Chapter 3

Stephanie Farleigh smiled as she bid goodbye to her last client for the day, she sunk into her chair a tired breath escaping her lungs, her body was tensed and she rotated her left arm trying to ease the tension between her muscles. The bookshelf in her office was filled with psychology books and certificates, her award were perfectly displayed on her table. She had made a name for herself in her seven years as a therapist, proving herself each time by winning different awards, she was basically famous. She held a Ph.D in clinical psychology, with a specialization in cognitive behavioral therapy, she possessed a BCBA, she also held a CEDS and a CADC, she smiled as she looked at her achievements, she was a smart kid. Seven years in the profession and she was still being haunted by some of her clients sessions, she could feel it take a toll on her mental health but she had to stay strong, it was she signed up for. She picked up a file of her newest appointment and studied his profile, she nodded glad that that was her only client for the next day, 'this should be easy', she thought as she picked her coat and exited the office.

Sterling sat in the interrogation room watching the father and son duo that were handcuffed to the table, he looked them up and down, picking up their files when the door flung open, it was Nora, she looked at him in horror and gestured to him to come out.

"what's wrong with you?" she asked as the stepped out of the room

"what do you mean?"

"why are they here?, you know, you could lose this case this way" she said concern in her eyes for him.

"they are being charged with obstructing justice"

"he's a suspect, he can choose not to be interrogated and the father, he can choose not to be interviewed….she drew closer to him and whispered….he's an important man, one call and you're out, you know how the big guys are"

"look, I know you're worried about me but you have got to let me do my job"

"and what are you planning to gain from this?" Parker asked as he came in

"did you interrogate Jessica?, and what of the new victim?"

"you didn't answer my question Sterling"

Parker stepped in front of Sterling looking him in the eye, Nora separated them with her hands, standing in between them.

"I got the autopsy result from the new victim, its not our guy, it was a drunk guy he was caught on camera, I've handed it over to team two and Jessica's alibi checks out, look, Sterling, let Parker and I would conduct the interrogation while you handle with whatever is going on here"

Sterling nodded as he stepped aside to let them get in the room, he listened from outside, Parker sat laid back on one of the chairs looking at one of the files, Nora with a notepad in her hand spoke,

"I want to apologize on behalf of my partner Mr. King, but we have some questions for your son"

"he hasn't done anything wrong, you're making a big mistake one phone call from me an….."

"...we know, we know….Parker spoke interrupting him….but it's in your best interest to cooperate, you see somehow your son has been arrested for assault and possession of drugs but he always seemed to never reach the courts, but not with us"

"that's only because all of those times he was innocent"

"really?, so if we do a drug test now he would be clean?"

Jordan's expression changed he looked at his father and shook his head, Mr. King's face looked defeated

"you see it's protocol to do a drug test on a suspect….Nora chimed in….and it wouldn't be long till he commits another assault"

"but he isn't a suspect"

Nora picked up the phone in front of her and held it up "Mrs Pritchett, told us about Jordan and Katherine's break up, your son here was stalking her and we have messages to prove it and witnesses said he was at the same club with Katherine on the day of her murder"

"I want my lawyers"

Nora nodded towards the glass where Sterling stood behind a smile on her lips, a smile crept on his lips.

They had just let the Kings out, they sank in their chairs

"Jordan's alibi also checks out so we're back to square one" Parker sighed

"I wonder why he was so protective in the first place"

"well his son is a druggie and a stalker, he's got a name to protect" Sterling said as he stood up, wearing his jacket

"are you going home already?, we're having dinner, Parker's paying"

"sorry id have to rain check, I've got something to do"

"a date?" Parker asked

"please what woman would be crazy enough to date him?"

Sterling rolled his eyes at them and left the office as they left.

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Sterling looked around the room, it was graced with awards and certificates, he fidgeted, his hands shaking, he intertwined his hands together and put them in between his legs, he never trusted doctors but he needed to sleep and this particular doctor was reputed as the best. The door flung open and a woman in her late 20s appeared wearing a lab coat, she closed the door behind her and sat down, "hi, I'm Dr. Stephanie Farleigh" she said with a thin smile plastered on her lips, she sat back obviously studying him, her eyes twinkling, they were smiling as if in approval. She was a blonde with perfect features, then again, blondes were considered beautiful

"you're?" she finally spoke

"Detective Ryan Sterling, you don't need to study me, I'm just here for my insomnia, I want you to fix me, no finding out past traumas or shit like that"

She laughed, "you've got a smart mouth on you don't you? Fine, whats the problem?"

"I just told you, I cant sleep, I've been taking a bunch of sleeping pills but….."

"...hold up, sleeping pills, those can be dangerous" she caught him off"

eyes filling with disapproval he answered, "I know I lived it"

she smiled again this time showing her perfect teeth, Sterling was not having it, he couldn't understand how everything was amusing to her, she seemed to notice his look of distraught, with a warm smile she began, "Detective Sterling, I want to assure you, you're in good hands as you can see I hold a Ph.D in clinical psychology, with a specialization in cognitive behavioral therapy and I…."

Sterling raised his hands gesturing for her to stop "...I'm not here for your qualifications and don't even think of patronizing me, just tell me can you help me sleep or not?"

she looked at him, the twinkle in her eyes switched to something different for a second before the twinkle returned, she was obviously a professional in dealing with his type, she nodded, "id give you questions to answer and id fix an appointment for you, you can submit it at te next appointment, for now, lay off the sleeping pills and record your experience and progress, if you break and take the sleeping pills, record whatever happens and bring it to me on your next appointment"

he nodded, stood up and was about to leave as he collected the papers from her, when she stopped him, "and Detective Sterling if you're not interested in my services I could recommend someone else for you, if not, you can shut up and let me do my job" she gave him a smile as he left. His face grew a smile as he walked out of her office, 'Dr. Stephanie Farleigh'.

Sterling sat on his bed, his head pounding, "I shouldn't have taken those pills", he whispered to himself weakly, he shut his eyes trying to exile the ringing in his ears. He reached out for his phone trying to shut his alarm, he tried to grab the phone by his bedside but missed, his vision had become blur, he got out of bed his legs an arm shaking like a junkie who just missed his dose. He held onto his desk as he grabbed the phone, he shook his head trying to concentrate and steady the numbers, "10:00 o'clock", he shut his eyes again as he steadied himself, he staggered to the door, he grabbed the handle and tried to pull, his body weak, he fell to the ground, his breathing increasing, he felt like he was suffocating, he grabbed his chest his chest his hands shaking, his phone began to ring and he tried to raise his body up, but with the strength he had left it was clearly impossible, he just laid there, his eyes closed waiting for the worst to happen.

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Dr. Farleigh stared at Sterling, her look disappointed, he sat facing her, his face like that of a child that just got caught he chewed on his lips awkwardly as he sat in his chair as if begging it to swallow him.

He had brought his medical report to her after his rendezvous with the sleeping pills, which Dr. Farleigh told him to lay off of, hence, her disappointed look.

"you look pissed. Are you pissed?" he asked

"I told you to lay off the sleeping pills"

"it's not my fault I couldn't sleep…..he muttered loud enough for her to hear…..it's not like I died or anything, besides, you were the one that told me that if I take the pills I should record the results and I brought you a record"

"yes, a record from the hospital" she said mockingly

he rolled his eyes at her as he sat up "look Dr. that's not the point, I want you to help me"

"I can only help you if you're ready to listen and share with me, the number of pills you took could have killed you, throw the pills away and cancel your subscription"

"look I am a detective, I need to sleep to be able to work, plus the pills only knocked me out, I'm a strong man"

"okay Detective strong, I'm listening"

Nora blocked her nose with her gloved hand, trying to restrict the stench from going into her lungs, Parker was behind her, his action similar to hers. They had received a call about a dead body and had rushed over, the landlady who had found the body opened the door to the apartment for them, the body was hardly recognizable with the maggots going in and out of it, blood was splattered all over, Nora turned to Parker who had just finished questioning the landlady.

"she says her rent was overdue so she came to evict her, she had been coming over but whenever she knocked on the door no one answered"

Nora nodded, "her name?"

"Sara O'Malley, she was in her third year in college, rented this place to be closer to school"

Nora crouched over the body, her hand finding her nose again, "looks like she was stabbed multiple times but I can't really tell seeing the maggots digging into her skin" she said as she pointed towards the body.

"my best guess is, she's been here for two days max"

"where's Sterling?"

"I don't know. He isn't picking my calls or answering my texts"

"do you think he's alright? It's not like sterling to ditch work"

"I don't know, let's hope he's fine.

"so you're saying you keep having these vivid dreams?"

"not dreams…..nightmares"

"okay, nightmares. And you're hallucinating to?"

Sterling nodded. He had just told Dr. Farleigh about his nightmares, he kept a cool expression but deep down he hoped she could help him

He had been having these nightmares where he stood in a place, it was pitch black and all he could hear was piercing screams, he'd then see a light which he followed trying to escape but he always ended up in a pool of corpses they always seemed to pull at him, calling his name and pleading with him to join them. The scary part was that he always listened to their pleas and found comfort in his touch. Whenever he let himself into their arms his sleep was always peaceful and when he was awake it was like he could see spirits walking around, they always called to him and never had a face. His nightmares were the reason he lost and got sleep.

"like I said, you can't take those pills anymore, I'd give you something to help you, and for your nightmares we'd have to dig deeper into your life"

"that's something I wouldn't agree with"

"then I'm sorry you'd need another doctor"

"let's just work with the information I give. Like how I always dream of death and how she….."

"...death? She?"

"yes Dr. death is a she, don't be misogynistic…...she rolled her eyes at him….. anyway, she never seems to come to take me, and I never see her face either. She gives me her hand and I take it, she always seems peaceful and beautiful" he told her, his eyes smiling as he reminisced.

"I think you should also lay off work. Take a leave or something"

"I can't do that, I have an important case I'm working on"

"we have to start somewhere, your session is over so let's reschedule, I'd give you my whole day then"

I'm sorry doctor, but I'd have to pass. This is my case, so I would close it. I can heal later"

"fine. I can't force you, but I wold like you to reconsider. When did you start seeing these symptoms"

"it's been long doctor. It's why I became a detective. I've always loved death,, she makes me happy"

he smiled, ready to walk out the door, "so why are you trying to get rid of her now?"

"that's the thing, I'm trying to get closer to her, the visions are getting clearer so I think she wants to tell me something"

Sterling looked at the messages he had received from Nora and Parker. They had been another murder, but thankfully it wasn't theirs so team two had taken over. They were asking about his absence. They were probably worried. He called Parker to reassure them.