The blind date
25th January, 8:00 pm
Roy sat at his steering wheel transfixed with fear and horror. His brain was registering the horrific scene that had just unfolded in front of his eyes. At one instant he was driving in his car, anxious about the date he had been looking forward to, going over ice-breakers in his head, in the next an obscure silhouette appeared in front of his car without any warning. In a frenzy, he tried to hit the breaks, but all he saw was the body hitting the hood of his car and falling on the streets with a thud, splattering blood on his windscreen. He did not need to step out and check to know the person, whoever she they were, had died from the impact. Instinctively, he jumped out and started rigorously scrubbing any incriminatory blood from his car, consciously avoiding any glance towards his victim. He could not risk confronting them, they were dead, and it was only fair he saves himself while there was still time. Carefully establishing his solitariness, he hit the gas and sped off without ever looking back.
25th January, 8:30 pm
Roy sat at the pre-booked table in the plush, air-conditioned restaurant, sweating uncontrollably. He tried, again and again, to forget the incident from earlier, as he waited patiently for Jan to show up.
Moments later, a beautiful girl walked in, dressed in a scarlet floor-length gown that complimented her olive skin tone and snugly embraced the curves of her body. Her shiny black hair was let down and gathered on one side of her shoulder while a stunning teardrop earring adorned the other. A bewitching smile, an ornament enough on her otherwise nude lips, was mirrored by her big, kohl-rimmed eyes.
“Hi, I am Jan” she said to the maitre d’, “I am looking for a Roy Hemmig.”
At the maitre d’s directions, as she looked at Roy and waved, he felt all his worries evaporate.
Jan was definitely the most beautiful girl he had a date with. He did not really trust his sister’s judgment when it came to women, and definitely not enough to agree to a blind date, but he thanked her secretly at this instant.
As the night progressed, Roy realized, Jan was as smart as she was beautiful. Her views enlightened him and amused him. She was kind, and at the same time fiercely driven, a combination that was hard to find and equally hard to resist.
25th January, 11:00 pm
Time flies when you are having a good time, Roy thought. Over wine and Italian dinner, he and Jan bonded effortlessly. He knew this was a first of many dates, laughter and revelry. As the valet handed him his car keys, he could not help but wonder at Jan’s refusal to accept a lift home. “I live a few blocks away” she insisted, “besides, it is always healthy to take a walk after a hearty meal like that.” They kissed goodbye and he stood watching her lithe, ladylike self, glide past and vanish into the murky night.
25th January, 11:30 pm
Roy cursed himself when he arrived at the blockade. He could have taken the other, longer route now that Jan was not with him, but in his reverie, he forgot all about the unspeakable business. Turning around now would appear more suspicious, so he just drove ahead, slowed down his car and rolled down his window.
“Has there been some accident officer?” he said, trying to sound incredulous.
“Yes.” the policeman replied, curtly. “Your car matches the description, so do you mind telling us if you passed by this lane anytime earlier in the evening?”
Roy tried to remain calm. “Yes sir, I was driving to the Italian place a few lanes down north. Were there any witnesses?” he asked matter-of-factly.
The policeman gave a suspicious glance and ignored his question, “Is there anyone with you who can corroborate your claim?”
“Yes, officer,” said Roy enthusiastically, “I had a date with a lady named Jan Collins, she lives somewhere nearby. We were together until almost 11.”
The taciturn policeman was visibly startled. “Could you just wait a moment?”, he said as he walked across to his colleagues, murmuring inaudibly and walked back with a photograph.
Shoving it in Roy’s face, he asked: “Do you recognize her?”.
“Yes, this is Jan,” said Roy, bewildered beyond measure.
“She was the victim of the hit and run, sir. She died on the spot.” said the officer, with his gaze sharpening.
“Will you step out of the car please.”
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