The White Angel Murder

56

Zoe Kelly finished her shift at the Gap in the mall and was counting out the register when Brian Newman walked by. He pointed to his watch and she mouthed the words “I know” and then continued to count.

It had been a long day. One customer was enraged that a blouse wouldn’t fit that she claimed was in her size and went to the manager. The manager was sympathetic but basically told the lady she was too fat for that blouse. That hadn’t gone over very well.

But that was finished now. She just needed to count out the stupid registers and she was done until Monday evening.

When the registers were counted out she walked around the displays in the windows and made sure everything was okay. A kid had spilled some frozen yogurt over the pants of one of the mannequins and she tried to scrub it out with a wet cloth, but it didn’t look good. Now it was a dark stain instead of white splotches.

She unlocked the glass double-doors and yelled to Brian. He walked over and came inside the store and she locked the doors again.

“What’s taking so long?”

“I’m almost done. Some little asshole put frozen yogurt on our mannequin and I need to change his pants.”

“Just let the morning shift do it.”

“I can’t, they’ll get mad and tell Cindy.”

“Well hurry up then. We’re supposed to be at Jason’s at nine.”

“I’m trying, Brian. God why are you being such a dick?”

“I’m not. But we told them we’d be there and they’re gonna wait for us before going.”

“I’m so sick of clubs anyway. Why don’t we just go on a date?”

“Like what?”

“I dunno, like dinner and movie.”

“Fuck that,” he said, checking his watch again, “just hurry up. I wanna get drunk.”

“You’re such an asshole.”

He laughed. He grabbed her by the waist and kissed her neck.

“Let go of me!” she said.

“Make me,” he said, running his tongue up her neck.

“Brian, God. Cut it out.”

“Let’s go in the back room.”

“No.”

“Come on, it’ll be quick.”

“No, they have cameras. Now go wait outside. I’ll be done in a second.”

He groaned and waited for her to unlock the doors before going out into the mall and sitting on a bench. He started texting Jason to let him know they would be late.

Zoe finished putting the new pants on the mannequin and then did a quick walkthrough of the rest of the store before turning off the lights and flipping on the alarm. The mall was almost empty now but a few of the shops still had people inside them. She went next door to Forever 21 and saw Candice folding some shirts.

“Aren’t you done yet?”

“No.” She threw a glare over to a couple that was still browsing. “These guys won’t leave. I’ve told ‘em we’re closing.”

“Just tell them to get out.”

“I did that once and got in trouble. I have to wait until they leave but I can’t even count out the register cause they might buy something.”

“That sucks.”

“I know. But what can you do I guess. Hey, I saw Brian. What are you guys doing?”

“We’re supposed to go to Jason’s house and then to Desert Ice.”

“Again?”

“Yeah, we’re there like every week. I’m getting bored.”

“Well, my brother said any time you get sicka Brian to give him a call.”

“Yeah I dunno, maybe. I need some time to think, ya know? Anyway, I guess I better go.”

“See ya. Don’t get too drunk.”

“I won’t.”

She found Brian and sat next to him on the bench. She thought about Candice’s brother. He was Latino and buff and had a good job as a club promoter. Brian lived at his mom’s house and mostly played video games when they were together. She was so sick of Call of Duty she would get a queasy feeling in her stomach whenever it came on.

Then, he put his arm around her and she remembered why she had started dating him. She rested her head on his shoulder a second and he kissed her.

“I have to get my stuff out of my car,” she said.

“I’m parked by the food court. Come over there when you’re done.”

He kissed her again and she got up and made her way through the mall. She stopped for a couple of minutes and said hi to her friend at GNC and then went out into the parking lot.

It was warm and the moon was out. The lamps in the parking lot lit up all the stalls a warm glow of orange and she saw her Prius and took out her cell phone as she walked to it.

There was one text from her mom, asking her when she’d be home, and one from her friend Angie asking her if she wanted to come over because her parents were out of town. She replied that she might later and if it was okay that Brian came too.

There was a van parked next to her Prius on the driver’s side and it was parked so close she could barely fit in between them. She made her way down to the driver’s door and put her key in the lock when the door to the van opened.

Before she could turn around, there was a flash of white, and the warmth of pavement against her face.