The Demon Hunter

16: "This Simon fella is one of a kind."

As the door opened again on this little room, and Simon got to look at the person coming in, he didn't even try to hide his surprise. With both eyebrows raised, but still in his calm and gentle way, he stated: "I've got to be honest with you: You are not the Miller I was expecting today."

Lauren surpressed a sourly smile, tried her best to not seem affected by any of this. She had taken the entire Sunday to cool down after David had gone behind her back, and now it was time to try and save what was left of her career. She wasn't sure of what she hoped to achieve by talking to Simon now, but at least he should know that she hadn't meant any of this to happen. Still, the main reason for her to come... was to apologize. And that wasn't at all easy.

Especially since her last session with him ended so... apruptly. Which was entirely her fault.

"Simon..." she began, wrestling desperately for words, but he interrupted her.

"I know what you want to say. There's no need for that. I know that you didn't tell him anything on purpose. And in case you worry: I haven't talked to anyone about this. This patient-doctor-confidentiality works both ways, you know? Or at least it is supposed to."

Until now Lauren had tried to keep a straight face, but this brightened her up. She could feel it. Her eyes widened, her breath came out in a wave of relief, and she could hardly contain her joyous feelings about this. "That is... that is great! Thank you, Simon!"

"No time for this!" Simon seemed a bit under stress now. He leaned forward, focusing his gaze on her eyes, looking dead serious. "Listen, I need to talk to your husband again. It is vitally important that he comes and sees me immediately."

"Oh..." Lauren had not expected that. "Well... I don't know..."

"You don't understand." Simon's voice had gained an urgency that was odd to Lauren, it seemed like he was almost panicking. "I have... found something. Something that will shed new light on this case of his. Something very important... and very dangerous."

While Lauren still worked on digesting what just happened, she felt the gaze of the inmate even stronger on herself, like he was looking directly into her soul. But that could have been just her imagination at this point. His voice changed again, gained an almost cautious undercurrent as he asked her: "How much have you told him?"

She backed away in shock. "Nothing! Honestly. He figured it out by himself."

She felt even more nervous as she saw a frown cover Simon's face, but suddenly a small, appreciative smile showed up on his lips and in his eyes. "Yeah, he seems to be a good detective. I should have expected that. The more important it is now that he knows everything. So you need to tell him the rest. Tell him what I told you! He needs to know what he is up against."

Hang on, she thought. This was a very sudden change in his approach. "So what about this not leaving this room?" she inquired, raising an eyebrow. "What of your fear that this gets out, and you get committed?"

"It doesn't matter anymore," Simon answered bitterly. "For one, this already got out. Far enough to reach your husband, Doctor Miller. And two, this is bigger than me. This can be catastrophic for any of us."

Lauren looked at him very carefully. His face, every wrinkle, every line... she examined it, looking for any sign of dishonesty. "You... really believe in this, don't you?" she then concluded. "This is not just an act to get out of prison. You believe it to be true."

Simon snorted. "I am way past believing, Doctor. I know this to be true. Convincing you, that is the hard part. And I can't even blame you. How are you supposed to take what I have to say at face value? To believe in something so..." He stopped, looking for the right word.

Lauren was ready to help him. "Fantastic?" she suggested.

Simon shook his head. "Absurd," he answered. Lauren had almost expected him to say "crazy". Although he would probably refrain of ever using this word. "I wouldn't believe it either, if I hadn't experienced it first hand. But now... it seems someone else has, too. Someone dangerous."

Lauren wondered what he was referring to. She knew that David was on his first case, and that he believed it to be the work of a serial killer. But how would Simon and his demon theory fit into all this? She looked at him and caught herself staring after a short while. She didn't know how to process this. Also: She shouldn't discuss it with him any further. For she and David had made an agreement, and him violating this agreement didn't give her the right to do so as well. Maybe they couldn't stay out of each other's hair sometimes, but at least she should be able to stay out of his job.

Still, she couldn't fight her curiosity back entirely. "What is it, Simon? What is this all about?" She tilted her head a bit. "Do you know who is behind this?"

For a moment Simon just sat there, seemingly staring blankly around her. Maybe it was the ghost of his father talking to him again. He didn't seem to hide it as well as the first time they had met. But maybe it was just a conflict he had in himself. Wondering how far he should go and tell her. Until he finally answered her: "No. I don't know who did this. I don't even know if it is one person or many. But I know why this happens."

His eyes fixated her, taking in her entire reaction. She was breathless when she asked: "Why?"

And then his eyes seemed to darken. "For the same reason I killed Gent van Villeke."

Two hours later David was driving up the narrow street towards the prison. After all that had happened, he had promised himself not to go near that place again, to not put Lauren into greater trouble than she already was. He was still reprimanding himself for being so stupid and careless, for chasing after such a crazy idea without any proof of it being correct. As he approached the prison gate, he glanced to the side on the passenger seat where Father Bennett's old book was lying.

He hadn't wanted to come here again. And he still felt that this was a bad idea. But apparently, his wife disagreed. Her text message on her phone said so: "Come to the prison and talk to Simon! It's urgent!" It was the last thing he had expected, especially from her, and for a moment he considered the possibility that it was a cruel joke. But it came from her phone, no doubt. And the short and on the point style of texting him was exactly her.

The usual formalities were waiting for him at the entrance. Lucky for him, the book apparently didn't pose any threat and was allowed with him inside. Warden Hennessey was on duty today, and he was a bit puzzled by Simon's request to see David, as he told David up front. "I heard that you have visited him on the weekend already," he said with an undertone that didn't exactly sound appreciative. "I also heard what happened afterwards. Booke told me about this."

David felt his blood shooting up in his face, reddening it from embarrassment. "Not that I could blame her for making a scene..."

"Hell, what were you thinking, man?" Hennessey didn't really hold back on his opinion. "If I had done this to my wife, I wouldn't have left this office on my own two legs, you know." He sighed, looking at the paers and the screens. "Funny that she changed her opinion so fast. On the other hand, this Simon fella is one of a kind."

"So I've heard," David mumbled. "Can I speak to him now?"

Hennessey walked him to the room where Simon was waiting. As usual a guard was posted in hearing range. The heave metal door was opened, and David stepped in. Simon was already waiting.

The door closed with a heavy metallic clank. And was locked.

And in that moment David froze. Internally he wished for his pistol to be in the holster at that moment. For he had not been ready for this.

Simon wasn't cuffed.

He sat in his chair, completely free, both hands on the table like he was waiting for dinner. He looked at the detective who had come to see him, showing a faint smile. "Seargeant Miller," he greeted David. "Thanks for coming!"