21 Murders | Harry Styles AU (discontinued)

V. Heuristic

heuristic (adjective): learning through trial-and-error or problem solving

Harry's POV

I watch the frazzled look on Noelle's face fade into one between the faded lines of worry and fright, my stomach clenching with an uncomfortable nagging telling me to not let her witness the same crime scene that she was in when taken away from her normal life, and then brought into the corrupt one of the victim she now is.

"All the surveillance could pick up is in this gallery of photos." Estelle tells me, handing me the box tape and motioning for me to keep it in my pockets. I nod and reach for the tape, her hand pulling mine closer once in contact and her lips moving to my ear. "This might be too early for her."

The motion of her head signals me to stare back at Noelle, her blazing eyes plastered intently on the array of four photos on one picture. The transgression on her face forces me to look away and back at the tape in my hands, the square object being forced into my pocket remotely quick.

"She can handle it, she needs to see this,'' I whisper to Estelle, the glance she gives me telling me her suspicions to my plan. "If she is going to be with us on this journey, she needs to allow fear to pass over this. It will benefit her, I promise."

"Whatever you say,'' Estelle steps back, crossing her arms over her chest and redirecting her eyes back to the screen. The remote that is grasped into her palm is touched, all the crime scene pictures being put on full display as I study them as deeply as before.

Many times have I seen these exact photos and nothing new is discovered. I feel like time has halted at a stand still, and each second that passes only pushes my intentions at stopping this man from kidnapping again. The stress and tension in this room is overbearing and with tight fists, I shake my head annoyed at the circumstances.

My hand ruffle through my hair, the hat on my head suffocating my long, curly hair and causing the worse case of hat-hair I have ever been notified of.

"I'm just going to step outside,'' Noelle quickly announces, turning and heading toward the exit as quick as possible. It seems like a millisecond passes and she is already out of my sight, lingering in the hallway for the pictures must have brought back too much emotional pain.

"I worry about her,'' Estelle speaks in the quiet room, her one arm slumping to her side as she tosses the remote onto the projector stand. It makes a light 'thump' noise and then she turns to connect eye contact back with me.

"How so?" I ask.

"She isn't showing any signs of effect other than leaving the room. Her life was just put in danger less than a week ago and she is acting as if her cat died. Either Noelle is suffering with an extreme case of denial, or she is completely heartless." Estelle encounters, shaking her head and pursing her lips.

My head wraps around the subject momentarily, thoughts flashing by before I can put together a thought to answer with. "It gives her the ability to be strong about the situation. She is strong. Very strong."

"It's unhealthy is what it is,'' she reprimands. "I know you've been through a lot, Harry, but forcing Noelle to be strong isn't the right option right now. Grief and misery need to be felt before the healing process begins. We all need a tranquil life and remorse will only sprout from this later on-"

"I get it,'' I snap, shutting her up real quick.

A forced nod is given in return as she nods toward the door, "Go speak to her. She needs someone to be there for her at this time."

"And I am the right person to talk to about closure?" I rhetorically question, "I don't think that is my type of subject to reprimand on."

"I wasn't talking about closure, I was talking about comfort and hostility." Estelle pauses, looking at me in the motherly way she always has when feeding me her forced advice. "You are the only one who can understand her and she needs that. She needs you."