Dear Prof,
Oi, you know the reason why I'm talking to your father is for your own good and not because I'm in kahoots with him in any other way. I may be your motivator (which is really sweet of you to say) but he's the one who has all the power with your rehab situation and I can only prod him here and there when I talk to him. It's like you said in that one letter, when I want something, I get it done. That hasn't changed, Prof! Nowt to it. If you're gonna be ungrateful, maybe I should tell your father to remove the request for a larger room for you to sleep in. You know I can. :P
I don't mind that you can't come on the day of my birthday; I didn't even think you'd get out any time soon, so it's not like I have any proper plans to accommodate you along. I'll be working anyway—it's on a Wednesday and it's not like I have much to do outside of work. I think Blaine is trying to get a couple of the other Yarders that I'm acquainted with out for drinks or a karaoke night, but I'm not much for stuff like that. I'll probably still go since they've planned it around me but I'm the type to enjoy a nice crime or existential novel, curled up under the covers and all. I'm only turning 23, there's really nowt to it—it's just another nice year and a reminder that I went through a whole 365 days.
I'm really excited for you to be out and about and I am buzzing in anticipation, just like you are. It's the same rush feeling that I get when I'm accusing the correct suspect when I'm interrogating them. I think you know what that's like, the sensation when you've caught the right piece of clue, taking them down and are able to do right by any victims that were hurt by them. I guess that's adrenaline or some other chemical in the human body that I probably can't pronounce or write without consulting Google—I was always shoddy at Chemistry, so I'm not even sure if I'm right with the whole adrenaline thing, but oh well.
Anyway! I've been thinking. Well, I always think, but this is summat different.
Since you haven't been out of that facility except for the gated back, what's the first thing that you want to do when you get out, Prof? The 23rd is a Saturday and I know I don't need to be at the Yard that day, so maybe we can go and explore? It's not like London has changed in the last year though—just more people and the same old cold weather. Suppose the Yard's new Forensic lab would be something new, but I can't really think of anything else...besides Jenny's, at least. Oh! That's right, I forgot to tell you when she made this new flavour in December! It's a bit on the weird side, honestly, but...get this, she made orange creamsicle cupcakes. I don't know how to feel about that particular flavour, considering that it's meant to be in a frozen kind instead of a baked one but I'm open to trying it with you, if you want to. That's just an idea, we don't have to do it but I'm sure Jenny would love to see you again.
We can collaborate about it in our letters! Or maybe another phone call, soon! We'll see what happens. yeah?
Yours,
Lucy Baker
P.S. Steady on with the focus group, Prof. You know that it's meant to help you. It'll be over before you know it and you won't have to hear the same story from that lady. No strangling! Not now, not ever! She's going through her problems just like you are; that is the whole point of those groups, innit? To work through the addiction? Just trudge on, Prof. You've got this. :)
P.P.S. Remind me to thank Sam with all the gratitude I can give him if he's the reason why this all began. It's made both of our lives different and exciting. It's only fair that he gets thanked for what he did for us.
