Mickey Finn Part 5

This is part 5 of Mickey Finn - Find click here for part one and here for part two and here for part three and here for part four

Karla yawned her way through work, she tried to concentrate and catch up on yesterday’s tasks, but it wasn’t happening. She watched the second hand judder around the clock, round and round, always moving with that jerky, unsure step but going nowhere. Try as she might she couldn’t even concentrate on Candy Crush; this was real, this was happening, she was going to meet a victim of that son of a bitch. No, that was not a good thing to call her, she wasn’t a victim she was a woman. and  no that was not a good thing to call him either, cos that demeaned his mother. Shitbag, that would do. At 5 on the dot she grabbed her bag and made for the door.

Starbucks was empty which was both good and bad. Good in that recognising each other would not be difficult but bad that ‘the woman’ was not already there. Karla bought her usual and sat in a comfy chair by the door. She tried to relax but her mind just wouldn’t let her. What if ‘the woman’ chickened out? Didn’t turn up. How long would she give it? What if this was a hoax? What if it was him? Or another different dirty sleazebag bastard coming for her? She tried to put those thoughts out of her mind. She had to be strong. This wasn’t about her anymore. Oh my god, she thought, what if I know her? That possibility hadn’t occurred to Karla before now. That would make it really awkward, or what if it was a man, men get raped too don’t they? The door opened and in walked a woman who looked very much like Karla, handsomely beautiful, strong, elegant. She smiled shyly at Karla and then approached her.

‘Karla?’ she said in a voice that didn’t match her stature.

‘Yes’ said Karla and reached out a hand. But the woman didn’t take up the offer of a handshake. ‘I’m Lucy.’ Karla didn’t know if it was her real name or not but she didn’t care.

‘Sorry I’m late, I cased the joint a bit, make sure it was not a set up, you can’t be too careful.’

‘Sensible.’ Karla smiled ‘Coffee?’

‘Skinny latte’ the woman said and Karla smiled. ‘Take away, I need a smoke.’ Karla’s smile broadened.

They walked and talked, just general chitchat, nothing heavy, just getting to know you stuff. It was a nice day, blue sky and whispy clouds, seagulls coasting on the gentle breeze and the cormorants drying their wings on the quayside. Karla bided her time. She was there to support not to pry, the story would come if it came but she didn’t really need the story. She didn’t really know what she needed. Yes she did, she needed to know she’d been right, that that tosser was a scumbag rapist and somehow she could get him off the streets.

Her phoned buzzed, not now Josh, she thought to herself, not now, but she checked it anyway, force of habit.

‘Oh fuck’ she said.

‘What is it?’ Lucy asked looking concerned.
‘Oh nothing just… It’s my sister, it’s her little one’s birthday. I promised I’d make an appearance. Sorry, I’ve got to…’ Lucy looked distraught. Karla put her hand on her arm. ‘Look you’ve got my number now, you know how to find me. Call me anytime okay?’ Lucy nodded.

‘And let’s do this again tomorrow yeah?’ Lucy nodded again.

Karla left with a heavy heart but she had to go. Her sister would already be fuming that she was late. And what would she get when she got there, the same old same old that’s what. She signed heavily and headed for her car, smoking one last cigarette before putting on the family smile.