Crow's Nest [✓]

Chapter 30

As they walked into Thomas' modest apartment, the weariness of the day seemed to settle in on both men.

They grabbed dinner on the way but was too hungry to wait till they arrived at the apartment. Thomas decided to show Harry one of the local foodtrucks who sold not only some of the unhealthiest foods, but also the tastiest. It was some type of beef burger with a side of chips and a soda. Harry was first hesitant, remembering Thomas' warning about the amount of sugar and oil in the food, only to realize after a bite that it was delicious. The onions were soft and sweet, the lettuce fresh and the tomatoes were juicy. Topped of with a slightly roasted bun and perfectly cooked beef patty. Harry was eating it hastily, only looking up once to catch Thomas' chuckle.

As Thomas entered the kitchen to grab a glass of water, Harry took a seat on the couch, feeling the day's events weighing heavily on his mind.

The apartment was quiet, the only sound coming from Thomas in the kitchen. Harry leaned back, his thoughts still racing. He knew he had a lot to figure out about this 'Doc' and his connection to Johnathan's case, but he also knew he couldn't do it alone.
He needed Thomas's trust and partnership to get to the truth.

Thomas returned from the kitchen, holding a glass of water in his hand. He took a seat in an armchair adjacent to the couch, setting the glass down on the small coffee-table in between.

He looked at Harry with a mixture of tiredness and concern. "You alright?" he asked.

Harry shrugged, his gaze fixed on the floor. "Yeah, just tired. And a little frustrated." He paused for a moment, then looked up at Thomas. "I know I messed up, going off on my own like that. I promise, it won't happen again."

Thomas nodded, his expression softening a bit. "I know you won't," he said. "You're a good cop, Harry, but you sometimes have a damn one-track-mind."

Harry chuckled softly, realizing the truth in Thomas's words. "Yeah, I guess I do. Can't help it. When I get on a case, everything else seems to fade away."

Thomas leaned forward, resting his arms on his legs. "Just remember, you're not alone, alright? You got me as your partner. You can lean on me, share the load."

Harry looked up at his friend, grateful for the support. "I appreciate that, man. I really do." He paused. "I just want to figure out what the hell's going on with this case. There's more to it than just a drug dealer getting murdered. There has to be."

Thomas glanced down as his phone alerted, signalling a new notification. He picked up his phone from the coffee table and checked the screen.

Finishing reading the report, Thomas looked up at Harry. "Looks like there's a fire near the outskirts of town. Nothing too major, it seems. Fire engine's already on the scene."

Harry shrugged, looking unenthusiastic. "Fire. Not exactly our jurisdiction, is it?" he said with a hint of sarcasm.

Thomas smirked, understanding Harry's sarcasm. "Yeah, we're homicide detectives, not firefighters. But still, it's strange how these things always happen in abandoned buildings, huh?"

Harry nodded. "Yeah, could be squatters. People living in abandoned buildings always attract trouble, you know?"

Thomas sighed, knowing that could be the case. "Let's just hope it's not something more serious. But I don't think we should worry. It's not our job to deal with every fire in Brooklyn."

Harry leaned back on the couch, his tiredness finally showing. "Yeah, I guess you're right," he mumbled, rubbing his eyes. "I just want this day to be over."

Thomas took a sip of his water, understanding Harry's sentiment. "Me too, man. Let's just get some rest and tackle things fresh in the morning, alright?"

Harry nodded slowly, his eyelids drooping. "Yeah, sounds good. I'm about ready to pass out," he said, stifling a yawn.

The lights were switched off as the two men headed to their respective rooms, the apartment now quiet and still.

Thomas settled into bed, his thoughts swirling with the events of the day.

In the other room, Harry lay in his bed, staring at the ceiling, his mind refusing to quiet. Despite his exhaustion, he couldn't shake the feeling that he was missing something important.

Thomas tossed and turned in his bed, images from the day's events playing in loops behind his closed eyelids. He had to admit, Harry's solo mission had him worried. He trusted his partner, but he also knew that Harry was prone to impulsive actions.

In the other room, Harry continued his stare-off with the ceiling, his mind still refusing to shut down. The more he thought about the case, the more confused and frustrated he felt.

As the night slowly progressed, both Thomas and Harry gradually drifted into a deep sleep. The sounds of the city outside faded away, replaced by the slow, steady breaths of two tired men.

The only light in the apartment now came from the moonlight filtering in through the curtains, casting long, flickering shadows that danced along the walls.