Justin Cairns - Little Red

‘Holy shit’ spat Nathan

‘What?’ Malcolm jumped, the hot drink spilling to his trousers.

This was ten years ago, the boy, Russell Crane will be twenty six now. He killed his father, a beast, and accidentally took his little sisters life, she was ten years old. It’s got to be him, has to be. He removed his sister’s life by killing the heart. The Wolf collects hearts, he is of late twenties, he abducts and kills ten year old girls……it’s fucking him!

He flipped through the pages, searching for the uncle’s address. There were no details on locations in the file. His heart stopped, his pulse died as the panic crept in.

Lillian, I have to ask Lillian.

He stood from the bed, the decision to act now had overwhelmed him.

‘Malcolm, we need to go to Heathrow Airport’

‘Why?’

‘I’m leaving’ he stated. He checked his phone for Lillian’s number and walked from the room. He would call her on route, hopefully she had an address for him, the only problem was, who he would give it to first, Jack or Richard.

***

The bag of accessories was placed in the foot space of the passenger side. The van door slammed closed. Russell headed back inside the house, the preparation was complete. He waited for the time of departure, the sun fell around four thirty, the night at its blackest around eight. The location was forty minutes away, a nice quiet wood with a nature trail running around the outskirts. The scene was perfect, the body would be found by a walker who was out for a fresh morning stroll. He decided to wait until six to leave the house, it would take him thirty minutes to drug and move the girl. He checked the status of the full moon timings on the internet. The site offered the exact time it had several days ago, nine o’clock. He smiled as his plan stayed the same.

***

It had passed midday and Jack felt the weight of tonight’s event upon his shoulders. He hadn’t seen Lime all day, nobody had heard from him. He decided to send a vehicle to his flat, the constables were instructed to bring him back to the station, no matter what. The interview he was giving today would ruin one man’s life and end the career of the other. He wanted him next to him, to chain him to his side and not let him out of his sight. The officers reported that they were on route to the location, it was roughly ten minutes from the headquarters, Jack waited impatiently for an update.

The lift doors opened and the PC’s entered the metal box. They selected the floor number and stood patiently as the doors slid shut, they began moving upwards, the transport rocked slightly as it passed each level. The ‘Bing’ sound told them they had arrived, the doors opened to allow them to leave. The pair moved down the hall towards the room. One tapped the wooden obstruction, the knuckles echoed through the door. No answer.

They tried the handle and the door swung fully open. One by one they entered the flat, the lamp dimly lit the dark rooms. The curtains were pulled open to allow the light in, their eyes stung slightly from the sudden blast. The flat was searched but nothing was worth reporting. There was no William Lime, no signs of disturbance and nothing appeared to be missing. The more experienced of the officer’s called through to the headquarters control desk. He informed the lady taking the call that the room had been checked and nothing seemed odd. Lime was not there but could be having the interview he bragged about on television.

They left, closing the door behind them. The instructions came through from control, they were ordered to return to base and speak with Chief Inspector Dawson on arrival. They obeyed and climbed back into the vehicle.

***

Nathan cursed as the signal bars decreased to nothing. The spot they were passing was terrible for reception and he had yet to speak with Lillian. His mind was made up, he was leaving today for sure, but who would he give the honour of locating the monster. Malcolm stated that the area was a dead spot for mobile phones, that up the road they would be clear and the signal should come back. Nathan prayed that it did, he was eager to know the address and hoped the woman could get it for him. The traffic flowed, though they were moving it still annoyed Malcolm, he asked repeatedly to find a shortcut. Nathan declined the offer and requested that they stay on their current course.

The bars climbed to show a full reception, he thanked something above in the sky. He tapped frantically to find Lillian’s number, it appeared and he called it.

‘Hello?’

‘Hi, it’s Nathan again’

‘Afternoon’

‘Yeah, look, I need another favour, very important!’

‘Okay, is it about the file?’

‘Yes, what you sent was exactly what I needed, thank you. But I need the address of someone, can you get it for me?’

‘That shouldn’t be a problem, may take some time though, it’s like somebody disturbed the bee hive down here!’

‘Great, the name is Adrian Crane!’

‘Crane, right, I’ll get onto it Nathan’

‘Thanks again’ he ended the call, the excitement building.

The vehicle moved into the left lane, the turn off for the airport just ahead.

***

Jack sat at the desk, the officers giving him the finds at Lime’s flat.

‘Where the fuck is that snake?’

The officer’s chuckled slightly at the remark. Jack stood and moved to the briefing room, the door edged open.

‘Has anyone seen Lime today, anybody?’ the heads were shook, giving the answer. Jack slammed the door, the pressure increased slowly, he needed William and fast. The interview could not go on, he wasn’t prepared to have his friend ashamed on national television. He reached for his phone and scrolled down to the number for Nathan’s mobile. He called it. The background noise made it difficult to hear as the call was answered.

‘Where are you?’ Jack questioned

‘Heathrow!’ the answer shouted into his ear

‘The airport?’

‘Yeah Jack, Heathrow airport, I’m leaving today!’

‘Shit Nathan, have you heard from Lime?’

‘No, why would I hear from that prick, he’s the main reason I’m getting the flight!’

‘I know, I think he’s having the interview now as we speak. I sent a car around to his flat to bring him in, there’s no sign of him there and he’s not here with us, thought I’d let you know!’

‘Shit, that fucking weasel’

‘Look, for what it’s worth, I’m sorry. I asked you to help with the case and I should have had your back, I let you down!’

‘It’s fine Jack, you have your own problems to fight!’

‘When are you leaving?’

‘This evening, flight leaves at seven twenty’

‘Okay, look, keep the phone yeah, at least then I can call you!’

‘I will Jack, you take it easy yeah’

‘You too mate, good luck’

‘Bye’

Jack placed the phone down upon his desk, his chest tightened and he sat as a dizzy sensation stormed his head. His friend was leaving, his reputation on the line and the case unsolved, he was giving up, calling it a day and going home to his nice view and gorgeous wife. The unwanted feeling clouded him again, he sat in silence, no thoughts came to life, he just sat quietly.

***

Nathan placed the boarding pass inside his coat pocket. It was done, his plane all booked and ready to fly him home. The sound of the waves crashing upon the soft sand filled his head, his wife bringing him a beer, ice cold and refreshing. The tranquil surroundings from his home had entered his mind, he stood, eyes closed and breathing it in. He snapped out of the daydream, he had things to do, people to speak to before his brain could switch off. He juggled the problem around in his head, he had been all day. Still trying to decide on who to call when the address came through, he headed to the Costa coffee stand to his left. He ordered a large Mocha and planted himself, the warm wake-up drink burned his throat. He thought about the case, about his friends and about home, Elle sat on the decking in a small bikini. He watched as the people scurried like ants around a nest, pushing passed one and other to make their flight. The airport was always noisy, he hated it. He watched as the children ran happily, their holiday approaching slowly. They chased each other through the shops, hiding in clothes stands and scaring each other. He smiled, it disappeared quickly. They don’t realise, they don’t understand, this place they play in, the environment they are raised in…….it’s dangerous. Full of sick and twisted people who prey upon the weak and young, feeding off their energy. When will they realise? When will they know? Will it be too late, like the Wolf’s victims, he showed them the evil of the world, but did they know it existed before hand?