Chapter 19 — The Torn Heart
Before going to the police station, Esther asked Leo to wait for her. She went to the pre-trial detention building telling her partner that just wanted to review the night incident report, although actually wanted to speak to Laurens Vermeulen as well. Of course, Esther looked at the report first, then told the guards to escort her to the Mad Dog cell and asked if they would let her talk to him in private, to which the guard who escorted her agreed, but stayed nearby, just in case.
"Detective Moore, finally." Laurens greeted her. "I wanted to talk to you alone earlier, detective." he added.
"I know, I heard about it." Esther replied shortly.
"So why didn't you come earlier, detective Moore?" he asked, as if slightly disappointed by this fact.
"First, I had other important things on my mind. Secondly, I don't know what else you could tell me that I didn't know, in both cases we've talked about." Esther replied slightly irritated. "Mainly, I'm here because I don't understand why you mentioned the Scarlet Angels in court. It has nothing to do with the case, besides, no one will believe in this, and I think you knew it very well." she added.
"I only answered honestly to the question I was asked." Laurens explained calmly, not seeming to care about her tone. "Maybe I was supposed to lie under oath?" he asked, looking at her.
This effectively shut Esther's mouth. She was silent for a long time, not knowing what to say, so it won't sound bad.
"Detective Moore, I'm really scared. You have no idea what I'm going through because you'll never be in the same situation since you're a police officer. This female angel really attacked me in the cell that night and whipped me mercilessly... If the guards had not appeared, she might have even completed her mission after all. Besides, I can still hear them and see them out of the corner of my eye, even today, in the courtroom." he continued, seeing that she was silent. "I suspect that even if I get a mild sentence or end up in a psychiatric hospital, in a closed ward, they will get me anyway. That's why I don't care what people think of me, really." he added, then moved away from the bars.
Esther said nothing, just walked away from the cell, a guard joined her on the way, escorted down the hall and then to the exit of the building.
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After returning to the police station Esther and Leo saw a commotion among their police colleagues and heard that much had been said about the trial and its progress. Of course, their return caused everyone to flood them with questions, but neither of them wanted to answer.
"Esther, what Scarlet Angels was this madman talking about?" asked one of their colleagues.
"I think he's really nuts. Instead of in prison, this guy should spend the rest of his life in a mental hospital, wearing a straitjacket." someone else added.
"I suggest you all shut up." Esther suddenly snapped, shocking everyone around her, but Leo the most. "He should be locked in a mental hospital?! Seriously?!" she yelled at them. "Do you really want him to get away from punishment so easily? Although for all of you it probably doesn't matter, because it wasn't you who had to go through hell to catch this psycho. A bunch of idiots." she added maliciously, looking at all gathered.
"Esther, please..." Leo said, placing his hands on her shoulders. "Enough." he added, then dragged her with him down the hall, to their office.
"They deserve it..." Esther began to say, but she stopped when she felt Leo pull her away from the group. "What are you doing? I'm not done yet..." she started to struggle a little, but he wasn't going to let her go.
When they finally were in their office, it turned out to be the only quiet place. Leo sat Esther on the chair next to her desk, and he leaned against it lightly.
"What was that supposed to be, Esther? What has gotten into you?" he asked in a slightly accusing tone.
"What got into me? Those idiots started talking nonsense..." she started to defend herself.
"True, but your response was inadequate. We're at the police station, not in a kindergarten. You cannot let anyone throw you off balance." Leo interjected, but this time in a calmer tone. "I cannot believe that I have to calm you down. Until recently it was the other way around, you always had to calm me down, so I would not beat anyone, especially criminals." he sighed heavily.
"You're right... I'm so sorry." Esther said finally, as if only realizing what she had really done.
"What's done is done." Leo concluded with a resigned expression on his face. "Just keep your nerves in check so that it won't happen again." he added, sitting down at his desk.
Then they silently focused on their work. Leo glanced at Esther from time to time, feeling more and more anxious. Something was wrong, but he had no idea what to do to stop it, and this inability to help was killing him. Worst of all, though, was the feeling that if Leo won't do something soon, he might lose Esther forever, either literally or figuratively.