Little Red

The zip was tugged to the top by the static guard. He pulled a flap aside and allowed the guests to enter. Nathan was surprised at how warm the interior was, even though the floor still remained cold and damp. The wind had been denied by the flimsy walls, bending under the strain. They stood at the doorway, the grinding sound came from behind as the zip was pulled downwards, sealing them in. There were four in the Forensic team, led by Doctor Sally Brough. She was kneeling beside the mound that lay in the centre. The dark stained snow surrounded it.

‘Well it’s obviously our man’ she stated, ‘the MO is the same, well used area, left in plain sight, next to a wood and the heart has been removed’

‘So are we facing the same dilemma as last time?’ asked Jack

‘You mean are we going to have to wait until the body has defrosted again.........yes Jacky boy, I’m afraid so.’ She worked whilst talking.

‘Shit……..this fucking weather conceals everything’

‘Well, you never know……something might come up’ she tried to reassure.

The team had begun to chip away at the snow around the body, preparing it for removal and transportation. The blood soaked ground was dragged to one side as they dug under the victim, a small mound of crimson building up slowly. Jack decided to leave the tent, Nathan stood a while longer……….collecting the images before him and storing them in his mind’s eye.

‘Thanks Sal’ he smiled before leaving.

‘It’s a pleasure’ her flirtatious wink fired towards him as he left.

Nathan stepped outside to find Jack attempting to light a cigarette, the small stick protruding from his lips and his cold hands cupped around the end to guard the flame.

‘Jesus Jack……….how long has it been?’

‘Twelve months…give or take’.

‘So why start again?’

‘I’m not, it’s just a small one for the stress……….helps me to relax’ he stated as the deep drag filled his lungs. He exhaled slowly, the smoke blew into Nathans direction. Smelling the distinct aroma of tobacco he decided to partake in the event in which he had quit several years ago. His hand extended towards his friend who grinned from the corner of his mouth, the cigarette bounced and dropped its gathering ash.

‘The devil you know Nathan……the devil you know’.

‘Piss off……….it’s just one’ he smiled.

The end was lit and glowed a bright orange. He inhaled as deep as he could, his old lungs rejecting the first offering. He coughed slightly, the smoke escaped his nostrils. The second attempt was more fulfilling and he welcomed the slight buzz it brought, his head spinning slowly. The flashes from the cordon caught their attention. The news crews had gathered whilst they had been occupied in the tent, several cameras sat upon their high tri- pods, the reporters standing in front and informing the viewers of the situation. The quick succession of blinding lights came from the line, blasts of lightning aimed towards the men as they watched from the tent.

‘Fucking vultures!’ spat Jack as he flicked his cigarette; the wind caught it and tossed it behind his left shoulder.

‘I think it’s time to get out of here………what do you think?’

‘I agree…let’s walk the path we came’ Nathan pulled his coat higher to mask his face. He was unsure of the publicity the case might receive if people knew of his agreement to help. They moved with speed onto the track and entered the mouth of the wood.

Jack’s phone gave a mumbling sound as the incoming call vibrated in his pocket. He dug a cold hand inside his jacket and searched with his fingers, pulling it free once it was located.

‘Dawson’ he held an open hand to Nathan, telling him to hang slack for a minute whilst he took the call. He wandered off track into the woods, his free hand moving as he spoke. Nathan stood and looked up the track. He located the position of where they believed the van had been parked. His eyes followed the route that the Wolf had possibly taken.

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