***
Nathan awoke as the eye of his dream-self had been punctured. The sweat rolled down his forehead and landed on his grey t-shirt. He sat up and rubbed the drops free from his brow. His mouth was dry and he smacked his lips together, the clicking sound produced every time. The dreams were beginning to worry him, he was afraid to sleep. It was like the Wolf had climbed into his head and lay in wait for his eyes to close. He needed a coffee, more importantly he needed to catch the man who had also taken his dreams hostage.
He left the room and made his way to the coffee machine, Jack stood with one hand leaning against the wall as he waited for his cup to fill.
‘What’s the outcome so far?’ Nathan quizzed as he rubbed his eyes free from sleep.
‘Nothing was recovered apart from a neighbour of the school spotting a black van static for the whole morning. The interview with the parents and the school came up with nothing strong………….it’s like he’s a fucking ghost!’
‘He’s good Jack, he won’t make mistakes’.
‘I know. I had the big man from the Yard on the phone whilst you were sleeping’.
‘Ah, not impressed I take it?’
‘No, not at all, he wants to hold a press conference again by the end of the week. If we don’t get enough evidence to give him a boner he’ll shut the team down and bring someone else in’.
‘Shit………by then there could be another two…maybe three girls added to the collection’.
Jacks eyebrows formed into arrows as he agreed with Nathan. The coffee machine spat the treacle black liquid into Nathans cup, splashes ran down the side and landed in a pool under the cups base. Nathan picked it up and wiped it with a piece of tissue paper.
‘You sleep alright?’
‘No’ he chuckled at the question.
‘Jack…….I need to go to the victims houses. Just to take a look, may help trigger some stuff!’
‘Right, well I’m sure we can do that. I’ll call the parents now and set it up, be ready for……ten…ten thirty?’
‘Sounds good, I’ll freshen up first’.
***
The brown envelope was sealed by several strips of heavy duty tape. The contents were packed tightly at the bottom of the rectangular package. The Wolf had kept some gloves on whilst preparing the contents and adding his desired address. His name was written in large black letters, being sure that the receiving person knew who had sent it. He stopped the van next to the chipped-red post box. Checking his mirrors first he then climbed out of the van, package in hand. The contents struck the bottom of the box as he pushed it though the slit at the top. He jumped back into the driver’s seat and headed back home……….he was excited, tonight was the night he would let her run free……….the night he would give chase…………….the night he would claim her heart. The taste of blood was in his mouth, the white blobs accumulated in the corners of his lips. He licked them free, knowing that he needed to quench his thirst. He decided to stop at a nearby petrol station. Killing two tasks at once he fuelled the vehicle and purchased several drinks. He had spotted the CCTV cameras positioned in several locations of the garage, his black balaclava had been rolled up and positioned atop his head, being sure to hide as much of his face as possible.
The van rolled from the fuelling point, the needle upon the dashboard rose to the full mark, satisfied he unscrewed the cap of a drink and swallowed a large mouthful, the gasp escaped after the liquid had landed within his belly, his lips feeling moist and fresh.
Chapter Nine
The door was pulled open after several knocks. Jack had the impression that the occupants needed no visitors. The young woman poked her head out from behind the PVC door, her face seemed jaunt and her eyes held ripples of exhaustion underneath them. He noticed that her hair had been unattended to for some time. The strands were shooting in all directions as if she held an electrical charge within her.
‘Lindsay Clough, I’m Chief Inspector Jack Dawson, we spoke on the phone earlier’ he introduced.
‘Yes Sir, do you…….would you……… like to come in?’
‘Please. Mrs Clough, call me Jack……my position and rank hold no meaning for you’.
‘Thank you, please come in.’ she moved back, opening the door wider.
‘Can I introduce you to Nathan Cawley, he is helping us on this case’ his open hand directed to Nathan. Lindsay smiled and Nathan nodded as he entered the home.
The men stood in the hallway as the door was closed and secured. They waited for their host to move past and followed her into the living room. The lights were dim and parts of the room were hidden by the blackness. They located the three seat couch and lowered themselves into the comfy cushions.
‘Can I get you some tea, coffee maybe?’
‘Please that would great……coffee please, milk and two sugars’ Jack advised.
Lindsay turned and headed for the kitchen.
‘Can we help at all?’ offered Nathan
‘No it’s fine’ the voice came from the other room.
She entered holding a small tray, the three porcelain mugs balancing on top. The tray was lowered and they collected their cups. The steam swirled from Nathans as he moved it to his mouth, exhaling through his nose.
Jack took a small sip and found himself thanking the woman, the coffee was an unusual taste and one that he liked.
‘That’s lovely…..you wouldn’t believe the type we have been drinking recently’
‘Thank you’ she mumbled.
‘I know you have already spoken to my team, we wanted to visit you and talk in person………if that’s ok?’
‘Yeah……it’s fine’.
‘Sorry to butt in’ spoke Nathan. ‘Is it possible to look around Abby’s room whilst you talk……….I won’t be two minutes’.
Lindsay pondered the question for several seconds. Her top row of teeth caught her lip as she nibbled it.
‘Ok………do you want me……?’
‘No it’s fine, I’m sure I’ll find it……thank you though’ answering her question before she could finish asking it. He stood and moved to the hallway, he could hear Jack breaking into a conversation with her as he ascended the stairs. The landing housed three doors. The left was a bathroom and toilet. He turned the light off when leaving. The two doors on the right, he presumed, were bedrooms. He stood in the centre between both doors. He extended his arms and placed open palms upon the glossed wood. He attempted to guess which room belonged to the missing girl.
The left would face onto the garden, small garden though. It is opposite a row of houses, the rear of these visible. No means of access via transport other than on foot.
The right window would face the street. The road has several parked cars either side. Trees planted at least fifty metres apart, perfect for a reconnaissance of the target. He could watch her in her room………in her safe place. The watching of the girl may take time, she may not be in her room……..he is a wolf…….a wolf would wait….would stalk…….he would sit in the van and follow her movements.
He chose the right door.
The pink walls deflected the light as he pressed the switch, locating it on the left side as his hand searched in the dark. He stood looking around from the doorway. Her bed, neatly made, sat at the far left corner and ran against the wall. The white wardrobe lay at the foot of the bed, also against the wall. Under the window was a small wooden desk, the various coloured pencils and crayons were placed in a cup which sat on the window sill. He moved into the centre of the room and performed a slow three hundred and sixty degree turn, taking in his new surroundings. He was surprised at how tidy the room was, especially for a ten year old. He decided that the girl’s mother must have tidied to occupy herself. He sat at the foot of the bed, the mattress absorbing his weight. The smell of Strawberries entered his nose and he closed his eyes whilst inhaling. He could see her face in his mind, the poor girl unaware to her stalker.