Chapter 3

Ema didn't know whether to cry, laugh or be angry. She guessed she was all three. She didn't even know why she was calling Klavier but here she was, listening to the dial tone, hoping he'd pick up the phone.

It rang five times before she heard a voice that she never thought would be so comforting.

She didn't expect to sob as a greeting to her friend, but she couldn't help it.

'I-I-It's not fair, Klavier!' she cried. Once he responded, she immediately felt embarrassed at the thought of simply being able to create the perfect Snackoo in forensics lab. Unsuccessfully, she tried to convince him that it was for a case but he was, as she expected, too smart for that.

Once she told him the truth, she thought she could hear him snigger. Maybe she imagined it?

'I know, I know, so much for the power of science. But what will the Chief Forensic Investigator think of me? I must look like an absolute idiot.'

Once she described everything to him, there was silence.

'K-Klavier?'

'I'm… still here. But honestly, Ema, how could you not see at least some of that coming to you?' He coughed quite loudly and she thought it distinctly sounded like a cover up for a laugh.

'It's not funny, fop! I am bruised, my hair is ruined… I may have just lost my dream job… I… I just wanna go home!' she started to cry.

Pull yourself together, Gavin, Klavier told himself, Ema is upset and you're laughing? zum Schämen.

'I'm…I'm sorry Ema. Really, I am.'

More crying on Ema's end of the phone.

'Hey, everything's going to be fine, ja? You're alive, the Chief didn't say you were fired yet, right? The lab is clean…? Right?'

Ema sniffled, 'Uh… no. Actually, I'm kinda hiding in the toilet while I bawl my eyes out and tell you my pathetic life story…' Her voice was small and distant. She sounded like a little child.

'Ach, Ema you need to clean it, ja? I doubt you want the Chief up your arse again.'

'Ja, Klavier. But I'm just tired and I just wanna go home.' She replied in that small voice.

Klavier almost dropped the phone. Ema never said German back to him and she even had a slight accent when she said it. She must be really tired.

'Well Fräulein, let me help you. Would you like me to… help you clean the lab? Help explain and apologise to your boss? Then I can take you home? Maybe grab some of Eldoon's Noodles on the way?'

'Y-Yes!' She sobbed again. Klavier didn't know if he could handle Ema like this for much longer. It was like talking to a 3-year-old,

'Ok, ok Fräulein. Start cleaning, dry those eyes and I'll meet you in the lab in 15 minutes, ok?'

There was a brief pause. Klavier was worried that she had fallen asleep, exhausted from crying. Or has she passed out?

He heard her inhale deeply and he sighed in relief.

'How could she do that, Klavier? She took my experiment away from me. How… it's just… not fair!' she cried. More sobbing.

Klavier was never one to eye roll but this time he had to. Very mature, Ema. Still fixating on the important things. Nonetheless, he knew he had to comfort her,

'Shhh, Ema. We'll sort it out. Now dry those eyes, Ema. Did you hear me? Start cleaning and I'll be there at the lab in 15 minutes.'

'Ok… ok… it's the bottom floor. It'll be the only light on.' He was about to hang up when he heard very quietly, 'Thank you, Klavier.'

'You're welcome, Ema.' He hung up and smiled. He was oddly pleased that he got to help Ema and take her home. It didn't take long to find his keys and make his way down to the bottom of his building.

As he walked out of the Prosecutor's Building towards his sleek black sport car, he grinned. For once, he was glad he didn't take his hog to work today.

The End