An Unwatched Minute Read online

  AN UNWATCHED MINUTE

  By J.M. Peace

  ISBN: 978-0-6485666-0-1

  Copyright © 2019 by J.M. Peace

  The moral right of the author has been asserted.

  All characters and events in this story are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in a any form or by any means without the prior permission of the author.

  1.

  A sharp metallic bang roused Karen Hegarty from a deep dreamless sleep. Although her eyes snapped open, she held the rest of her body still, waiting for the next noise. A man’s voice, a single shout.

  Simon didn’t stir. He had learnt to sleep through it all. She envied him.

  She heard a familiar voice speaking quietly, but magnified by the peace of the night. She shut her eyes again. Everything was under control. Nothing for her to worry about.

  This was the downside to living right next door to the police station.

  Although her knee itched, she held still and pretended she was still asleep. Hopefully in a minute or two, she would be again.

  As the officer in charge of the police station, her husband wasn’t obliged to live in the service residence right next door but it was free rent and the world’s shortest commute. And even though she wasn’t a police officer and whatever went on at the station was really none of her concern, she could not count the hours of lost sleep it had cost her. She was a light sleeper, a habit she had learnt when her kids were young, but which she didn't seem to be able to unlearn now they were teenagers and could tend to their own needs at night.

  The next set of sounds she could easily recognise. It was the handle latch of the paddy wagon being lifted and the door being pushed open. God, she'd been living here too long to be able to identify that. Just one of the side-effects of being a copper’s wife. She wished they could move back to their own house in Brisbane. It was in a quiet street and they were in the catchment for a great school for the kids to finish their high schooling in. Simon kept saying they wouldn’t have to be patient too much longer, it was just a matter of time before he got his promotion back to Brisbane.

  There was a dull thud outside and then another. A hissed whisper. Footsteps, two voices, then the sound of someone vomiting. Thank god they weren't close enough to get the smell from that. She shifted, stretching her legs out and rolling onto her back keeping her eyes loosely shut.

  It wasn’t until afterwards – when the yelling for help got her husband out of bed, and the ambulance had come and gone – that Karen realised she’d heard a man die.

  2.

  Krista Danaher shifted in her seat and cracked open the window for a little fresh air. The wind was like a blast from a heater. She hadn't realised how hot it was outside. She yawned as she checked the clock. She had been driving for nearly seven hours. Her GPS showed another thirty-two minutes to her destination.

  Tannin Bay.

  They'd warned her at the first interview. You're joining the Queensland Police. You can be sent anywhere in Queensland. Sure enough, after completing her first training year, she was getting sent to some little town up north that she'd never heard of.

  Tannin Bay looked nice enough. She'd spent many hours on Google finding out as much as she could about it. It was a pretty little coastal town, nestled in a bay, surrounded by national park. Some of the pictures had reminded her of a long weekend she’d spent at Noosa. But Noosa was only two hours away from her family and friends. She wondered briefly how hard it would be to get transferred there, but shook her head as if to dislodge the thought. She'd be at Tannin Bay for three years before she could even apply for a transfer, unless there was some sort of compassionate reason, like a sick family member. All her family were disappointingly fit and healthy. She instantly chided herself for wishing illness on her family. But you never knew what might happen.

  The thought of her family made her stomach churn. So many conflicting emotions. She swallowed hard as her mother’s face popped into her mind’s eye. It might be months before she saw her parents again. A wave of homesickness hit her. She grimaced.

  “Grow up, Krista,” she told herself. “You only just left this morning yet.”

  Despite that, she hit the speed dial on her phone and set it on loudspeaker.

  “Hi Mum.”

  “Krista, sweetheart, what’s happened? Is something wrong?” Her mother, Glenda, immediately thought the worst.

  “No Mum, nothing’s wrong,” Krista replied. “Just the opposite. I thought I’d let you know that I’m nearly there. Only about half an hour to go.”

  “Make sure you let us know when you actually arrive,” Glenda said. “You’re not there yet.”

  “I’ll be fine, Mum,” Krista said with a small groan. The brief homesickness evaporated and one of the reasons she left came into focus again.

  “Okay, okay,” Glenda said. “We’re just so worried. You’ve never done such a long trip before and you’re all alone. You should have let your father drive up with you. He could have flown back home again.”

  “Mu-um,” Krista said. “I’m nearly there. I thought I’d ring to put your mind at ease, not get a lecture.”

  “Sorry sweetheart. Parents are allowed to worry about their daughters though. We’ve been worried ever since you decided that being a police officer was the best thing for your future. And now you’re a thousand miles away, with no one to look after you…”

  “I’m twenty two! I don’t need anyone to look after me,” Krista snapped. There it was again. Mum crossing the line from ‘supportive’ to ‘smothering’.

  She heard her mum sigh down the line. “You know what I mean, Krista,” she said. “You’ll be surrounded by strangers there. No family, no friends. Being a police officer is dangerous. What if something happens, god forbid? It would take us all day to get up there to you.”

  Her mother knew her too well. Being in an unfamiliar place surrounded by people she didn’t know was her biggest worry right now, followed closely by her abilities as a police officer. She knew she wasn't a great cop. She continually felt like she was just blundering along, hesitant and confused. But that didn't mean she couldn't become a great cop, did it? She’s only been on the road for a year. It was a matter of experience as well as personality, wasn't it? Her colleagues at her training station had been helpful and supportive. ‘Everybody starts off like that,’ they'd insisted.

  “I’m part of the police family now, Mum,” Krista said. “We look after each other. It’s going to be great, meeting new people, seeing new things.” She made sure to inject a dose of enthusiasm into this statement.

  A big green sign pointed out the exit to Tannin Bay off the Highway. A clutch of butterflies appeared in her stomach. She put on the blinker, slowed to the exit speed, watching the sign loom and finally flash past. Even just the name filled her with a sense of trepidation. She followed the overpass across the highway. The road veered left. But if she turned right, there was an on-road that would take her back onto the highway. Headed south this time. Back to home.

  “We love you, sweetheart,” Glenda said. “Whatever you chose, we’re behind you.”

  Krista blinked rapidly. It would be so easy to turn right. If she drove through, she'd be back in Brisbane before midnight. Her finger rested against the indicator and she slowed. Just go home.

  No.

  She shifted forward in her seat and pressed against the accelerator until the highway receded into the distance. All she needed was to settle in and she’s be fine. There were fifteen staff plus a couple of detectives at Tannin Bay police station. She’d heard that small stations like that were generally tight-knit. She'd meet new colleagues,
make new friends, and start chalking up the types of experiences that would make her a good copper.

  “I’ve just turned off the highway, Mum. I’m nearly there. It looks really nice here. Lush and green and kind of tropical.”

  This is what Krista had chosen. She’d committed to becoming a police officer, she’d persevered through the training. It was stupid to suggest she’d done it all just to prove a point, to assert her independence. This is what she wanted.

  “It’s going to be great, Mum.”

  She was going to Tannin Bay.

  3.

  "And next in the hot seat we have a volunteer from our local cop shop..."

  There was hooting and cheering from the packed public bar of the hotel. The Cool Mule was the only pub in Tannin Bay so it didn't have to try too hard to get the customers in. The tacky cut-out at the front of a pub of a donkey wearing a top hat and monocle, holding a martini glass was the closest it came to advertising. Right now, the manager, Brad, was fighting to be heard over the din, even with the help of a microphone. It seemed like half the town was crammed in there.

  "If you're ever going to be arrested, ladies," Brad shouted into the microphone, "try to make sure it's by the best looking copper in town. And the most eligible bachelor. He needs no introduction. Mort, get up here, mate."

  More cheering and a couple of wolf-whistles as Senior Constable Malachi Morten pushed his way through the crowd and up onto the small stage at the far end of the pub. He was wearing his uniform, a wide brim police hat tucked under his arm. He was on duty, so had his belt and vest on too.

  "You'd better make it quick, Brad," Mort called. "The criminals will be making the most of every moment I'm off the road sitting here." Laughter from the crowd.

  There was already a local firefighter and a nurse up on the stage with Brad, along with the owner of the local hairdressing salon. She pointed a set of hair clippers at Mort. He pretended to grab for his gun, before laughing and sitting in the single chair on the stage.

  "Ladies and gentlemen, Mort has managed to raise a whopping $960 for Shave for a Cure. It seems lots of people are prepared to pay to see him go bald. Five hundred dollars was donated by the Tannin Bay Police Station social club." A couple of off-duty coppers whooped from within the crowd.

  "That's extremely generous. But it's for a great cause. So Erin, let's give 'em something for their money."

  More hoots. Although it was early afternoon, most of the crowd had already been here a while. The pub was donating fifty cents from each drink to the Leukaemia Foundation. It always tasted better when it was for charity.

  Hair fluttered to the ground like confetti as the hairdresser started shaving Mort's hair off. He sat straight-backed, with his hands on his knees, as clumps of hair lodged on his tactical vest. She did the sides first, leaving a mohawk.

  "What do yous think?" she called.

  There was laughing and shouting as she finished the job off with one smooth mow of her clippers, making him bald. From behind Mort, Erin produced a tin of blue hair spray, holding it up behind his head for the crowd to see.

  Just as Mort reached up to touch his freshly shaved head, she started spraying his scalp blue. He yelped and turned his head so his hand, most of the top of his head and part of his left ear were sprayed blue.

  The crowd erupted in laughter and cheering. Mort grabbed a mirror from Erin and shook his head, laughing. He stood up, leant in to Erin like he was going to give her a peck on the cheek, but rubbed his blue hand across her cheek, leaving a blue streaks like warpaint down the side of her face.

  "You deserved that one, Erin," Brad said, walking across with the microphone. "Mort, don't be sad about it. No need to feel blue!" He waited for the fresh roar of laughter. "Hope you have a quiet shift. No one drink drive tonight, okay," he shouted to the crowd. He shook Mort's hand, who then joined the bald fireman and nurse already standing on the stage.

  Mort continued smiling. There had been a little pressure from his colleagues at work to take part in the fundraising shave. They knew he was up for a laugh and didn't take himself too seriously. He had quickly agreed to do it and had given the fundraising a good go. He looked at the paint on his hands. How hard would that be to get off? It didn't really matter. All the locals would know what it was all about anyway.

  He glanced at his watch. He finished work in an hour and a half. They should probably do some laps of the main street, doing random breath tests. But he was trying to support the pub, support the community. Getting someone for drink driving would be counter productive.

  He caught the eye of his partner for today’s shift, Sergeant Piero Katsaros who had taken a front row spot for all the action. Mort tapped the face of his watch. Piero shrugged his shoulders. He'd probably be quite happy to wind down the rest of their shift at the pub. Callum was standing next to him. He'd finished at 2pm and was already in civvies, holding a beer.

  The pub was a happy place. The patrons were laughing, everyone was having a good time. There were worse places to spend a quiet Sunday afternoon at work.

  4.

  It was with a mix of relief and anxiety that Krista pulled up in front of the Tannin Bay Police Station. It was smaller than she had expected, a tired looking brick building with a couple of unkempt flower beds at the front.

  She had thought a lot about her new colleagues and new boss. How could she make a good first impression? As she walked up to the front door, this all became secondary. The station was shut. Of course it was. It was Sunday. She had intended to arrive on Friday afternoon, to settle in before her first shift on Monday. But the thought of spending a whole weekend potentially alone in a strange town had freaked her out enough to stall driving up until the last minute. So now she was here on a Sunday afternoon facing a locked door.

  She cupped her hand to look through the glass on the door. There was no sign of any movement. If someone was working today, they might be out on the road. Or they might be inside. After moment's hesitation, she rapped loudly on the window. Nothing. She took three steps back and looked around. There were a couple of nondescript buildings to the left of the station. One was bound to be the barracks, where she’d been promised a furnished room to live in. Initially, anyway. How many other officers lived there? Maybe someone was home there. It was either that or drive back into town and try to find a room for the night.

  She took a deep breath and walked down the driveway leading to the rear of the station. She reached into her pocket and fished out her police badge so she could flash it quickly the minute someone challenged her. Even though this was her station now, she felt like an intruder, trespassing.

  As she approached, she could hear voices. Male and loud. Not angry, just noisy. She went towards the sound. Two men were in front of what she presumed were the barracks, where there were a couple of picnic tables under a patio roof. They were in uniform, kitted up. Even as Krista got closer, she could not for the life of her work out what they were doing.

  One man was sitting on the bench his head bent forward towards the other man who had his back to her. They were arguing but in a friendly way, like kids bickering.

  "Don't put it in there! Ow!" the seated man yelped.

  What on earth was he doing to him?

  "Stop sooking," the other man replied.

  Krista hesitated. What was she interrupting? She took a step back. Was it too late to sneak away without being seen?

  “Hey!” One of the men had caught sight of her.

  Both heads snapped around to look at her, like startled school boys caught smoking in the toilets.

  She fumbled, flipping her badge out in front of her like a shield. "I'm a cop!” she blurted out.

  They broke into big smiles, and the seated man rose to his feet.

  "Well, hello," the shorter one said, walking towards her with his hand extended. "You must be Krista. Welcome! I'm Piero," he said, shaking her hand. "This is not what it looks like. Actually..." He turned towards the taller man. "What does this look l
ike?"

  The other man came forward now. "Malachi Morten," he said. "But everyone calls me Mort. And we can explain this."

  Krista laughed politely, nervously.

  "Did we look like perverts? We're not perverts." Mort had a warm broad smile. He looked down at the hand he was offering her. It had some weird blue cream on it. He wiped it on his shirt, which was already covered in blue splatters.

  "Maybe we should shake hands later."

  Krista could see he had blue smeared across the side of his face and all over a bald head.

  Piero laughed, a booming uninhibited sound. "So much for first impressions. Krista, come, sit down." He gestured to the picnic table. "Will you join us for a beer?" A couple of open stubbies already sat in holders on the table.

  Krista nodded. "That would be great. It's been a long drive."

  Mort went into the barracks.

  "Have you come up from Brisbane today?" Piero asked.

  "Yep. I left at seven am. My bum's been numb since about Rockhampton," she replied.

  Piero laughed again. "We were wondering when you'd turn up. We were expecting you on Friday."

  "I got held up," she said, wondering if that sounded plausible. Mort came out with a stubbie. He opened it and handed it to her. He had less blue stuff on his face and hands now.

  "Can I explain about... this?" He waved his hand at his blue head.

  "You don't have to," she said, smiling. "I'm not one to pry."

  "That's exactly why I do want to explain," Mort replied. "I just did that Shave for a Cure for fundraising. After the hairdresser shaved my hair off, she thought it would be funny to spray my head blue. Someone may have put her up to it." He gave Piero a pointed look. "Anyway, when I heard the sound of the spray can, I turned to look and the spray didn't just go on the top of my head. But it went right down into my ear. It's only coloured hair spray but I thought it would be better to clean it out than trying to wash it out in. Piero was helping. Kind of. Actually, mostly he was laughing."