Crow's Nest [✓]

Chapter 21

Jake grunted, a thoughtful look crossing his face. There was a moment of silence as he weighed his options, the quiet atmosphere of the office filling with a palpable sense of deliberation.

"Alright, I'll bite," he finally said, his voice a low rumble. "What kind of case you working on?"

Harry nodded, appreciative of Jake's willingness to cooperate. He knew he was treading on shaky ground, but he was desperate for any leads.

"We're looking into a string of mysterious deaths. Each victim shows the same symptoms - violent, uncontrollable fits until death," Harry explained, his tone serious. "Lucas is a person of interest, as he is one of the victims that survived and is currently in the hospital receiving treatment. We suspect it has something to do with a drug called Syflocyl."

Jake's eyes narrowed, a knowing glint flickering in the depths of his gaze. "Syflocyl, huh?" he said, a hint of disdain in his tone.

He sighed, his shoulders slumping slightly. "Yeah, I have heard of it. It's no urban legend, trust me. Seen its effects first hand in here a time or two."

Harry perked up, his interest piqued. This was a potential breakthrough in their investigation. He leaned a bit, not wanting to miss any details Jake could offer.

Jake continued, his voice low but intense. "It's a powerful narcotic, incredibly addictive. Came onto the streets about a year ago. I've seen some pretty desperate customers looking for it. The high it gives is like nothing else, but the crash... It's brutal. Leads to all sorts of dangerous behavior."

Harry listened intently, committing every word to memory. The puzzle of this case was finally starting to paint a more clear picture.
"I've heard there's a supplier behind it," Jake added, his voice almost a whisper now. "A man, goes by the name of 'The Doc'. Doesn't show his face. All orders are delivered through a go-between."

Harry's mind raced with this new information. This 'Doc' was a key figure in the drug distribution chain. If they could identify him, it would be a major step towards stopping the production and distribution of Syflocyl.

Jake paused, his tone growing more urgent. "But be careful, Detective. This isn't your average drug ring. The people behind Syflocyl have connections. They're not easy to mess with."

He placed a firm hand on Harry's shoulder. "If you're after the man who makes the drug, you're going to be walking into a hornet's nest. These guys play dirty, and they don't take kindly to anyone snooping around."

Harry's mind was ablaze with the information Jake had given him, the puzzle pieces slowly coming together. His body ached from the day's events, the adrenaline of the fight at the bar slowly fading. He knew he needed rest, despite the late hour.

Making his way back to Thomas' apartment, Harry tried to be quiet as he entered.

As Harry entered, he was surprised to find Thomas sitting in the living room, a cup of coffee in his hands. He glanced up at Harry, his expression a mix of curiosity and relief.

"Harry," he greeted, his voice tinged with concern, "Where've you been? I was getting worried. You left without saying anything."

Harry, realizing that Thomas deserved an explanation, filled him in on the events of the night, starting from the bar fight to the information he'd gathered from Jake. He made sure not to leave anything out, realizing that every detail could be critical.

As Harry recounted his evening, Thomas listened attentively, his eyes narrowing slightly as Harry mentioned Johnathan's connection to Syflocyl. What Harry decided to not tell Thomas about 'The Doc', at least not yet. Not until he had enough evidence.

"Johnathan knows about Syflocyl and has potentially been dealing with it? This might be a good lead."

He stood up, pacing around the living room, a clear sign he was thinking deeply. "We've got to be careful, but we're finally getting somewhere with this. Johnathan is someone with a short temper. He might not talk to us at all. Gather as much information as we can."

Thomas, a mix of concern and understanding in his eyes, turned to Harry. "Look, Harry, I'm glad you got valuable information tonight, but you can't just go off alone like that again. This case is dangerous. We work together, remember?"

Harry nodded, understanding the importance of teamwork in their investigation. He knew Thomas was right; acting without backup was not only risky but also went against their agreement. They needed to be smart and cautious moving forward.

With a final sip of his coffee, Thomas set the mug down, a determined look in his eyes. "Let's get some rest for now. We have a lot of work to do tomorrow."

They both retreated to their respective rooms, the night's events still buzzing in their minds. But with a renewed sense of purpose, they were one step closer to solving the case of Syflocyl.

Or so they thought.