The Lonely Constable

When I walked out to smoke a cigarette with Dave, I started to realize that in this industry I had to sell my soul if I really wanted to get what I desired. I promised myself I would never smoke a cigarette but the answers I was searching for required a different type of effort on my part. As I walked out to smoke, Dave had already had a cigarette in his mouth while he fumbled around in his pockets scrambling for a lighter. “Have you always smoked?” I asked. “Not until I got into this industry,” he said. “I guess right around your age.” “That’s reassuring,” I said. Dave then turned around, maybe to make sure we were alone. This is what I loved about the job. There was something about the comradery. Dave took out his lighter and handed me the thin white stick filled with cancer causing agents. I analyzed it like it was a syringe waiting to enter my veins. The idea of a cigarette was so strange to me. It didn’t really seem that appealing. I was still in the college mode and the craving for a beer was a lot more realistic. I was never tempted by smoking to release my stress, maybe I just got lucky. “Axton was about your age when he first began working here,” Dave said. I then thought about where I started and how far I still had to come. Axton was so accomplished, so whatever unfortunate event happened to him here must have been a blessing, I reassured myself. “You were his boss?” I asked. “Something like that, I wasn’t exactly running the show, but yes Axton reported to me,” Dave said. All of a sudden, my role and place at the Hampton Herald started to seem all too coincidental, not to mention eerie. “So, what really happened to Axton? Just tell me, I’m good for a secret these days,” I said. “His girlfriend died. Don’t feel too bad, the relationship wasn’t exactly suitable for work to begin with.” “That’s terrible, but what does that have to do with Constable Walker?” I asked. “Unfortunately, everything,” Dave said as he took the cigarette away from his mouth and blew the smoke away from the conversation. “I’m sorry, can you please explain?” I asked. “Axton thought Constable Walker killed his girlfriend,” Dave said. “Melanie was her name by the way.” “Let me get another cigarette,” I demanded. “Here you go, I know that’s lot to take in,” Dave said. I walked away and ironically enough was searching for air. I threw the new cigarette on the ground and squished it like a minor league baseball player trying to earn his way into the majors. The thought of making eye contact with Dave again was scarier than what he had just told me. “Obviously, I’m going to feel bad. Did she work for the Herald too?” I asked. “Well, technically at the time it was the Observer,” Dave said. I turned around and made a fist that I proceeded to put into my mouth and bite down on. “And you have just been working here for the past few decades with all of that surrounding you?” I said. “There’s a potential murderer who’s finally retiring after 40+ years.” “He was never brought up on any charges, he never had an issue with the law.” “He is the law,” I said. “Alex, you have your whole life in front of you, please, do not get wrapped up in this,” Dave said. I then started to think of Audrey who I barely knew. I pictured a girl who wasn’t from anywhere near here, who had a family and friends from home. The politics from this neighborhood were too much to grasp. There was close to 100 years of working experience between Constable Walker and Dave alone. Someone was looking out for somebody here. Part of my job as a reporter was to figure that out. “Listen, allegations were made but that’s all there was,” Dave said. “How was your relationship after that?” I asked. “Axton interviewed at the Times and I gave him a great recommendation and that was that,” Dave said. “That was that?” I said. “Someone who worked under your jurisdiction was murdered and that was that?” “The local police came and it was out of my control,” Dave said. “What about Axton?” I asked. “My heart went out to Axton and Melanie, but I’m not God, Alex, I can’t change what happened,” Dave said. The whole scenario made me want to just pack up and go home and work some desk job in the city like my friends. However, another part of me wanted to find answers for my own long term sanity. Also, I wanted to help Axton Myers. I barely knew the guy but I could only help but feel compassion for him. “I’m sorry for reacting the way I did, but I still would like to cover his story,” I said. “That’s why I hired you,” Dave said. I couldn’t tell if Dave was being facetious or if he meant his statement with pride. “Why is that?” I asked. “Because you do not care, and I mean that in a complimenting way.” “Well then, I guess I have to take that as a compliment, I have no choice,” I said. “Keep meeting with Axton, you have my permission to meet with Senior Constable Walker as well,” Dave said. “Stay out of trouble and get back to work.” It was in that moment I realized how lucky I was that someone who cared as much as Dave was my boss. I suppose everyone needed a start, but he really took a chance on me. He knew that I was going to examine this story and look into it as much as possible but a part of him wanted that. “I will as long as I have permission to discuss anything that we may have discussed tonight?” I asked. “You have the green light, after all, as far as I’m concerned, this conversation never actually happened,” Dave said. Dave walked away and murmured the words excuse me as he brushed by me. He was nearing the door of our office when he put the rest of his cigarette on the floor. He didn’t squish it, he didn’t even look at it. I walked right back behind him and put the top out with my loafers before it was back to work. A few days went by and things were starting to feel even more routine around the office. Nathan and Audrey were starting to sound like veterans and their enthusiasm could be heard from the coffee room. Together, they were a dynamic duo. Much to Nathan’s delight, Audrey seemed to take a liking to me. We bounced ideas off each other all day. If there was a website I forgot the name to, Audrey knew it. When Audrey was stressed and couldn’t spell the simplest of words, I was there for her. Our days flowed when we worked side by side and the whole time Nathan was throwing his two cents in but I wouldn’t want it any other way. Eventually, Friday came along and Dave looked at me before he gave his introduction speech. I knew what to do, so I sneaked out like I was using the bathroom. This wasn’t uncommon. Many employees would have to use the restroom so bad in the morning that it was understood if a few heads popped up and left. There was definitely a red flag when the employee was under the age of 25 but no one made a big deal about it. Except for one person. The moment I stood up. I heard Audrey’s chair slide out from under her. I just walked even faster out the room until of course I made it to the hallway. “Where are you off to so early, huh?” Audrey asked. “I have an overactive bladder,” I responded. “You didn’t have an overactive bladder the last few days,” Audrey rebutted. I wasn’t sure how exactly to play my hand. There’s something about lying to a beautiful girl that just doesn’t seem right. Especially a beautiful girl that you could picture yourself taking out some time. “Want to know the truth?” I asked. “Alex, I traveled here all the way from California, I want to be included in the fun stuff,” she said. I saw the oceans of California flow directly through her hair. I was still getting to know Audrey but I could tell she missed home. Maybe this was her future as a reporter, but I doubted it. It wasn’t just her beauty as much as it was her perspective. She was smarter than me and Nathan but her ability to remain humble was what I admired most.