And at least she felt excited about going to work. For the first time in three years.
Quickly, she showered and dressed. There was no need to consider what to wear. It was always the same: her white shirt done up to the neck and a simple grey suit. She tied back her unruly waves, secured with pins to stop any tendrils escaping, and left her face devoid of make-up.
Finally, she gave a nod of approval to her reflection.
Clare Doyle, reporting for duty.
And then she took her purse and exited the room, her stomach grumbling with the anticipation of coffee and a yummy shakta pastry.
When she made it in to work half an hour later, her belly was satisfied, and she was brimming with excitement.
She strode confidently into the reception area of the police department, but didn’t recognize the pixie girl with a nose ring and purple streaks in her hair. The girl didn’t recognize her either.
“Did Salty leave?” Clare asked, missing the grumpy alligator shifter who used to always be at the desk fielding calls.
The pixie nodded. “Yeah, their mom got sick. They’re a carer now.”
“Oh, I’m sorry. But it’s nice to meet you.”
“I’m Misha,” the pixie replied, smiling.
“I’m Clare Doyle.”
“Oh, you’rethatClare. Wow, I’ve heard such good things about you.”
Clare felt herself blushing right up to her hair follicles. “From whom?”
“Saul, he said you were the best partner any detective could wish for. That you always had his back.”
“Oh, well, thank you. He always had mine too. Nice to meet you, Misha.”
Clare took a deep breath and walked into the open-plan office, then let out a little sigh, seeing that nothing much had changed. The place was still messy and disorganized, the desks piled high with papers and the phones buzzing with activity.
A second later, Saul came bounding over from one of the smaller, partitioned offices at the side, his big green face brimming with pleasure.
“Hey there, Clare, so good you’re back.”
Clare frowned. “Why aren’t you in the big office?”
Saul grinned. “I was, but I’ve given it to someone else for a while.”
“Why?”
“Part of the deal.”
“What deal?”
He tapped the side of his nose. “Have I got a surprise for you. It’s going to be just like old times around here. But first, I’ll show you to your office, it’s next to mine.”
“So I get my own space, as a senior DC?”
“It’s tiny, but yes, you do.”
He showed her into the partitioned office, which could barely house a desk, chair and filing cabinet. The view out the window was of a brick wall, she noted, but hey, she would be too busy to notice.
Meanwhile, Saul was shifting from one big foot to the other in the doorway.
“Put your things down and come with me.”
