have you heard about the madman? / larry [ongoing]

0.2

flashbacks

"So, I've got good news and bad news," Grimshaw says as he enters Harry's office whilst balancing a stack of folders within his idle hand. "Which do you want to hear first?"

Though, he'd been granted the opportunity of slumber more than several times after the very much stressful night of the Arkham Escapees, the man feels his motions begin to slow and become dreary at the mention of Nick's words; something that he's sure would chalk up to be about the case they'd taken on.

Within the period of three days that the inmates of the establishment had been on the loose, no other trouble caused besides the dead officer—whose body had been found only yards away from the warehouse—nothing had been accomplished. How they'd gotten out still remained to be a mystery, and the department hadn't arrested a single person, nor had anyone remotely suspicious to question.

The public was growing antsy, wondering why the situation hadn't been solved just quite yet. There had already been talks that started up about half of the department losing their jobs, and cops from another district being brought in to help with the case. So, even though sleep was an option, the amount of strain being put upon Harry was enough to land him the diagnosis of insomnia.

While he was growing up, Harry had always observed his mother taking the bad news first so that she'd be able to end with the more pleasurable option. With this in mind, the man speaks.

He says, "Bad first."

Nick walks further into the room, taking a moment to place the thick stack of files he'd been carrying upon Harry's desk. After he's finished, he falls into the familiar, plush chair that he always seemed to occupy whenever he was in Harry's office.

He clears his throat before speaking, coughing gently into the crook of his arm. Harry awaits impatiently. He wasn't exactly jumping out of his shoes to hear the information that'd most likely give him a headache.

"We've got to deal with Major Crimes Unit in less than forty-five minutes," Nick says. The other man instantaneously groans.

Harry likes to think of himself as a nice, friendly man who is welcoming to new relationships. He doesn't allow himself to grow jealous over things other people have that he doesn't, and he often accepts things that he ought not to. But, the people down at Major Crimes happened to be the most self-centered, arrogant people that he's ever come in contact with.

The only other time he's had to interact with the people assigned to that unit was during the investigation of the murders of two wealthy entrepreneurs, and the experience certainly wasn't pleasant. The criminal who'd done the deed had been found, but not before Harry had nearly lost his job due to an altercation with the division's captain.

There isn't anything he's able to do about this, though. He can only hope that the interaction with them would be quick and painless, akin to ripping off a small bandage. After his quite childish reaction, Harry pulls his fingertips away from his face and nods in agreement. Luckily, Nick seems to be very much understanding.

Finally, Harry murmurs, "And the good news?"

"Well," Grimshaw grins, settling back into his chair. "The reason we've got to deal with them is because they've had an encounter with our Joker character. Almost a year ago."