#FictionFriday – First Sight

Joe was a homicide cop working on a case. He didn’t know something would happen today that would change his life. Regrettably, it occurred while he had a mouthful of doughnut.

Kathy awoke as she did every morning, threw on joggers, t-shirt, and sneakers, grabbed a bottle of water, and headed for Central Park. She too, was oblivious that today everything was about to change.

The call came shortly before 6 am. Joe grabbed his coat.

The assailant had shot out from behind bushes at 5.10 and grabbed a jogger. She had no time to scream as he launched a brutal attack. It would be wrong to call him a man because no true man would do what he did.

Joe got there as the uniforms cops preserved the crime scene with tape. A crowd was already gathered and strained to see through to the wooded area. “Get these people outta here!” he barked.

It didn’t help when it began to rain.

“Joe.” A cop in uniform approached. “We’ve got a witness.”

“Where?”

The officer pointed to a brunette who had her hands on her cheeks.

“She alright?” Joe asked hoping not to have to deal an overwrought witness.

“She’s in shock, because ain’t a pretty sight.”

“Did she see the body?”

He nodded.

“Okay, get the medics to check her over, then get her down to the station.”

“Right.” He said and left.

Later, Kathy sat in a glass office surrounded by cops working other cases. She’d been given coffee but it was bitter. Today was a day she wanted to begin again. She didn’t know the something that was going to change her life would happen soon.

Joe picked up doughnuts on the way back to the station. He poured coffee from the percolator in the corner and shoved one in his mouth. He picked up a manila folder and headed to his office.

The moment that would define their future forever was about to happen.

He arrived with the doughnut still in his mouth, and his thoughts set on the case. He failed to notice a woman sat beside his desk. Kathy’s hair was still wet, and her haunted eyes bore into his soul. He paused taken aback.

For a moment, their eyes locked. Unconsciously, Kathy touched her hair and Joe dropped the doughnut into his hand.

Their fate was sealed.

Joe had met Kathy.

“The witness?” he asked.

“The cop?” she said back.

“Yes, ma’am. Sorry to have kept your waiting.” He offered his hand, thought better of it, and wiped it on his trousers before offering it again.

And that was it.

The one defining moment that would change their lives forever.
Of course, love at first sight, is reserved for works of fiction. In real life, the process takes a little longer. In this case, it had been triggered.

They say out of something bad, often comes good. Kathy’s testimony put away the killer. The image that haunted her that day would be eased by Joe’s gentle touch and his taste for doughnuts.