He sat up from the chair and rand Nathan’s number. He wanted to inform him of the find.
***
Lime sat at the bar, the cold bottle of beer gripped in his hand. The pub was busy, he had stood for twenty minutes waiting for a seat. One popped up and he dashed to secure it. He spied the woman as they walked past, their skimpy dresses and make-up plastered faces excited him. He attempted to appear suave and sophisticated. It wasn’t working.
‘You’ll notice me tomorrow, that I can guarantee’ the words drowned out by the music and chatter. He didn’t care, he had heard himself say it so he was satisfied. Within his mind he planned the interview, he imitated the person interviewing, picking a selection of questions to answer. The image of himself appeared clever and professional, his hair slightly combed over to one side, his glasses balancing perfectly upon his nose. The young woman, he had selected from his head to interview him, wore very little. She smiled as she slowly became lost in his gorgeous eyes, his ravishing looks drew her in, she leant forward and placed a hand on his knee. She stroked his thigh and he opened his legs, indicating for more stroking.
‘You finished mate?’ the glass collector pointed at the bottle on the table.
‘No, no I’m…..another please’ he spat, awoken from his dream.
***
Nathan climbed back into the car, his hands shook uncontrollably. Richard rocked the vehicle as he pulled himself into the driver’s seat. They sat in silence, many questions spun through Nathan’s mind like a whirlwind. Richard could sense that his friend had something to say, but the obvious killing of the weak perverted animal had stunned him to silence. He started the engine and increased the temperature of the air-con. The wind that blew through the vents began to warm slightly and Nathan un-zipped his coat.
‘I’m sorry you had to see that!’ the apology seemed sincere and heart felt.
‘I’m not’ replied Nathan, rubbing his worn face.
The headlights were switched on and the car rolled from the curb, it followed the road back on its self and headed away from the scene.
‘How many more addresses are there?’ asked Nathan, his voice sounding tired.
‘Three, you probably guessed already but we’re on route to the second’ informed Richard, shifting in his seat to find comfort. Nathan looked at the rear seats, the black gym bag of tools lay in the centre.
‘Can I ask you something?’
‘Shoot’
‘Are you intending on killing the men at the addresses, I mean, after you’ve interrogated them?’
‘Yes Nathan, that’s the plan!’ he attempted to fire a smile to the worrying man.
‘You should have told me when you picked me up!’
‘I know, look, seriously, I am sorry Nathan. If it feels like I used you then it wasn’t intended, you can get out anytime you like, I’ll take you back to the hotel!’
Nathan chewed on the idea, but the images of the children that he found in the flat flooded his mind’s eye. The photos that the Wolf took of his girls followed closely behind. He never thought the world could be such a vulgar place, a place where children are brought into with expectations of safety and multi-coloured rainbows.
‘You know, my house has this view, it’s breath-taking. The ocean sends roll upon roll of foaming white waves, they brush against the powdered sand beaches and offer a relaxing sound. I sit there with my wife, we have tried for children but it appears I’m incapable of sowing the full seed!’
‘I see’
‘I think back to the times when we sat together, discussing our lives with children, how adoption may be the answer. But now, after seeing what I’ve seen for the past week or so, I don’t think this is the place to bring children into. It’s dirty, it’s dark and seducing. How could a human being do something like that to a child?’
‘Power, that’s why. Because they can, so they do. It’s weakness that drives them, kids are easy to control. Sad to say but it’s because they’re weak minded targets, so vulnerable, and without the correct protection, well, they remain oblivious to their surroundings mate’
‘But, I just can’t see what drives them, I mean, they must have something missing which we have!’
‘Yeah,… a fucking heart and soul. Look, I know that this is an eye opener for you, but what you just told me then about the place where you live, it sounds like an ideal place to raise a child. Not all people are evil, a small percentage dwell and feed off the weak. I always said I would re-locate with Megan, give her the best upbringing possible, not only have I failed to do that but I have failed to protect her and her mother!’
‘What happened to your wife was out of your hands Richard, it’s a horrible feeling, I know, but some things we just can’t control!’
‘Well tonight is a night that we do control Nathan. Tonight we can take our own hate and resentment and force it onto the bastards that deserve it. We can control this, you and I, and we can put families minds at rest by eliminating the enemy!’
The words held energy, the were a boost to his mental state. He looked down at his hands and noticed that they had stopped shaking, they were as steady as a rock.
‘Okay, I’m with you. How long to the next place?’
‘Twenty minutes or so, depends on the traffic mate’ he smiled as his new friend accepted to take his side. The bond between the men had hung from a fine thread, their minds were driven in opposite directions. Now, they sat as one, pulled together like metal to a magnet.
The night had engulfed the creatures that lurked in the shadows, the evil spirits that fed upon fear and weakness. Tonight would be different, the demon’s would feel the end of the stick, that stick housing an array of tools to cause pain.
Nathan hadn’t noticed the missed calls on his mobile. It had been set to silent as he left the hotel, he had not wanted any disturbance when he met Richard. He followed the street lamps as they climbed the windscreen and disappeared out of view, the vehicle sped down the dual-carriage way, their next location minutes away.
***
Jack had felt disappointed that his friend, probably the only male friend he had, didn’t answer the calls. He began thinking that maybe Nathan had departed on a flight to Spain, leaving his pain and shame behind. He had never hated Nathan for leaving the last time he had asked for his help, but he despised him for not sharing his issues. He thought that they had a bond, a relationship in which they could tell one and other their secrets and hope the other could help with some advice. He needed advice now, his friend unable to assist.
He began to think about Helen, his ex-wife. The woman had been there for him when he needed a shoulder, as strong and able minded as he was, it still felt good to release the built up anger that dwelled within the pit of his stomach. Helen would stroke his greying hair and whisper comforting words as he lay his head upon her breasts, the therapeutic massage released the toxins that carried his loathing for the job. Tears would sometimes escape his eyes and he welcomed them, her thumb wiping them from his cheeks.
He had driven her away with the job that had now began to crash upon him, shattering his dreams of a future with her, the dreams of his boat bouncing upon mild waves next in line. He reached for the bottom drawer and pulled it open. The bottle lay under some unused folders, he pushed them aside and removed the whiskey, its golden appearance shining before the table lamp. The first mouthful had seared his throat and stomach lining, the second went down easier, as did the third.
***
William rested his back upon the leather arm chair, the pub growing quieter as the hours pushed on. He had held a lengthy conversation with himself, appearing more and more appetising to the woman of his mind. The alcohol had given him a swift kick after the sixth bottle, the whiskey beforehand added to his drunkenness. He contemplated going home several times, as he was about to stand a long legged woman would enter his arcs, his
