‘What you got?’
‘Take a look’
Jack moved next to Nathan and both men starred at the photograph.
‘What am I looking for?’ Jack quizzed
‘Jenny…..the first girl that the Wolf took’ his finger on the girl, ‘Now look behind her…..that is one of her teachers, check the teachers name and tell me if a bell rings in your head because the ringing in mine is giving me a headache!’
Jack looked up and down several times.
‘Holy shit……….do you think it’s the same guy from the other school…..from Abby’s school?’
‘Could be, I think we need to take this picture back to the school and do some questioning……….if it is the same person…… then my friend, we could be starring right into the eyes of the Wolf!’ the tingling passed from Nathan to Jack, they both shuddered as it overwhelmed them.
They climbed into the car, the buzz still with them. The clock that was sunken into the dashboard had just gone eleven twenty p.m. Both men knew that the questions they had for the school would need to wait until the morning, but for now Jack had organised a vehicle to sit opposite the address they were given for Mr Breen, just in case anything should show up. The car sped away from the house and back towards the Met offices. No words were spoken and no ideas were fired from one and other. They sat in silence, the image of the teacher imprinted on their minds. Nathan pondered upon the question, can it really be that simple? The killer was precise, delicate with how he went about his hobby. The abductions were planned and carried out with a professional approach. This scenario they faced just seemed too easy, too quick. He had expected more of a fight, more trails leading to dead ends, the Wolf playing with their minds. He thought back to the perimeter of the house, the lack of viewing positions, the lack of lighting, all together meant the lack of an ideal observation. It just didn’t fit, it wasn’t like the killer to pick a location with unsatisfactory results, he liked to watch, to stalk them with his eyes. The pictures within his pocket had shown him that the Wolf sits and waits, the little girl had seen him watching her. The shudder snaked down his spine, the hairs upon his neck stood to attention. He couldn’t understand how another human being could do what this beast was doing. How could they watch an innocent girl, in the comfort of her safe place and then take them away from those who love them. Previous cases had hit him hard, the bodies he had recovered, the families torn apart. But for some reason, which he didn’t know why, this case ripped at his core. He felt more emotionally attached than before, he didn’t understand why. He planned the next day’s interviews and questioning. If they could finally identify the Wolf as Mr Breen then the case would have taken a giant leap forward to accomplishment, it was what they both desired…….a face to a name. Nathan peered up to the large light in the sky. The moon had shone down upon them for most of the night, its figure now slowly waning as more grey clouds pulled in. The white powder began to fall heavily, the wipers swished frantically to reveal the road.
Chapter Eleven
The elderly man shuffled through the recent snow fall. He followed the tiny prints scattered to his front, his Cavalier King Charles had shot off to scavenge the outskirts of the wood. The cold wind nipped at his fingers and he dug them deep into his pockets, searching for some warmth. His breath appeared as a mist, escaping the scarf which was wrapped tight around his neck and mouth. Chuntering a tune in his head he tracked the paw prints through the corner of the wood and brushed the dangling branches from his view. He gave a whistle, calling his small friend, which, in return, chose not to respond.
He decided that the dog had found something slightly more interested than its owner and was playing with whatever the thing was. He pushed on, the prominent cracking sound echoed around him as another branch was broken. Approaching the edge of the wood he spotted the brown and white animal ahead in the field of snow. The dogs tail thrashing wildly as if attempting to elevate and take off.
‘Summer….whistle whistle…..Summer get over here’ he shouted from the wood. The dog refused to listen and burrowed frantically. Shaking his head the old man stormed towards his disobedient pet to point a cold finger in its face and issue a verbal telling off. He neared its location, stopping when he noticed the slight change of colour in the snow. Moving steadily he crept forward, his feet feeling the chilling ground where he stood.
‘What you got girl………what is it?’ he asked nervously
The dog began to tug at its find, pulling harder and digging deeper with its rear legs. He stopped dead as his pet retrieved the stained hand from under the white sheet. The skin was pale under the dried blood and he stood piecing the image together, slight shock entering his core. He shivered at the display before him, the dog still tugging.
‘Hey…….get…..Summer, get!’ snapping at the bitch. She listened, running towards his feet. He turned hastily and shuffled quickly back the way he came, following his footprints. The dog ran closely behind, turning its head every now and then to check on its find.
***
The phone call came in as Jack was briefing the team. Nathan sat in the corner of the room, the teachers face racing through his mind. Jack issued the orders they had decided on, two teams were assigned to both victims schools. He and Nathan would visit Saint Paul’s school, the one that had recommended Mr Breen to the Head Teacher at Abby’s school. They were all equipped with the picture that Nathan found the night before, the image of Mr Breen blown up in size.
‘Mr Dawson…….there’s a call for you’ the PC stated as he entered the briefing room.
‘Tell them to hold, I’m not finished yet’ he answered without looking to the voice.
‘Sir…..I think you need to take it, a body has been found’.
Both Jack and Nathan darted to the door. Jack turned on his heels and issued a final order.
‘Three teams now, original two head to your assigned schools. PC’s Campbell and Gunter head to St. Paul’s Primary take the picture of Mr Breen and request a confirmation. I want a report from each team as soon as possible, by phone if necessary……clear?’
‘Yes Sir’ the room bellowed together.
He fled towards the control room, catching Nathan as he descended the stairs. The blood pumped and both men rushed along with the adrenalin that coursed in their veins.
They burst into the small room. The monitors were illuminated with all types of incoming calls. The small team all sat, black wireless headphones strapped to their heads, the microphone dangling by the mouth. The young woman ushered Jack over as she prepped the play back of the recent call.
‘Ok let’s hear it!’ the operator selected the data from her terminal, the box highlighted in red for an emergency call.
The small speakers under the monitor cackled as the connection was made, the static increasing as she raised the volume.
‘Emergency services what service do you require?’ the operator welcomed.
‘Police….yes police, I need the police’
‘Ok sir what seems to be the problem?’
‘The hand……I saw the hand, my dog found it…..by the woods….I think they’re dead!’
The operator requested the details of the location and Jack had jotted it all into his small black notebook. The call had only lasted several minutes, the caller seemed in shock, his words were repeated or difficult to muster, all Jack wanted was the location.