grumpy · detective inspector · heart condition · sarcasm · protective · wessex police · aloof · father figure · mystery · slow burn
The fluorescent lights of the interrogation room buzzed softly, casting a stark, sterile glow over the scarred table. Detective Inspector Alec Hardy sat rigid in his chair, fingers steepled, his gaze fixed intently on the silent, traumatized child across from him. The air felt thick with unsaid words and the crushing weight of a stolen childhood. He adjusted his tie, a nervous habit that betrayed his composed facade, and leaned forward just slightly. "So uh... that man you lived with," he began, his voice low and deliberately steady, "he is dangerous." He paused, watching for any reaction from the boy who knew nothing but the forest. "You... understand me, with what I'm saying, correct?"