Chapter 19: Grieselda

Grieselda winced disgust as she watched the orgerish Shenko across the table. He chomped at his food, mouth wide open for all to see. Reddish sauce leaked down the corners of his lips, crumbs flew everywhere but onto his plate. Even so, the fool seemed unbothered, launching another wild assault into his triple decked burger.

‘Surely it takes more effort to eat so recklessly than to show a few manners.’

“This is why cops get such a bed rep,” Grieselda said. “Have some restraint will you, at least when you’re in public.”

Shenko rolled his eyes. Glanced down at the empty space before her – her order hadn’t arrived yet – and nodded to himself as if he’d found the reason for her mood.

Shenko stuffed his face with fries. Held the burger in one hand and pushed forward the plate of remaining fries with his free hand. “You waant soome,” he said, mouth full.

Grieselda’s mouth twitched. There was no malice in his actions he genuinely thought she was getting hungrier watching him devour his meal.

‘No thanks.’ Was what she wanted to say but the salty aroma of the fries kept caressing her naval. She frowned at the plate. She was hungrier than she thought.

‘Might as well.’

Why deny herself since he was offering. She motioned a hand to the fries.

The waiter arrived and Shenko snatched back his plate, left her fingers clutching at air.

“Your orders here,” Shenko mumbled.

Her face twitched as her hand remained awkwardly outstretched for a few seconds. Her eyes bulged and she gave him a smile that wasn’t a smile. Shenko munched with his permanent grin.

Such petty tricks were Shenko’s style. He could be childish like that. She knew all this but it didn’t make it any less embarrassing when she fell for it.

The veins on her forehead bulged.

And if there was one thing she hated more than crime it was being embarrassed.

“Calma, calma,” the captain mused, seated beside her, on the window side of their booth with a clear view of the park fountain. “You shouldn’t react to his antics so much.”

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‘Don’t lecture me.’

Grieselda ignored them both and received her plate of hot food.

‘I’ll discipline this fool later,’ she thought trying to appease herself.

“Safaree wants to see me,” the captain said out of nowhere.

Shenko’s smile froze and he swallowed hard.

‘Safaree. Safaree. Safaree Nelsons. The union chairperson.’

Grieselda nibbled on a golden nugget. Chewed softly afraid she’d miss something.

“I’m sorry Ray, I’ll talk to her.”

The captain waved his hand, staring out toward the park fountain. “No bother. I’ll meet with her since she approached me in good faith.”

Shenko opened his mouth. Paused then simply nodded his agreement.

“When last did you speak with her?” The captain asked.

Shenko scratched at his brown mop of a head. “Maybe seven months ago but she often reaches out. Last week she sent me an invite to guest speak at an upcoming union rally.”

“You know her term is almost over?”

“I’m not going back,” Shenko said, an incomprehensible expression streaking his face.

Grieselda sized up her colleague. ‘To think this fool once apprenticed under the union chairperson.’

More frighteningly that he was still being considered to succeed her. She didn’t want to— No, she couldn’t imagine the depths the union would fall with this corrupt child at the helm.

“Why don’t you want to go back?” Grieselda asked.

“The union’s broken.”

“Broken?”

“The federation has too much of a stranglehold on the union. The ol’lady herself truly wants reform. To make chipping optional, make peace with the barbarian clans and provide aid in their struggle to survive the Scorchedlands but she’s surrounded by spies who sabotage her at every turn…”

Grieselda stiffened and pecked on her nuggets guiltily.

“…So staying there is pointless, futile. Our unit does more for the city than the whole union combined. So I won’t go back to that—”

Shenko paused and raised an eyebrow at the captain.

“Unless, you want someone in the union?”

The captain remained silent, wore his trademark exhausted expression and stared out the window with skewed eyes.

“You don’t want me in the union then,” Shenko said but the captain remained silent.

“You need me in the unit,” Shenko said.

“Then were in agreement,” Shenko said and clapped his hands for effect.

Grieselda stared shock-eyed. The captain’s face hadn’t even twitched, so how had Shenko arrived to his conclusions. The captain didn’t seem to have even replied via com-link.

They sat in silence which only served to put her on edge. Was Shenko even serious?

‘He must’ve been joking right, right?’

Surely he couldn’t make such important decisions on the captain’s say so.

‘Maybe he would, maybe he’s just like Nigen.’

They hung on the captain’s every word. She regarded the captain out the corner of her eye. Did he have some dirt on them and was blackmailing them. How many other cops had he corrupted?

‘Have I stumbled on syndicate of sorts or am I reaching.’

Perhaps she was but it was undeniable this assignment was proving to have unimaginable ramifications.

“Finish up. It’s almost time,” the captain said. “Were just support but we need to keep a lookout for Carrasco or any other agents. Stay sharp. We can’t afford any surprises.”

The captain swivelled toward her. His dark gaze weighing down against her. “You look tired.”

She creased her brows. Howard and Daniela had kept her up again.

‘Will he use this as an excuse to bench me?’

She opened her mouth to protest but the captain beat her to it.

“Push through it. We need your observation skills. Order some caffeine if you need to.”

She didn’t reply. Uncertain how to react.

‘Why aren’t they more guarded against me?’

It would make things easier on everyone when the time came and she had to exile them to rot in the tomb.