Jessica arrived at the restaurant earlier than everyone else. The streets outside were still grey and quiet, and the building itself had that hollow, waiting feeling that only existed before opening hours.
She let herself in through the back, changed into her uniform in the empty staff room, and made her way out to the dining area with a cloth in one hand and a grim determination in her chest.
She was halfway down the second row of chairs when the door opened behind her.
"I need coffee."
"Sorry, we're not open yet, you'll have to come back at—"
Jessica stopped, and her hand stopped too, flat on the back of a chair, the cloth hanging from her fingers.
She knew that voice. It wasn't the voice of any ordinary staff.
Her heart kicked into overdrive, and she straightened slowly, very slowly, as if turning around too quickly might somehow make the situation worse.
