walk sideways, moving to his left one foot at a time, his feet offered a low click as the heel of his shoes connected with the tile. The blurred figure remained still, whistling his tune over and over again.
He watched as the detail of the floor and walls neared each other, his vision was nearly in focus. The metal table legs glimmered as they caught the light. The beams from above displayed a copious amount of dust, the tiny particles dancing above the figure’s hair.
The table top came into view and he noticed a pale blur moving at the end. He squinted, edging slightly closer with the wheel brace vibrating as it built up tension in his hand. The closer he moved, the clearer the scene became, his heart urged him to stop, to turn around and flee. His mind, on the other hand, was intrigued by the vision before him, he needed to see, to know what he was being shown.
He froze, unable to move……unable to breathe.
The young boy’s face turned to look at him. The golden hair matted with blood on one side. His eyes appeared black……..distant. The boy’s mouth slowly opened. Nathan tilted his head to one side as he attempted to read the words the boy was speaking……..he focused harder……………….HELLLP MEEEEE.
The crunching sound startled him and he watched as the boys head fell to the side. The crimson liquid pooled up under his naked body, the fragile bones within his body were cracked in two, the rib cage snapped open piece by piece, the blurred figure operated messily. The table was too shallow to hold the child’s escaping life and the blood began seeping over the edges. Small puddles began forming under the figures feet, he remained still.
The wheel brace connected with the stone flooring and sent a clanging noise through the room. The figure turned sharply, its dark red eyes fixed on Nathan. He turned to run but couldn’t……….the beast closed in one step at a time, the blood overflowing rapidly and covering the floor. The figure was closer now……Nathan tried to scream…….he couldn’t breathe……he was choking.
Jack shook his shoulders violently. The gasp awoke him and he stumbled from the chair to the carpet below. Startled he scanned the room quickly, trying to gather himself. Jack kneeled next to his friend, shaken by what he just witnessed. He waited until Nathan had come to, his eyes wide with fear.
‘Nathan…..hey, you okay?’ he placed his hands gently either side of his face.
‘Nathan look at me man…….that’s it……now breathe.’ He watched as Nathan began to recognise his surroundings, still slightly disorientated.
‘Holy shit Jack……..I couldn’t breathe!’ gasping.
‘Hospital now…..come on’ attempting to pull him up.
‘No……I’m fine’ he struggled.
‘Bull-shit you’re fine…..up now!’ Jack pulled him up and lowered him down onto the seat.
‘Just breathe slowly mate…….tell me this is the first time this has happened’
Nathan shook his head.
‘Okay, how many times?’
His friend shrugged his shoulders.
‘Come on you old fool, stop acting like I’ve just smacked your ass…….how many?’
‘Hey……….I’m forty six years old Jack…..these things happen!’
‘Bollocks they do…….I’m pushing fifty!’ a glare fired towards him from Nathan, ‘Ok fifty two……and that has never happened to me!’
‘Look……take a seat!’ Nathan advised.
Jack lowered his body to the floor. He leant his back against the wall and brought his knees up to his chest, still frightened by what he walked in on.
‘You remember what happened last time I helped you?’
‘Of course’.
‘Well you didn’t get the full story……..the reason why I ended up the way I did and what happened to me after it……………it’s because of that why Elle doesn’t like you so much!’
‘Ah, I see………….care to share?’
The mobile phone in Jack’s coat pocket began ringing an annoying tone. He dug deep to retrieve it.
‘Hold that thought a sec’ his finger held up towards Nathan who was still dazed.
‘Dawson…………………..WHEN?’ the call ended shortly after.
‘What is it?’
‘The Wolf…………He’s got another!’
Chapter Six
The Mercedes sped down the busy street, the siren blaring wildly to instruct the blocking vehicles to move. London was the worst place to drive when in a hurry. Nathan felt himself reaching for the driver’s headrest, something sturdy to help support his position as he began sliding to the opposite side of the car. Malcolm gripped the steering wheel and appeared to put all his body weight into each turn, the wheels skidded upon the gritted roads.
‘The call came from a Primary School located three miles out of London. This afternoon a girl was reported missing………..so is her teacher!’
‘Do you think there’s a connection?’
‘Possible…….we can assume for now that there is. The headmaster called the number from the pamphlets we had dished out………good call that mate!’
‘Common sense really’.
‘How you feeling?’ his face displayed concern.
‘Jack……I’m fine…honestly!’
‘Good….we can finish that chat once we catch this prick!’
‘Deal!’
They stopped outside the school entrance. The children were still inside as the end of school was slowly approaching. The young Constable made her way to the car as Jack and Nathan were climbing out.
‘Sir’ she began.
‘Talk and walk…….what happened?’
‘The kids were out on their lunch break. The bell rang, they all came in apart from one…….a ten year old girl called Abby Clough.’ Jack looked at Nathan.
‘Her parents were called in by the school, they’re inside now.’
‘Okay’.
‘I also suggested that the children and staff remain here as to question them’.
‘Good, thank you……….what about the missing teacher?’
‘Well….he was a substitute teacher brought in this morning. The teachers noticed he was also missing when the head count order came to each class……the children were just sat in the room on their own. We searched the school and perimeter, but they’re not here. There’s no sign of a struggle on the premises or around the school for a fifty metre radius.’
Jack was impressed. The relay of information from the woman and her attention to detail was impeccable.
‘Great work….stay with us, we could use another clear head on this’.
‘Yes Sir’ attempting to hide a smile.
They entered the double doors noticing the smudges of tiny hands as children had dragged them down the glass. Nathan spied the collage of art work pinned to the boards, the long wooden panels had a blue fabric background although only tiny segments could be seen from under the paintings and small child hand prints, all in an array of colours. This was a place that should never be the hive for an investigation. The building had a welcoming feeling, like a home away from home. It was the type of school he would have liked to go to when he was a child. Paintings of smiling kids and wagging tailed dogs belonged…….not a crime scene investigation for an abduction case. The corridors were cluttered with uniformed officers, each and every one had their own designated task, none of them seemed wasted, they all moved with speed to accomplish their orders.
The teachers were segregated from one and other, a protocol which had been played for a long time when interviewing a possible witness…..keep them separate so they can’t converse with other possible witnesses, that way, the stories that are relayed to the interviewers are fact from the witnesses perspective, if they talk with friends beforehand, other events come in to play, ones they may not have seen. Every room had been occupied as it
