‘I agree. Okay, he works for the Government, a good friend from my army days. I’ve done him favours in the past, he owed me one’.
‘Government, like….MI5?’
‘Maybe’ he smiled, ‘Anyway, he came up with an idea that could possible help with finding a location of the Wolf. He said it was a long shot, but it had worked before on previous investigations’.
‘Right, go on’
‘You may be aware, as an ex-copper, that there is a team that monitor certain internet sites and chat sites for any illegal behaviour. This team can type a specific word into the computer and it will run a detailed search of all known illegal sites, coming up with any addresses that have used that specific word. It can be back-dated for months, so they do find many old messages that may hold no relevance’.
‘You’re talking about pornographic material aren’t you?’
‘Yeah, the sick stuff though Nathan’ the fag burned to the filter and was thrown from the window.
‘Well, my source had typed the word, Wolf, into the search bar. It came up with three addresses within London, these were people who had accessed an illegal and monitored Child pornography site and were chatting on a forum’.
‘Hang on a moment. You’re saying that the Wolf may have been on one of these sites and discussed his intentions?’
‘Not likely, but someone who may know of his intentions could have blurted it out onto one of these sites. They may know where he lives and who he is!’
‘Jesus, is that legal, you know, to watch what people are accessing?’
‘Nathan, I know you’re getting on a bit, but the internet is the best source we have for finding and tracking suspects. It tells us everything. The internet has all your personal information on it, mad I know, but someone can look up anything they want about you…if they wanted to!’
‘I don’t even own a computer’
‘It’s probably better you don’t. Trust me, if you knew what can be done on a computer, from the people I know, you would think twice about accessing an Ann-Summers web site!’ he laughed
‘So, you said your source gave you some names or addresses?’
‘Addresses, yes, no names’
‘Okay, so what now?’
‘Well, the first address is that building to your left’
Nathan looked across at the block of flats. The dark grey walls were showered with graffiti and dried urine. Several windows were lit up, others were boarded up with ply-wood.
‘Wait, that is one of the addresses…right there?’ he spat
‘Yep, we’re going for a chat with mystery guest number one!’ he smiled.
Nathan shuffled in his seat, an uneasy feeling choked his body.
‘Richard, if these details you have been given are correct, that there is actually someone who may know who the killer is, then we need to give it to the police!’
‘I said that it was us, on our own Nathan!’
‘Yeah, but this is crazy. The police could be round these places and searching them, what are we going to do, what if they fuck us off and then do a runner?’
‘Nathan, what exactly would you tell the coppers? That someone you know who knows someone that works for the Government gave you these addresses and that the occupants may have info on the Wolf?’
‘I could tell Jack!’
‘Bollocks mate and you think that what, they’re going to fly down to these locations tonight and search them all? What about warrants?’
Nathan sat with a blank expression. He knew Richard had a point, it would take a day, possibly two to get the warrants as there was no solid evidence to establish that the locations had occupants that knew the Wolf’s whereabouts.
‘Also, didn’t you say that we may only have two days to find Megan?’
‘Okay, you have a point Richard. I just don’t like it, it’s out of my hands and well above the boundaries I abide by’
‘I don’t mean to be crude, but fuck your boundaries Nathan. We have an opportunity to do something, yeah it may not amount to anything, but we would kicking our own arses if it did, wouldn’t we?’
‘What have you got in mind? I can’t believe I’m going ahead with this!’
‘I’m just going to have a chat, you and I Nathan; we are both going in to ask a few simple questions, that’s all!’
‘Simple enough, yeah?’
‘Simple Simon!’ he smiled.
Chapter Twenty One
Lime sat in his office, the events of the day passed through his mind. He was proud of himself as he had achieved what he had planned. The teaser for tomorrow’s interview had sparked serious interest from the reporters. He would delve into great detail with the cameras aimed at his face, the file holding Nathans personal information would sit on his lap, the most interesting details explained in his professional terms. Nathan would burn and Lime wouldn’t urinate on his body to aid the extinguishing of the flames. He decided to celebrate and removed the small bottle of Famous Grouse from a drawer in his desk. The empty tumbler sat upside down on the screw cap of the whiskey. The smell stung his nostrils as he removed the lid.
‘Mmmmmmmmm, well done William….well done’ he congratulated himself as the brownish liquid was poured. The over generous measurement slid down his throat, the dry flesh was stripped from his mouth; the distinct taste engulfed the orifice. He poured another, it had been a very successful day and he wanted to celebrate.
‘I think a little night on the town is deserved…..yes Doctor Lime, you’ve earned it!’ talking in the third person.
***
The boot clicked open and Richard climbed out of the vehicle. Nathan pushed his door open and the chilling wind, which was brought by the looming darkness, rattled his body. He had a sudden worrying feeling, his heart raced with anxiety. He stood under the street lamp, his dark figure imitated a spy from an old comic book, as if he were stalking someone in particular. He noticed this and stepped aside quickly, his body now hidden in the blackness. The interior of the boot had lit up from the internal lighting, Richard’s face glowed in front of the white light. He removed a gym bag from the back of the vehicle and closed the lid; the clunk told him it was fully shut.
‘What’s that?’ quizzed Nathan as he approached him.
‘What, this?’ Richard replied, holding up the black bag.
‘Yeah, that thing in your hand, what is it?’
‘Nothing much, it’s just in case the person we interrogate doesn’t talk’ he began walking to the flats.
‘Hang on a minute; you said we’re just going to talk!’ he trotted to keep up, his hands wedged firmly into the coat pockets.
‘I know, this is for if he doesn’t want to talk!’ he smiled, lifting his black eyebrows.
Nathan felt the surge of anxiety intensify. It was if he was walking into a trap and couldn’t stop himself. Richard entered the door, the yellow paint had been peeled from the surface in mass clumps. The initials, L.E.C were written badly with black spray paint. Their footsteps echoed up the stairwell, the cold air swarmed them as they climbed.
‘What floor is it on?’
‘I presume it would be the third, it’s number thirty three that we’re after!’
They reached the next doorway onto the third floor, the door squeaked as they passed through. The platform was thin, the two of them could barely walk side by side as they searched the numbers of each door. Nathan gripped onto the cold metal railing that followed the walkway on the left side. The block of one-bedroom flats were
