Chapter 2: 2. The Promotion
Loud bickering back and forth could be heard but as the pair steps in the room, all form of communication ceases. Jayla squints through the dim lighting. The room is small, with unpainted and bare walls and plastic chairs and desks scattered all about. She tries to analyze the people occupying the room, there are a lot of men dressed in suits or dressed casually. She counts a total of nine. The Captain switches on the light. ''Why was this room in darkness?'' he demanded his throaty voice echoed through the room giving Jayla the chills. He was now standing in front of her, her small frame is now hidden behind him.
''My chap Jack here was just trying some wonker Ouji board shit with his last client, sup big man,'' a heavily accented voice replies with a hint of humor in his words. Jayla looked at the guy who is brave enough to reply to the captain which is now starting to resemble an active human volcano. Jayla observes the man sitting on the floor with four others in front of an old scary looking board, he is sporting a fake sleek mustache which he paired with an 80s afro and clads in a brown suit. He stands and brushes the dust of his well-pressed retro suit.
''Ah, a fit bird, hi there, I am Detective Brown,'' he says flirty as he brushes past the captain to greet Jayla. He takes her arm and kisses her hand she balances the box of now cold coffee on one hand.
''ugh hi there,...uh fit bird, I'm Jayla.'' The detective smirks.
The Captain just rubs his temples. ''Please,'' he says motioning for Jayla to serve the coffee. One by one the Detectives all move in a monotone drawing out a plastic chair to sit on. While chattering quietly to each other.
The room reeks of expensive perfumes and aftershave. Jayla scrunches up her face, the intoxicating scents are becoming unbearable to her nose. By the time she finished handing out the eight coffees, she realizes that one of the detectives did not receive any. She walks up to the man sitting on the largest chair in the room, his legs are placed on the desk in front of him. She could not make out his face, his face is covered with a grey hat. She touches his shoulder; he looks like he is sleeping.
''Uhm, sir, I am out of coffee, is there anything else you would like?'' She clutches the empty box close to her; the mysterious stranger is giving her chills.
''Are you a waiter?'' He replies, in his deep raspy voice, his hat still covering his face.
''No, but-''
''But nothing, you are an officer, act like one.''
Jayla's face reddens, quite taken back by the stranger's comment, Jayla opens her mouth to reply when the captain orders her to leave the room.
She quickly exits the room as the Captain closes the large door. She presses her ear on the door to see if she could hear anything, but the voices are muffled. As she walks back to the direction of the main hall she could not help but think of the room full of detectives, and by the smell of it, important ones. Caught up in her thoughts she did not see the large burly officer that walks straight into her on purpose.
''Hey! Watch where ya goin!''
''Oh, sorry Patrick, didn't see you there,'' she apologizes as she tries to maneuver her way past the large man.
''We on the first-name basis now chocolate?'' Patrick says as he steps in her way, he grins showing a set of yellow teeth.
''Move Patrick!'' She snaps at him; she wasn't in the mood for his awful pick-up lines. Patrick sensing her anger shuffles out of her way.
''Oh, and Jayla baby, those donuts were too sugary, and I am on diet so-''
Jayla threw the empty box at him. ''I am an officer, not a waiter you pig!''
''Hey! This is an assault rookie!''
She marched off until she found the Captain's office and sits on the waiting chairs. She could feel the back of her eyes burning, she hated how they treat her, they never showed her respect, or some sort of equality, not even a thank you. But she is about to end that.
Jayla eventually falls asleep on the waiting chairs. Captain Hodder has just finished his meeting with the Detectives when he was heading inside his office and see Jayla sleeping on the chairs outside his office. It was unusual for her to be slacking off, she is one of the best officers at the department, always helping others just like her father when he was an officer. Whenever he looks at her, he sees raw determination, as a father like a daughter, but that is what he is afraid of, that is what killed her father. His hunger for justice and as far as Captain Hodder can see, she is heading down the same path.
''Glasgow! Glasgow! Jayla!''
She jerks awake, slightly confused as to why she is sleeping on the chair then she remembers, as all trace of sleep instantly leaving her eyes.
''Captain Hodder, I wish to speak to you,'' she said as she stands and straights her now crushed uniform.
''Very well, come inside then.''
They both enter his office. The captain takes a seat on his chair focusing all his attention on her. Jayla squirmed under his gaze; her brave façade starts to fade. She focuses her gaze on the false palm tree in the corner then on the large bookshelf occupying the corner of the office then on the bin which is overflowing with crushed paper balls. She shifts her weight on one foot.
''Well!?''
''I want a promotion,'' She says and squeezes her eyes shut. The captain did not answer, it is as if he did not hear her. Jayla pops an eye open to look at him in disbelief, he seems to be looking for something in his desk.
''I have been working here for over three years sir, I have never been late for my shifts once sir or take any unnecessary breaks, I ensure that the citizens are satisfied with my-''
''Here,'' the Captain cuts her off rambling passing a badge across the desk.
Jayla's eyes widen as she recognizes the badge, her father once owned one.
''W-what is this?''
The Captain just leans back in his chair with a huge cunning smile on his bearded face.
''Congratulations, you are now a Detective!''
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone