I didn't scream when opening the box
And seeing of what present was given me.
Seeing what he had done.
Nor did I drop the box.
Sick fuck.
My only surprise came with how easy
Detaching myself from the moment present
I'd found was of my being.
It was wrapped in the same paper
My sister had used to wrap
My birthday gift the day before.
The very same paper.
The salmon had been gutted,
And inside were four cat paws;
Each being of four different cats.
Fuck.
I closed the box;
Coming back into the moment.
I was at work for fuck's sake.
I had to conduct myself accordingly.
Plus I only had but little time
With making sure one of the cat paws disappeared
Before my having to show the package to anyone else.
This is how an ordinarily up-front person tampers with police evidence:
After gathering a zip-lock bag, a paper sack,
A pair of tongs, and some latex gloves.
Courtesy of the first aid kit.
I then grabbed the box from where I'd hidden it,
And headed straight for the secluded privacy
Of the walk-in freezer.
Once having shut myself inside,
The intense sense of isolation
That only a walk-in freezer could probably provide
Was overwhelming, and for moment, I'd nearly lost it.
'Fuck. Deal with it Emily.'
With the latex gloves on,
I opened the box, then using the tongs,
Removed the kitten's paw from the salmon
And placed it inside the plastic bag
Before zipping it sealed and closing the box.
Looking at the tongs in my hand with utter disgust,
I then re-opened the zip-lock bag
Placing the tongs inside; and re-sealing it.
I removed the gloves,
Put everything except the box
Into the paper sack and closed it.
Breathe.
I stood there a moment
Scanning the details of my 'crime scene'.
Everything seemed in order.
Then after grabbing a box
Of spicy chicken wings off the shelf,
I exited the freezer;
Shutting the door behind me with my foot.
Forcing a smile,
I handed the wings over to the prep-cook.
'What a sweetie. Thanks, Emily.'
And after apologizing to my boss
For needing the privacy of his office,
I dialed the number on the back of the card
The officer assigned to my situation had given me,
'Should this guy try causing any more problems.'
Waiting for him to answer,
I wondered what I was going to tell my niece
When she asked if I knew the whereabouts of her kitten.
'As the images unwind
Like the circles that you find
In the windmills of your mind'
~Bergman, Legrand
