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

Them

"Hey, Chief, I need to talk to you about something."

I recognise that voice – that's James.

"I've been going back through old GR cases since the one from September last year and I found something."

"Well," Chief said, "What is it? Why aren't you discussing this with Ellis?"

"That's just it. DC Ellis is actually James Foster. As in James Foster, the son that escaped from GR's first case."

"How on earth did that not go through our system when he joined the force?" Chief's voice was angry now.

"He changed his name a couple years before. I guess he just didn't disclose the name change. But it got me thinking...if he hid that from us, what else could he be hiding? When the Little Mermaid case happened, I slipped into the conversation what he was doing that night and he lied."

I hear James sigh.

"I can't really believe it. When he came into this department, I took him under my wing. I stuck up for him when the others were bashing him about. And he's been involved all this time? I was going to confront him about it-"

"No!" Chief abruptly interrupted. "No, absolutely not. If you're suspecting what I'm suspecting, then this could be the answer to a fifteen-year-old case. We have to let this play out. He cannot know that we are even the slightest bit aware of his real identity. I want you to follow him – everywhere he goes. Keep close to him and keep friendly with him. Find out who he talks to, if he's hiding anything and report back to me. This has to be a slow process. We can't risk him finding out we're onto him."

"But," James protests, "Chief, he's my partner on the case. We're together nearly every day, he'll see right through me."

"Well then, you better invest in an acting class."

I stare at Avery's phone, completely speechless. James has been playing me, this entire time. Was he ever really my friend?

"That was my reaction too." Avery interrupts my paralysis. "I stumbled upon this recently when I was going back over Little Mermaid's case. I couldn't believe my luck. Honestly, it was as if the gods were in my favour after all. So, when I heard that you wanted another sweep of the Little Mermaid's crime scene, I saw my opportunity and when I paid a visit to the police station last week, I snuck into your office and took whatever I was able to find from your cubicle. Since they have a strand of your hair at the Sleeping Beauty crime – oh and the beer-belly saw you there – you've practically set yourself up. Oh, and I can't forget the knife. The knife you gave to me for my birthday? You'll find that tucked neatly under your front yard. Thank you for that, by the way. I apologise for not sending a thank-you note – that was rude of me. Mum taught us better than that."

Her voice trails off and my mind is suddenly taken back to the train, when my car battery died. The homeless person on the same carriage as me, or the person I thought was homeless. I study his face and realise. It was him.

I can't speak. I can't. I don't know what there is to say. I shake my head in disbelief and I have to manually close my mouth. This can't be happening. This can't be happening. After everything. I planned everything.

Once I have swallowed down my denial, I suck in a fragile breath and with as steady a voice as I can muster, I say, "I'll tell them I've been set up. Screw getting a confession off you, I'll just give your name to the police. They'll see you're the victim's daughter and realise you are responsible."

She isn't fazed by my threat. She laughs. Laughs. Of all the times I imagined this scenario, none of them went like this. "They know you've lied to them about your entire identity. Flynn saw you at Sleeping Beauty's house. You really think they're going to believe you? The best chance you've got is pleading insanity."

"Your heart is as black as the blood on your hands!" I scream at her, unable to fathom this level of rage.

Suddenly, the faint sound of sirens reaches my ears. They reach Avery's at the same time.

"Oh, look at that – they're on their way now," she says, unfazed by my beastly expression. "Don't worry, I'll give you a head start – after all, I am your big sis. Siblings have to look out for each other, don't they?"

The adrenaline floods into my veins. My breath quickens and my heart is punching, aiming for her but being stopped at my ribcage.

I can't hear anything now apart from the blood bursting through my ears. I can't see anything except red spots and the smug grimace on her face. My hands shake as my fingers curl into fists, my left gripping the knife.

She can't get away with this. She can't. She has to pay.

Suddenly my lungs burst out with a roar and I hurl myself onto her.