Objects of Virtue

Chapter 03

"So, in conclusion, for him to have ingested such a large dose of cyanide , someone definitely must've gotten to his tea because that's basically all his stomach contained – tea and a few biscuits. Harry, did you know that apple seeds contain cyanide too, crazy isn't it? Rose continued her seemingly extensive flow of facts as Harry mentally made a note of what she had said – someone doused the old man's tea with cyanide. "Thanks Rose, I'll remember that the next time, seeds out not in! You're an absolute blessing, is what you are – see you soon Rose!" Harry responded quickly cutting her off before she launched into a branch of facts about plants and other things that contained cyanide – Harry was sure that it was all probably fascinating but there was only so much that he could listen to at 8.00 am in the morning. Harry's fingers tapped to the beat of the song that was playing softly in the background, as his eyes remained fixed on the color lighting silently willing it to change to green. It was frustrating that he was late to work, on his second day – no less. He knew Niall would never let him live it down – "Always – on – times – Styles" late on his second day – he could almost hear Niall's Irish accent and his booming laugh as he attempts to tickle Harry. It puts a massive smile on his face though. Niall always does. His presence alone brightened every situation up and Harry was eternally thankful for the day that he met Niall all those many years ago.

Harry was probably 8 and Niall was 9. Niall had just moved into their neighborhood and Harry was amused and also quite frankly, a bit scared of the little firecracker that Niall was. Harry had never seen anyone move so fast and so suddenly as Niall neither had he heard anyone laugh as loud as he did – so unashamed, so free and also quite hilariously. It was a warm Sunday afternoon at the park and Harry was seated primly by the side of the lake watching the little ducks out for an afternoon swim, when out of no where Niall slammed into him with his entire force, toppling the two boys straight into the warm waters of the lake. Harry was furious to say the least – he'd just lost his ice cream and that was a rare treat to say the least, and now he was drenched, head to toe in lake water. Niall on the other hand, was doubled over in laughter, splashing around in the water, disturbing the ducks, who seemed to be entirely agitated, wings flaying around, ducklings quacking in fright. Harry's mum and Niall's parents rushed to the rescue and many apologies and many complaints from little Harry later, both boys sat on a bench, this time far away from the water, devouring two double scoops of chocolate ice creams each. They all became fast friends; parents included. Anne embraced the Irish family and Gemma beamed when she saw the little Irish boy that her brother had made friends with.

Years passed and the boys grew up. Niall was always a year ahead of Harry but that never hindered their friendship. They worked together hard at their school work, just as hard as they fooled around. They got drunk for the first time together, sneaking out after bed time, climbing down the big oak tree right outside Harry's window. They passed out under said tree during the early hours of the morning and were rudely woken up by Anne and a shower from the garden hose. They were grounded that entire summer but they both stood by the fact that it was worth it. Niall accompanied Harry for his first tattoo, knowing full well that he was sure to be greeted with a smack across the head when he went home, Harry was like a son to his mother and sometimes he suspected that maybe she loved him a little bit more than him. Harry helped Niall bleach his hair for the first time. They were both thankful when his hair didn't fall of and promptly got down on their knees and gave thanks to God for small miracles. Niall was the first to know that Harry liked boys, not that Harry needed to tell him at all. Niall always knew and Niall always supported. So, through the years, it is safe to say that the boys had been through it all together. And in essence, that's what best friends do, don't they? They have each other's backs.

And now here thy were, partners, best friends, colleagues and a whole bunch more of other adjectives later, solving the murder case of the decade. Life was good, life was fine and Harry was late. As Harry walked through the doors, he was greeted with a hard slap to his back. Niall.