Objects of Virtue

Chapter 04

"Can I bring her around the station when she gets in?" Louis replied as he seated himself down on an armchair right in front of Harry.

"That works fine with us."

"So officers – you said that there was a development in my father's case?" Louis' voice was calm and measured.

Niall glanced momentarily at Harry before beginning to explain the latest developments. " Well, Mr. Tomlinson, after a thorough examination, we were able to determine the cause of your late father's passing. Officer Grimshaw will fill you in with all the paper work and such that needs to sorted so that you can make the necessary funeral arrangement. The Coroner determined that the cause of death the be Cardiac Arrest caused by Acute Cyanide Poisoning. I'm really sorry Sir, for your loss. We can only hope that we get to the bottom of this fast."

Louis couldn't fully comprehend what he was hearing. Poisoned? Tea? What the actual fuck was he hearing? Of all the ways to go, the man had to die because of his fucking obsession with tea. It would have been hilarious if it weren't for the fact that it was his father, in fact he couldn't help as the littlest chuckle slipped out of his mouth. Four sets of eyes abruptly turned their gazes to him as conversation came to a thundering halt. It was disrespectful, he knew all too well, but man wasn't the irony hilarious. Mark Tomlinson. Mark Fucking Tomlinson. Offed having his afternoon cuppa and biscuits. He was sure his seams were finally coming loose as a sudden burst of laughter cracked through the thick silence as the rest continued to look at him, flabbergasted.

"Lou, mate – are you alright?" Liam asked, clearly concerned

He couldn't stop himself though. Now that the laughter had started, he couldn't make it stop. Wave after wave of laughter washed over him and wrecked his body. He was shuddering, bending over and his stomach hurt. Tears were streaming down his face now, thick rivers running down his heated red cheeks – and he couldn't stop. So, he just laughed, until the laughter finally gave way to what lay hidden beneath. The pain was tearing loose from its confines deep inside his soul where he had long ago chained them in their dingy dungeons. All the years of neglect, of self- loathing all the disgrace that was pushed aside was pushing through and up finally. So he cried. Shivering and quaking, big, large drops falling all over his t-shirt and down his chest. The flood gates were open and there was no going back. He felt warm arms around him, ones that were familiar, he knew – Liam. Hands on his – unfamiliar but warm and pleasantly caring – Harry.

When he was finally able to look up through teary eyes, his blues were met with forest greens, staring intently into his. They looked concerned and worried. Louis wasn't too used to people really caring, but these greens seemed to really care. Why? He didn't quite understand, but there they were looking and searching his blues for answers. Answers that he didn't have. Didn't know. Needed to find out. These greens felt like home, or was he getting carried away? Harry's hands were intertwined in his, holding his fingers tight in a vicelike grip. His long, lean fingers, interlaced in his. His shirt cuff slightly raised, letting the edges of a tattoo peak out sneakily past the white of his shirt. There it was that feeling again. The very same one that he felt the first time he'd seen the head of curls. And just as he was settling down and into the warmth of Harry's palms in his, they were gone. Louis watched as he stood up abruptly and sat back down on his chair, his plump cheeks, a warm pink, his lips slightly wet as he bit down on them, his white teeth perfect against the pink.

Louis took a deep breath in and steeled himself to gaze up at the silent audience that waited for him to give them some sign that he was alright – if one could call it that. Louis Tomlinson had just had a complete break down in front of a room of people he didn't even know.

"Sorry for that lads. Don't know where that came from to be honest. Alright, if you'd excuse me boys, I think I need a drink, or maybe five – right now. So, if there's nothing else?" Louis said staring straight at Niall, as intimidatingly as he could possibly look under the circumstance, willing his voice to be steady. It must have worked, because all three guests stood up in unison nodding in agreement as they made their wat to the door in a single file. Louis was sad to see Harry go, but he needed to get his shit together and Harry's presence was not helping him very much. At the door Grimmy held out a card with his details.

"Please feel free to call me when you are feeling better Sir," He said, pity written all over his face. "Just a few details to go over."

Liam stepped in, taking the card from Grimmy, smiling politely and reassuring the officers that he would indeed call them later on. Louis watched wordlessly as the boys made their way over to Harry's silver Ford Capri. Louis had to admit that the boy had maintained the vintage car well. The silver detailing shone prettily in the mid-afternoon sun. His eyes found Harry's as he slid behind the wheel, just a second too long and then he was gone. His broken heart fluttered in his chest, feebly trying to rise back up as Harry's car disappeared down the drive and out the gate. Strange what this lad was doing to his heart.

29th May 2021 - Holland Park, London

It had been a couple hours since Louis had left and Simon sat behind his desk engrossed in his work when the shrill ringing of the phone broke the silence that had engulfed him. Picking up w the phone and placing it against his ear, Simon got up and walked towards the window. The afternoon sun was streaming through the windows and the curtains were swaying gently in the warm breeze.

"Hi Uncle Si. How'd it go?"

"Hi love. It went as expected. He tried to get rough with me, as we both knew he would. But I put him back in his place. Everything is going according to plan. And on your end? Have you spoken to Jeffery?"

"Yes, yes I did. He said he'd have a look at it and let me know. It's all really cut and dry though isn't it? It's all rightfully mine"

"We'll have to see about that darling. One step at a time and please be careful. We've come too far to loose all of it now."

"I will Uncle Si. I will. Bye."

Placing the phone back, Simon smiled. He'll miss hisold friend. But now he was one step closer to being king. If only they playthere cards right, he'd have everything he spent the last thirty building upall to himself. All these years, he'd been hidden in the shadows of MarkTomlinson, hovering over him and blotting him out. He was finally free of theburden that was bestowed on him to remain hidden in the cracks like vermin,getting his hands dirty and not reaping the fruits of his labor. Finally. It wasall his. Almost. Louis Tomlinson was all that stood in his way. No matter, he'dsort him out too, soon.