Ravaged // h.s. au

7.

Cleo

" Where were you between the times of 1 and 3 am, last night?" I watched through the glass room, as Zayn asked, rolling the sleeves to his shirt upwards, avoiding eye contact with his confused friend.

" What is this all about, Zayn?" Harry asked, looking between Zayn and Louis, who had insisted on attending this, in desperate need of the truth. Sometimes, I felt like Louis loathed Harry and everything he resembled, other times, I couldn't help but notice how wounded he was by losing his friend and partner.

" Answer the questions, Mr. Styles. This is a formal investigation, and everything you say, can and will be used against you." Harry had a prominent frown between his eyebrows, as he rubbed his wrists where the handcuffs had bruised him.

" I- I was at home, I think, I don't pay much attention to-"

" Weakest alibi in history, Harry. Listen, you're in a lot of trouble, so tell us the truth, and we'll try to help you." Louis stood in the far corner, his arms crossed against his chest, while Zayn urged Harry, leaning against the table in intimidation.

" That is the truth, Zayn, I-" Zayn hit his hand against the table, willing himself not to break his gaze with Harry.

" Dammit, Harry, a woman was murdered, and we found your print in her blood. This is-" Zayn looked down, shaking his head to himself, before standing to his full height, and distancing himself away from Harry. It was silent, and I had assumed they'd give up, but Louis spoke.

" Harry, just, tell him the truth man." He whispered, his voice as shaky as I had never heard it before. He wasn't firm, he wasn't intimidating, he wasn't even angry anymore, he was simply, desperate.

" Louis, I swear to God, I didn't kill her. You know me, I- I wouldn't kill a woman, especially not an officer's wife, I-"

" We never said anything about who she is." Zayn whispered, tiling his head backwards, but not fully turning to face them. Louis shook his head weakly, opening the door, and exiting, slamming it behind him. He walked into the glass room, eyes wild, until they settled on Gypsy, standing at the far corner. He rushed towards her, immediately enveloping her into his arms, as if desperate for any familiar touch that wouldn't break him as his friend did.

She had been crying, but she was suddenly his support system, running her hands through his hair, and patting his back softly. Minutes passed before he had collected himself enough to pull away, looking into her eyes as if asking if she was okay. She smiled weakly, nodding, though tears were forming in her eyes, threatening to escape. He detached himself from her, standing beside me, with a hand over his mouth, and another across his chest.

" Harry, what did you do?" Zayn asked, as firmly as he possibly could.

" I didn't kill her, Zayn. I didn't. I just- I had been following this case for a long time now. I went over every single paper, every letter, every word, and it was always the same. I couldn't handle that. It- it drove me mad, Zayn. So, about a month ago, I found out about Rodriguez, I asked around, till I found his wife, and learned that she wanted to come out with it all. I went there, to talk to her, but she was already dead, Zayn, I-"

" Oh come on, Harry, you had been an officer once, you know this isn't how it works. We have a fingerprint, I could close this case right now, and take you away for a very long time."

" She was barely breathing. I tried resuscitating her, which is probably why my prints are on her. I was too late." Harry looked down upon his hands, eyes falling closed. He had surrendered too easily. He didn't fight for himself. Yet, they continued to fight for him.

" Did you see who did it?" Zayn sighed, sitting down, worn out by the emotional toll of that investigation.

" No. The door was opened, and I heard grunts of pain, and gasps, which is why I went in, and that's how I found her. She didn't say anything, and I didn't have the time to tell her anything. Her window was opened, but that's it. I ran."

" If you didn't do it, then why run?"

" I know how this looks, Zayn. It's easy. And I- I have brought this upon myself."

" Damn right you did. So don't go around feeling sorry for yourself. Feel sorry for your wife, who still has to clean up after you even when you're not together. Feel sorry for us, for having to clear your reputation, and save your sorry ass, time and time again. Fuck, Harry." Zayn hissed, hitting his file of papers against the table, before walking out, and into the glass room. He first tenderly looked upon Gypsy, eyes apologetic, before he redirected his gaze upon Louis.

" What do you think?"

" I don't think he'd done it. The man is a lot of things, but he isn't a murderer." Louis spoke, I found myself nodding along, although, I didn't know him. Zayn's eyes then fell upon me, and I was caught off guard by his care for my opinion.

" And you? We're too close to this, so I need you to balance us out, Cleo."

" I don't think he did it either. I don't think we should let him go yet though. I think we're going to need him, and honestly, it's probably not the wisest decision for us to let him roam the streets alone." Zayn nodded in approval.

" Alright. Cleo, take him out, but put him alone in a cell. We don't want them ganging up on an ex-officer." Zayn demanded, immediately walking past me, and towards Gypsy.

" You okay?" He whispered, receiving a courageous nod from her, before he too, wrapped her into his arms. And that was the last I had seen, before I closed the door to the glass room behind me.

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A/N: who else is sad because I am :(((

let me know what you think please

ily x