Dangers in the Dark

1813 Liberty Penny 6.2

Third Person POV

Knowing they had a job to do, despite the fact it was one of the worst parts of their job, Jim and Harvey were stood in the residence of the Hastings family. The parents of Amanda Hastings had already been informed of the unfortunate fate of their daughter so at least Jim and Harvey didn't have to do that part.

Both Mr and Mrs Hastings looked to be in their late forties/ early fifties and on both faces was plastered a look of emptiness. Hearing that their daughter had been murdered must have left them feeling numb inside, a feeling that no one should feel.

To help the Hastings with their trauma, the family therapist, Dr. Marks, was allowed to sit in on their conversation. She mostly stayed out of their conversation but just sat there making sure that the Hastings were dealing with Amanda's death properly.

"You see, the strange thing, and the horrible thing... is that I've been having the same dream for weeks... of a dark overbearing presence," Mr Hastings told Jim and Harvey.

"Mr. Hastings, about your daughter, and we know that this is difficult... but did she have anyone in her life that worried you?" Jim asked, trying to say it as sensitively as possible. "Anyone who might have wished her harm?"

"Everybody loved my Amanda," Mr. Hastings replied bluntly, making Jim look over at Harvey. However Harvey was preoccupied with looking at Mr. Hastings' hand which he was clenching and releasing constantly, staring blankly at the wall in front of him.

"Mr. Hastings, are you alright?" Harvey asked, making Jim look over at Mr. Hastings now. He didn't reply but just kept on clenching and releasing his fist. Clenching and releasing. Clenching and releasing, over and over.

"Robert, if you need to take a moment, I'm sure it will be alright," Dr. Marks said, standing up and placing a gentle hand on the grieving man's shoulder.

"Absolutely," Jim reassured him, not wanting to push for any information when they were both so fragile.

Mr. Hastings then got up and walked away to another room to try and calm himself down. Clearly not having been paying attention to anything that had happened, Mrs Hastings sat still and silent in her chair, staring at a crack on the opposite wall.

"Come on," Dr. Marks encouraged Mrs. Hastings to also take a break by gently helping her up and ushering her out of the room. But rather than leaving the room herself, Dr. Marks stayed and turned to Jim and Harvey. "I know you gentlemen are working against the clock... but I'm afraid Mr. and Mrs Hastings might not be ready for this."

"I can see that," Jim assured her, looking away from the Hastings to look at her. "And you are the Hastings' therapist, Dr. Marks?"

"Yes. I treat mostly Mr. Hastings, but we've had many family sessions. Mr. Hastings has a very delicate nature. I'm afraid he's not capable of dealing with this kind of tragedy," Dr. Marks said.

"No one's capable of dealing with this kind of tragedy. It's a freight train. It runs you over, and you try to pick up what's left," Harvey told Dr. Marks, making her tilt her head slightly.

"You don't believe in treatment?" Dr. Marks asked.

"I believe in the tranquilizers you clobbered Mrs. Hastings with," Harvey countered, making Jim's eyes widen and hope deep inside that Harvey would pull himself together before he stepped over the line; he didn't. "If you're giving out samples—"

"Okay. Uh..." Jim interrupted him, giving him a warning look. "Detective, maybe we should, uh..."

"Yeah, you're right, we should," Harvey nodded.