Denis works in a haze all morning long. She’s not sure if the brain fog is from a lack of restful sleep, too much caffeine, or nerves going frayed with the news of death. She agrees that it’s a mixture of everything and opts for less caffeine and more water.
Even with the news of a dead body, the day continues as if everything is normal. Patrons explore the bookshelves; picking and choosing which book to devour next. The other co-workers scold the younger crowd when they become too rambunctious with a loud “SHHHH.” And they also help the elderly crowd to navigate the computer with patience and a tinge of annoyance.
Without meaning to, Denis eavesdrops a little bit more than usual. Her ears strained to hear the words and conversations shared amongst one another. It’s a small town, so surely someone heard something. When anything worth mentioning happens in Gold Springs, the news travels faster than summer wildfires that plague the Rocky Mountains. Alas, she hears nothing besides the usual gossip about dating, unplanned pregnancies, and sickness. That is until her coworker, Pam arrives at work.
This busy-body coworker is a mom of four young girls who works part-time at the library and is the secretary of the PTA. On the nights she wasn’t carpooling the young ones around town, she was most likely playing BINGO at the community center or power walking the neighborhood. Thick, curly brown hair sculpts her overly made-up face. The 1980s might have passed but Pam refused to give up the colorful eyeshadow, bold lipstick, and bright pink blush that she wore daily. And gum, she was always chewing on a piece. Usually, spearmint as that was her favorite.
Before Pam can place the overwhelming amount of belongings onto the counter, she begins, “Denis! Did you hear?”
She could always rely on Pam to have the latest and juiciest tidbit of town news. “What?”
“There was a dead body discovered at the river this morning! I heard it was a horrific scene and that the jogger who found it nearly fainted from the sight,” by now Pam had everything laid onto the counter, chewing her gum like a cow regurgitating cud.
“Are you serious? This is the first that I am hearing about it,” Denis asks with good-humored horror.
“Yeah and get this. The victim was stabbed right through the heart,” Pam says.
Denis no longer had to put on an act. This was rather shocking and she felt the familiar pit of despair return. “Really? How do you know this?”
“Heard from my trainer this morning at the gym,” Pam says nonchalantly while settling into the day. That’s odd, the call to Edmund had come in at 5 am. “Hmm, yeah that’s crazy.”
“And not to mention, scary!” Pam raises her eyebrows for an extra dramatic effect.
Denis wants to pry. To find out all of the details that her gossipy coworker knows. She doesn’t need the gruesome facts but rather the overlooked details. The evidence needs to be picked out using a fine-tooth comb that only a few elites know. But Denis had to be tactful because if Pam was willing to talk with her, that means this noisy civilian was willing to share anything with anyone. Especially if the information came from a cop’s wife.
A few moments later, Pam’s purse was locked away and she was chomping on a fresh piece of spearmint gum while logging into the computer.
“So what else did your trainer say?” Denis asks.
Pam shrugs her shoulders, “‘nothing much. It’s not like she’s married to a cop or anything.” At this comment, Pam looked directly at Denis and raised her right eyebrow in a sly gesture.
Nothing new here. Denis was used to this. As if she knew all of the secrets. This was not the case, Edmund kept his confidence about every case like a gambler who was holding the winning hand. “Ha! Yes, Pam, I am married to a cop but I haven’t seen my husband since last night. Also, another reality of being a law enforcement’s wife is the super late nights which leads to limited time together. And trust me, we’re not spending that time talking about his job,” she winks at Pam in hopes of her busy-body coworker stopping the interrogation.
Pam giggles in response.
“I am going to the cart, it’s overflowing from yesterday. Holler if the front desk becomes busy,” Denis says while grabbing her cell phone from the purse.
Before re-shelving the book cart, she sends a short text to Edmund. Thinking of you, hope your day is going well.
