The Serviceman, Chapter 24
24 — The Notification
As The Cop leaned forward at the drinking fountain, his mic fell from the epaulet of his service shirt, causing him to grab the mic and spray water on the side of his face. As he stood up, wiping the water from his face, The Detective tapped him on his shoulder causing him to turn and put his elbow into The Detective’s chest. Sorry detective, I didn’t mean to do that, as he touched The Detective on the shoulder lightly. The Detective, still rubbing his chest and started his conversation with The Cop. The remains in that house is the granddaughter and great-granddaughter of the Old Woman down the street, which I believe you spoke with her. The Cop shook his head in agreement and asked; she doesn’t have any other family? The Detective advised The Cop, the victim’s mother was doing time in the joint and has been notified, but the grandmother is the one who is going to have to deal with the situation. The Cop shook his head and reminded the Detective; the Old Woman doesn’t have all her capacities and he believed she suffers from dementia. We’re going to have to get family services to assist with The Notification. The Detective agreed with The Cop and advised him to make that contact with family services and do The Notification. This was the part of the job The Cop hated. This was going to be the second time in his career he would have to notify the next of kin with a death notice. He made the call to family services from his cell phone as he headed to his squad car. He would pick up a counselor at the service office, advise them of the situation and be the bearer of bad news to The Old Woman. As he drove out of the parking lot, his thoughts were of The Old Woman. The thought of informing her, of the death of her grandchildren created a knot in his stomach. He didn’t want to do it, but this was his job and he had to take the good with the bad.
As The Cop and counselor drove past the scene where the victims were found, a large dumpster is now sitting in front of the house. The Cop glanced at the house and steered his squad car to the front of The Old Woman’s house. As they made their way to the front door, nothing had changed other than the weeds had grown taller since The Cop was last here. He knocked on the door and very soon, a small hand moved a curtain hanging on the door, with a small face appearing through the dirty glass on the door. Ma’am, we need to speak with you; may we come inside? They heard the clicking sounds of the locks and the door opened, with a confused looking Old Woman starring at them. Ma’am, may we come inside? The Old Woman stepped aside and waved them in. As The Cop stepped into the center of the room, the counselor directed The Old Woman to a chair, grabbed the remote for the blaring TV and muted the volume. Ma’am we are here to advise you of the death of your granddaughter and her child. The Old Woman brought her hands to her mouth and started gasping for breath as tears started streaming down her face. No, no, she was just here the other day, she can’t be dead. The Old Woman started coughing as the counselor attempted to comfort The Old Woman, The Cop went into the kitchen to get her a glass of water. As he opened a cupboard door, cock roaches scrambled away. He grabbed a glass, rinsed it out, and grabbed a dishtowel from the counter to dry the glass. As he did, a hoard of young cock roaches scramble away. He filled the glass from the tap, he turned and noticed the old rusted water heater dripping onto a rotting floor.
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