Innocent Criminal

Chapter 9 Plan of action

Kanes leg bounced at a constant speed as they waited outside the doctors rooms, waiting for any results or updated on his cell mate. Rodrick had joined then after Thomas went to inform him of what happened, he had been getting closer to Kings second in command at the time, conversing on topics he himself didn't enjoy but pretended was the best thing in the world. 'The kids gunna be fine,'. Rodrick said, trying his best to console his distraught college. 'He's got spunk, Ive seen it. He has to if he's involved with King anyway.' Kane turned to glare at his college and his failed attempt at consolation. Reminding Kane of who did this to Haru did nothing to ease the rage bubbling inside him.

'You didn't see the guy, he wasn't just beat up he was-.....he was...'. Kane couldn't finish the sentence, couldn't say the words. Countless times he'd dealt with these cases, but to say the word now, about someone he knew, someone he cared about. It makes it too real, and he didn't think he could deal with that.

'He'll be alright.' Thomas this time stepped forward. 'He's in good hands, the doctor seems to know her shit.'

Kane only gave a curt nod in response. 'It's obvious King did this, we need to get it reported to the warden.'

'We have no proof it was them.' Rodrick said. 'Besides if Haru had been there all night, along with King and who ever else may have been there then they all were out of their cell and unaccounted for the entire night. Meaning at least some of the guards are either in on it or paid off to keep their mouths shut. We need to think about this carefully before we act this time around.' Kane hated to admit it, but his college was right. Rodrick had always been the logical and methodical one of the trio.

'At the very least we can rule out Haru as being an accomplice to King. Whatever's going on between them doesn't seem voluntary on his end.' Kane pointed out, though he had suspected it from that first night Haru returned beaten and bloody.

'True. But we could use that to our advantage. Haru could have information we could use, he has no reason to keep his loyalties to King.' Thomas agreed.

Rodrick was quick to point out however, 'the fact that he's doing anything for King with the way he's treated might not have anything to do with loyalties. It's more likely he's being blackmailed. Kings got something on him, and if thats the case getting him to help us might cause more harm than good. I say we keep low for now, don't let him know who we are till we are sure.' Both Kane and Thomas agreed, the plan of action was set for now.

***

Haru woke up in the medical bed to the much too strong smell of sterilising alcohol, and the beeping on the heart monitor as well as the buzzing from the fluorescent lights that were far too bright. He didn't like it.

'Well good evening, nice to see you coming too.' A chirpy and gently voice sounded to Harus right. He turned to see a head of curly red hair belonging to a smiling woman in a lab coat, Dr Richardson . Haru concluded he'd somehow got to the medical wing of the prison after what happened. He didn't even fully remember that night but he knew what was done to him, and he was trying his best to keep everything at bay before he really had a meltdown. 'Your cell mate brought you here, seems like a good lad him its nice to see you finally getting along with good company Haru.' She said. Haru numbly nodded, still drowsy from the strong pain meds . 'I'll let you get some rest before I send you off huh.' And with that she kindly dimmed the lights a bit, closed the blinds and removed the heart monitor that was no longer needed now that she confirmed he was stable. She knew it may have been too much to Haru with all the blaring stimulus. There was still a guard stationed outside Harus room but she made sure to instruct him not to enter if he didn't need to.

Dr Saskia Richardson had seen Haru more time she could count in the times he'd been in the prison. Always beaten and bloody, always giving up without a fight. She hated it but she didn't have to power to do much about it other then patch up to poor kid and send him right back out there. But know there was this new cell mate, and to Saskia he seemed like the best opportunity she had.

So after leaving Haru to sleep hopefully she met the anxiously waiting cell mate and invited him to her office for a quick chat. She sat behind her desk while the prisoner in handcuffs sat opposite, and a guard in the corner of the room. 'So Kane,'. She started, 'it's my understanding that you seem to have some care about Haru. Whether it be as a friend or acquaintance, from my veiw so far you dont seem half bad. Imprisoned for theft of a general store with no previous criminal record. Not even disorderly conduct.' Kane simply nodded his head, still unsure of what he was doing in the Doctors office and not by Harus side. 'I have a favour to ask of you.'

Still skeptical Kane replied 'ask away.'

'Ive seen Haru come in and out of this place far too many times, and this time was the worst. Im sure you don't need to be a genius to guess what was done to him. He's not a bad kid, he's just been given a bad life. Im not asking you to sort out what ever grievances he has with people who keep doing this to him. But please, I'm asking you to try and make his life a little easier. Ive seen too many young people like him end their lives too early.' Kane for a moment was shocked, seeing the genuine worry in the Doctors eyes. It was refreshing to see at least someone here still have some humanity, and he agreed without a hesitation. Though he knew this could possibly get in the way of his mission, he felt this to be a duty of its own.

'Thank you.' She sighed. 'So update on his situation. He's healing ok for what is to be expected, Ive written up slips to pardon him from his work or duties just make sure he's in bed and eats well. He's still quite underweight and thats going to delay his healing a while, please try to get him to eat more. Im not allowed to give him pain medication unless he's physically here, and I'm not allowed to keep him here for longer then needed - stupid I know - but If I could help him get here every two to three days for a week to receive his medication.' She listed the instructions to which Kane replied with occasional 'ok's and 'understood'.

'Oh and one more thing,' she added as he was about to get up and leave. 'I have noticed Haru is a person with certain....vulnerabilities. I cannot disclose much and this is not a diagnosis as I'm not in the profession of psychiatry, but i have consulted my concerns about his behaviour with a friend of mine who is, and we strongly suspect he is on the spectrum. Now in a place like this my word means very little, and trying to get him an evaluation is a needlessly complicated and long process im working on. But for now I would ask you just to keep in mind some things may be harder for him to cope, but just bare with him.' She almost pleaded. She'd consulted with a psychiatrist about her suspicions a few months ago, after Haru had been set to her for multiple meltdowns. But in here there wasn't much she could do about it.

'I had that suspicion too,'. Kane shocked the doctor in saying. 'I have a relative on the spectrum. I know its different for everyone but I'll do what I can for him.'

At this point the doctor thought shes come across Harus guardian angle. Her face broke into a gleaming grin and she thanked Kane immensely for understanding, for trying. Too many times the people the empathetic Doctor whished to help never got what they deserved. She became a doctor for the very reason of helping people, yet time and time again she felt like shed failed. And with all the restrictions in the prison it made her goals just that much harder. But this time she had faith that maybe, just maybe, she helped change the course of Harus life.