Justin Cairns - Little Red

Jack approached him, eager to hear what he had found.

‘Nathan…..tell me you got something!’

‘I think so………’

Nathan performed a walk through talk through for the eyes that watched him, most of the occupants on the scene were baffled by what they were observing.

‘He parked the vehicle at the top of the wood……ideal entry point and concealed from sight. It’s getting dark, he moves at night to evade being spotted…….so he turns on the headlights. This section is illuminated for him to see.’ He stood on the newly found track.

‘Now this track leads straight towards the location we found the body, clear track with a slight protrusion of branches. But this track that was found when we arrived is hidden, the line of sight is poor and obstructed and works around the outskirt of the area…….why use it?’ no answer was offered.

‘What are you getting at Nathan?’ asked Jack, intrigued to know the outcome.

‘ Both tracks were used……….one by the girl…..one by the Wolf!’

‘You think they are alive when he brings them here?’ asked Jack

‘I do…….both tracks show us they have been used, they both have broken branches and trampled foliage………just this track here has branches snapped off at a higher level. He lets them run free Jack……….he directs them to the large track which he lights up for them. Then he chases…. hunts , using this track. It’s dark and hidden and he uses the night to hide as the girl runs for her life. He thinks he’s a wolf Jack………….he stalks his prey through the wood……cuts them off at the exit and kills them!’

Jack stood in silence. The information provided by his friend sank in slowly, he wanted to find a doubt to the accusation, something to argue Nathans proposed idea. He couldn’t. It seemed too perfect…..too suited to the killer. He wants to be a wolf, he dresses and imitates a wolf………..he hunts like a wolf.

‘Jack!’

‘Sorry……I was just thinking it over’

‘There’s something else’ Nathan approached him. ‘Last night and the night the first girl was killed……….how much do you want to bet that they were both full moon nights?’ he smiled, his eyes glowing as the idea popped into his over-flowing mind.

Chapter Twelve

The organ sat at the bottom of its new home. The excess blood and claret had been churned with the water, the pinkish effect created like before. The heart held no purpose, once a major supplier of life it now lay motionless; just a keepsake for the man who removed it……who killed it. The low thud and slight cling sound rung in his ears as he placed it next to his other memento, the glass wall’s connecting with one and other. Proud of his collection he moved to the wall behind the camera and prepared to plot the pin upon the map. Several pins protrude from the paper, two sets of three; one set yellow and the other set red. On top of the pin heads were the numbers one to three, the yellow displaying his victim’s locations and the red showing the place of the kill. He studied the number three pins. The killing site was roughly fifteen miles from his current location, a nice small wooded area with several public footpaths. The victim’s safe place was further, twenty five miles give or take. He studied the plan, absorbing his choice of routes to and from each desired location. He memorised the roads and paths, the possible places for his viewing and emergency routes in the chance that someone may spot him. The overpowering rush hit him again, his body trembled as within his mind he moved to girl number three……….little Megan Crowe.

He planned a quick stop to her house, her safe place. Firstly though, things would need to be re-organised, the tools needed to be cleaned and the floor underneath the chair had to be scrubbed. It was his ritual………….they were his rules.

***

Nathan climbed into the passenger seat as Jack made his way around to the driver’s side. The thoughts from the wood passed through his mind, a picture slowly merging together like thousands of tiny fragments of puzzle creating the final piece. Jack slammed the door as he lowered himself, the sigh escaping his mouth.

‘Jesus Nathan, what a show!’

‘Right place, right time’

‘So let’s get this straight……….he keeps the victim’s alive, brings them to a wood of his choice……a public place. He releases them and lets them run free……….then he chases, hunts his prey through the woods and kills them?’

‘Yeah, it’s the thrill Jack…………..the power of manipulation. He controls them even when they run free…….I imagine he tells them they are free to go and their life is spared……….filling them with hope. They run through the wood that is illuminated, children hate the dark……he knows this. They head off into the headlights and he flanks them, chasing his kill and thriving on the adrenalin rush it gives him. Then he pounces, takes them by surprise………..probably drags them out into the open field and………..removes the heart. The fact that the bodies have been found in a field means that there are no obstructions above them, the night will be visible………the moon and stars shining. That’s why I think he kills on a full moon……….it’s one of those pieces that go with a wolf, and why else would he kill them in an open space?’

‘Good effort………very good effort’, the car skidded on the frozen ground as Jack reversed and turned it back the way they came.

Nathan waited for him to start talking about the phone call he received whilst in the wood. Several minutes had passed and Jack remained silent, Nathan decided to throw the question at him.

‘Was that the team on the phone?’

‘When?’ he sounded confused.

‘In the woods…….your phone rang before I started to build the picture of the scene!’

‘Oh yeah, the surveillance team called’.

‘Ok……………..any news?’

‘No…..they said they have two teams of two PC’s, each team on a twelve hour shift. Neither has seen any movement for forty eight hours, not a single thing. They were just confirming how long they were needed to stay in place’.

‘How long did you give them?’

‘Another forty eight, if nothing comes up then we will have to collapse the task. We can’t waste time on needless operations’.

‘I agree………anything from the teams at the schools yet?’

‘No not yet, I’ll give them till midday then make a few calls…….get a situation report myself!’

Nathan pulled the small handle that sat to the left of his chair, lowering his back rearwards. He felt the exhaustion grab a hold of his body, the recent adrenalin rush from his find began to wear off. His muscles felt numb and his shoulder ached, he massaged it gently through his coat; his eye lids gradually falling to a close.

***

The news station broadcasted the findings from the morning. The reporter stood in the white surroundings; behind her left shoulder he could see the canvas tent that hid his recent kill. The two men stood in front looking into the crowd of flashing cameras. The volume was extinguished; he didn’t need to hear about the victim, he knew all the details. He watched his work as it was presented to the millions viewing the channel.

‘Fear meeeeeeeee’ he whispered to the television.

The room had been cleaned and organised, he looked over the layout for the third time; making sure it was as he required. The aroma of bleach stung at his nose, he flared his nostrils as it entered. He turned through the door way and turned the room into darkness, the light switch gave a click as it was pressed. It was time to view her, his new girl awaited and he didn’t want to miss an opportunity to visit her. His feet gave a hollow thud as they connected with each step, he ascended the cellar stairway whistling his favourite tune. Entering the kitchen he closed the door behind him. The room was filled with the blackness of space, the curtains were drawn and blinds closed tight. He moved through his domain, knowing where the obstacles lay in his path.