Entry #113

The Co-Conspirator
by Susan Clarke


Hatred. Pure and Simple. Nothing else could describe Jonathan’s feeling towards Otis. Everyday as he patrolled the mall, he could feel Otis watching him; mocking him, laughing at him. Left to him, there would be no Otis. He could not understand why people did not feel the same way and blamed their adoration on their lazy habits.

His walkie-talkie crackled to life, “Come in Jonathan, there is a shoplifter making his way to the south exit from the Comet store. Suspect is about Five feet Eight inches tall and is wearing a green hooded parka with light blue jeans and...”

Jonathan cursed under his breath as he dashed between shoppers, heading towards the south exit. He caught sight of the shoplifter at the precise moment the shoplifter saw him and changed direction. He was now headed for the Princes Road exit. Jonathan gave chase and saw him heading in Otis’s direction.

The man in the hood got on the escalator and raced up. Once at the top, he turned back to Jonathan and gave him the one finger salute before disappearing out of the doors and blending in with the crowd on Princes Road.

Frustrated, Jonathan looked at the treacherous escalator with its Otis sign pasted at the top and kicked it in anger. Otis had conspired against him once again. He felt the escalator’s mocking gaze follow him as he marched off to face his supervisor and knew that this time he was definitely going to get the sack.