Innocent Criminal

Chapter 13

Haru was never a man of many words. As a child he didn't speak till he was 5 years old, not that anyone minded. When Haru finally spoke he was not congratulated, his mother didn't even realise he had the issue to begin with. His first words were words of anguish, spoken out of pure frustration and fear. He asked one of his mother's many boyfriends to stop hurting her, screaming the single word 'STOP' over and over as his body trembled and tears stained his flush red face. He loved his mother, even if she didn't feed him or love him or even acknowledge his existence till he did some thing wrong. So, when her boyfriend finally stated his anger triggered by a drunken fight between the two, Haru was scolded for interfering with his mother's life. She was also drunk and just needed someone to blame for the pain she was in. She didn't feel anything when she beat the boy just as she was just beat.

For the next few years, speaking never came on to him. When he started his relationship with Gal at 16, freshly off the streets after a year of homelessness, he was told his voice was annoying, useless and he would be preferred if he were silent. Just a pretty and exotic face.

From time to time Haru would have episodes of mutism. It wasn't so much a choice as a natural reaction - a switch he had no control over. It was a detachment from reality, sometimes out of exhaustion mentally, other times Haru didn't know why he didn't feel the need to talk. But by the time morning rolled around after Harus breakdown into Kanes arms, though he was still embraced in his cell mates strong, warm and sturdy hold, he knew that that day he would not utter a word. Kane was still asleep, his snores soft and near silent. Haru lay staring blankly into the railings of the top bunk. There was a shroud of darkness over his mind, an evil fog he couldn't shake nor was he bothered to try. He had slept soundly and woken natruly yet he was still exhausted and his body ached from the multitude of wounds healing.

He felt like the fog stopped him from completing thoughts, thinking straight or even understanding what was going on. But he didn't really mind at all, it was freaky but some what peaceful. It was quiet for once, allowing him to simply stare ahead and accept the mounting pressure he felt in his chest.

When Kane awoke he noticed the lost and distant look it Harus eyes, but knowing there was little he could do he spent the rest of the day trying to engage his cell mate as much as he could, considering Haru's catatonic silence and withdrawal. He made sure he was with Haru as much as he could, within eye sight at least if not physically close enough. He got Thomas to watch him when he went to grab Haru's lunch to bring back to the cell. Only for the young man to only attempt to eat the apple and oat bar while not touching the main meal - something Kane had noticed, Haru only ever ate the fruit and oat bars.

He was scared, of what he didn't know, but Kane had an irking feeling that Haru was in danger. Be it from King and his men, or from Haru himself.

But with the revelation of everything Haru had told them, the operation was chaos. The information was passed to his team outside the prison who where working overtime to identify names and locations of the people Haru told them about. Connection where popping up everywhere, like they suddenly where given a key to unlock an invisible door. Constantly they found out more information, more cases then seemed irrelevant over YEARS suddenly being reopen and looked into again.

For the team in the prison, after lunch and Thomas's cleanup duty they met in Kanes cell to discuss the next course of action. Kane sat on Haurs bed, using his shadow to block out the light while Haru slept.

"When he gets the information from the outside informant, I'll ask him to write it out before heading to tell King. He can slip us the paper and we can burn it after we get it out to the team outside. It's highly likely King will realise he's been compromised within the day or two depending on when the next intercept able operation is so I've sent warning in case we need an emergency discharge." Kane was explaining.

"They're going g to realise it was him pretty fuckin fast innit." Rodrick gestured to Harus sleeping figure.

"I know," Kane replied "I'm working on that."

"I say we stay as long as possible, keep monitoring King and Michael". Micheal Summers was the man who ran a mafia over a decade ago Kane had found out, after sending the name Haru provided out he got the man's report. Apparently he had a religious change of heart, became Muslim and left that life behind to quietly serve out his sentence. It was admirable, but living a life as mafia is not so easy to leave behind. And King was adamant to get the old man back in the game.

'I think we should approach him, have a little chat see where he stands with king. We can offer police protection even in return for info.' Rodrick suggested. They all agreed it was worth a shot and soon Rodrick left to complete his new mission.

Thomas however stayed behind, looking towards to figure sleeping behind Kane. 'You know what he was charged with right,'. He asked softly. 'Yh' Kane replied, having read Harus file.

'He doesn't belong in here, nor dose he deserve it. Those drugs were obviously planted on him to be arrested, and the police were anonymously tipped off that he was selling. The case wasn't even looked into properly-'

'I know Thomas.' Kane cut off his partners concerned rambling. 'I promise Im working on it, I'm not giving up on him the second we don't need him no more.

'For some reason i feel this need to protect him. He's so fragile.'

Thomas lightly smiled at his college, 'he's vulnerable and physically weak yes. But it takes bloody fucking guts to do what he's doing for us and I must salute him for that.' Kane only hummed in agreement before a comfortable silance befell the two. Kane had turned his attention to the sleeping mans face picking out the blankets. Thomas noticed then, in just the way Kanes gaze softened yet still held concern in contrast to Kanes usual stoic and unbothered demeanour, that his college was starting to care a lot more for their new ally than previously assumed. Still, Thomas kept quiet about his new revelation.

He gently smiled as he got up to leave, departing with the words 'keep the kid safe yeah.' To which Kane replied

'Always.'