When You're Sleeping, page 3
"I've already used a lot of my half," Demi said.
"We never got around to sorting that out. Why don't you use what you need from there? Just until we figure all this out." Finn was doing his best.
Demi's eyes widened slightly, a mixture of surprise and gratitude flashing across her face. "Really, Finn? Are you sure?"
He nodded firmly. "Yes, I'm sure. It won't be for long, we'll get to the bottom of this. I'll put in some calls with with my boss at the FBI."
Demi offered a small, thankful smile. "Thank you, Finn. That means a lot to me."
Finn glanced away for a moment, his mind racing with possibilities. He looked around seeing a few people walking through the park. A couple sitting on a park bench. He wondered if any of them were following them.
"It's a plan, then. I'll talk to my boss at the Mesmer Building," he repeated. "He might have some ideas or connections that could help us get to the bottom of this."
Demi's expression brightened with a glimmer of hope. "That would be great. Maybe he knows someone who can help us trace those messages or find out who's been in my hotel room?"
Finn nodded, his resolve strengthening. "I'll see what I can do. We need answers, and we need them fast. Whoever is behind this has gone too far."
The conversation hung in the air, uncertainty and determination mingling in the cool November breeze. Finn's commitment to finding the truth was clear, and despite the complexities of their situation, a faint hope flickered between them—a hope that perhaps they could unravel this mystery together.
They stared at each other. In the past, he would have been lost in Demi's eyes. Now, he couldn't bear to stare at them for long.
Finn's phone vibrated in his pocket, breaking the silence that had settled between them. He glanced at the screen, seeing Rob's name flashing.
"Sorry, I have to take this," Finn said.
"That's okay," answered Demi.
He put the phone to his ear.
"Hey Rob, if you miss me this much," Finn joked. "Maybe I should get one of those implants they use to track stray dogs."
Rob's voice came through, serious and urgent. "Finn, as much as I'd love to joke... We've got a situation. The Home Office has called us in."
Finn's demeanor shifted instantly, the levity replaced by professional focus. "What's happened?"
"A murder," Rob replied. "And it's not just any murder. It's complex, maybe one of the strangest we've come across. It could be a double homicide. We need you here."
"Got it," Finn said, his brain already switching to detective mode. "Where am I headed?"
"I'll send you the address. Amelia's already on her way."
"Understood. I'll be there as fast as I can," Finn replied. "Should I pack a bag?"
"Yes," Rob said. "But no hideous Hawaiian shirts this time, okay? Amelia won't have it."
"In this weather?" Finn said. "You'll be lucky if I don't turn up wrapped in a quilt with two holes for my eyes."
"What a horrid image," Rob said. "Just... Bring the detective part of you, not the idiot part, and we'll be fine."
Finn laughed. "They come as a package deal. You know that..."
"Just hurry," Rob sighed, ending the call.
Finn turned back to Demi, his expression now one of resolve. "I've got to go, Demi. Duty calls. But I'm not happy if someone has been rummaging around in your hotel room."
Demi nodded, her eyes filled with concern. "I don't know what to do."
Finn shook his head and sighed. "You know the address I'm staying at in Great Amwell... Go grab your things at the hotel and make your way there. I'll leave the key in the plant pot at the door."
Demi's eyes lit up.
"It's just for your protection," he assured her.
Demi nodded. "I know."
"I gotta go."
"Be careful, Finn."
He gave her a reassuring smile. "Always am. We'll talk more about this later, I promise."
Finn walked away from the bridge, wondering if he'd made a huge mistake, but now all he wanted to do was focus on the case. That was the only way to keep his mind clear. Two people had been killed, and now he was determined to find their murderer. Somewhere nearby, the crows cawed overhead and a chill wind caught at Finn's face. He pulled his collar up against it and left the park in a hurry.
CHAPTER TWO
The bustling train platform just outside of London teemed with the early morning rush, but Finn Wright's attention was solely focused on the two figures waiting for him. Inspector Amelia Winters stood poised, her striking red hair bright against the otherwise gray morning backdrop. Beside her, Chief Constable Rob Collins stood waiting impatiently.
Finn approached them, his steps quick but measured, his mind still processing the sudden call to action amongst the maelstrom of his relationship with Demi. Amelia's green eyes met his as he stopped with his small suitcase. He could almost see his reflection in them. Their relationship had evolved from professional admiration to a friendship laced with playful banter, a dynamic Finn enjoyed, especially in times like these.
"Late as usual, Finn," Rob said, looking at his watch. "I wanted to fully brief you."
"Sorry, Rob," Finn said. "I was signing autographs."
Rob shook his head. "You've been in the papers for our cases, but you're hardly front-page material."
"With a jawline like this?" Finn winked at Amelia.
"Morning, Finn," Amelia rolled her eyes and then greeted him with a hint of a smile, her voice carrying a mix of warmth and professional focus.
Rob chimed in: "We've been waiting for forty minutes. I thought you'd decided to walk here."
"I just wanted to make a grand entrance, Rob. You know me. So, what's the deal?"
"Will you tell him or will I?" Amelia said.
Rob's expression turned grave. "Possible double homicide in Cornwall, at an old castle estate after a bad flood. It's a big deal – one of the victims is a cousin of the prime minister."
Finn's brow furrowed at the gravity of the case. "The prime minister?"
Rob nodded. "Yes, and he's personally requested you two to lead the investigation. It's sensitive, and we need our best on it. I assume he doesn't want this to turn into some sort of political scandal."
"Now now, Rob," Finn said sarcastically, patting him on the shoulder. "Not every politician puts their career before caring."
The sound of an approaching train broke their brief silence, the mechanical rhythm growing louder as it neared. Finn glanced at the arriving train, then back at Rob. "We won't let you down."
Rob handed Finn a file. "Everything we know so far is in here. Review it on your way."
Rob then turned to Amelia. "Bring him back in one piece, would you, Winters? I don't want the FBI to think we lost one of their brightest because he got off at the wrong station."
"I'll keep him on a short leash," she said. "Come on, Finn."
Amelia stepped onto the train with her suitcase. "Finn?"
"I'll be there in a second," Finn said.
Amelia raised an eyebrow, then disappeared into one of the carriages.
Finn turned to Rob.
"Why do I think I'm going to hate this?" Rob said.
"Eh..." Finn rubbed the back of his head nervously. "Something is going on with Demi."
"Still in London then?" Rob asked.
"Kind of," Finn said. "Not that far from London... In a small town..."
"At the cottage!?" Rob said in shock.
"Yes," Finn said. "I'll explain later. We're not back together. But... Rob, someone might be harassing her, and it could be something to do with me. I don't know all the facts yet, but I put her up at your Aunt's cottage. I hope you don't mind."
"Of course not," Rob said. "I'll keep an eye on her, if you like."
"That would be great, Rob."
Amelia opened the tiny top slotted window next to her seat in the carriage and shouted through the gap. "Finn! Hurry up!"
Finn jumped onto the train and then headed into the carriage, meeting Amelia at the window. The train began to slowly move.
"And Finn," Rob shouted from the platform with a pointed look, "Remember this is important. Please behave!"
Finn pretended he had misheard and feigned confusion. He shouted through the small opening at the top of the window. "Be brave!? As if I could be anything else!"
Rob shook his head and waved as the train gathered pace.
"I'll rock paper scissors you for the window seat?" Finn said.
"First come, first served," Amelia said, sitting down nearest to the window.
"Petty," Finn grumbled. "Very petty." He sat beside her.
Finn opened the file, his mind already diving into the details of the case. He immediately saw how light they were on details. The bodies had only been found that morning. No autopsies. Still at the scene. Finn started to wonder if it was going to be a wasted trip. It seemed to him that the deaths could have been accidental, and that the only reason they were being sent there quickly, was to somehow protect the reputation of the prime minister.
The train moved swiftly through out of the city and then through the English countryside, going deeper and deeper towards one of the most beautiful and rural parts of the country - Cornwall.
"Funny name," Finn mused out loud, closing the file.
"What is?" Amelia said, looking out of the window.
"Cornwall," Finn explained. "Do they grow a lot of it?"
Amelia laughed. "Cornwall is a special part of the country, but it's nothing to do with corn."
"It's just another county in England, isn't it?" Finn asked, genuinely curious.
"No," Amelia said. "Cornwall is English, but it's got an older tradition leading back to its Celtic heritage."
"Like back on Huldra Island?" Finn asked, referring to the Scottish island where their last case had taken place.
"A little," she said. "There are Celtic traditions here, too. But Cornwall just isn't a separate country like Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. There are some who would like it to be, though. It's an ancient part of the British Isles. Cornwall refers to the Cornish being a different people from some of the ancient Anglo-Saxons who once lived throughout England."
"And how much do I need to pay for this delightful guided tour into Cornwall?" Finn said with a grin.
Amelia turned to him and shook her head. "Hardly. I'm no expert, though I came to Cornwall a couple of times when I was a child on holiday. Have you read that?" She pointed to the file.
"Yeah," Finn replied. "It might as well have been a blank piece of paper."
"I know," Amelia said. "This case is so fresh, I think we're going to have to play it by ear. We'll no more when we get there."
“Today is going to be a great day,” Finn said, sarcastically.
Amelia didn't say anything this time, she turned to the window.
“So, anyway,” Finn said, deciding to continue. “What's been shaking recently in the world of Amelia? You been up to much?”
“Not much,” she said, not turning back to face him.
“A woman of mystery," Finn joked. "What does Amelia Winters do in her downtime?"
Amelia turned to Finn and smiled. But the smile looked pained. “Nothing interesting.” She turned back to the window.
“No pets?” Finn asked. “No unusual hobbies? Oh God... Don't tell me you're into... Watching... Soaps...”
Amelia didn't reply this time. She seemed in a world of her own, and it was a world in which Finn was not allowed, at least for now. He started to take the hint and shifted his gaze beyond her to the outside.
Time slipped away as the train carved its path through the English countryside. The landscape outside the window shifted, revealing the serene beauty of rolling hills and quaint villages bathed in the soft glow of the morning sun. Inside, however, the atmosphere was tinged with a subtle tension.
Finn had sat in relative silence for over two hours. He had occasionally tried to spark up a conversation, but Amelia had given polite, short answers. Most of the time, she had just stared out of the window into a distant thought.
Finn, observing her, felt a concern he couldn't shake. "You seem a bit off today, Amelia. Everything alright?"
She snapped back to the present, offering him a fleeting smile. "I'm fine, Finn. Just... a lot on my mind, I guess."
"Do you want to talk about it?" Finn asked.
Amelia touched his hand for a moment and rubbed it affectionately. "If you don't mind, I'd like to leave it right now."
That made Finn worry even more. But he respected Amelia's desire for privacy. "Okay, but I'm here if you need me.
She smiled and turned back to the window.
The train continued its journey, the English countryside unfurling like a living painting outside their window. Green fields and ancient woods passed by in a tranquil display, belying the grim reality of their destination.
Finn's thoughts were interrupted by a notification on his phone. He pulled it out and saw a text message from Demi. It was brief but loaded with emotion: "I miss you."
He stared at the message, a mix of longing and confusion swirling within him. The unresolved complexities of their relationship hung heavily in his mind, a hindrance for the professional focus he needed for the case ahead.
Glancing back at Amelia, who was still gazing thoughtfully out the window, Finn felt a twinge of something undefinable—a blend of appreciation for her presence and a pang of something deeper, something he continually pushed away.
The train pressed on, each mile bringing them closer to the unknowns of the Cornwall case. Finn pocketed his phone, his mind a tangle of personal conflicts and professional duty. As the landscape outside shifted to the rugged beauty of the Southwest, the reality of their task loomed ever larger, a reminder of the challenges that lay ahead.
In the quiet comfort of the train carriage, with Amelia by his side and the English countryside rolling by, Finn felt the familiar stirrings of a case beginning to take hold. The blend of anticipation and apprehension was a sensation he knew all too well—a sensation that, despite everything, he couldn't help but embrace.
He looked out of the window and wondered what secrets Cornwall held for both of them.
CHAPTER THREE
Finn's eyes slowly opened, the abrupt realization that he had drifted off into sleep washing over him. The rhythmic hum of the train had given way to an eerie silence. He turned his head, expecting to see Amelia beside him, but her seat was empty.
A prickle of unease crept up his spine as he surveyed the carriage. It was devoid of any passengers, a ghostly shell of what it had been just moments ago in his wakefulness. The usually comforting clatter of the train now seemed distant, almost surreal.
He reached for his phone, hoping to call Amelia or check for any messages. But as he tapped the screen, the signal icon mocked him with its absence. No bars. No connection to the outside world. The dread that had been building inside him began to swell, a tide of uncertainty that didn't make sense. Something was very wrong.
Finn stood up, his movements slow and hesitant. The emptiness of the carriage felt oppressive, a drastic change from the vibrant life it held before his slumber. His footsteps sounded unnaturally loud as he moved toward the door, his hand hesitating momentarily on the handle.
Pushing through into the next carriage, he half-expected, half-hoped to find Amelia or any sign of life. But the next carriage greeted him with the same unnerving silence and emptiness. The windows revealed nothing but a blur of motion, the landscape outside moving too fast to discern any detail.
He felt isolated, disconnected from reality. The sense of being alone on a moving train, disconnected from the world, sent a shiver down his spine. It was like a dream, yet all too tangible in its strangeness. Finn's heart raced as he moved through the ghostly carriage, each step taking him further into the unknown.
Continuing through the train, Finn's sense of unease deepened with each step. The monotonous rhythm of the train now seemed to echo the pounding of his heart. As he entered the next carriage, his eyes caught a glimpse of a shadowy figure swiftly moving away, disappearing into the carriage beyond. He rubbed his eyes, but the figure remained a strange dark blur as it moved out of the carriage.
Finn's instincts kicked in. "Hey!" he shouted, his voice slicing through the silence. The figure, apparently hearing him, quickened their pace, turning what had been a brisk walk into a full-blown sprint.
Finn followed suit, adrenaline surging through his veins. He couldn't shake the feeling that this figure was the key to understanding the unsettling solitude enveloping the train. They were the only two souls aboard this eerie, moving capsule, and Finn was determined to find out why. What had happened to the other passengers? Most of all, was Amelia safe?
The chase was surreal, a blur of empty seats and luggage racks flying past as they moved through the carriages. The figure ahead was agile, their movements almost a shadow flickering through the dimly lit space.
Finn pushed himself harder, closing the gap, but as he neared the front of the train, the figure lunged into the driver's cabin, the door slamming shut with a resounding thud. Finn reached the door mere moments later, his hand slamming against the cold metal.
He tried the handle, but it was locked from the inside. Banging on the door, Finn shouted, "Open up! Who are you?" But there was no response, just the muffled sound of the train's mechanics and the relentless movement beneath his feet.
Finn stepped back, catching his breath, his mind racing with questions.
"Who the hell are you!?" he shouted.
The isolation of the train, the mysterious figure, and the locked driver's cabin came together into an enigma that Finn now found himself desperately trying to unravel.
Finn felt the train judder. He caught himself, grabbing hold of a railing. Steadying his foothold, he looked up and saw something through the thin slither of glass on the driver's door. Inside, the shadowy figure was pushing on a lever. The train was speeding up, and Finn could now see beyond the driver to the track ahead outside.
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