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 October 6th, the first hearing in the case of multiple murder with particular cruelty against Laurens Vermeulen was held. When me and Leo arrived at the courthouse it was still about fifteen minutes before the beginning of the trial. We were standing at the door of the courtroom where the hearing was to be held and less than five minutes after us, Alair Taylor, Laurens Vermeulen's public defender, arrived. Of course, when he started talking to us, it was not without nerves, especially from Leo. I saw that he was very irritated by his cheerful attitude and I had the impression that he was about to attack him. Of course I understood Leo, and had similar feelings about this man, but knew I had to keep myself from berating him. I only asked Alair Taylor how he could defend someone like Laurens Vermeulen, but his answer was what I expected - one and the same talk about the fact that not every murderer commits crimes out of low motives and that his client was traumatized and have
On the same day, October 6th, Leo came home after work really tired. But he wasn't tired because of work or following the 'Mad Dog' case, but because of worrying about Esther. He was constantly wondering if there was any way he could help her? Leo did not know how Esther would react if he made an appointment with a psychiatrist for her, which was why he didn't want to go that far yet, although on the other hand felt that this was what he should do. Leo was wondering if he should at least call her mom and grandma to let them know that something is wrong... No, that's what Esther would be even more angry about - she would reproach him for complaining about it all to her family. What else could he do then? Leo had no good idea and was torn all the time between wanting to help Esther at any cost and leaving her alone as she had asked him many times.After eating the ready-made food and taking a shower, Leo went into the bedroom, lied down on the bed and quickly fell asleep. Unfortu
Next day, October 7th, while being already on the police station, Leo tried to talk to Esther again, but she seemed to lose touch with reality more and more. From that moment Leo started to seriously considering persuading her to go to a psychiatric consultation. Of course, this was helped by the words of the female angel from his dream, which was still strangely clear in his memory. Still, Leo felt some hesitation. Also, the fact that he had such a strange dream didn't help. Leo tried to explain to himself that he had dreamed of the same scarlet-winged angel because Esther had mentioned these beings to him, and in fact it was his subconsciousness that wanted him to understand that he should stop hesitating if really wanted to help Esther.Throughout the day, Leo couldn't stop thinking about it all, which made it difficult for him to concentrate on his work but didn't want to mention the dream to anyone, especially Esther, because he knew it would only deepen her obsession with
After her last day of work before vacation, on October 11th, Esther returned home and dropped relieved onto the couch in the living room. At last she could relax without worrying about work. During her vacation, Esther could also mute the phone, because they should not call her, knowing that she was resting, the more that it was Esther's first vacation since she started working at the Cardiff Central police station.For starters, Esther was planning to go to where she spent Sunday with Leo - near Cardiff Bay Wetlands Reserve. After she had eaten a decent meal, took a shower and called her mom and grandma to talk calmly with them, Esther sat down at the computer and booked a room in St. David's Hotel for a week, because that much she could afford and didn't want to get rid of all her savings. Besides, Esther decided not to spend whole 3 weeks of vacation in one place. Maybe she should go to Penarth afterwards to visit Mom and Grandma? Yes, it was definitely a good idea, because
The next day, October 12th, Esther texted Leo that she was leaving so he wouldn't bother her with the phone calls as well. On the morning of October 19th, Esther returned home visibly refreshed and happier, at first planning her trip to Penarth, which she also mentioned to Leo, also promising she will call him after arriving to her hometown.However, when Esther did not call Leo on October 20th, as agreed, he started calling her, but to no avail. Then he decided to visit her apartment after work and hoped that everything would be fine. When Leo had spoken to Esther on the phone earlier, she seemed to be feeling much better, so the sudden change worried him greatly.When Leo got to her apartment, Esther opened door for him a few minutes later and let him in.- Is everything all right? Why didn't you go to Penarth? I thought you wanted to visit your mom and grandma as soon as possible?- Leo asked as he sat down on the couch in the living room.- Overall I'm okay bu
Between October 7th to 12th, I focused on work, although it was hard. I saw Leo trying to talk to me, but didn't feel like it. He himself seemed to be immersed in thoughts all the time, and although being curious about the reason, I preferred not to start the conversation. I only spoke up when decided to tell Leo that I want to take a few days off. He, of course, was happy about it the most. Fortunately, the Chief gave me 3 weeks of leave without any problems, but no wonder - it was my first application since I started working - so he had to agree whether wanted it or not. Besides, the Chief himself, probably seeing how exhausted I looked, a few days earlier himself proposed to me that maybe I should finally use up my vacation days. Besides, the time was perfect for a vacation, as there had been no very important investigations so far.The first week of my vacation I spend near the Cardiff Bay Wetlands Reserve, staying in the same St. David's Hotel as before, during the we
On November 10th the forensic opinion finally reached the court, and after a careful examination of it, the date of the next hearing was set for November 20th. Esther and Leo were not called in this time, but Leo wanted to appear in court as an observer at least. Esther, back from her vacation, concentrated completely on her work. She looked a bit better than before, but not as well rested enough for a person who had 3 weeks of vacation. Leo found out that Esther had finally visited her mother and grandmother in the last week of her vacation, but he hadn't talked much to her. The atmosphere between them was still tense even though they theoretically apologized to each other for their behavior.- Esther?- Leo spoke to her as they sat in the office.- Yes?- she shot him a quick glance before turning her attention back to going through the files of their current case.- Would you like to come to 'Mad Dog' trial with me as an observer?- Leo asked a little bit shyly.
Laurens Vermeulen was not happy with the sentence, but there was nothing that could be done about it now. He was legally convicted, without the possibility of appealing the sentence. The only chance he had to regain his freedom was to apply for parole after 25 years in prison. Laurens hoped that after that time people would forget about him and that he would be able to safely get it, because he intended to behave properly so as not to worsen his situation. Laurens was afraid enough of the other inmates he would meet in prison, because if the word will spread that he had raped his victims, the others surely won't leave him alone. But the worst part was that Laurens could still hear those damn whispers - they constantly talked about the fact that imprisonment would not be his only punishment, and that they would stay with him forever, to remind about the grave sins he committed, the suffering he caused to the victims, their families and loved ones.Laurens was transported to pris