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

Chapter 58 - Avery

"Hey, Todd. Long time no speak, how are you doing?" I ask down the phone, with a sweet and innocent tone, faking my curiosity and interest.

"Avery, hi. I definitely wasn't expecting to hear from you again." Todd sounds a little hesitant. "Were you hoping to, um, meet up again? Because, I've kind of got a fiancée now. It's Claire, actually,"

Dammit. That's one bribe off the table.

"Oh wow!" I exclaim. "That's so wonderful, congratulations. Gosh, the last time I saw you, you'd only been with Claire for a month or two."

"Yeah, I know. It was kind of a whirlwind thing. We met and four months later I popped the question. But um, yeah about the last time we met...I never told her about that and we're in a really great place, I just wouldn't want to ruin what we have, you know? I mean..."

"Listen, Todd, you don't have to worry," I reassure him. "I'm actually in a relationship now, myself."

His overly surprised reaction is just the slightest bit offensive. "Oh, wow, I never expected to hear you say that! Wow, good for you, finally settling down. Wow. Well, then if that's not the reason you're calling, what's up?"

I'm grinding my teeth, stopping myself from snapping at him. I have to play nice. "Yeah, well basically I was just needing to ask you a teensy little favour..."

He most certainly does not sound impressed. "What is it?"

"Well, I happen to remember that your job gives you access to street surveillance, right?"

"Right..."

"I'm in a bit of a pickle and I was wondering if there was any way I can get the footage from August 4th. Um, on Redmount Road?"

Don't make the connection, I pray with both fingers crossed. Don't think about it, just say yes. Say yes, say yes.

Todd sighs rather unenthusiastically. "Well, suffice to say I could lose my job over it, but I mean..." He pauses, weighing up his options. "Sure why not? But after this, we're even, okay?"

I jump up and down. "Absolutely, completely square. Thanks, Todd."

"That's okay." I hear him about to hang up but something stops him. "Hold on a minute, why do I recognise that road name?"

I smack my forehead. "I don't know, maybe you've been down it before?"

"No, that's not it." His voice trails off and I hear him tapping at his keyboard. He gasps. "Christ, Avery! That's the street where those women were murdered last week...on Friday 4th! What the hell have you got yourself into?"

I go on the defensive. "I know, I know it sounds bad, Todd but seriously it's not at all what I'm sure you're cooking up in your mind. Please, please don't think anything else about it."

"What I think about it is irrelevant, to be honest. This footage is part of an ongoing investigation – from a week ago! There is no way I can get my hands on that and give it to you without getting caught and then the police thinking I'm involved. I'm getting married, Avery! For God's sake, you can't ask me to do this."

I don't say anything for two minutes. He seems to have worked himself up quite a bit, I'd best let him calm back down.

When I hear his breathing return to a normal rate, I say, "I know, Todd. You're completely right, I can't ask that of you. I'm sorry I even did. Why don't you tell me a little bit more about you and Claire? Where are you guys getting married?"

He seems thrown off by my question. "Um, we're going to her family's cottage down in Cornwall. We want it to be a small ceremony – family and close friends only."