Case #111 ☆ h.s. AU

Prologue:

I love coffee, in fact, I'm certain that the majority of my sanity is still intact because a hot cup of coffee brought me back to life after a long night.

I love coffee, because no matter what happens in my life the one thing I know I will always be able to depend on is a hot cup of coffee at the end of every day or the beginning of a day that I know is going to be stressful as hell.

A day like today.

The file in my hands felt heavier than it usually did although I know that it's impossible, seeing as how I had added almost nothing to the file since the beginning of the case and the thought alone made me queasy.

The rain fell heavily against the windshield of my car as I stared ahead at HM Wandsworth Prison, although it held almost two thousand souls, I was only here for one.

Practically forcing myself out of the car and into the rain I opened my umbrella, I knew that open toed heels weren't a good idea but for some reason I really didn't believe that it would rain, but when didn't it rain in London?

Sloshing through the puddles in the parking lot I stepped up on the sidewalk where an officer met me at the entrance, I was no stranger to this place, and so he didn't question me; instead holding open the door for me to step inside.

"Officer DeLaney." The receptionist smiled at me from behind the desk.

"Hello Darla." I smiled back at her, although the smile was forced, this was the last place I wanted to be today, but duty calls.

She buzzed me in where I was met by Officer Lennon, he smiled a flirty smile at me which I returned, we had gone on several dates but had yet to make anything official.

He was tall, handsome, smart, and funny. All of the features I admired in a man.

"Ready?" He asked and I sighed.

"Not particularly."

"Think you'll get anything accomplished today?" He asked, and I shrugged.

"One can only hope."

The sound my heels and his shoes shuffling against the flooring were the only sound that could be heard, it echoed off of the eerily silent walls.

Everything was so white, so sterile.

He led me into the interrogation room where I took a seat at the desk.

"I'll be back." He said before exiting the room.

I inhaled a deep breath and shrugged off my damp jacket, placing it on the back of the chair. I then sat the file on the desk, and took out my video recorder getting it set up and ready to go.

I clicked my pen and quickly scrawled down the date on the already empty entry sheet, marked with dates from nine previous sessions, all blank.

I sat my pen down and placed my hands in my lap before hearing the familiar buzz of the lock and the door click open.

In walked two correctional officers followed by Officer Lennon who had his arm stretched out holding on to the person whose sole existence was the reason I was here today.

They settled him in the chair before retreating out the door, Lennon shooting me a knowing glance that he would right behind the glass watching if things got out of hand, which they never did.

Inmate number B596-LM.

He sat across from me, I took notice that his hair had grown measurably since our last meeting, it was in an unruly bun on top of his head. His eyes were the shade of emerald, and right now the gems were locked on me, a lazy smirk pressed against his full lips.

"Avery, good to see you again."

"Harry, nice to see you again. And please, call me Officer DeLaney."