Forever: Eternity of Insanity

Episode 15- Shattered Trust

"Trust is the glue of life. It's the most essential ingredient in effective communication. It's the foundational principle that holds all relationships." ~ Stephen Covey

Henry was gathered around Lieutenant Treen along with the other employees in the precinct, all of them had the same concerned and confused expression on their faces.

"What do you think this is about?" Lucas whispered from beside him as he came in late.

Henry didn't glance at him. "Something that concerns all of us."

Around them other people murmured among their colleges and friends until Treen stood up on a relatively empty desk and cleared his throat to get their attention. When a few continued talking however he shouted. "Enough! I have called this meeting and I expect you to be silent."

The remaining cops talking fell into a startled silence and Treen paused to gaze daggers at them before continuing. "As you are all aware, our people have been targets for kills this past week more than ever before. I wish to put a stop to this before any more good lives are lost but I cannot do it without your help in finding just who it is giving away information to the killer, or killers as I've been informed by our medical examiner."

Henry heard surprised murmurs around him as everyone began to realize their boss was saying one of them was the snitch. Treen let them for a few moments before drawing their attention again. "That's right, I have reason to believe that one of you is working with the killer. Now I"m not sure just who this person is but just be warned, he or she could be standing beside you right now, your best friend, anyone. I want all suspicious behavior reported to me immediately... Meeting dismissed."

Loud taking burst out as Treen walked into his office and Henry turned to look at Jo. "Saying that wasn't the best decision. Now the killer knows and could hide within us while another is blamed."

"Killers always slip up eventually no matter how much knowledge they possess." Jo replied before Lucas joined the conversation.

"This is just like a horror movie! We have a killer in the midst and no one knows who it is." Lucas looked around. "It'll be who we least expect."

"Henry." Jo replied humorously.

He gave a small smile. "Yes, well I do know how a killer thinks, I work with the victims."

"Speaking of victims..." Hanson paused and sighed with a glance at Lucas. "Sorry Wahl but that letter was real. We just had Evan's body dumped at our back door."

"What?" Lucas paled slightly and shook his head. "But what about Phoenix? He's expecting Evan to come get him eventually."

"Not anymore." Hanson replied with sympathy for the teen. "Don't tell him yet, he's gone through enough."

"We should get to work, Lucas." Henry started walking to the elevator with his assistant behind him. He wasn't sure what he was going to tell Phoenix, who was currently at his place under Abe's watch, but the kid wasn't going to take it well.

*****

Phoenix was sitting behind the counter in the shop utterly bored and annoyed at life. He heard his current, and temporary, guardian walking across the floor above him. No one really came into the antique shop and those who did were usually there for a certain thing, which they paid for quickly before leaving to move on with their busy day. He brushed some of his dark hair out of his eyes absentmindedly as he watched groups of people pass by on the sidewalks, their coats pulled tightly to them as they tried keeping out the cold air.