I Am the Infamous

-5- Name Through the Mud

After an awkward explanation owed to Caroline's housemaid, Miss Eleanor, the group left the house with heavy lids and tired minds. They assured that Jude made it to his front step without a knife in his back, then headed to the station on foot rather than waking Adelaide from in her stable.

"What are you plans for tomorrow?" Théo looked at Winslow and Carrie as they strode down the quiet road. The cobblestone sidewalk was slick from the rain, and the smell of upturned soil was fierce.

"Excuse me?" Caroline blinked at him in confusion.

Was he serious?

"What am I doing tomorrow? Most likely giving a statement to support your innocence. Praying that you aren't tossed into jail. Avoiding being murdered. I'm sort of taking this one day at a time."

"Easy, there." Théo exposed his hands, lifting his shoulders. "I'm just making small talk. You know, like normal people do?"

"We aren't normal people, Théo." Caroline faced back ahead, trying to keep her ears open for an sounds.

"Yes, we are." Winslow joined in, tilting his head at Carrie. "We're normal people, just in an abnormal situation."

Caroline guessed she agreed enough. She squeezed her fingers around the hairpin in her pocket, checking for the fifteenth time to make sure it was still there. It was a poor weapon of choice, but it could do a fine amount of damage if necessary, and it didn't seem like something a criminal would be carrying. She rubbed her finger on the sharp, angled end. Caroline had jabbed herself in the head too many times to not know that it was more threatening than it appeared.

Not that she wanted to see the murderer, but it was funny to imagine bringing down Rochegrise's notorious serial killer with a dragonfly hairpin stuck in their shin.

The three entered the police station, where the man on guard in the lobby was asleep in his seat, his stubble-covered chin slumped into his chest, and the corner of his mouth was slack.

Théo gestured his thumb at the dozing officer, the corners of his mouth twitching upwards in amusement. 

Caroline couldn't help the chuckle that escaped her lips, before she covered her mouth in regret. The police officer groggily cracked his eyes open and grumbled.

Winslow cleared his throat and stepped forward, waving his hand to get his attention. The officer peered up at the tall boy, and didn't really move in response. Caroline watched awkwardly.

"Excuse me?"

"I can see you, young man." He grunted, tipping his hat up to glare at the three of them. "Are you going to tell me why you're here or are you going to let me go back to sleep?"

"My apologies, Officer." Caroline stammered while keeping her face serious. "I...no, um... he has something to tell you."

Winslow's eyes darted to her in scrutiny, wondering why she apologized. He was always after her for saying sorry when she hadn't done anything wrong.

"If this is about a drunk fellow passing out in your lawn or a missing garden ornament, handle it yourselves or come back in the morning."

Théo brushed aside his hair from his tanned face, and of course, put his hands in his pockets. Like they were out on a casual stroll. That fool's nervous coping-mechanisms were overly contradicting.

Caroline mouthed to Winslow with a sarcastic widening of her eyes, "Does he want to look guilty?"

"It's about the serial killings," Théo started off strong.