Crow's Nest [✓]

Chapter 28

Harry had been sitting at his desk, pretending to look through some files, but his mind was racing. He wanted to go check something out, but he didn't want to arouse any suspicion.

He glanced around the room, making sure no one was paying attention, before pushing back his chair and standing up. His heart was beating a little faster, he walked towards the exit. He knew Thomas was suspicious of him, and if he knew where Harry was going, he'd definitely try to stop him.

The lead Harry had found was a tiny detail in a police report about a recent drug bust. One of the dealers who was arrested had been caught with some very rare, very expensive pills in his possession.

Harry had immediately recognized the pills as Syflocyl pills and had a hunch that it might lead him to the mysterious 'Doc'. Armed with this information, he was determined to follow it to the source.

Following the lead, Harry arrived at the location of the drug bust; a run-down house on the outskirts of town. The neighborhood was rough, with rundown buildings and empty lots.

Harry took a few moments to survey the area, making sure no one was watching, before he approached the house. It looked abandoned from the outside, with boarded up windows and chipped paint.

Taking a deep breath, Harry approached the front door, trying the handle. To his surprise, it opened with a creak. Gingerly, he stepped into the house, his eyes adjusting to the dim light.

The interior of the house was even more run-down than the outside. The wallpaper was peeling off the walls, and the floorboards creaked loudly under his footsteps.

Harry proceeded further into the house, following a winding hallway that led to a door at the end. The door was slightly ajar, and a faint light was spilling out from within.

He could hear faint rustling and murmurings coming from inside, confirming that someone was likely in there.

Summoning his courage, Harry pushed open the door and stepped into the room. It was a small sitting room, a few dusty sofas and armchairs arranged around a stained rug.

In the center of the room was a round table accompanied with five seats, yet there were only four people taking them up.

As Harry entered unannounced, all four pairs of eyes turned towards him, surprised by his sudden intrusion. The men at the table were all big, burly, and rough looking, dressed in dark denim and leather jackets.

They were clearly not your average businessmen.

"Who the hell are you?" one of them growled, standing up from his chair and clenching his fists.

The tension in the room was thick, and the air was electric. Harry looked at the men, sizing them up.

"I'm a police officer," he said, his voice steady. "And I have some questions for you fellas."

The room fell silent for a moment. Then, one of the men, a big bald guy with tattoos, started laughing heartily. The others soon joined in, their deep barks of laughter bouncing off the walls.

"A copper, eh?" the bald guy said, wiping tears from his eyes. "We got ourselves a comedian, boys!"

The rest of the men at the table chuckled, amused by the newcomer's presence. The bald guy took a couple of steps towards Harry.

"Listen, copper, you're trespassing on private property. I think it's time for you to leave." He looked back at his friends, who were still chuckling, and smirked.

Harry remained where he was, refusing to back down. He could see that he was outnumbered, but he wasn't afraid. He was a trained police officer after all.

"I'm not leaving until I get some answers," he said firmly. "I'm looking for information about someone called the 'Doc'. You boys know anything about that?"

The atmosphere in the room immediately changed. The laughter and mockery from the men were replaced with silence and unease.

The bald guy who had spoken up earlier gave Harry a suspicious look. "Where'd you hear about the Doc?" he asked, his voice lowered.

Harry observed the men's reaction. It was clear that this "Doc" guy carried some weight. He decided to push further, seeing how much he could get out of them.

"Word gets around," he said vaguely. "I've been doing some digging, and the Doc's name has come up a few times. But I want to know who he is and where to find him. Can you help me?"

The men at the table looked at each other for a moment, silently communicating. They were clearly uncomfortable with the questions.

Finally, the bald guy spoke up again. "Listen, copper, you don't want to get involved with the Doc." He leaned in a bit closer, his tone becoming threatening. "He's not someone you mess around with. If you know what's good for you, you'll turn around and forget you ever heard that name."

The bald guy's threat was clear, but Harry wasn't intimidated. He could tell they were getting increasingly uncomfortable, which was a step in the right direction. But he needed more.

"I'm afraid I can't do that," he replied. "I have a case to solve, and the Doc seems to be part of it. But I can promise you, I'm not looking for trouble. I just want to ask him a few questions."

The bald guy laughed roughly again. "You're a fool, copper. You have no idea who you're dealing with." He took another step towards Harry, his expression darkening. "The Doc is more than just scary. He's a goddamn psycho. And if you go after him, you're signing your own death warrant."

A shiver ran down Harry's spine at the bald guy's warning. But still, he wouldn't give up. He was too stubborn.

"I appreciate your concern," he replied, trying to keep the fear out of his voice. "But I've dealt with my share of psychos before. I can handle myself."

The bald guy let out a cynical bark of laughter. "Oh yeah? You think you're tough enough to handle the Doc?" He glanced back at his friends, who were quietly watching the exchange. They looked more troubled now than amused.

The bald guy paused, studying Harry for a moment. There was a hint of respect in his eyes now, mixed with the previous skepticism.

"You really want to know about the Doc?" he asked, his voice slightly softer now.

The bald guy looked around at his companions, as if seeking their approval. After a moment, he grunted.

"Alright, I'll give you one tip. The Doc is a doctor, as you probably figured. He used to work at The Brooklyn Hospital Center."

Harry's eyebrows raised in surprise. A doctor at The Brooklyn Hospital Center? That wasn't the sort of information he had been expecting to get. But it was a lead nonetheless.

"A doctor at the hospital, eh?" he repeated, making a mental note. It was a place to start.

The bald guy shrugged heavily. "What happened? He got fired, that's what. Got caught experimenting on patients, without their consent. He's a damn lunatic, that Doc. Thinks he can play God."

Harry nodded grimly. The pieces were starting to come together. The Doc was a rogue medical professional, obsessed with his experiments.

"Did he...cause any injuries to these patients?" Harry asked, although he already suspected he knew the answer.

"Injuries?" The bald guy let out a bitter bark of laughter. "You could say that. A couple of 'em died, from what I heard. And the ones that lived, well, let's just say they ain't the same anymore."