My Life'z Work

Part 1

‘Mammy will be mad if I am late… oh so mad!’ she quickly bowed to the image of the messiah in her small locker. Gathering her things, Anne quickly rushed out of the humid, sultry room.

Today of all days, she was going to be late.

Anne went about her work in the lobby as usual, checking her watch while at it. Try as she may, she knew she would not reach home on time tonight. Mammy had especially wanted her to reach home early, for today was Good Friday. Both Anne and her Mammy had fasted all day - the thought of Mammy hungry, waiting sent a chill down Anna’s spine, and inadvertently she started to work faster. The thought of slipping away struck her. ‘It’s not like I’ll be missed around here’ she thought ‘just mere housekeeping staff…’

“One minute, sir!” Anne said. She gave the room a final look over. ‘A last minute booking’ as the supervisor had put it and Anne complied. She dragged her feet towards the door. ‘Maybe the guest came in earlier than planned…hmmph!’

She felt the cool appraisal in the guest’s eyes as she continued towards the parlor to finish up. He continued towards the shower as if her plead to wait outside were inconsequential. She absolutely hated it when that happened. Then again, so was her hurry to get home, she didn’t even realize when he came up behind her and…

She cried to cry out but her cries were stifled – he was a strong man.

She pleaded and pleaded…

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On her way out of the hotel, Anna sobbed. There was nothing else she could do – she needed the job, for her sake and Mammy’s. She had been through this kind of behavior but it had never got so out of hand… She tried to collect her thoughts, but finally on stepping out, she broke all restraint and cried. She knew there was no use reporting, she did the only thing she could do – took her things, and ran.

Just as Liam watched Anna walked away and around the bend from his position at the gate, his ears alerted to the sound of a police siren in the distance. He dismissed it just as something he was accustomed to in this neighborhood. But soon enough that familiar siren loomed closer until he watched the police car enter the Hotel gates, and his manager came rushing out, in utter shock, to meet it.

“There’s been a murder!” the sound echoed from within the halls.

Liam felt himself getting pushed aside by the enormous wave of people that all wanted to rush out, and suddenly, there was panic all around.

-To be continued…