Diary of a Detectress – Episode 6 – Staking out

Sophie Dayton was unexpectedly kicked out of uni and left to fend for herself. Now she has found a new home and it’s time to get back on the trail

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Dear Diary, 

Layla is one hell of an interesting person. She told me a bit about her work as we walked back to the apartment yesterday. She’s an event photographer who specialises in “narrative documentation”. That is to say, she can go along and take pictures of a boring workshop and then make it seem like it was the most exciting, drama-filled day ever. She showed me some pictures she took recently of an intensive yoga course, and I could actually feel the sweat and exertion of the participants. My new landlady is clearly a talented individual. 

She also seems to be totally chilled about the apartment. She showed me the essentials, such as the Wifi router and the trick for starting the shower, then left me to my own devices. I spent the rest of yesterday unpacking my stuff and relaxing. So amazing to have my own space again. My night’s sleep was blessedly uninterrupted and I woke today feeling much refreshed and ready to tackle my mystery again. 

One of the first things that happened when I emerged from my room was a meeting with Katie - the other girl who lives in the flat. And when I say a meeting, it was more like she bounced into my field of vision, introduced herself, then proceeded to talk non-stop for a solid 10 minutes. As she’s very short and has wild, brunette hair, it was almost like being accosted by a fairy – if you could find a fairy that was equally obsessed with quantum physics and organising things. Layla had already showed me the rota list but Katie launched into a detailed explanation of the colour coding scheme and the contingency system that kicks in if one of us is unable to do our chores. One day that girl is going to be a powerful force in the scientific world if she can turn a humble rota system into something worthy of NASA. 

After Katie had disappeared back into her room I took a moment to breathe. It felt like I had just been spat out by a whirlwind. Layla, on her way out to work, caught sight of me and laughed. “Don’t worry,” she hissed, “she’s not always so overwhelming. She's making a special effort because you’re new.” Good to know. 

After a bit of grocery shopping and a hearty breakfast of toast and marmite, I sat myself down at my new desk with my laptop and journal. Where to go from here? With the housing problem having largely fixed itself, I have to turn my attention back to my two main priorities. 

Number two, Blade Guy is probably best found in the evening when he’s most likely haunting the clubs and bars of the city. For the moment I’ll concentrate on number 1, the attractive smirking guy who seems to know more than he should about me. So far I’ve seen him in the student union building and in Blue Zone nightclub. It makes sense to look for him in those places again. 

So that’s how I came to be staking out the Costa Coffee outlet in the union building. With a corner stool in the window, I’ve got a comprehensive view of the entrance hall and I can observe everyone coming and going. My shoulder bag is strategically placed, ready to grab if I have to jump up at a moment’s notice. Now all I have to do is wait. 

And wait. 

And wait some more...

Ok, stakeouts are really boring. How do police officers even do this?

This isn’t working. The longer I sit here, the more I daydream about random things and wake up moments later to find I haven't been watching at all. I have to find another plan.

Well, let’s look at this logically. The only two places that I have noticed Smirk Guy have been places where I already was. Actually, it was the very fact that he seemed to be following me that led me to believe that he knew something more about my situation than I did. It therefore follows that he would continue this pattern of behaviour. Maybe I don’t need to look for him. I simply need to BE in places myself and he will magically arrive there after me. 

In that case, I might as well be somewhere that I’d actually like to be. I decide to go to the library. I stand up with a new sense of resolve, and grab my things, only to feel a tap on my shoulder from behind. 

“Leaving so soon?”

I spin around in surprise, to find a muscular chest topped with a pair of dark eyes. They crinkle at the corners, as the owner of the voice smiles his signature mocking grin. My stomach give an involuntary flip. I feel as if I’ve suddenly found myself standing on a rooftop with a 60 m drop in front of me. 

“Hi,” I manage. “You…”

I choke. I had my interrogation all planned out but now that I’m face to face with the smirking guy, I can’t remember a single word of it. My palms are suddenly clammy and there's a lump in my throat. 

He’s holding two cups of coffee with lids. “I got you a drink. Let’s go and sit outside.” Without waiting for agreement, he turns and strides off towards the main exit, leaving me standing speechless, looking after him. 

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This is an original piece, written for Steemit by @Victoria-Kelly. Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed this installment of Diary of a Detectress, please let me know by commenting, and watch out for the next installment coming soon

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