Page 61 of Dream a Little Dream

“And how do I find that someone?”

“It’ll probably be easier to find him yourself.”

That was the worry here. Kenny might already have. But he couldn’t say that. It was a theory. One, so far, unfounded. And one Kenny worried was just his obsession with it all. Had he told Jack any of this, Jack would tell him as such.

So he downed his coffee and stood. “Thanks for the drink.”

Harry’s gaze rose to meet Kenny’s, filled with fractured concern. “Could we have done more?”

“Perhaps the question is,shouldyou have?”

“And should we have?”

“It would appear so, yes.”

Harry nodded, then his eyes glazed over when he said, “What’s his likely outcome, then?”

Kenny inhaled sharply. “If he didn’t receive the right interventions early on, the trajectory would likely mirror what we often see with other children in similar circumstances. Instability. Distrust. Anger. Moving from foster home to foster home disrupts attachment, leaving a child feeling abandoned, reinforcing a lack of trust. The abuse would compound this, instilling fear and resentment, manifesting in antisocial behaviours. By adolescence, the pattern would have cemented. Conflict with authority, emotional dysregulation, escalating aggression. Without proper therapeutic support, the cycle of trauma continues, intensifying into adulthood.”

“Intensifying enough to commit murder?”

“Without knowing him, I couldn’t say.”

“But the scene itself?”

“Was too clean. Too refined.”

“Thank fuck for that.” Harry tried to heft himself out of his chair. “We don’t need that pinned on our failings.”

“Don’t get up.” Kenny raised a hand to stop him. “I can see myself out. You enjoy your retirement.”

Harry fell back and offered a small smile of gratitude. Although, within it were also his apologies. His hope. And stark acknowledgement that he, none of his team, could have done anything more than they had.

Except they could have. They could have ensured the Howell child had everything he needed to develop healthy relationships. Nurtured him to make the right choices. Follow a different path. Kenny didn’t know if any of that wasn’t true yet.

But he was damn well going to find out. If it killed him.

It might.

“Night, Chief.”

“Night, Dr Lyons.”

Kenny walked out to the hallway, but before he made it to the front door, Harry’s voice sailed out to him. “And what abouther?”

Kenny pretended not to hear the question because he had no answers. Or none he wanted to divulge right then. Instead, he left the house and drove immediately back to campus.

Jack had been right.

He’d never sleep, anyway.

chapter fourteen

You Don’t Own Me

This was worse than a road traffic collision.

A tailgate of students meandered outside Aaron’s Halls of Residence, rubberneckers all wanting a whiff of what was happening inside. The police were in there. Some outside, too, questioning anyone who said they had a connection to Rahul, despite Aaron knowing none of them did. Because when he’d asked them before, they’d all told him they had no idea who he was.

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