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

Chapter 48 - Harry

They've been distant the last few days. Harry hasn't had any calls returned and only half-word answers to his texts. But today they seem back to normal. Harry is relieved, he was worried that they might be starting to get a guilty conscience.

Harry just met them for lunch and now he's doing the walk of shame back to the station, looking over his shoulder at every corner.

The air is thick today. It's heavy to inhale, especially with Harry's tar-clogged lungs. The clouds are blanketing Southhurst, keeping it from the sun's warmth. The atmosphere is as stale as Harry's breath, when he exhales the addictive toxins of the cigarette he squeezes between his fingers.

As the nicotine rush hits him, his hands begin to shake and he struggles to take in any more. Having little control, he sucks in a sharp breath. Too sharp. It causes him to curl over and cough up the smoke. The smoke is supposed to be his only place of refuge, yet it too is turning against him.

Harry remembers his first time in a police station as if it was yesterday. Every time he puts the badge in his trouser pocket and enters Southhurst PD, the memory floods back in.

"You're gonna be okay, son." The woman who leads Harry into the station says, "You don't have to be afraid. We'll find someone to look after you."

She crouches down to Harry's height and rests her hands on his dainty shoulders. Harry pulls away and cradles the soft toy that he has not let go of since he fell asleep last night.

"Hi there," another policeman greets Harry. He is a lot bigger than the female officer. He has a wiry beard and a large beer-belly that Harry can hardly see his face over. "My name is Detective Constable Flynn. Do you mind coming with me and we can have a little conversation?"

Harry nods at him reluctantly and squeezes the teddy tighter. The large man softens his expression and gives Harry a warm smile. "He can come too, if you want?" He gestures to the teddy. Harry curls his lips up slightly and reaches up for the detective's hand.

The man leads him into a cold, dark room. Harry's pyjamas don't prevent the goose bumps from forming on his arms and legs.

He is told to sit in the metal chair, but when he is unable to see over the table, they fetch him a cushion to prop him up.

"Now, how about you tell me your name."

Harry is shy and doesn't answer immediately. After the detective gives him another warm smile, he whispers, "James."

The detective's smile grows and he says, "Funny, mine too."

"Harry," James calls when he catches sight of him in the station entrance. He then approaches. "I've just got some new info from forensics. Come into my office and we'll take a look over it."

Harry agrees and follows him down the corridor.

"So," James starts, "you know I was assigned to look into that alley girl case with Grant? Well, the fingerprints found there match the ones we found at the GR crime scene."

"Are you serious?" Harry's face is in awe.

Rubbing his beer-belly, James grins and dips his head. "Yep. Looks like the two are connected. Isn't this just our lucky day?"

Harry shrugs and replies, "Maybe, but the fact they are connected just confuses the case even more, don't you think? I mean, when has the Grimm Reaper ever killed without their signature? Does this mean that GR might be responsible for unsolved murders that don't fit the MO? Every pattern, every lead, every connection we've made with their cases since the beginning are just shattered."

James doesn't disagree. He simply sits back in his swivel chair and stares up at the ceiling. "We can't make any assumptions yet. The alley kill didn't look at all planned and it was sloppy. From the beginning, Grant and I have said that the killer can't have been experienced. It's an alley, so plenty of people go down it every single day. Maybe it's just a coincidence."

Pacing the room, Harry shakes his head. "I don't believe in coincidences." He stays silent for a few minutes, furrowing his eyebrows and stroking his unshaven chin. "Maybe," he finally says, "Maybe the alley girl was connected to one of the cases. Maybe GR was finishing one of the tales off."

"That's not actually a bad thought," James agrees. "I'll look further into the girl's background. Her step-family are all dead but I'm not sure how they went. I'll find out – maybe they were one of GR's kills."