Crow's Nest [✓]

Chapter 12

Thomas took Harry to a nearby nearby diner, a small but cozy establishment with the smell of fried food and fresh coffee wafting out through the open door. Thomas had warned Harry about the fast food establishments in Brooklyn. It was overfilled with oil and artificial sugars. The way Thomas described how greasy the burgers were, made Harry slightly nauseous.

They slid into a booth near the window, the vinyl seats creaking softly as they settled in. Thomas picked up a menu and scanned it absentmindedly, his mind still half on the case, the other half on the enticing smells around them. Harry, too, flipped through the menu, his eyes flickering over the different options. "I don't even know what to get," he muttered, his stomach grumbling loudly. "Everything looks so good, but my brain's mush right now."

"The pasta here is really good. William will kill me if I say it's better than his favourite Italian restaurant though." Thomas chuckled
Harry let out a chuckle of his own, the mention of William's preference bringing a smile to his lips. "Well, William isn't here right now, is he?" he said, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "And I, for one, could really go for some good pasta right about now."
Thomas smiled, closing the menu. "Two chicken Alfredo dishes then?"
Harry's smile widened at the suggestion, his stomach rumbling again. "Definitely," he agreed. "Chicken Alfredo it is." He closed his own menu and set it on the table, satisfied with their decision.

A young waitress came to their table and took their orders. As they waited for their food, they took the opportunity to discuss the case, keeping their voices low so as not to be overheard by the other patrons. They went over the information they'd gathered from the hospital and the Blue Dragon Lounge, their minds whirring as they tried to make connections where they couldn't yet see them.
"After this we should go check up on the victim. The hospital said he's awake but still in shock. His parents were definitely not happy about the whole situation." Thomas said
Harry nodded, a grimace on his face. "Yeah, I'm not surprised they're not happy," he said, his tone sympathetic. "Their kid was on the brink of death, all because of that damn drug. But you're right, we should go check up on him. Maybe he can tell us something useful."

Just then, the waitress appeared, setting down two steaming plates of Chicken Alfredo in front of them. The rich, creamy sauce and the tender chicken wafted up, making their mouths water. "Enjoy," the waitress said with a smile before walking off to attend to other customers. Thomas and Harry wasted no time in digging into their meals. The rich flavors bursting on their tongues, momentarily distracting them from the seriousness of their task. They ate in silence for a few minutes, savoring the taste and the simple pleasure of a hot meal.

As they ate, the tension eased from their shoulders, the warmth of the food and the cozy atmosphere of the diner helping to wash away the stress of the day. Thomas and Harry continued to eat, their conversation turning away from work and instead shifting to mundane topics like movies, music, and reminiscing about old times.
The meal continued, the two men laughing and chatting as they ate, the food and the conversation making them feel lighter, less burdened. It was a brief respite from the reality of their case, a small pocket of normalcy in the midst of chaos.

Once they finished their food, they both leaned back in their seats, their stomachs comfortably full. They paid the bill, thanked the waitress and stood up to leave, the heavy feeling of their task returning to them.