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

Chapter 61 - Harry

"So the pigs must represent us," James declares, staring at the photos of the drawings on the board. "The scythe is obviously GR. But what are the bear heads? And what message are they sending?"

Harry's mind flashes back to that night, seeing the outline of a bear's head etched into the wood. When he returns to the present he shrugs. "I don't know. If here we're chasing a rabbit and they're behind us, maybe they're trying to say we're chasing the wrong person?"

James nods slowly. "Yeah, okay, but that doesn't explain the dead pigs below." He rests his hands on his belly. "So clearly the pigs are killed by GR, but why? How is he implying he got the better of us? And then the bear heads seem to have absolutely no relevance to whatever story they're trying to tell. Something isn't adding up."

The two of them stare at the drawings in silence, both stroking their unshaven chins. Harry knows what the third sketch is referring to, but he doesn't want to say. It's too painful. It's too personal.

Of course, this entire case is personal for Harry, but he has been able to separate that event and GR's case as a whole so far, and he doesn't want to change that now. However, if James figures it out, Harry will have to look into it with him. There is no way he can help James come to that conclusion, he needs to avoid it at all costs.

"Got it!" James's exclamation breaks their silence. "Of course, how could I have not realised earlier!"

Harry stares at him, puzzled.

"The bear heads. At GR's first murder scene, the etching he left was a bear head. He's referring to his origin!" James's face is brightened by the light bulb that just formed over his head. He casts a wide grin at Harry.

Harry is sighing inside, but he smiles back at James with fake enthusiasm. "Oh yeah, I remember now from reading up on the cases. I can't believe I didn't think of that."

"You?" James laughs. "You just read up on the case, I investigated it! This whole age thing must be getting to me. I suppose I'm retiring at the right time, eh?"

Harry mimics his laugh and nudges him gently.

"So," Harry sighs. "We're looking into the first case, yeah? Was that the Pinocchio one?"

"Yes because what does a bear have to do with Pinocchio?" James remarks. "No, it was Goldilocks."

"Okay, I'll get the file," Harry says and begins walking out of the office.

"Wait," James calls after him. "Look, I know you said you had to be somewhere for lunch and I'm more familiar with the ins and outs of the case. Why don't you take your lunch break, I'll go over the case and fill you in on what I find?"

Harry is puzzled by his suggestion, but he doesn't object. James is right, he does have somewhere to be.

They're taking a bit of a risk, today. This is the first time they've been out in public before – well, properly anyway. Before they would find old, rundown cafés to meet in, or an abandoned park which is concealed by overgrown hedges.

Today they are meeting in the Cosy Coffee. It seems like a terrible idea, since Harry is a regular, but he is sure that there will be no one he knows in there at this time.

"Hey," he greets them and sits in the seat opposite. Harry is nervous today. "Um, did you want a refill?" he asks, spotting their mug is nearly empty.

They shake their head. It seems like there is something bugging them, but Harry isn't sure what.

"What's wrong, are you okay?" Harry asks, but his mind is distracted by a man sitting on the other side of the room, staring at the two of them.