ambit. [hs au]

Chapter 23

Despite my little speech at the Coffee Lab, with Detective Kai, I'm perfectly aware I don't actually know Harry that well.

I mean, yeah, of course - we've known each other for 15 years, but haven't genuinely coexisted for the last ten, at least. Though I like to believe I might have a little grasp about his background and who he used to be so many years ago, I'm not gullible enough to let myself believe I know who he is today.

Even so, it angered me when Detective Kai so freely said I should be careful around him. That he's a dangerous man, someone who can't be trusted. I got mad, because even if I don't entirely know who Harry is, I know who he is not.

He is not dangerous.

I might not know a lot, but that much I do. Even if it's all I know.

Every time I'm around him, I feel like I'm trying to put together one of those impossible, one color puzzles. Dot was showing me a TikTok about them the other day, it's a jigsaw puzzle for adults, with one thousand pieces, all pitch black or bright white, no figures whatsoever. Only one block color from top to bottom with not even a difference of shading.

That's how I see Harry. Every new thing I discover about him is like a new piece that I try to put together, in the hopes of someday being able to complete the whole puzzle, although I have no idea of what picture it might end up forming, because it has none.

Calling him after stepping out of the Coffee Lab was an impulsive decision and I guess, inviting me over was an impulsive decision for him as well, something he did before fully thinking about what he was doing or, better yet, what was I supposed to do once I got there.

I don't know what I expected to find once I stepped out of the cab right in front of the intimidating, all white manor. I glanced up at this ridiculously luxurious house, the black windows and silver details, how fucking royal and pompous it looked, and immediately felt underdressed in my jumper and running shoes.

Oh, let me correct that - in his jumper, and my running shoes.

For a moment, I had no idea what to do with myself. The other two times I was here, I came in through the side entrance at the kitchen, but both times I was already with one of the house owners. It felt counterintuitive to go there on my own, especially considering the big, black dog I knew to be lurking on the back gardens of the house.

I mean, of course, I wasn't afraid of Zale, but last time I was here - which was in the morning, by the way - she and Harry were all ready to attack Timmy when he came in without making his presence known.

So I decided to play it safe, pulling my phone from my back pocket, ready to text Harry, to let him know I was there and ask if I should knock on the front door or come in through the kitchen. However, before I could even open the messages app, the front door was being opened by, and I'm not overstating it when I say this, a butler.