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

Chapter 25 - Avery

Plan 1: Fix Cinderella Mistake

1. Get that damn hair sample. Note: His office is on LEVEL TEN. LEVEL TEN.

2. Find out his alibi for the time of her death. If not verifiable, luck is on my side. If solid, formulate a strategy to make it invalid.

3. Check in to see if police have been notified of her body.

4. Go to crime scene and place suit fibres and hair in skip/close to.

5. Play Station CCTV every other night to keep up to date with progress.

6. Hope to hell he's convicted or the case goes cold.

Plan 2: Find the Bastard with a Grudge

1. Make a list of each fairy tale I've ended.

2. Make a list of each fairy tale character involved but not terminated.

3. Narrow down suspect list by location – must be within a 10 mile radius of my house.

4. Look at each of the final suspects in extensive detail.

5. Simultaneously pay great detail to any more letters and use them for clues

6. Follow each lead until I have the Bastard with a Grudge.

I take the notes from the little brown book in my mind palace and read over them repeatedly whilst I zip up the back of my peach linen dress. I admire myself in the mirror sunken into the back of my wardrobe, hanging lifelessly.

The hem of the dress skims my knees and the long sleeves sculpt my arms. The neckline plunges slightly, keeping the outfit modest but still stimulating subconscious intrigue.

I can't say I've ever been one of those women who is ashamed of her body. I have always taken care of my figure and I am proud to show off my hard work. Plus, it really sets up a warm atmosphere for my meetings with new doctors.

I only have two meetings this morning – although they are in Braxton so it's a bit of a trek. On the upside, it means I have a free afternoon to get on with Plan 1: Action 1.

On my way out the door I wink at the plant pot hanging outside the house entrance. No I haven't had a mental breakdown and started talking to nature. If you want to get specific, I am winking at the camera I installed within the plant pot late last night. If the Bastard with a Grudge plans on playing Postman Pat again, I am damn sure going to catch it.

Though they are far away, my meetings get me a sale. A great start to what I hope will be a great day.

I jump back in my car straight after the second meeting, make my way to the Prince's building and it's not long before I am back in the exact same parking space as I was yesterday, glaring up at the office block. On the bottom half, the construction is made up almost entirely of glass before transitioning into a traditional red brick setting, with two thin panels of windows further up. As I observe the building, I notice its thin glass eyes narrow and its smile grow wider, baring even more of its teeth, daring me to confront it and inevitably fail.

Any normal person would take the hallucination as their reason telling them to spin back around and retreat. Fortunately for me, I have learnt how to turn the dial on my reason to low every time she pops up inconveniently.

I haven't yet mastered this trick with my phone, though.

The default iPhone jingle, embodying a banshee, shrieks through my coat pocket and makes me jump, causing my heel to give way and a burn to spread through my ankle.