice pub. Do you go in there much?’

‘Look, Andy, I don’t mean to be rude, but I’ve really got to get this statement finished. Maybe we could talk another time? Besides, it looks like your disc has finished burning.’

‘’Course, yeah. No problem. No problem. We’ll chat again then. We’re very alike me and you. Very alike.’ He reached over as if he was about to pat her arm again, then seemed to think better of it. He withdrew his hand and stood up. Gulping the last of his coffee, he banged his cup down on