"He who believes in the Son has eternal life; He who refuses to believe in the Son will not see life, But the wrath of God remains upon him." Gospel according to John, 3, 36

"Hello, what can I do for you today?"

The formula was conventional, rigid, just like her face in front of the complainant.

"So here's the thing," the woman sitting in front of her began. "I was walking down the street, and a man bumped into me to snatch my bag.

— Very well, let's file your complaint together. Name and surname, please.

— Ivy Fera. — Place of residence?" the officer asked in an even voice.

— Grenade, Spain.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

— Very well, Mrs. Fera. Where were you when it happened?"

While listening to the tourist recount the incident, Abigail glanced at the time on her computer. Already ten minutes past when she should have left. That said, as has been the usual for the past few months, she had been requisitioned to work overtime, as her colleagues were absorbed in an investigation into a series of crimes suspected to be the work of a serial killer. Thus, she had transitioned from writing reports to receiving complaints, she had moved from utter boredom to a generalized resentment of the population of Marseille. How many people did she see every day because they had their belongings stolen? How many came to file complaints about the violence they had suffered? The queues never seemed to end, a phenomenon exacerbated since the recent call for witnesses related to that infamous investigation.

Behind her interlocutor's shoulder, she could see the commotion in the offices of the criminal section, and she envied that human beehive. Her request for a transfer, denied for the fourth time, had left her with the impression that it was pointless to try again.

After a long hour trying to assist the woman in front of her, she escorted her back to the reception and prepared to greet her colleagues before leaving, when her superior caught her off guard. From his apologetic look, she understood that she wouldn't be going home right away.