Night Duty
Chapter 5 in The Series: The Justified
November 11th, 2025 / µ
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, events, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. Certain long-standing institutions, agencies, and public offices are mentioned, but the characters are entirely imaginary. The opinions expressed are those of the characters and should not be confused with those of the author.
Image © Haute Stock
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Lisa could hear Bernard and Walter. They were arguing in the adjoining room, in the basement, which they had borrowed from a good and decent family. Their investigation team could come and go as they liked at any time of day through the basement door. The family had believed all the stories Herbert and Bernard had told them.
“It still gets up every morning and works,” Walter said, sounding angry. “We are doing what we always do. What more can we do, Bernard?”
“How long has it been?” Bernard asked.
“Three months,” Walter answered.
“That is very strange,” Bernard said.
“It is more resilient than usual, that’s all. We will break it. We will succeed,” Walter said.
“I know. I have faith in your great scientific mind. I am just concerned that if we don’t break it soon, it will kill Herbert,” Bernard said. “Who works nights?”
“Burt, Ernie, Kirsten, Lisa, and I. Plus, George shows up once in a while,” Walter said.
“We need to increase the pressure, then. How often do you wake It up at night?” Bernard asked.
“Two times per night,” Walter answered.
“Wake It up every two hours from now on, and let’s see what happens within the next couple of weeks,” Bernard said.
“Okay. By the way, just so you know, It tried to see a doctor a couple of days ago about some extreme headaches,” Walter said.
“And?” Bernard said, sounding annoyed.
“No problem there. The truth about Its nature has settled everywhere around here by now; no one believes Its lies anymore,” Walter said.
“So, It was kicked out?” Bernard asked.
“Unfortunately, our health care system cannot turn people away because they are inferior beings, Bernard, not yet anyway. But, according to Its text messages to an acquaintance, the doctor behaved like an asshole, and sent It away without a referral to see a specialist about Its headaches,” Walter said.
“Good. This glorious nation shouldn’t waste money on treating the Unwanted. Thank God, we have a public health care system that knows how to spend the money wisely,” Bernard stated.
“Well, It made an appointment with a private specialist in Århus, as a paying patient – you know, paying the bills Itself, so that -“Walter said.
“What?” Bernard exclaimed.
“Yes -“ Walter tried.
“Have you contacted this specialist?” Bernard asked.
“Of course. The doctor was very understanding when I told him the truth,” Walter explained.
“The standard truth?” Bernard asked.
“Yes, that It is a welfare client always trying to get out of being sent to work by trying to obtain statements from specialists that It has this and that condition,” Walter explained.
“And?” Bernard asked.
“He was very sympathetic. He had probably heard that story before. His private clinic is just one of his full-time jobs. He also works at the local hospital, so he knows the Unwanted and how they always try to cheat the system. I don’t think Its money will help it in the end,” Walter said.
“Good, the Unwanted should never be able to pay their way out of trouble. They should not even be allowed to see specialists, regardless of who pays for it! Our doctors and hospitals are for good and decent Danes, not for human garbage like the Unwanted,” Bernard said.
“I agree,” Walter said.
“It is a good thing that we can still count on the doctors and nurses to be reasonable, when the system reveals its flaws,” Bernard said.
“Walter,” Lisa said, sticking her head out of the designated surveillance room. “It is sleeping again. Should I do something?”
“I will be right there, Lisa,” Walter said.
“Okay, I will leave you to it then,” Bernard said. “I will be back at 0700 for the first day shift alongside Herbert. Have a good night, and let’s remember to stay safe.”
“Sure, Bernard,” Walter said, feeling nothing but contempt for that old bastard, but, as always, keeping this well hidden, because Bernard’s setup allowed him to conduct his research. And Walter was a true scientist, never letting his personal feelings get in the way of scientific progress.
“Well, let’s wake It up then,” Walter said when he sat down, smiling at Lisa.
Walter put on a loud recording of one of the group’s conversations about the Unwanted’s mental condition, and kept turning up the volume until It woke up. Walter was angry that Bernard had criticized him. It wasn’t his fault that this specimen was different. He didn’t pick the specimens; Herbert and Bernard did.
Walter’s groundbreaking scientific method, which he had refined over the years, impressed Lisa. And she was proud to know such a brilliant scientist, even if she could not tell anybody about his method, because, as Walter explained, in the scientific community, people steal each other’s research. The groundbreaking method was a secret shared only by the team.
Only their team knew how to identify schizophrenia and other hidden mental disorders in the Unwanted using Walter’s method; only their team knew that by constantly exposing the Unwanted to conversations that told the truth about who they were, rather than the lies they told themselves, the Unwanted would eventually realize who they were, be filled with feelings of anxiety and anger, become verbally and physically aggressive towards others, and possibly kill good and decent Danes; and this was their true nature.
Everything the team did - telling the Unwanted the truth 24/7, isolating the Unwanted from others, removing objects from the houses of the Unwanted, making sure the Unwanted could not get help, and not allowing the Unwanted to sleep too much - was done to break through the façade and reveal the true nature of the Unwanted to prove that they were dangerous to the good and decent people of Denmark.
Lisa found it very interesting, proving that the Unwanted had schizophrenia and other mental disorders. It was so much fun when the Unwanted woke up, looking confused and sometimes afraid, because they could hear someone in their homes. And it was hilarious to watch them search all over their house for intruders —or, as Bernard called it, to watch the mouse run around in the maze.
But of course, this was serious research to prove that the Unwanted were dangerous.
“The next time It leaves Its house, we can go in again and move some furniture around and remove a few objects and see how It reacts,” Walter said.
Oh, Walter truly was a scientific genius! And Lisa knew exactly what objects to remove this time —a couple of beautiful necklaces.
Lisa had taken a pair of expensive shoes in the house, the last time they went in to inspect the facility to keep the neighborhood and Denmark safe. But the Unwanted had smaller feet than Lisa, so the shoes didn’t fit. Lisa had been furious, so she took Its cat and killed it in her own garage.
Yes, Lisa really hated the Unwanted on her screen. The little bitch not only had tiny feet, It was skinny, too! It wasn’t right! It deserved to die.
“Oh, It went to the bathroom,” Walter said with excitement in his voice.
That was, however, a thing Lisa did not understand: Walter’s fascination with the Unwanteds’ toilet habits, especially during their periods. But he had told her that it was essential to observe and describe this in detail. Regardless, Lisa found it disgusting to look at other women on the toilet. But who was she to question a great scientist like Walter?
“Oh, can you hold down the fort yourself for a couple of minutes, Lisa?” Walter asked. “Herbert is texting me to call him?”
“Sure, Walter,” Lisa said.
In fact, Lisa was glad to be left alone with the Unwanted. Then she was in charge, and she could do whatever she wanted. And right now, Lisa wanted to feel that old familiar warmth in her body. So, she slid one hand down her pants.
The loud conversation had stopped. Now all Emma could hear was the moans of a woman coming from somewhere. It sounded as if someone was having sex, and the sounds were somehow transported into her bedroom.
Emma was getting ready to sell this house. There was something wrong with it. The neighbors had also begun behaving rudely towards her over the past couple of months, and she was sure her house had been broken into because furniture did not just move itself around.
But the worst thing was that her cat had been missing for two weeks. The neighbors had smirked at her when she put up the missing posters, spine-chilling smirks that gave her an eerie feeling and filled her with fear of what had happened to her cat. Plus, Emma was sure she had seen that creepy old man from the supermarket in her garden one night, just standing out there watching her with eyes like a madman.
Yes, it was definitely time to sell this house and move back to Copenhagen!
All rights reserved © 2025 by Annette My Grandjean Rønne
Thanks for reading! I hope you found it worth your time! Until next time, remember to get your facts straight, and that whatever good times you have won’t come back as bad times!