Chapter 4
lena
The open window breathed new beginnings into the pastel bedroom to brush over Lena. She pulled the blankets in close, shoving their persistence back for another minute of comfortable warmth.
Merrow.
Baxter leaped into view and moseyed to her pillow to flop down. He reached out a single paw, slowly at first and then all at once sticking it into her open mouth.
Ptttthhh. “Yuck! Bax!” Her eyes came to life.
“Ohhhhh, Yuck,” She continued spitting, her alarm joined into the hubbub.
ER.ER.ER.ER.ER. It screeched until she slapped the snooze and rolled off the edge with practiced expertise.
It had started peacefully enough, but like most things in life, it quickly reminded her life waits for no one.
“Okay, okay, I know.” She laughed. She rolled her eyes at the expectation painted over the Persians pushed in mug. “Your treat isn’t going anywhere without you dumb-dumb.”
Merrow. He pounced to the floor with a thud and shuffled out the bedroom door to a litany of excited chatter. “as you wish, little prince. At least let me get my slippers.
She closed the window, slipped her boney icicles into their fuzzy sanctuaries, and proceeded to follow obediently after.
The sun poured in through the window curtains. She drew open as she passed. The flood of bright light welcomed her to explore the surrounding city. “What a beautiful day!” She exclaimed, to which Baxter unleashed a fresh torrent of purr mingled chatter. She clicked on the small television and popped open a new can of the wet food he so loved, and proceeded to make a pot of coffee to the tune of morning news.
“We are looking at sunshine and seventies for the remainder of the week,” The news anchor was spouting the usual playing perfectly into the morning ritual. A whoosh of Déjà Vu covered her as the familiar voice continued with its chipper tone. “… Another tragedy over the skyline of the Emerald City. Families left grieving in what appears to be a series of anomaly authorities are still trying to find answers too.”
She sprinkled the coffee grounds into the top hopper while looking over her shoulder at the screen long enough to fill past the border of the filter and spill into the hopper. “shit.” She muttered, reaching for a measuring cup to retract the upper level to the appropriate amount. She took the paper filter from its place, still listening carefully for more details. She placed it on the counter, sure not to spill and make more of a mess, while she dumped the excess that had spilled over the filter and swept the crevices with her finger into the trash. There was nothing worse than a good cup of coffee full of grounds.
Hopper still in hand, she reached the coffee pot under the faucet and turned it on to collect water while she replaced the filter. “We have reached out to the Police Chief of Willow County where the most recent of the fatalities occurred but have not received any comment over the investigation taking place. This incident will mark the 23 victims in less than two months. Authorities are calling for residents to remain calm while they continue to seek answers. So far, the authorities have found no link between victims. Back to you, James.” The sound of water spilling to the counter unlocked Lena’s eyes from the television in time to see the coffee pot overfilling onto the counter.
“Shit shit, SHIT!” She exclaimed, her outburst causing Baxter to look up from his treat for the first time since she put it down. He watched her for a moment before shoving his face back into the bowl in front of him. “Seriously? Two strikes Missy!” She laughed. “See that Bax? That’s why we don’t multitask.” She snatched her cellphone from the water’s flight path and reached for the drying rag.
After finishing coffee preparations, she moved to the stool at the edge of the counter and proceeded to listen to the morning deep-dish. “Thank you, Jennifer. Well, it’s been a strange start to Spring. We have our esteemed crew on the case. As we find the details, we will be sure to inform you all over the information we uncover, but strange indeed. Our field reporter, Jim Davis, has spoken with eyewitnesses, who blame something like a small meteor falling from the sky as the culprit. As crazy as that sounds, that theory has been the consensus among witnesses so far. These do not appear to be calculated attacks. We haven’t been able to access the autopsy reports since the investigation is still ongoing. Strange indeed.”
Lena pulled open her throw-drawer, drew out a notebook and pen, and opened it to the first page, only half full of bullet points. She added another tick to the running total before adding another bubble and started to jot.
- Find out names of victims
- Find locations
- Asteroids?
She scoffed. “What do you think, Bax? Crazy world we live in, what’s next, aliens?” She laughed, tapping at the paper with her pen as she looked down at the feline lacing itself around the base of her stool.
She looked back to the screen full of noisy advertisements before following her nose back to the spitting, hiccupping coffee pot full of deliciousness. She pushed back, flopping the pen to the paper and reaching for the cupboard housing her favorite coffee cup. Her phone buzzed over the countertop as she followed her thoughts to the fridge for creamer.
Murrow.
“I know, that’s what I was thinking. Even if there isn’t a logical explanation, there has to be something, right?”
Puurrrow.
“I know I have to focus on the other junk, silly, but this seems important, don’t you think?”
Murr.
“Later, you’re right. I’ll finish the grind and then go for a walkabout. How about that? Do you approve, mister boss man?”
He rubbed up against her leg as she closed the fridge door and made her way to the countertop.
“Okay, glad you approve.” She laughed as he leaped to the top of her stool, curiously sniffing at the air.
With the steaming mug in hand, she reached for her phone. Cindy Becker. The name appeared at the top of the message box, devil horns in tow. The emoji somehow always made the following texts or calls more palatable and less offensive.
I read through last week’s articles. I sent the drafts to your inbox for corrections, along with a list of potential post ideas for this week. Stop in my office when you come to collect your check. WE NEED TO TALK.
“Oh no…” She murmured. Baxter butted his head into her side for pets. Her hand strayed behind his ears for a scratch. “mmm, that’s never good, Bax.”
Murr.
“Yeah, maybe you’re right, maybe she wants to promote me from top tens and vanity pieces, huh.” The sinking feeling in her gut suggested otherwise, but the hopeful optimist told her not to worry over what she couldn’t control. “Best bet. We open that email, knock out the corrections and then, head to the office. What do you say?”
Murrow.
“Thanks, Bax. I know I’m awesome, and she secretly loves me like a daughter.” The image of her boss’s squinty expression floated in, suggesting the opposite.