“Now that is unfriendly you chinky bitch, he stepped back and turned to the counter, in a moment he turned again and threw the contents of a plastic cup into her face. The smell indicated it was curry sauce.
She moved to the left and so the main contents missed her face but the remnants slide down her coat.
The man lunged forward to grab her but in a flash she swivelled and as she did so, her now bent elbow struck him in the solar plexus and he sank to his knees.
The other man seeing what had happened produced a knife and surged forward, as he lunged towards Doris a high kick caught the knife sending it into air so that it was sticking from the ceiling.
In just as quick motion as her foot came down, she spun and the young man was struck in the chest and before he realised it he was lying on the floor.
Both men struggled to their feet and as they did Doris was standing, both her arms held upright in front of her, obviously ready for more action. The older man called out to her.
“Enough, no more”.
Jack the hat witnessing what had happened arrived inside the shop by which time Doris had removed her coat exposing her shirtsleeve order white shirt.
The three members of staff who had now arrived behind the counter one armed with a clean cloth holding it out towards Doris.
All three looked at Doris, then at each other, and then all three bowed. Doris hesitated, and then returned the bow.
Proceedings were interrupted when the police already called by the staff arrived in the guise of Sergeant Striker and two Constables.
“What’s going on here?” said Striker.
“These men they frighten off my customers, they no pay for their meals and they throw curry sauce over this lady” said the older of the shop staff.
“Ah you Doris” shouted Striker “I thought you were going home not getting involved in this shit, I suggest you do just that, I will speak with you tomorrow.”
Now you two, Constables Roberts and Davies pick up and arrest these two shit heads and take them into the van. We will deal with them Mr China man I suppose they went to attack you before you gave them the treatment. I wouldn’t want to have to arrest you for assaulting them”.
“Thank you sergeant” said the shop manager who in truth had not understood a word Striker had said.
“I say Jack the hat”, called Striker “a bit out of your league this isn’t it?” Normally used to sitting around a desk eh”.
Jack the hat neither commented nor reacted visually just closed the door and left the shop.
Once back in the car it had not gone far when Jack the hat spoke.
“You seemed handy in there I must say”
“Mr Richards, when you are only five feet two inches in height, weigh less than seven stone, have slit eyes and known as “Dopey Doris” it is prudent to be able to take care of ones self, should the need arise, of course”.
“Ah yes I would agree with that, and you certainly seem to be able to do that, Inspector”.
“The shop staff, saw the bow what is the relevance of that?”
“Oh I suspect they were just grateful”, she replied.
He made no comment but thought to himself “Maybe but I don’t think so”.
The remainder of the journey was uneventful.
Arriving in the house, Anne asked
“Have a busy day Jack?"
“Just middling” he replied
A clear message he did not wish to speak further upon the subject.
Doris arrived at her house and went directly to the bathroom, showered, changed and in a moment was watching the television and eating her curry, not like how her grandmother made it in China but not too bad, better than she could do.
The day was done time to sit and relax before bed and yet another day.
“One thing” thought Doris “this job was neither repetitive nor mundane. What tomorrow would bring was unknown”.
PART NINE
THE SUSPECT
The following day on arrival at the Museum Jack typed out his statement of evidence and when Doris arrived, he gave it to her
“That is all I saw”, he said, “You acted so quick it was hard to take in”.
“Thanks” she said. “I will pop over to the nick and hand this in and dictate mine whilst I am there”.
In a moment, she was gone.
Arriving at the front counter she didn’t have far to go for Sergeant Striker was speaking with the Chief Super
“What can I do for you Ling? Is Sherlock Holmes not with you?”
Both men laughed.
Doris replied, “I have just brought his statement of evidence over regarding last night, I will do mine here".
Striker looked at her then said looking at the Chief Super, “if you will excuse me sir, I will just deal with this”.
“Oh of course, carry on Striker” He turned and left the room his footsteps could be heard running upstairs.
“Now Ling, what’s this nonsense about statements, for what?”
“Last night Sergeant the trouble at the take away”.
“The trouble last night”, he repeated. “Trouble; there was no trouble just a couple of boisterous lads having a night out, no need for statements”,
“What about the custody sheet?” She asked
“What custody sheet?” “They weren’t locked up just taken home and given a boot up the arse, which if you were anything of a copper you would have given them, now you run along and make me a mug of coffee.”
“Yes sergeant” she replied and went towards the kitchen
“Oh Ling”, called Striker, “Make me a good un just like the Chief Super gets or is he something special”? He continued, “You know what I mean, a bit special like”.
She made no reply and went to the kitchen made the coffee spat into the cup and returned with it.
Striker took hold and had a long drink, making a loud slurping noise followed by a louder, “ahhhh, just the job what a good brew, anytime you got more of this let me know”.
She smiled and said “Sergeant you are well assured every drink I make for you it will be just like that one”.
“Ah, Ah”, called Striker “and the rest the Chief Super gets, will that be coming my way”?
She made no comment but left.
On arrival back in their office in the museum she was a little upset, Jack the hat arrived to ask something then seeing her he guessed what had happened but asked
“What happened”?
“Striker cuffed it; he said he took them home, nothing on the sheet”.
”I see, well never mind I suspect just about now both men will be waking up with very sore ribs. There is that consolation, what about Striker, just as obnoxious?”
She nodded but made no reply. Jack the hat returned to his office and sat down at his desk and thought, “Striker, when ignorance is bliss vulgarity appropriately asserts itself”.
He stood, went to the hat stand and removed his trilby, “ah”, he thought “the brown one today I think, I bought it when, now let me think about 1970 after the case of the child molester. Yep, that was a horrid case, one of the only ones I worked on with Woodcock, that shit head signed the Cheshire petition against me.
Fully clothed in hat and raincoat equally as old as each other he picked up his brief case, closed the office door, locked it and put the keys inside his brief case.
“Inspector, if you are ready we will be off to see these two poor women”.
“I am just in the loo” she called.
There was answer to that he thought.
The telephone rang in the office, “blast” he thought “who the hell is that, I had better answer it in case it’s one or more of the widows cancelling”.