The High Priestess - The Darkest Desires Series

III

I

t was late evening by the time McQueen returned to the station from his morning in that fowl place. After collecting the last of the witness statements, which was Mr. Smith, Ms. ...Sandi, Ms. Summers and Ms. Headly, he was pleased to be far away. He'd met nonreligious people before: Atheists, Scientologists, all the sorts, but never had he had the misfortune of meeting people so... dismissive. And that Ms. Headly, she was so... So unethical. He said as much to Hale.

"Don't be getting your choir knickers in a twist. I dare say she'll be the least unethical person there." Hale hadn't said a word since they'd driven away from the crime scene. Bodies gone, evidence collected, they wouldn't return unless necessary. McQueen hoped he'd never have to step near that place again, but again he couldn't shake the feeling he would have to, one way or another.

"Yes," McQueen agreed, "That woman... with the red hair and pale skin, Sam. How did she convinced that Officer's... I mean- Troy, he got married not three months ago!" McQueen hadn't been here at that point, but many times Troy's wife,Helainehad brought them all home baked goods.

Hale just let out an unsatisfactory hum, "I'd heard rumours of that House... never thought I'd be crazy enough to believe them..."

McQueen waited for Hale to elaborate, but when he didn't, the blonde sat at his desk and got to work. Most of the detective work was sadly done in paper or electronically, so sifting through reams of information was what they did best. Hale got up after a stint to get more coffee, something McQueen wasn't a fan of, but he was too lazy to flick the kettle on.

He'd been impressed by the Station when he'd first arrived, turning on the spot like a kid on a school trip. The old-aged stone walls on the outside, mixed with rusty red bricks showed the heritage of the site. For years it had been a police station, having been founded in the late Victorian period and McQueen loved the history that came with the place. Old gas lamps still dotted the entrance and he'd been greeted by a stunning, dark wood reception desk. Behind the front desk and through check-in, was a short corridor. To the left were some stairs that carried up to the second floor, with a matching set on his right. In front of him, were a pair of half wood, half glass double doors, with 'Rippling Police Station', in gold lettering with the Latin proverb beneath: 'Justitia In Proelium'. Justice Through Battle.

Walking through those doors had been like walking into a whole other world, McQueen remembered. Suddenly it had been a mass of voices and people hard at work. The tall ceilings amplified every noise, while white pillars that ran down the room. An antique chandelier hung in the centre of the room: though refurbished and electrical it was still very impressive. The second floor ran around in a mezzanine, with painted white railings, that allowed you to look down on the main pen. McQueen later discovered the second floor held the file room, the armoury and the Chief's office, while other corridors on the main floor led to old, but still working toilets and showers, break room and interrogation rooms. Rough, old blue carpet swept across the station and the place was a decade or two behind modern design, but it had a sense of legacy and culture.

McQueen had immediately taken to it while walking through a sea of desks faced back to back across the pen. Right in the centre, McQueen had found his, with his scowling partner waiting for him and that was the exact expression McQueen saw as Hale walked back towards him.

"Everything alright Hale?" He asked. He didn't want to pry, but they were partners and he needed to keep reminding himself that.

"It's nothing." Hale growled. "Silly no-beat Officers with more hours spent chatting and gossiping like old wives, than doing their Goddamnjob." The tall man crashed into his seat with anger; shoulders hunched in annoyance. He engulfed the desk. "Tell me what you've found. It better be good. I want the case over and done with as soon as possible."