A.L.E.N - Between Shadows (Chapter 2)

Act 23

It was late at night. Liam sat at the kitchen table, surrounded by various boxes. The dim light from the overhead lamp cast long shadows across the room, giving it an eerie, almost ghostly feel. He meticulously sifted through old documents, letters, and books left behind by the previous owners of the house.

The papers were yellowed with age, edges frayed and delicate. There were almost no photographs, just scattered notes with different dates and haphazard scrawls. He wondered if they were intentionally abandoned and forgotten, or if they were left in a hurried escape.

Among the papers, Liam found a letter from MHCCI (Mental Health Care Clinic Industrialization). It lay at the bottom of one of the boxes, almost hidden beneath a stack of dusty newspapers. Seeing that it was already opened, curiosity got the better of him. He pulled out the document, the paper crackling softly in the quiet night. Just as he was about to delve into its contents, Cathleen interrupted him.

Cathleen hugged Liam from behind, almost making him jump. Her warmth was a stark contrast to the cool air in the room. "Hey, why are you still awake? You know it's pretty late, detective," she said, her voice a gentle murmur against his ear.

Liam nodded, his eyes still on the document. "I know. I just couldn't sleep," he replied, his voice low and heavy with fatigue.

Cathleen moved to sit beside him, placing her hand over his. Her touch was grounding, and she looked at him with concern etched on her face. "I know that being here brings back bad memories for you and your mother... If you're not comfortable staying here, we can find another place."

Liam sighed, finally meeting her gaze. "Cat, I'm alright. Don't worry about me. I found this in the attic. Take a look at this." He handed her the MHCCI document.

Cathleen's eyes widened as she scanned the paper. "MHCCI, Mental Health Care Clinic Industrialization? Hm... Looks like the Walf family had someone with a mental health condition." She read further, her surprise growing. "Wow, Alexander Walf had a mental disorder with symptoms of hallucinations, delusions, difficulties in reasoning, and changes in behavior such as emotional indifference and social isolation."

Liam nodded, his brow furrowing in thought. "Now it makes more sense about... Oh no, Cat, you might be right."

Cathleen looked puzzled. "Hold on... Do you really think Alexander Walf could be Alen?" Her voice was a mixture of skepticism and concern.

Liam shook his head, overwhelmed. "I... I'm not sure..." His voice trailed off, uncertainty clouding his features.

Cathleen thought for a moment, her brow knitting together in contemplation. "Liam, my father knew Alexander before I was born. He only mentioned that Alexander had dyslexia. We need more information before jumping to conclusions. We don't want to misjudge someone and make a mistake."

Liam sighed, running a hand through his hair, the strands slipping through his fingers like sand. "Yeah, you're right. It would be a huge mistake. Maybe he isn't Alen."

Cathleen gave him a reassuring smile, her hand squeezing his gently. "I have an idea. What if we go for a walk downtown tomorrow?"

Liam smiled, feeling a bit more at ease. "That sounds like a great idea, Cat. We could use a break from all this," he said, gesturing to the boxes around them.

Cathleen stood up, pulling Liam to his feet. "Okay, we'll do that tomorrow morning. But for now, we need some rest." Her voice was firm but caring, a gentle command that he knew he needed to follow.

Liam and Cathleen made their way to the bedroom, the wooden floors creaking softly beneath their feet.  As they entered the bedroom, Liam pulled back the covers of their bed, and Cathleen slipped in first, her body curling up comfortably beneath the blankets. Liam followed, settling in beside her. 

Cathleen turned to face Liam, her eyes soft and filled with concern. "Are you sure you're okay?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Liam nodded, a faint smile touching his lips. "Yeah, I'm okay. Just a lot to think about," he admitted, his gaze drifting to the ceiling as if searching for answers in the shadows.

Cathleen reached out and took his hand, her fingers intertwining with his. "We'll figure it out together, Liam. You don't have to carry this burden alone," she said gently.

Liam squeezed her hand, drawing comfort from her presence. "I know. Thank you, Cat. I don't know what I'd do without you," he murmured, turning his head to look at her.

They lay in silence, surrounded by their discoveries. As they slept, Cathleen's eyes closed and her breathing deepened.

Liam, feeling grateful and loving, brushed a strand of hair from her face and kissed her forehead. He whispered "Goodnight, Cat" and closed his eyes, wishing for rest.