Take a Breath (Take 1) (2 page)

 
 “No, but you’re right, it is different this time, so this
particular murder we need to pay close attention as to why.”  

 
  Tom elbows him and I frown.  What’s wrong with those
two?  “Where did it happen Michael?”  He looks pained and I’m
getting a little annoyed now.           
 “Reston…” his mouth shuts immediately at the sound of Jakes voice
booming across the room.  

 
 “Michael in my office now please.”  I look across at Jake
and he’s staring at me eyes wide and intense.  Is he mad at
me?  

   “Coming sir.”  Michael trots off with his tail between his legs and Tom looks on at me.  

   “Tom back to work,” Jake shouts. 

    I look and have a thousand eyes staring at me.  What’s wrong with everyone today?  

 
 “Someone must have their period.”  I look across at Jessie
and she winks at me.  “He obviously didn’t get any from your
mother last night.”  

 
  I cringe at her words.  “Shut up Jessie,” I shout as I
throw a paper-clip at her.  “I don’t want to hear about my mum
getting it on with anyone,” least of all Jake.

I
get back to work and get through a lot of mind numbing data.  I
don’t want to think about Jake anymore so I push on searching through
burglary arrests from six months going back.  I get to around two
years when I decide I need to get something to eat.  I nip out to
get myself a salad for lunch and get back to go through the same case
which involves two men in ski masks picking on the elderly, tying them
up whilst they rob their homes.  Thankfully they do not harm them
in anyway; they just probably think that because of their age they must
have valuable items.  I also look at where they have hit all areas
and dates and times trying to see if there is a pattern and where they
might strike next. I’m so engrossed in my work that before I know it,
it’s after 5pm.  

 
 “Are you ready now Miss Thang?  We have ourselves some
drinking to do and maybe you can have a bit of, what is it you Brits
like to call it, Shagging?”          I’m
stunned but can’t help but laugh.  It’s the way she says shagging,
has me in stitches.  Tony at that moment decides to grace us with
his presence and looks at me and smiles.  

   “Speak of the devil,” Jessie says flatly.   I almost choke.  

   “You ladies talking about me, I’m flattered.  I hope they were all nice things?”  

    I quickly gather up my bag to get ready to go.  

   “About you, always.”  

 
  Jessie is such an outrageous flirt, she’s incorrigible. 
Tony gives me a wink and I smile at him, he obviously looks pleased
with himself.  

 
  Jessie sees this little interaction and without making herself
obvious whatsoever states, “I’m off to the ladies, Tony, why don’t you
escort Ana to the bar and I will meet you two there?” 

 
  I roll my eyes at her but Tony quickly straightens himself
upright and with a smile looks at me and says, “I’ll be happy
to.”  

 
  I want to hit Jessie so much right now, the conniving little
minx.  Tony is lovely and all but relentless.  He has been
pursuing me for months now and I keep trying to push him away. 
It’s not that he’s not good looking or a nice guy as he is in some
ways.  He has wavy mousy hair and brown eyes, looks a little like
John Travolta with a dimple on his chin.  He is lovely and very
polite and always treats me like a lady but there is no spark for me
and I think you always need to have spark.  

 
 “You look exceptionally beautiful today Miss Sinclair.  That
is a lovely dress you’re wearing.”    

     I stare at him and about to answer when a delicious voice appears from nowhere.

   “Accosting my staff again Mr Andrews?”  

     I look and see Jake staring at us, relief evident on my face.  

 
 “No Mr Bennett, I mean Sir; I was just paying Ana here a
compliment.  Don’t you think she looks nice today, as
always?”  

 
   I look over to Jake and see his piercing green eyes boring
into me.  I think my legs wobbled slightly.  

 
 “Whoa, steady girl, we’d not even gone to the bar yet and you’re
all over the place.”  Tony steadies me and Jake stares at Tony’s
arm around my waist.  He looks pissed.  

   “Don’t worry my dear, Tony will look after you.”  

    Jake glares at Tony, “Did you get that report done I asked you about?”  

    Tony looks bewildered for a second but then seems to remember, “It’s on my desk sir.”  

 
 “Well it’s no good on your desk can you please go and get it and
put it in my Inbox for me for tomorrow?  I’ll take Ana and meet
you there.”  Tony is obviously affronted but nods his agreement
and heads off.  I look over to Jake.  

   “Are you ok?” he asks.  

   “I’m fine, thank you.  Tony gets a bit excitable at times.”  

 
  Jakes smiles, “I know, that’s why I thought I would come over
and see if you needed rescuing.  If he is bothering you let me
know and I’ll have a word with him ok?”  

 
 “It is fine, really.  Tony’s harmless.”  I find myself
staring at him for a while, completely transfixed to this hunk of a
male.  

 
 “Right, well then, are you ready?”  Jake clears the way to
let me pass allowing me to snap out of my daydream again and we leave
the office ready to hit the bar. 

Chapter 2

We
make our way into Harley’s bar and familiar sights and smells are
there.  The usual Harley Davidson bike is in the bar window in all
its glory.  The bar itself is not a bikers bar, it is just the
owner is called Sam Harley and thought the Harley bike theme was
suitable.  I think it looks cool.  I sit on the bar stool and
see other familiar faces already drinking from the offices.  

   “What are you having Ana?”  

 
   I think for a moment before making my decision. 
“Erm, a gin and tonic please.”  He smiles at me and I almost fall
off the bar stool.  Boy, do I have it bad.     
 “Hey Sam, can I get a Bud and a gin and tonic here for Ana
please?”  

    Sam smiles at us and says, “Coming right up Jake.”  

    The drinks are laid on the table and Jake hands Sam a $20 bill.  

    He turns to me holding his beer up, “Cheers Ana.”  

 
  I smile returning his words as we clink glasses.  I take a
swig of my drink to steady my nerves as the close proximity of Jake’s
body with my own is having an unwanted effect on me.  I take a few
more sips realising in the end this isn’t going to help the situation
any when in walks Jessie and Tony.  Tony slides over to me a
little too close for comfort and I catch Jake glaring at
him.  

 
  Tony notices this and bends down to whisper in my ear, “Your dad
is being a right pain in the ass today.”  

    I cringe at his words, “It's fine Tony, don’t worry.  He’s just looking out for me that’s all.”  

 
  Jessie then decides to make her presence known, “So which of you
lovely young gentleman is going to buy me a drink?”  I roll my
eyes at her.  She’s so forward.  

    Tony sparks up, “I’ll get you one Jessie, and Ana, would you like another?”  

    I look down and realise that my drink is almost empty, when did that happen?  

    Jake looks at me stunned, “Steady Ana you still have work tomorrow.”  

 
  I look up at him and flutter my eyelashes, “Well, I wouldn’t
want to upset the boss man now would I?”  He blushes at my comment
and I think I turn the same colour after realising it looks like I’m
flirting with him.  

   “That’s what we’re here for; let your hair down Ana.  I’ll get you another.”  

 
   I smile, “Thanks Tony.”  The drinks and conversation
are flowing and by my fourth gin and tonic the music seems to be
getting louder.  The song 'Don’t You Worry Child,' comes blaring
through the speakers and Jessie gives a little whoop.  I laugh and
she comes bouncing over to me tugging at my arm.  

   “We’re going dancing girl.”  

 
   I try to resist but she is exceptionally strong for such a
small girl and I don’t really want to.  The drink is flowing and
making me brave.  I’m up dancing and I can’t stop laughing. 
I’m actually enjoying myself for once.  I glance over and see all
the men propped up at the bar watching us.  My eyes are on Jake’s
as I give him a cheeky wink.  Boy I am really getting
courageous.  The songs carry on much the same and then Justin
Timberlake’s 'Rock Your Body,' comes on and we start wiggling our hips
to the beat.  One of the guys from work called James comes over to
Jessie and starts gyrating behind her.  He is another good looking
detective who reminds me a lot of a young Denzel Washington, although
I’d never tell him that.  He may think I’m coming on to him and
James doesn’t need much encouragement as far as that’s concerned. 

 
  Suddenly I feel a pair of hands on my hips and an unwelcome
crutch pushing into me from behind.  I turn to face who it is
thinking that it’s Tony when I face a man I’ve never met before. 
The guy with dark blonde spiky hair and a silly drunk grin on his face
looks down to me.  
   “Hi babes, you’re looking
mighty fine there so I thought I may join in, you don’t mind do
you?  You’re a great dancer?”  

 
   I’m angry; who does he think he is?  “Actually I do
mind, now can you get your hands off me?”  He’s looking angry
now.  I try to push his hands away and he just grips
harder.  

   “Don’t try to fight me off lady, you dance like that and expect no one to notice and want to join you.”  

 
  I try to wriggle myself away from him when the spiky blonde guy
is suddenly yanked off me by the scruff of his neck and there stands
Jake, Tony and a bunch of guys from work surrounding him.  

    Tony shouts, “You lay your fucking hands off her ok, she doesn’t want you touching her now fuck off.”  

 
  Spiky blonde guy puts his hands up in surrender.  “Ok, ok,
I’ll go.  I thought she was game after the way she was advertising
her mighty fine ass.”  

 
  Both Jake and Tony make a move to grab him when Sam’s voice is
heard from afar, “Hey guys please don’t be doing this in my bar. 
Take it outside if you must but not in here.” 

 
  I look over at Jessie who is staring mouth wide open at what’s
happening before us.  I run over to Tony and Jake and I put my
hand on each of their chests.  The electricity that bolts though
me has me spellbound and I stare into Jakes eyes for a second, he makes
an ever so slight gasp like he feels it too and I can feel Tony’s eyes
from me to Jake.  I quickly snap myself out of it and finally find
my words. “Thanks guys, but I don’t want any trouble caused over me,
and besides he’s not worth it.  I think it may be best if we leave
now, don’t you think Jake?”  He glares over to the spiky blonde
guy who is finally retreating, he looks down to me and nods. 
“Right guys back to normal, nothing to see here.”  I wave my hands
absent-mindedly in the air and I hear a few chuckles.  I think I’m
rather drunk now.  I walk over to Jessie and give her a
hug.  

   “Wow that was intense.  I thought they were all going to start pissing on you for a minute there.”  

 
   I smack her arm, “Jessie, that’s disgusting.  I’m
going home before I cause any more trouble.  How are you getting
back, have you got a ride?”  

     Jessie smiles, “Yes I’m fine, Michael promised me a ride home, he said he wasn’t drinking.”  

 
   I give her a kiss on the cheek and say my goodbyes. 
I give Tony a hug and thank him.  He seems to hold me a little
longer than necessary and have to prize him away.  

   “See you tomorrow sweet cheeks.”  

     I turn and find Jake waiting for me at the door.  “Ok, see you tomorrow.” 

We
head out the door and the fresh air hits me making me slightly wobble a
bit on my feet.  Jake quickly reaches down to grab hold of me and
that surge of electricity is felt again.  I stare up into his eyes
and he looks like he’s in pain.  I quickly gather myself up. 
He doesn’t want to touch me.  “How are we getting home
Jake?”  

    He looks perplexed, “I only drank that one beer Ana; I’m fine to take you home in the car.”  

 
  I acknowledge this but didn’t realise.  I was too busy
dancing my ass off with Jessie.  I sit in the car and Jake then
goes around to the driver’s side and gets in.  He starts the car
up and looks down a minute.  

 
 “It seems it was deemed necessary that you had protection
tonight, just protection from a different person.  You seem to
attract trouble.”  

    I’m stunned at this sudden outburst from him and I feel a pain in my gut at the memory of my stepfather.

The Accountant my mum married was not content with just my mum, he
started looking at me the wrong way when I was 12 and it developed
quite rapidly.  At first it was just touching and he kept saying I
was a slut and that no one would believe me if I told anyone as he was
the Pillar of Society and I was just a little bitch who was asking for
it.  He scared me and I was only young and believed him.  He
told me my mum would never forgive me if I said anything and that she
would want to throw me out onto the streets, that I would be homeless
and alone.  One night he came into my room, I had just turned 13
then.  He sat down on my bed and pulled the covers away.  He
said I was now the right age to please him more and that I owed it to
him to do as I was told.  I became frantic screaming and crying
and this just spurred him on further.  He threw himself on top of
me and I could smell whiskey on his breath and feel his erection
pushing into my leg.  I felt sick and knew what was about to
happen and I couldn’t stop it.  He ripped my pyjamas apart and
tried to yank down my knickers.  I kept screaming, “No, no, please
don’t do this to me, please.”  He hit me on the head and then I
passed out.  The next thing I remember is being taken to the
hospital and my mum sitting in the chair crying.  My head was
pounding and I was wondering what had happened.  “Mum, what’s
going on?”  She looks up at me, tears streaming down her
face.