The snow had proved an aid to the killer, an advantage to the secret of his routine and whereabouts. Nathan had expected to find deep shoe prints, prominent tyre marks and maybe a bit more to advance with the case. Due to the recent downfall of brilliant white flakes the evidence normally located at a crime scene had been hidden from sight. To discover any prints, no matter how big, the area would have to be combed continuously and the planning for such a large search would be extortionate. There were several patches of foliage and dirt that were untouched by the weather, but these proved unsatisfactory in the evidence search. Nathan decided to request that one of the police vehicles be brought into the cordon and placed in the location of the killer’s vehicle. The favour had stunned several officers, but due to the lack of evidence and area already cleared they had no objection. The car was moved steadily, the driver trying his hardest to align the wheels with the slight markings left by the Wolf. Nathan circled the car, the wheels were just slightly out but he was satisfied with the position.
‘Headlights……turn them on…..main beam’ he shouted as the driver peered through the foggy windscreen. Doing as he was asked, the headlights came to life and he received thumbs up. Nathan headed back down the track where they believe the Wolf took his victim. He turned and looked upon the dim lights coming from the front of the police vehicle. His recent request and behaviour had caught the attention of several officers as they moved towards his location. Jack also observed from the trees as he took his call.
Something wasn’t right, Nathan could feel it. He lowered his eyes to where he stood and brought them back to the lights slowly. The angle that the vehicle had been parked in was aiming to his right side but several thick trunked trees lay in sight of the right hand set of headlights.
‘Just confirm that this track was here when the first team arrived!’ he bellowed.
Seconds passed and the PC that stood next to the vehicle confirmed his question.
‘Why would he illuminate a section of the wood but walk down here into darkness?’ he asked himself with a whisper. He turned on the spot to face his right, the snow crunching under his movement. There was Jack walking in slow circles as he talked.
‘Jack………stop!’ he shouted, his voice bouncing from the trees. Jack froze, his back towards his friend. Nathan stepped lightly towards him, his eyes scanned the ground and lower sections of the trees as he moved. Jack turned his head and watched Nathan stalking towards him, he knew he was onto something…….but what?
Nathan crept passed Jack, no words were exchanged as he moved, no eye contact was made between them. Looking to his left he spotted the car with the lights on. He stepped forward several paces and stopped to face the vehicle. His line of sight was clear, the headlights shone towards him.
‘Here’ he confirmed, ‘This is where he would have come’.
The track lead from the parking area straight down to the edge of the wood, he checked the trees hand-railing it and found several broken branches at the trunks lower section, the foliage on and around the snow track had been flattened whilst the remaining debris still held its shape. Several PC’s began heading down the track as he ran back to the previous location. He searched and found the same, broken branches but this time towards the mid-section and trampled foliage.
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.