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….
‘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.
‘Who’s on route?’ he asked
‘We deployed a three vehicle unit to the location, Forensics are on standby in case it isn’t what we think. It should take twenty minutes to get to the given location…..if it’s correct. The teams departed ten minutes ago, we should have an update soon Sir’
‘Excellent…..good work’ Jack dragged Nathan through the door.
‘The car…now, we’re going’
The entrance to the wood had been secured prior to them arriving. The yellow tape fluttered under the wind, the PC guarding the entrance tied one end tighter around the tree, hoping it would hold. Jack pulled the car onto the verge behind one of the many police vehicles that lay stationary. They climbed out of the car and pulled their collars up around their necks, the wind held a nip which attacked the bare skin. They were met at the entrance by the Detective who had taken the task.
‘Morning Sir’ his hands remained in their pockets.
‘Morning Lewis, cold one today’ grunted Jack
‘Yes it is. Well, I’m going to ruin the surprise,…..it’s him! The MO is a match, very obvious. Follow me, I’ll take you through what we have’ he turned and shuffled up the track to the entrance of the wood. Jack and Nathan followed close behind, Nathan was slightly annoyed as the Detective failed to introduce himself or offer a welcome. He chose to dismiss it. The branches hung from the large ageing trees, flakes of white lay upon the leaves. They were stopped by the tape as the guard requested a form of identification. Nathan heard Lewis grunt and spit towards the large male, something about being checked four times already, again he ignored the winging. They lowered themselves under the tape and came to a faint set of tracks, the mouth of the wood swallowing them.
‘This has to be the vehicle our guy used, it’s the only track we can find leading to the centre. Measurements and shit have been taken but I doubt it will come to anything, the snow has helped to cover most evidence up…… again’.
Nathan lowered himself to one knee, he followed the tyre marks deep into the woods core. He stood when Jack began to move with their escort.
The tracks ended in the open space. Nathan performed a slow three sixty, scanning his surroundings. He noticed that the trees provided an excellent all-round cover from sight.
‘We believe he stopped the van here’
‘He did, he will have removed the body in this location…….it’s perfect, blocked from view and would hide the vehicles head lights’. Nathan offered.
‘The white suits have done their stuff around here already, they’re with the body now…….follow me’ waving them on with a flick of his head.
The mouth of the wood still held darkness, even though it was morning and the sun was up to aid their sight. Lewis began pointing out several broken branches along the way, he was talking aloud but Nathan had blocked out the sounds around him, he was attempting to picture himself there when the Wolf was doing his thing. The ground crunched and cracked as the snow covered debris was crushed by their boots.
The tents extremities bowed as the wind struck it. The white canvas appeared to cave in slightly. The Detective began to walk with them and Jack ordered him to head back, ‘We can take it from here, thank you’, his stern words proved slightly insulting as Lewis about turned with a face like thunder. The ground held a fresh glisten as the rising sun offered its rays of warmth. They walked on the recently made track, the white powder clung to their soles. There was another guard posted at the closed entrance, his arms crossed tightly across his torso. His illuminated puffer jacket reflected the light and Jack squinted as he approached him, Nathan was just behind.
‘Morning Sir’
‘Morning……..is Sally inside?’ he asked, nodding toward the tent.
‘Wait one Sir, Ma’am, Chief Inspector Crawford is here!’ he called
‘Morning Jack’, the voice came from inside the canvas shell, ‘In you come, just watch where you stand please gentlemen’.
