Page 24 of When You're Gone

Tim Nolan sat at a weathered desk,his figure a study in contrasts against the dimly lit room. Strangely, he worean immaculate suit among the clutter, as though it were one final piece ofhimself that had not shattered yet. The flickering light from a lone candlecast dancing shadows on his face, accentuating the deep lines etched bysleepless nights and relentless pursuit.

His hands, normally steady andprecise, trembled slightly as they hovered over a collection of yellowed papersspread before him. The intensity of his gaze was unsettling, piercing throughthe gloom with an almost manic focus. Strands of hair fell across his forehead,his eyes hinted at a mind consumed by turmoil.

The air around him crackled with anenergy that seemed to emanate from within, an aura of desperation mingled withdetermination. Tim Nolan's expression spoke of madness tempered by fleetingmoments of clarity, as if he teetered on the edge of revelation and ruin.

Nolan didn't respond, his handmoving frenetically across the pages of a notebook, as if trying to outrun timeitself. Finn approached cautiously, noting the walls adorned with maps anddiagrams, each meticulously detailed and eerily reminiscent of the industrialrevolution's ingenuity.

"Mr. Nolan," Finn tried,softer but insistent, "we need to talk about your... projects. We’re nothere to hurt you."

The man looked up, his gazemomentarily locking with Finn's before returning to his scribbles. Around them,the room seemed to close in, the very air charged with the energy of Nolan'sdelusion.

"Look at this," Ameliawhispered, nodding toward the wall where a large, intricate blueprint commandedattention. It depicted a Victorian factory, its architecture exact, its purposeominous in its complexity.

"Working on something,Nolan?" Finn inquired, stepping closer to inspect the drawing. Each linespoke of precision, a plan devised with a singular, terrifying vision.

"Everything in itsplace," Nolan murmured, his voice barely above a whisper, yet carrying theweight of conviction. "Just as it should be."

“This wouldn’t have anything to dowith Luc Henshaw and Emily Stanton, would it?” Finn prodded.

The man grinned.

"If I didn’t know better, I’dsay this was the heart of your operation," Amelia said, circling the deskto stand beside Finn. Her investigative mind was piecing together the puzzle,the implications of Nolan's actions painting a grim picture.

"Or just the beginning,"Finn added, his thoughts racing ahead to the implications of what the blueprintmight represent. There was a connection here, a link between Nolan's fervor andthe series of killings that had brought them to this forsaken house.

“Am I under arrest?” Nolan asked.

Finn noticed that the man glancedat a side door nervously for a moment.

There’ssomething in there, Finnthought.

"No, you're not underarrest," answered Amelia. "But you are a person of interest in themurder of Emily Stanton."

“If I am not under arrest, then Imust ask you to leave,” Nolan sniped.

“Why were you sending threateningmessages to Emily Stanton?” Finn asked.

“I don’t have to answer any of yourquestions. Get out!”

Finn winked at Amelia.

“Inspector Winters, I thought Iheard something moving around,” Finn said, loudly. “Given we’re chasing aserial killer, and we have evidence that Mr Nolan had threatened one of thevictims, I’m terribly concerned that the noise I just heard is apossible third victim tied up somewhere.”

“Well,” Amelia answered. “If youbelieve an active crime is taking place, then that would allow you to legallysearch this place.”

Finn's suspicions heightened as heeyed the side door, a flicker of movement catching his attention. Nolan,sensing their intent, grew visibly agitated and blocked Finn's path.

"Why won't you justleave?" Nolan's voice cracked with frustration, his eyes wild withdefiance.

Finn noticed a slight limp inNolan's gait, a detail that added to the man's air of desperation. Ignoring theprotest, Finn pressed on, his gaze unwavering.

"Tell me, were you at aVictorian house in Bingham today?" Finn's tone brooked no argument.

Nolan's face contorted with anger."No! I've never been there!"

In a sudden burst of aggression,Nolan lunged forward and grabbed Finn's arm, where the stitches from his recentinjuries lay hidden beneath his shirt. Pain shot through Finn, his musclestensing involuntarily as he winced.

Reacting on instinct, Finn swiftlytwisted out of Nolan's grasp and expertly brought him to the ground with acontrolled force. The room echoed with the impact as Amelia swiftly moved in tosecure Nolan in handcuffs.

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