''What?'' she says softly with her mouth hanging open. ''With all due respect, I c-annot be a detective just like that captain.''
The captain just smiles.
''You want a promotion you have one.''
''But this is a little extreme, how about deputy-''
The captain looks at her, he raises his eyebrows. Doesn't she want a promotion?
''You have a bachelor's degree in Law Enforcement, right?''
''Yeah, I mean yes sir''
''You want to be a great detective like your dad, right?''
''Yes but-''
''Don't you want to be treated with respect? yes?''
She frowns, confuses as in why the captain is trying to persuade her to become a Detective, she doesn't have any sort of responsibility but being a detective takes up a lot of personal time. Then the memory of the last conversation with her father floods back in her mind.
[flashback]
''Hey, Dad! Did you get a new case? Jayla's face popped out through the doorway of her father's office.
Detective Glasgow sighed taking off his glasses and placed them on the large desk filled with unorganized files.
''Yes, sweetheart,'' he replied, walking around the desk and lifted his daughter in his arms.
''Can I help?, I can be Ms. Detective Jayla Glasgow again,'' she says tiredly as she placed her head on his shoulders. She loves playing Detective with her father but lately, he has been very busy.
''Not this time, but one day you will be Ms. Detective Jayla Glasgow with your files and real cases,'' He replied rocking her softly.
''And if your mother was alive she would very proud.''
''And you too?''
''I'm always proud of you sweetheart,'' he said and placed a kiss on her forehead.
''Are you going on the case tonight?''
''Yes, but I will be back in two hours to read you a story.''
''ok,'' she grinned in her father's shoulder, she likes to listen to his soothing voice as he reads her favorite Harry Potter book which is worn out due to overuse.
That night he never came back, he had been murdered because of the case he was working on and her life went downhill after that.
[end of flashback]
''I will accept it, sir.'' Jayla clutches the badge tightly in her hand.
''Good! Good! I have the perfect partner in mind for you,'' the captain has the hugest grin on his face as he steps around his desk to shake her hands.
''But what about my orientation?''
''I have that all covered! now follow me, Detective!''
She follows the very enthusiastic Captain to the unfamiliar passage again, this time he opens a different door. She steps inside only to be greeted with fabrics of all sorts and clothes, lots of clothes, scattered all over the floor, and room there is even fabric on the windows.
''what the-''
''What is your purpose!'' Jayla looks around the room to find the source of the voice.
''Down here!'' She looks down and shivers at the short old lady's appearance. She seems to be wrapped in some sort of white cloth, a face with a lot of wrinkles, and a hostile scowl. There isn't any sign of hair on her head or any sign that there was and dark eyes almost black. She is short. She doesn't even look human. Jayla steps back.
''Uh, what is this Captain?''
''This here is Melinda! She is responsible for all these clothes and fabrics here, an expert in clothing and textiles, quite useful in investigations.''
The old woman just scoffs and slowly walks back to a large old brown armchair fill with brightly colored fabrics. She looks like a witch from a fairytale that poisons princesses to look young again.
''I am more than just useful, you ungrateful brats, as you can see I am a hag so I don't have all the time in the world so please state your purpose here!'' Melinda demanded as she seems to disappear under the mount of fabrics in the armchair.
''I don-''
''I want something casual for young Glasgow here.''
''Glasgow? as in Alfred Glasgow? ah the resemblance,'' Melinda's voice went up a notch then let out a cackle. ''I was the one who made suits for your poor excuse of a daddy.''
''Excuse me!?'' The captain places a hand on her shoulder, silently telling her it is not worth it.
''He was a bitch you know, afraid of needles.''
Jayla could feel her face getting hot. Her father was many things, but a bitch is not one. She moves to exit the room when the captain stopped her.
''But he was a good man, an incredibly good one indeed, here, the changing room is over there,'' Melinda appears out of nowhere scaring the crap out of Jayla. She grabs the pile of clothing from the old woman, rushing to the left side of the room to change
''Leave the uniform somewhere in there, I need the cloth to make toilet rags, so Hodder is that bitchy detective still here?''
She drowns out their conversation as she searches through the small pile of clothes for something to wear. A small black long-sleeved dress shirt and a matching plain skirt catch her eyes. She has a slim frame, but the skirt is too tight for her hips.
''At least the blouse fits perfectly,'' she muttered to herself. She didn't have any heels, so she sticks to her flat shoes and walks out of the changing room.
''Oh good Lord! You look like a slutty assistant.''
Jayla draw drops at Melinda's comment. The old woman just forces a smile on her aging face.
''Don't mind her, here,'' the captain hands her a black blazer.
''Where are you going? To my funeral? Try this,'' Melinda passes her a red blazer with matching flat shoes.
''Don't worry about the shoes, it is not stolen, but it's not mine either-''
''Thanks!'' She hurries out of the room pulling the shoes on her feet. The old lady is a nuisance. After a few minutes of waiting, an annoyed-looking captain emerges from the room slamming the door shut with a thin red belt in his hands. Without any words he hands her the belt; it was not the same shade as the blazer and shoes, but she wears it anyway.