Insane - Who Are You To Judge? (Gripping Psychological Thriller)

Chapter 20 - Harry

"So, how are things with Martha?" James asks while guzzling down his third burrito from just this lunch.

Harry sits upright in his chair, trying to steer clear of the spray of sauce coming from James's mouth. He can't mask his disgust at James's lack of table manners.

Swallowing down his snobbery, Harry sighs. "Well, it was great last week. For the first time since we stopped trying, we actually wanted to be around each other, rather than just smiling to make the other one happy." He sniffs audibly, brushing a hand against his nose. "But I don't know, this week she's back to being closed and distant. We got married straight out of high school – we were stupid and immature kids. Maybe just too much has happened now."

Whilst engulfing the last of his meal, James attempts a sympathetic face, but he and Harry both know that he is not the most comforting guy on the planet. "Well, I'm sorry, mate. I hope it works itself out. You've been together six years; it'd be a shame to give up on that."

I guess it's the thought that counts, Harry thinks, letting out a chuckle. James's words aren't exactly encouraging.

During a brief moment of silence, Harry's crappy old Samsung lights up and jumps around on the table, alerting him to a new text message.

We need to talk

And only a second later, another one pops up on the screen.

Meet me in the usual place tonight, normal time. I really need to see you.

Spotting the identity of the sender, he is quick to flip the phone so it is face down on the table. Harry realises he acted slightly too quickly when he glances back up to find James staring at him, one eyebrow raised.

"If I didn't know any better, I'd think you were keeping a secret from your partner," James declares with a sarcastic undertone.

Waving off James's suspicious expression with a flick of his hand, Harry assures him, "oh it's nothing. Honestly, don't worry about it."

James lets out a forced laugh and says with a glimmer in his eyes, "Yeah, it sure seems like nothing."

Suddenly Harry's look changes and his tone is now more serious as he demands, "Seriously, just let it go."

James changes his face to mimic Harry's and his eyes lock onto the checked tablecloth for a moment, as though his thoughts are venturing deep within his mind.

Finally, he speaks. "You said you're having problems with Martha." His brows furrow further towards his eyes. "You're not having an—"

"No! God, no, why would you think that?" Harry interrupts him before he can say what they both know he was about to say. "No, absolutely not."

Like being on a stomach-curdling rollercoaster, Harry's mood and aura went from light and sarcastic, plummeting straight down to serious and threatening, straight back up to normal. It makes the two of them feel a little nauseous.

"It's nearly one, maybe we should start heading back to the station." He is quick to change the subject and James goes along with it, not pushing who the texts were from any further, but James has known Harry for years. He knows when he is lying.

The door shakes the framework of James's office as Harry hurls it open with a toothy grin smeared across his face. He skips over to the desk behind which James is sitting, rubbing his dry, tired eyes with his even drier hands.

"Happy birthday!" Harry declares as he drops a disc inside a clear plastic wallet down in front of him.

James stares at it, very much less amused than Harry appears to be. "It's not my birthday."