Chimera | H.S Mature

14.

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*Samantha's POV*

To Harry: honestly Harry I'm fine, it's nothing I can't handle.

From Harry: No Sam, that's totally out of line. What a knob, you should report him, I'll report him. Does being a first class moron warrant being fired?

To Harry: no, if it did he would have been out the door a long time ago.

Harry and I had been texting back and forth all day, starting from polite small talk, how are you, how's your day going and so forth to a full blown discussion about my prick of a colleague, who was currently moving, rather noisily, around his office.

From Harry: But you can't just sit around and do nothing, he can't get away with that!

To Harry: I'm not sitting around doing nothing, I'm currently working on your sister's case. Is that not acceptable to you?

From Harry: that is very acceptable to me, carry on detective

I giggled and put my phone down, doing just as he asked. For the past couple of hours I had been trawling through as much CCTV footage as I could find (or that I had access to). There wasn't much, just a few shots of the car driving around town, not stopping anywhere and apparently not heading in any specific direction. But like Mr Parsons had said, there were indeed several people on the streets that night that may remember seeing the vehicle. The only real question was, how could I contact them?

I had been taught in training to never underestimate the power of the internet. Social media was quickly becoming one of the most effective weapons in our arsenal and I had been taught to use it at every opportunity.

Having access to the Metropolitan Police Facebook page, I quickly wrote a couple of lines asking for information:

Plea for information.

Police are looking for information from members of the public following the rape of a young girl in the Vauxhall Bridge Rd on the evening of Thursday the 19th of January 2017.

Anyone with information about a black Range Rover leaving the area around 11.50pm on that evening is being asked to come forward.

Please contact Metropolitan Police if you have any information on the vehicle in question.

That was all I wrote before publishing the message to the public.

I drummed my fingers against the desk, letting out a deep breath as I pursed my lips. I wasn't sure what to do next. Interview witnesses Mr Parsons had said, well that was rather difficult to do when I had no witnesses to interview. If this post received no useful response what would I do next? It would be nearly impossible to track down the people I had seen on CCTV and until the warrant was granted, I had a repeating image in my head of me coming in to work each morning and twiddling my thumbs.

I had a sudden desire to see Harry once again, or speak to him at least. Since the previous night I found myself with a desire to spend more and more time with him, and with that came a deeply imbedded worry that perhaps I was enjoying his company a little too much. I had never heard of any cases where a detective had formed any kind of emotional attachment to their client, or in my case, their client's brother, but I could imagine how it would be treated by the department. It was unprofessional, unheard of, and frankly quite stupid.

But somehow, Harry had weaved his way into my head, and I was finding it difficult to think about much else.

My thoughts were interrupted by a vibration against the desk.

From Harry: Lunch?

I replied without hesitation.

To Harry: yes please

***

"Samantha?" Barbra called as I returned to Scotland Yard after lunch. Harry had dropped me outside, slightly away from the front entrance upon my request. He had looked hurt but didn't question it.

"Yes?" I said as I adjusted course and made my way to the reception desk where she sat, leaning back in her chair and assessing me under a lowered brow. Her lips were painted a deep red which she pursed in thought as I approached.

"What's going on?" she asked as I reached her. Immediately I began to panic at the thought of being caught fooling around with Harry. But I wasn't fooling around really... was I? We had only been out for coffee, and dinner, and now lunch, but they weren't dates... were they? My mind flickered back to how I had dashed to the bathroom after receiving Harry's message to fix my make-up and hair and I resisted the urge to slap myself. But we weren't fooling around, no, nothing had happened, we hadn't even kissed, or held hands, unless I counted when I put my hand on top of his at dinner last night. My cheeks were on fire.

"I don't know what you're talking about" I said weakly, subtly brushing my sweaty palms against my skirt.

"Please dear, I'm not and idiot. We could hardly prise you from that office a week ago, you would never leave before the end of the day, and since you've become involved with that boy and his sister you've left twice in 3 days. What's going on?" she repeated. And in a panic, I told her.

"I don't know Barbra, he just, he was asking and the first time I said yes because he looked like he needed someone to talk to and I thought I might be able to get some more information out of him about Daniella and then after that I started to enjoy his company. And then last night he took me to dinner to apologise for being rude to me in my office and I had such a nice time and we got on so well and he was really sweet and then he drove me home and I haven't been able to stop thinking about him. And it's so not like me, I haven't given a guy a second look since Jack and I don't know he just took me by surprise and then today he asked me for lunch and I didn't even hesitate before I said yes and I'm so stupid and immature but I can't stop!" I exclaimed. I was out of breath by the time I had finished and Barbra was looking at me with a small smile. She quirked her head to the side but kept her eyes locked on my cherry red face.

"He hasn't been distracting you from your work had he?" she asked and I shook my head.

"No, I've still been working but I've come to a bit of a halt until I get my search warrant approved" I explained.

"And you don't think he is trying to sway you're progress in this case and take your attention off any potential suspects or leads?" she asked.

"No, of course not" I said with furrowed brows. Why would Harry want to divert my attention away from anyone or anything? It's his sister I'm working for after all.

"Then carry on" he said with a smirk. I nearly choked on my own saliva.

"Wait, what?" I stuttered.

"Carry on I said. If what you say is true and you like this boy, and he isn't getting in the way of your work, then carry on. You can't postpone your own happiness over a case. But remember, no boy is worth jeopardising your career for" she warned.

"No of course," I said in regards to her last statement, but still I was confused, "but I don't understand, I thought you were going to tell me I was an idiot, or report me to Mr Parsons or something".

"And why would I do that dear?" she asked. I opened my mouth to respond but closed it again. "How do you think Eric and I met? He would be a bit of a hypocrite to take action against you when nothing happened to either of us" she said with a knowing look. It occurred to me that I had never really took time to think of the consequences either of them might have faced for starting a romantic relationship in the work place. Mr Parsons was the Detective Inspector of Scotland Yard, if no action was taken against him, surely I would be ok?

"I wouldn't worry yourself about it dear. But take my advice, keep it quiet from others yes?" she said and I nodded.

"Yes, of course. Thank you Barbra" I said sincerely. In only five minutes she had but to rest the bubbling pit of worry that was beginning to seep through my veins. This could be ok, as long as I stay focused, why couldn't Harry and I continue to spend time together outside of work?

"No problem dear" she said before turning her attention back to her computer and silently dismissing me.