Little Red (30 page)

‘So he kills Breen, takes his identity to filter through the teaching organisation. Works at the school and selects his victim. He then removes Carrigot from the equation so that he can take her place as a substitute teacher, once again, getting close to his selected victim……Shit!’ he spoke aloud to hear the words.

He sat up from the chair and rand Nathan’s number. He wanted to inform him of the find.

***

Lime sat at the bar, the cold bottle of beer gripped in his hand. The pub was busy, he had stood for twenty minutes waiting for a seat. One popped up and he dashed to secure it. He spied the woman as they walked past, their skimpy dresses and make-up plastered faces excited him. He attempted to appear suave and sophisticated. It wasn’t working.

‘You’ll notice me tomorrow, that I can guarantee’ the words drowned out by the music and chatter. He didn’t
care, he had heard himself say it so he was satisfied. Within his mind he planned the interview, he imitated the person interviewing, picking a selection of questions to answer. The image of himself appeared clever and professional, his hair slightly combed over to one side, his glasses balancing perfectly upon his nose. The young woman, he had selected from his head to interview him, wore very little. She smiled as she slowly became lost in his gorgeous eyes, his ravishing looks drew her in, she leant forward and placed a hand on his knee. She stroked his thigh and he opened his legs, indicating for more stroking.

‘You finished mate?’ the glass collector pointed at the bottle on the table.

‘No, no I’m…..another please’ he spat, awoken from his dream.

***

Nathan climbed back into the car, his hands shook uncontrollably. Richard rocked the vehicle as he pulled himself into the driver’s seat. They sat in silence, many questions spun through Nathan’s mind like a whirlwind. Richard could sense that his friend had something to say, but the obvious killing of the weak perverted animal had stunned him to silence. He started the engine and increased the temperature of the air-con. The wind that blew through the vents began to warm slightly and Nathan un-zipped his coat.

‘I’m sorry you had to see that!’ the apology seemed sincere and heart felt.

‘I’m not’ replied Nathan, rubbing his worn face.

The headlights were switched on and the car rolled from the curb, it followed the road back on its self and headed away from the scene.

‘How many more addresses are there?’ asked Nathan, his voice sounding tired.

‘Three, you probably guessed already but we’re on route to the second’ informed Richard, shifting in his seat to find comfort. Nathan looked at the rear seats, the black gym bag of tools lay in the centre.

‘Can I ask you something?’

‘Shoot’

‘Are you intending on killing the men at the addresses, I mean, after you’ve interrogated them?’

‘Yes Nathan, that’s the plan!’ he attempted to fire a smile to the
worrying man.

‘You should have told me when you picked me up!’

‘I know, look, seriously, I am sorry Nathan. If it feels like I used you then it wasn’t intended, you can get out anytime you like, I’ll take you back to the hotel!’

Nathan chewed on the idea, but the images of the children that he found in the flat flooded his mind’s eye. The photos that the Wolf took of his girls followed closely behind. He never thought the world could be such a vulgar place, a place where children are brought into with expectations of safety and multi-coloured rainbows.

‘You know, my house has this view, it’s breath-taking. The ocean sends roll upon roll of foaming white waves, they brush against the powdered sand beaches and offer a relaxing sound. I sit there with my wife, we have tried for children but it appears I’m incapable of sowing the full seed!’

‘I see’

‘I think back to the times when we sat together, discussing our lives with children, how adoption may be the answer. But now, after seeing what I’ve seen for the past week or so, I don’t think this is the place to bring children into. It’s dirty, it’s dark and seducing. How could a human being do something like that to a child?’

‘Power, that’s why. Because they can, so they do. It’s weakness that drives them, kids are easy to control. Sad to say but it’s because they’re weak minded targets, so vulnerable, and without the correct protection, well, they remain oblivious to their surroundings mate’

‘But, I just can’t see what drives them, I mean, they must have something missing which we have!’

‘
Yeah,… a fucking heart and soul. Look, I know that this is an eye opener for you, but what you just told me then about the place where you live, it sounds like an ideal place to raise a child. Not all people are evil, a small percentage dwell and feed off the weak. I always said I would re-locate with Megan, give her the best upbringing possible, not only have I failed to do that but I have failed to protect her and her mother!’

‘What happened to your wife was out of your hands Richard, it’s a horrible feeling, I know, but some things we just can’t control!’

‘Well tonight is a night that we do control Nathan. Tonight we can take our own hate and resentment and force it onto the bastards that deserve it. We can control this, you and I, and we can put families minds at rest by eliminating the enemy!’

The words held energy,
the were a boost to his mental state. He looked down at his hands and noticed that they had stopped shaking, they were as steady as a rock.

‘Okay, I’m with you.
How long to the next place?’

‘Twenty minutes or
so, depends on the traffic mate’ he smiled as his new friend accepted to take his side. The bond between the men had hung from a fine thread, their minds were driven in opposite directions. Now, they sat as one, pulled together like metal to a magnet.

The night had engulfed the creatures that lurked in the shadows, the evil spirits that fed upon fear and weakness. Tonight would be
different, the demon’s would feel the end of the stick, that stick housing an array of tools to cause pain.

Nathan hadn’t noticed the missed calls on his mobile. It had been set to silent as he left the
hotel, he had not wanted any disturbance when he met Richard. He followed the street lamps as they climbed the windscreen and disappeared out of view, the vehicle sped down the dual-carriage way, their next location minutes away.

***

Jack had felt disappointed that his friend, probably the only male friend he had, didn’t answer the calls. He began thinking that maybe Nathan had departed on a flight to Spain, leaving his pain and shame behind. He had never hated Nathan for leaving the last time he had asked for his help, but he despised him for not sharing his issues. He thought that they had a bond, a relationship in which they could tell one and other their secrets and hope the other could help with some advice. He needed advice now, his friend unable to assist.

He began to think about Helen, his ex-wife. The woman had been there for him when he needed a shoulder, as strong and able minded as he was
, it still felt good to release the built up anger that dwelled within the pit of his stomach. Helen would stroke his greying hair and whisper comforting words as he lay his head upon her breasts, the therapeutic massage released the toxins that carried his loathing for the job. Tears would sometimes escape his eyes and he welcomed them, her thumb wiping them from his cheeks.

He had driven her away with the job that had now began to crash upon him, shattering his dreams of a future with her, the dreams of his boat bouncing upon mild waves next in line. He reached for the bottom drawer and pulled it open. The bottle lay under some unused
folders, he pushed them aside and removed the whiskey, its golden appearance shining before the table lamp. The first mouthful had seared his throat and stomach lining, the second went down easier, as did the third.

***

William rested his back upon the leather arm chair, the pub growing quieter as the hours pushed on. He had held a lengthy conversation with himself, appearing more and more appetising to the woman of his mind. The alcohol had given him a swift kick after the sixth bottle, the whiskey beforehand added to his drunkenness. He contemplated going home several times, as he was about to stand a long legged woman would enter his arcs, his eyes following the curves and excitement displayed from under his trousers. He would sit and try the starring for attention game. It had failed each time and he was slowly losing patience. He placed the palms of his hands upon the wet table and forced his body upright, the blackout effect jumped into play and he stood as still as possible whilst the room slowed its spinning.

‘Come on Doc…..get it
together’ he blabbed to himself.

His focus was distorted as
he prodded at the end of his nose, thinking his glasses had slid down as usual.

‘Nope…..they are on my face!’ he acknowledged to himself.

He staggered slightly, the table connected with his thighs.

‘Hey….easy now, we don’t need to take this outside, do we?’ his fists curling towards the invisible attacker.

‘Hey, you’re that guy from T.V right?’ the voice sweet and delicate.

He turned to spot the woman, she stood to his side.

‘Hi, Doctor William Lime……it’s a pressure to meet you!’ he slurred.

The giggle told him that his mistake in speech had been accepted and the young woman sat on the chair next to his position. He slumped down upon his chair, once again. Her hair was golden, strands of pure essence. Her silver dress shimmered under the light above. He envisioned her as an angel, a goddess sent to amuse him.

‘Would you like a drink?’ he offered, displaying a wallet full of notes.

‘Definitely, I’ll have what you’re having please’

‘Fine red wine sounds appeasing to me’ he attempted to impress her with an array of technical words, not realising that he had only succeeded in making a fool of himself, still, the woman welcomed it.

***

‘That’s the place, I think. Just over there by the green bins’ Richard pointed to his right, his finger pressed against the window. He checked the list, removing it from his coat pocket. Nathan noticed the imprint of the nails head as it had burrowed through the glove and into his skin.

‘How’s the hand?’

‘What, oh, fine mate, cheers’ he smiled. Nathan admired how calm his friend was, the man was about ten minutes away from taking a life and he appeared to be as cool as the wind that surrounded the car.

‘How are we doing this one?’

‘Same as before, keep it easy mate, less confusion means less fuck ups!’

‘
That makes sense!’

They gave one and other a smile, comforting in a small way. Richard had climbed out first, his breath creeping from his mouth and swirling before him. The back door was opened and his equipment removed. Nathan calmed himself, breathing steadily and firing some words of encouragement to his tired brain.
Right, let’s go, you can do this mate……you’re the boss, YOU ARE THE BOSS!

Their feet scraped the concrete floor that had been untouched by the snow, they crossed the small island at the centre of the plaza, several empty beer cans
lay upon the ground beside some benches. Nathan looked around, spying for any movement. Richard walked on, his footsteps echoed within his ears, he was focused, determined to complete the self-assigned task. The distinct smell or urine hit them as they entered the front, the double doors banged together as they were closed, a hinge at the top of one corner had come loose, causing them to clash.

‘Why are the locations always fucking filthy?’ quizzed Nathan, trying to veer his mind from the mission at hand.

‘They’re not always this bad, you’d be surprised who some of these people are!’

They patrolled the ground
floor, the room number was in the lower section.

‘This one’ whispered Richard, his foot pointing towards number thirteen.

‘Unlucky number’ Nathan’s attempt at humour created a little smirk to strike his friends face.

He placed an ear upon the door and listened for any sounds coming from the flat. The sound of thrash metal could be
heard, Richard judged that it was from behind another closed door inside.

He stepped back, bracing himself upon Nathan’s shoulder, his leg raised slightly.

‘Wait!’ Nathan whispered before his friend ploughed through the obstacle. He stepped towards the door and reached for the handle, he turned it to the left and the clunk shook the wood, it creaked open slightly.

‘Good idea mate’

‘I have them sometimes!’ smiling

Richard entered first, Nathan close behind. The music could be heard as they moved in, the distorted guitar riff scratched at their ears. They checked the kitchen, empty. They moved slowly down the hall. The bedroom lay in darkness, empty juice cartons and food wrappers were scattered over the floor. Richard tapped his shoulder, instructing him to follow. Nathan swallowed the ever-growing lump in his throat. The hand was placed flat upon the door, the music vibrated through the thin wood. Richard nodded, confirming that the noise was behind the next obstruction. He checked the
handle, it turned slowly, the metal ball grinding against the mounting plate. The noise increased as the door was pushed open. Richard could make out the red light upon the wall to his right. The room held a damp atmosphere, the moist smell striking him as he moved in further. The red bulb cast a low eerie light upon the room, the occupant sat at a desk, the computer screen blaring into his eyes. He noticed the man’s figure, overweight and unfit.