‘They’ve blended into the background at this point.’
MAKE THE REST OF THE
WORLD GO AWAY
Clayton Roth & Loreley Rosenfeld
prompt: silence
Every now and then they might exchange words, brief and only holding meaning to the two of them, perhaps even in German when they don’t want anyone else to know what they’re discussing but always with voices hushed for their ears only so they don’t invite any questions. For the most part though there’s no need, the silence is just as meaningful to them as any words, they communicate just as well without them and by this point it’s easy to understand why. Or it would if anyone around them had any idea what they had been through together. How they had saved one another in every way a person can be saved.
There are other officers and specialists in the break room, they’re milling around and chatting and taking bets on silly little things. Sport, the weather, if the suspect in holding will confess before a certain time. The smell of coffee and processed food is heavy in the air and someone is wearing too much cologne. In the corner one of the male detectives from homicide is flirting with a new intern from downstairs. She looks interested but it’s anyone’s guess whether it’s feigned or genuine. Loreley would know. Maybe he’ll ask her later.
Side by side they stand with their backs to the sink. There’s a sign above the faucet that states everyone has to clean their own mugs and plates and cutlery, it’s dog-eared around the edges and someone has doodled an image in the corner to give people a visual representation of the command issued in black and white text.
Clay’s mug of coffee is behind him on the counter. Loreley’s is held in one hand as she watches the exchanges and interactions of those around them. They’ve blended into the background at this point and that suits them just fine. After tossing the peel in the trash and splitting the orange down the middle Clay offers Loreley one of the segments. Without saying a word she accepts it from him and takes a bite, still silently studying the behavior of those around them.
For a few moments Clay watches her watching them. Just at the corner of her mouth he can see the first hint of a smile and he follows her gaze to the couple in the corner, the flirtation that may or may not be real. She knows what’s really going on. He’ll ask her later.