Justin Cairns - Little Red

‘You were out like a light. I woke you once we arrived here and you slumped up the stairs and headed straight into your office……….that’s the last I saw of you mate’.

‘Jesus…….I’m getting old’

Jack chuckled at his friends comment. He also felt the same but didn’t want to admit it. He hated that he looked older than Nathan, his mind was as young as it was in his twenties…..but his appearance showed his true self. They stood by the wall and rested their backs upon it, the hot coffee went down well. Jack removed his packet of cigarette’s and Nathan accepted the offer. They moved slowly to the nearest exit to light up and take in the satisfying drug.

The car park was dead, they stood by the doorway as it shielded them from the light wind. The lighter clicked as the flame was brought to life, Jack protected it with his hands and both men lent in to burn the white sticks.

‘Look, I think it’s wise that we keep your issues to ourselves mate. We don’t want any shit storms appearing mid case, especially if your past is brought to the surface’. Jack aimed to make the words sound concerning but Nathan could hear the direct order hidden inside them, he knew Jack wanted to close this case before retirement and also knew he would do anything in his power to achieve this.

‘I don’t plan on anything being leaked Jack. I’m the last person who needs that kind of information coming up’ he assured.

‘If the stories of the Golden Boy case were brought back to life, and not forgetting the mental issues you suffered……………well, let’s just say we would no longer be on the case!’ Jack flicked his smoke as the flame reached the butt, the wind tossed it far to his right. Nathan followed suit and watched as the small stick was blown away.

‘Don’t worry Jack…….nothing is going to damage this case….I promise.’

They headed back into the building, the door creaked to a close behind them.

Doctor Lime pulled his head back in through the window and closed it tight. The conversation he had overheard and now felt an intriguing sensation within his body. He pondered from his leather chair and looked out of the ground floor window, his fingers balanced against one and other in a pyramid shape under his chin. The past…….digging up the past…….may be worth a little look.

The task room was filled with chatter as Jack and Nathan neared the door. The talk was of ideas the team were throwing at each other about the case. They waited and listened to the varied opinions on the matter. The mixed ranks within the room had begun debating the evidence collected to the day. Some fired remarks on why the killer was doing what he enjoyed, others argued the reasons why it was at a similar location each time. But Jack welcomed his team’s conversation, he approved of their agreements and disagreements, to him it showed initiative and comradeship. He decided to enter the briefing room and the silence engulfed him. The team froze and all chatting stopped.

‘Morning team’ he welcomed, Nathan entered closely behind.

‘Ok, this morning we are going over the case file. We have more evidence and need to explore all areas of the case, I also need the reports from the individual teams that deployed yesterday. I understand that you worked hard on the assigned tasks but am disappointed that no information was trickle fed to me throughout the day……..I should not have to call you and request your findings, it stops now…………understood?’

‘Yes Sir’ in unison.

Nathan was unaware that Jack had spoken to the teams whilst he was asleep, it agitated him that his friend had failed to inform him with a current update. Jack moved over to the large white board and located a free section that wasn’t cluttered with images or different coloured pens.

‘Firstly, we had a breakthrough yesterday thanks to Nathan’ the class looked towards the helper, their heads flicking in his direction. Jack began to write a series of bullet point notes, the tip of the pen squeaked as it moved across the smooth surface. The tapping on the glass behind them alerted their attention and everybody turned to see who was intruding into their team time.

‘Come in’ bellowed Jack as he placed the lid back onto the pen. The door eased open and Doctor Lime poked his head through the gap.

‘Do you mind if I sit in for a while Chief Inspector?’ the hissing sound stinging the listening ears.

‘If you must’ sighed Jack as he brought his attention back to the board. Doctor Lime fired Nathan a smirk as he closed the door, he shuffled to the rear of the room and found an empty space at a desk. He rested upon it, the cock sure smile plastered on his face. What the fuck are you smiling at?

‘Right, eyes on the board. Like I said, we had a breakthrough thanks to Nathan. Here’s what we got’.

The list displayed several notes; the writing was too small for the people at the back to see so they moved forward and squinted at the board.

‘He doesn’t kill the victims whilst making his movie……his film is more of a mock to us, showing us that he can do what he does and get away with it. He transports them in his vehicle to a public wood to finish his ritual’……..the hand was raised from the crowd and Jack dismissed the question asking them to leave any queries they may have until the end of the brief.

‘In the woods he leaves the vehicle parked with the headlights blasting into the trees, this, we believe is a guiding method for his victims. He lets them run free into the darkness, the lit section being the place they go to first. He then flanks them, as we found in the last crime scene, and hunts them. Then he catches them and drags them to an open space to complete the kill’.

‘Also, if you don’t mind, Jack?’ Jack shook his head allowing Nathan to proceed.

‘We believe he kills on a full moon, which is what we need to confirm today, if it’s true then we can plan ahead for the next kill.’ Nathan moved to the front of the room next to Jack.

‘This information all leads to one thing………. HE thinks he is becoming the Wolf, he hunts them…..stalks them in the night. He kills them under a full moon and removes the heart……..there is a possibility he eats the organ, that we cannot yet confirm’. The room sat in silence as Nathan finished his speech. Jack stood to his side, arms crossed and nodding his head. The hands remained down, no questions were asked. Jack spotted the hand move towards the ceiling, he moved his head to see Doctor Lime waiting to ask his own question.

‘Yes Doctor Lime’

‘Sounds intriguing, but I heard a few believes in that speech. To me, believes isn’t strong enough to go on’ his hands placed on his hips.

‘Okay Lime, first of all there was one believes in that speech….secondly, why don’t you take your arse out to the location of the body and see what you can conjure up!’ Nathan snapped, it was followed by a low giggle from the crowd.

‘Excuse me?’ fired Lime angrily.

‘I will……..I’ll excuse you from this fucking room!’ Nathan stepped forward, his focus aimed only on the man he despised. Jack jumped in front of his friend who was on a war path and obstructed him from attacking the doctor.

‘Right, everyone out…….NOW, MOVE!’ he ordered. He pushed Nathan back slightly and ushered Lime forward. The door rattled the glass as it was closed.

‘What the fuck is going on here?’

‘I want to know why this prick wants to throw spanners into the case!’ spat Nathan, his finger aimed at Lime’s face.

‘Spanners……..You have no solid evidence, believes are not solid evidence!’

‘It’s a damn sight better than what you have offered, which brings me to the question………..what is your fucking position on this case exactly Lime?’ his arms open wide awaiting the answer.