‘Tomorrow the conference, the next day……fame’. He closed his eyes as the piano playing relaxed his mind.
Chapter Twenty
Richard stood at the reception desk of the Metropolitan Police Headquarters. He watched as the staff passed by, no indication of interest shown towards him. Ten minutes had passed when a tired voice asked him his business.
‘I’m here to see the person in charge of the Wolf case’ he replied
‘I’m sorry but you need to arrange an appointment to see Mr Crawford. Can I make one for you?’ she asked.
‘No, I would like to see him now please’ his voice stern
‘Sir. Like I said, it’s appointments only. I can call him and……’
He didn’t give her chance to finish her reply.
‘Okay, call him then please’ he rested upon the desk, his arms crossed and starring into her eyes. She decided to give in and picked up the phone.
‘Mr Crawford, it’s the main desk, I apologise for the call but I have a man here asking to speak with you………wait one Sir. Can I take your name?’
‘Richard Crowe…….I’m the father of Megan Crowe, the girl that has been taken’
The woman paused, her face held a blank expression. Jack asked her if she was still there.
‘Erm, yes, sorry Sir……it’s Richard Crowe…..he’s the father of the recently abducted girl…….yes Sir, good bye’.
‘I’ll show you to his office’ she placed the phone down and moved around her desk.
‘Please, follow me’ she smiled.
Jack stood as Richard was offered a chair. The door was closed behind them and the men sat in privacy.
‘Can I start my giving my deepest sympathies Mr Crowe’
‘Thanks, please, call me Richard’
‘Okay Richard, what can I help you with?’
‘I want to know what you are doing about finding my daughter’ his face offered no emotion, no signs of heart ache or pain.
‘I can ensure you that we are doing everything we can at the moment, as you are aware, this has been a difficult case but we have an assigned team that are working around the clock to find this man’
‘The Wolf’
‘Yes, the Wolf’
‘I would appreciate being kept in the loop with the investigation, if that’s okay with you?’
‘Well, I’m sure you understand that certain details may not be disclosed. But updates can be given to you if you like. May I also suggest we organise press conference for the next couple of days, it helps to send a message out’
‘No, there will be no media involvement. I’m not standing in front a millions and emptying my heart and soul for the sick bastard to laugh up. It’s not happening!’
‘I see’ Jack realised that the man before him was not a sympathetic person. But he respected his call to reject the conference.
‘Look, I’m pretty tied down here at the moment. But I would like to speak to someone close to me who is helping with this case, is that okay with you?’ he thought quickly about organising the meeting between Richard and Nathan, it would also help with keeping Lime away from the man sitting before him.
‘Fine’
Jack smiled and removed his mobile phone, he searched down through the vast amount of contact numbers. He stopped upon Private and selected the green phone symbol. The receiving phone began to ring.
‘Nathan, it’s Jack…….yeah I’m good, look, I have someone here in my office that I think you should meet……no not here, I’m thinking your place, or a coffee or something………great, I’ll get Malcolm to bring him to the hotel, look, keep me informed mate…..yeah, right he’s on route….bye’.
He ended the call and put the phone back into his pocket.
‘Okay, he wants to meet. I think this would be better as I have no time at the moment, I do apologise Richard’
‘It’s fine, who is it I’m meeting?’
Jack stood and ushered him to his feet.
‘I’ll explain on the way’.
Nathan answered the door as the knocks alerted him. Richard stood in the hall, Malcolm by his side.
‘Morning Malcolm’ he nodded toward his guest
‘Nathan, if you need the car just call me okay, Jack said I’m at your disposal’
‘That’s nice of him, cheers….please, come in’ Richard accepted the invitation as Malcolm headed back to the car park.
Nathan closed the door as Richard entered.
‘I’m Nathan’
‘Richard, so why is it that Crawford wants me to meet you?’
‘Ah, you got me, not sure really’
Richard walked the room, spotting the walls of information.
‘What’s this?’ he aimed a finger at the wall
‘Oh, I don’t think you should…..’
‘Is this the case file on the Wolf?’
‘Yeah, parts of, it’s mostly what I’ve been piecing together….it’s what I do’
‘Well now I know why I was sent here to you!’
‘Excuse me?’
‘This room has more information in it than the police offices had, you say this is what you’re good at?’
‘Yeah, catching serial killers’
‘How many you caught?’
‘Shit, not sure……five or six’
Richard nodded his head.
‘Not bad, you just help or did you actually catch them?’
‘Bit of both really, look, what is it that you’re after….I mean, I understand your interest in catching him but what exactly are you wanting with me?’
Richard pulled over a chair and lowered himself into it. He placed a foot on one of his knees, balancing the leg.
‘I want this fucking Wolf and I want him alive!’
‘I’m not sure I follow’ Nathan remained standing
‘Look, I have a certain qualification, certain background which I want to use on this Wolf person. I want you to help me catch him!’
‘I still don’t get you’
‘Okay, you’re ex-police yes?’
‘Detective Inspector, yes’
‘Right, well I see why they’re using you on this case. What I want is for you to help me catch him’
‘You’re asking me to forget about helping the police, the Metropolitan Police Force and help you instead…….what exactly are you planning on doing to the Wolf?’
‘Firstly, no, I don’t want you to ditch your job helping the police, but I do want you to give me the same results as you give them. Secondly, I want this prick so I can cut his fucking throat and bleed him slowly, people like this deserve what’s coming to them!’
Nathan couldn’t believe what he was hearing, This man, who he had only just met, was asking him to help him murder the Wolf. To help track and locate the killer, so that he could unleash justice.
‘I know it may be something you need to consider. But look at it this way, as a policeman or ex-policeman, there are limits and boundaries that you must adhere to. Whereas me, well, I don’t have those limits and I can cross my boundaries. I have methods which I use, just like you have your methods’ he nodded to the wall of evidence.
‘I’m asking you to help me Nathan, and in return I can help you!’
‘Help me with what?’
‘Anything, look, here’s my number. Do me a favour, whatever you decide to do please let me know, but I would really appreciate your help on this, my daughter is counting on it’ he stood and walked towards the door, his hand searched for his cigarettes.
‘Nathan’ he stopped and turned.
‘Can I ask that you don’t mention any of this to the police?’
‘Of course’
‘Thanks, it would ideal to have an answer as soon as possible. I don’t plan on photos of my daughter reaching that wall of yours. I can do it without you, I have my own sources, but, I really want your help Nathan’ he smiled and extended his arm. Nathan accepted it and they said their goodbyes. The closed behind him and Richard headed out of the building.