Alien Romance: Star Light Pilot (Sci-Fi Alien Invasion Abduction Fantasy Warrior Hero Space Opera Romance) (Science Fiction Mystery Dragon Shifter Paranormal Urban Short Stories) by Emma Taylor Page A
Authors: Emma Taylor
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As I got to the front window I heard deep voices laughing. I could not make out the words, but there were three people at least. The flashing lights of the alarm cast shadows on the street and I then heard running footsteps. The shadows disappeared, the voices stopped. I went and got my phone and dialed 911. I gave them the report with the phone on speaker as I pulled some clothes over my shorts and tank top, grabbing whatever was in reach. I could always change to more work-appropriate clothes later.
“Do not go down until the officer arrives ma’am. These perpetrators may still be there.” I shook my head as if she could see me.
“I heard them laughing and running off. My shop is probably open to whoever comes by and the alarm just stopped. It has a timer, I have to get down there.” The dispatcher disagreed. I grabbed a light jacket and put it on and went back to the window with the phone. I watched a van pull in across the street and tensed up for a moment. Then I relaxed. It was Gaspar, the man who had the newspaper shack across the street.
“Tell them to hurry up will you, this is my livelihood!” I hesitated briefly, and then hung up the phone. I was through with arguing.
I slipped on my sneakers and went out my apartment door, locking it behind me. I went down the steps and stood outside the door to the coffee shop. There were no sounds coming from inside. I opened the door a crack, and reaching in I flipped the light switch. The ceiling lights came on and illuminated the whole place. No one was there. Except Gaspar standing where the big picture window with my shop’s name on it was supposed to be. As I moved from behind the counter I could see the whole window had been smashed in.
“Are you alright, Victoria? What happened?”
“You just missed it, Gaspar,” I said distractedly, moving forward. The whole window, from frame to frame, was completely smashed and in little pieces everywhere. I had been so proud of that window! Artistically done, it had been beautiful. If I was lucky I could get it done again, but it would cost.
It would not have been so completely broken unless whoever did it had not intended to leave no glass un-shattered. This had been done deliberately! Not just some kids screwing around. The grocery store next to my shop was due to open and the owner came over looking at the damage.
“What the hell, Miss Holloway? What happened here, hooligans?” I shook my head.
“I don't know George, someone broke the window, and the alarm went off. I’m waiting for the cops.” He nodded. I kept looking up and down the street. No sign of the police. George and Gaspar were looking at the damage.
“Hey, Miss Holloway,” George said looking over. “If you have a security camera, you may want to get that out. That was the first thing they asked me when I was robbed three years ago.” George was a man in his sixties, widowed, who had been running his store for thirty years. It was a good idea.
“I will George. Do you two want some coffee? I have to turn everything on and see if anything is missing.” They hesitated, but agreed. The street was waking up as it got closer to five. People began walking by and talking to my neighbors as I took care of things. It was forty-five minutes before the police showed up. By then I had watched the security recording and determined nothing had been removed. The perpetrators had broken the window, making sure they got it all and then left. It also was getting close to the time I usually opened, and I had regulars to take care of.
***
I did my best to not get angry with the cops. They took my statement and a copy of the security recording. When I was asked if this was the first trouble I had, I mentioned the punks from the previous day.
“But it wasn't them. The voices I heard were deeper and the images on the recordings were of much bigger men. Even if their features were obscured.
“You watched the recording?” the officer asked.
“Well, it
“Do not go down until the officer arrives ma’am. These perpetrators may still be there.” I shook my head as if she could see me.
“I heard them laughing and running off. My shop is probably open to whoever comes by and the alarm just stopped. It has a timer, I have to get down there.” The dispatcher disagreed. I grabbed a light jacket and put it on and went back to the window with the phone. I watched a van pull in across the street and tensed up for a moment. Then I relaxed. It was Gaspar, the man who had the newspaper shack across the street.
“Tell them to hurry up will you, this is my livelihood!” I hesitated briefly, and then hung up the phone. I was through with arguing.
I slipped on my sneakers and went out my apartment door, locking it behind me. I went down the steps and stood outside the door to the coffee shop. There were no sounds coming from inside. I opened the door a crack, and reaching in I flipped the light switch. The ceiling lights came on and illuminated the whole place. No one was there. Except Gaspar standing where the big picture window with my shop’s name on it was supposed to be. As I moved from behind the counter I could see the whole window had been smashed in.
“Are you alright, Victoria? What happened?”
“You just missed it, Gaspar,” I said distractedly, moving forward. The whole window, from frame to frame, was completely smashed and in little pieces everywhere. I had been so proud of that window! Artistically done, it had been beautiful. If I was lucky I could get it done again, but it would cost.
It would not have been so completely broken unless whoever did it had not intended to leave no glass un-shattered. This had been done deliberately! Not just some kids screwing around. The grocery store next to my shop was due to open and the owner came over looking at the damage.
“What the hell, Miss Holloway? What happened here, hooligans?” I shook my head.
“I don't know George, someone broke the window, and the alarm went off. I’m waiting for the cops.” He nodded. I kept looking up and down the street. No sign of the police. George and Gaspar were looking at the damage.
“Hey, Miss Holloway,” George said looking over. “If you have a security camera, you may want to get that out. That was the first thing they asked me when I was robbed three years ago.” George was a man in his sixties, widowed, who had been running his store for thirty years. It was a good idea.
“I will George. Do you two want some coffee? I have to turn everything on and see if anything is missing.” They hesitated, but agreed. The street was waking up as it got closer to five. People began walking by and talking to my neighbors as I took care of things. It was forty-five minutes before the police showed up. By then I had watched the security recording and determined nothing had been removed. The perpetrators had broken the window, making sure they got it all and then left. It also was getting close to the time I usually opened, and I had regulars to take care of.
***
I did my best to not get angry with the cops. They took my statement and a copy of the security recording. When I was asked if this was the first trouble I had, I mentioned the punks from the previous day.
“But it wasn't them. The voices I heard were deeper and the images on the recordings were of much bigger men. Even if their features were obscured.
“You watched the recording?” the officer asked.
“Well, it
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