Little Red (2 page)

‘Still no fan of flying Nathan?’

‘No Jack, we disagree with each other’ the bong sound from above his head ordered him to fasten his seat belt. It had been applied the moment he sat down.
Way ahead of you.
He shuffled his feet to find a new zone of comfort, grateful that Jack had bought Business Class tickets due to his scaffolding pole type legs.

‘Hey,
if you’re feeling a bit anxious or nervous, just think of something else, something………important and distracting! That sometimes helps.’

He accepted his friend’s advice and closed his eyes. The sun warmed his cheek and he drifted to a happy place, to his house,
sitting on the warm white sand. Elle wrapped up in his arms, her heart beating methodically with his as if synchronised. He felt himself smiling as he floated through the image. The waves crashing softly and the thudding of two hearts filled his ears…….until the Air Hostess began to speak.

His eyes opened to find a young woman with enough make-up on her face to supply the
rest of the female passengers. She smiled, doll-like as her arms motioned to the location of the Emergency Oxygen Masks and Exit doors. The large tin can shook as it reversed from its parked position. Nathan gripped the arm rests with both hands and squeezed, his skin turned pale.
Happy place………Happy place…
. He yearned to go home. He longed to be with his wife, he needed a Gin and Tonic. The plane came to a steady halt and he prepared mentally for the take-off, he awaited the ‘
left my stomach on the tarmac’
effect as the engines moaned louder. His head was forced back as he endured the painful lift off, his eyes firmly shut and squeezing the life out of the plastic arm rests. The plane bounced and dipped as it ascended higher, the clouds rushed past, his eyes peered open for seconds at a time and the view from his window caused him to close them again. His feet tapped, his fingers drummed, his mind exploded with numerous thoughts.
I can’t wait to land!

***

H
e watched from behind the dark glass, his warm breath created circles of mist as he exhaled slowly. He observed the house, the bedroom and the new girl……..his new girl. The rain snaked down the observation window of the van, he traced the droplets with his finger from top to bottom, his eyes fixated on her room. The light bounced off the pink walls, an ornament hanging from the ceiling twinkled as it spun steadily in a clockwise motion. Abby sat behind the desk, the pencil protruding from her small hand as she drew. He studied her movements, the way her tongue began to slide from her mouth when focusing too hard. The way her brown hair shone as her delicate fingers ran through it. Her head was cocked slightly to the right in concentration. He copied her posture, feeling as though he were one with her. The drumming of rain on the van’s roof repeated in his head, like a military band playing just for him, playing his own special song. He began clicking the tip of his tongue against the roof of his mouth, keeping in time with the tune that echoed through his vehicle. His eyes scanned the ground, the rain made small holes in the snow as it landed. It was as if invisible fingers were piercing the white blanket. The binoculars were raised back to the girl, his eyes followed closely behind.

‘
Hello Abby……….my little Abby’ the words whispered, his breath appearing and steaming the lenses of the viewing aid.

His heart pounded as she gazed up and peered through her window, her green eyes watching as the rain soaked the glass. For a moment their eyes met.

‘Helloooooo……….smile for meeeeeeee’ he begged.

The beeping tone from his wrist watch told him he had been stationary for fifteen minutes,
nooooo, five more minutes……no more……no less!

The first night was always exciting, the chance to view his new victim in her comfort zone……her safe place. The rush of the hunt coursed through his veins, he could barely sit still and felt the urge to fidget, but he fought it. He watched, knowing she couldn’t see him, knowing that nobody could see him, he felt invisible. Like a ghost haunting its chosen prey.

The light
coming from the road caught his eye. He repositioned himself and sunk lower into the seat, his eyes watched as the headlights crept closer. The approaching vehicle was moving cautiously, he willed it to move faster; his special time was coming to an end and he disliked interruption.

‘Faster, come on…..faster…
..fasterrr…..fas…terrrrrr’ the words dragged out into a groan as the car passed by. He shuffled back to the original seating position and moved his attention back to Abby.

‘FUCK
!’ his scream surrounded him. Her light had been extinguished. He had missed the last few minutes of their special time. He felt his body fill with rage, it drowned him slowly and he slapped the palms of his hands against the steering wheel, welcoming the pain it brought.

The engine growled softly as he turned the k
ey, his headlights remained off and he only switched them on when he felt safe, safe from suspicious eyes. The van rolled cautiously from its parking space, his eyes searching for one more glimpse of his prey.
Please, please, pleeeeeeease……..!
He gave up and focused on the road ahead, the wheels crunched into the snow as he placed his foot down on the accelerator. He longed for the girl, his new girl. Images of her soft skin and radiant hair flooded his mind. She was like a piece of art,
such a beautiful piece of art……my lovely loveleeee Abbeeeeeee.
He needed her heart.

Chapter Two

J
ack’s elbow connected with Nathan’s arm, the gentle touch aimed to waken him, ‘You still asleep?’

Nathan groaned to acknowledge the question. He shifted his weight onto another part of his backside and leant against the plastic body of the plane.
  ‘Hey Nathan’

‘What?’

‘You should wake’

‘Why?’

‘We’ve landed!’

His eyes peered open cautiously. The passengers had climbed to their feet and began claiming their carry-on luggage. He sat up and rubbed his face with the palms of his hands,
Jesus that what quicker than I imagined.
He hadn’t noticed the multiple rocks and body jerking movements the plane had created when landing, his mind sat elsewhere, somewhere warm and tranquil, he had missed the chance for an alcoholic nerve calmer but now that they were safe on the tarmac of Heathrow Airport, his body stopped yearning for the drink.
The buckle slammed shut as he released the male end of the seat belt, imitating the jaws of a crocodile. He climbed to his feet and crouched to avoid clashing with the overhead storage. Jack stepped out onto the aisle to allow his friend to pass. Nathan nodded the appreciation.

The chill gripped his body as the doors were opened, he noticed the other pass
engers feeling the same effect. He watched as some pulled their coats tighter against their bodies.
I should have brought a fucking coat.
Jack leaned in behind him.

‘Did I mention it’s snowing?’ the sarcasm intended.

‘No Jack, you failed to mention that……I hate the snow!’ His shirt held little warmth and he placed an open hand in Jacks direction, the jumper was placed onto it.

‘You kind of forget what the weather is like in the UK when you spend so long enjoying the sun!’ He longed for the warmth his home gave. Spain
was where he belonged, with his wife and a nice bottle of chilled wine. He hated the cold, his bones rattled in a freezing wind reminding him of his age, old injuries bit at the point of damage, reminding him of his past. His skin had leathered and browned from the excessive exposure to the great ball of fire in the sky. It now felt dry and held slight patches of a pale colour.

They descended the un-even stair and moved with speed across the
tar-mac, the walk through corridor attachment usually used when exiting a plane had broken down whilst in motion. Nathan began to think that his choice was a bad one. The snow fell lightly and Nathan felt it rest on his ears and nose. He chose not to waft them away with a hand, his fingers were cold enough. His eyes gazed up to the greying sky. Large clouds filled with white flakes replaced the clear sea-blue canvas that he preferred.

‘I hate it here Jack, th
e shitty weather just reminded me of that!’ he moved with momentum.

‘You get used to it…………you have no choice!’

Ass-hole,
he was right though, Nathan knew it as soon as he stepped off the plane. One of the main factors in the move abroad was the British weather and how predictably poor it was. He had only been away for several hours but he already missed Spain and all of its warmth. The core of his body was slowly losing its heat, the new climate played games with his immune system and loss of internal warmth was the result.

The pa
ssport control was less painful and he was surprised and relieved to discover this. They were ushered through by the terminal staff like sheep in a pen, taking two steps every five minutes. The odd couple complaining and child screaming added to his growing headache, he rubbed his temple to soothe the throb. He watched as smiling couples held hands and kissed, their recent holiday and getaway had obviously been an exciting one. He thought of Elle, sat at home on her own, he hated himself for leaving her, but the images from the home made movie he had watched forced him to accept his friends offer. The baggage claim was another story. It was an omen for Nathan that his bag would be last to arrive on the conveyer belt. He had prepared himself for this problem but still looked eagerly every time a new item of luggage popped into view.
I hate airports.
He noted how many times he used the word
hate
since he had landed and decided to blame it on his age, he reassured himself that he had earned the right to complain. The sigh of relief that escaped his mouth told Jack that the long awaited bag had arrived, half an hour had passed but it had felt like more as he stood watching other people’s bags arrive first. They gathered their belongings and moved toward the exit, the airport buzzed with holiday makers and excited children, Nathan wanted to find a calm and quiet place, the noisy surroundings were unusual to him, he hadn’t missed them one bit.

‘So far all we have is a body, collection of snaps and the home made movie I gave you. He isn’t giving us anymore!’

‘When was she found?’

‘Yesterday morning, some ramblers stumbled across her remains in a nearby wood, not a pretty sight.’

‘No witnesses?’

‘None so far, we’re keeping our fingers crossed something pop’s up’

‘Unlikely Jack, you know this better than I do!’

Jack nodded, knowing that Nathan was right. If the killer had been so discreet in
abducting and moving her it would be highly unlikely that any mistakes would be made after.

‘When can you start?’

‘Tomorrow Jack, let me rest today, I can hit it with a clear head in the morning!’

The headlights flashed and Jack gripped Nathans shoulder.

‘That’s our ride’ his bony finger aiming towards the black Mercedes.

They headed toward the car, already feeling warm at the thought of the
central heating. The grit below their shoes offered a crunching sound as they crossed the road, the long line of black taxi’s sat idling, awaiting the passengers from the arrivals terminal. Nathan moved cautiously, the frozen snow created a possible slip hazard. He balanced himself, both arms outstretched slightly. The boot clicked open and they threw their bags inside. Nathan climbed into the seat behind the driver and Jack positioned himself in the front passenger seat.

‘Nathan, meet Malcolm, he’s my personal driver’.

Malcolm flashed a smile into the rear view mirror, Nathan returned the greeting.

The order was issued and the driver acted, th
ey crept from the parking space, the car was negotiated through the narrow road of the car park, the flashing lights of a passing gritting vehicle slowed them down.

Nathan had forgotten how busy London was. Cars squeezed by eagerly, narrowly avoiding
a wing mirror collision. The beeping of horns and flapping of other drivers pushed the image of home back into his head, the peacefulness and the tranquillity. The streets were flooded with busy people, everyone moved around London as if they had a purpose. Most were bloated with large jackets, the cold weather getting to their bones and chilling them.

‘I got you a room on the third floor, it’s an open account provided by the Met. Just do me a favour and don’t go crazy on the room service!’

‘I promise I’ll behave’

‘Good boy. I also had
archives deliver a copy of the Intel we have so far. You’ll find a copy of the Polaroid’s and DVD, the findings from the location of her body and a Psych portfolio pieced together by Doctor William Lime.’

‘Never heard of him’

‘He was brought in by the head shed, nice fella, and a bit eccentric at times. But the portfolio has some interesting details so give it a once over for me. We are holding a conference tomorrow at ten. I’d appreciate your input!’