“Ian Barnett, died December 5th, face unrecognisable, severe brain damage.” I read on, “Thomas Brown, died February 13th, face not recognisable, both arms and legs broken."
I continued aloud to find the rest were somewhat similar. I again re-read the horrific notes and examined the disgraceful pictures extremely carefully. By this point, I had been introduced to other members of the team, Timothy and Joey. We were all sat deciding upon tactics and the next step of action. Eventually we came to an agreement, we would meet the victims’ families and discuss certain issues, we also thought it would be wise to make an appeal for witnesses to come forward, and offer a reward for those willing to cooperate. It was decided that the places in which the victims were found would be closed off until further notice.
After hearing some ideas I had to offer, Andrew must have decided I was doing my job properly as he agreed with what I said and seemed more relaxed. Timothy and Joey were allocated jobs to do and they left.
“ Angelina,” Andrew said, “ You and I shall go together to speak to Mrs. Barnett, Ian’s mother,” he stated almost as if he didn’t trust me.
“Yes sir!” I obeyed in a somewhat rude manner.
The car pulled up outside an old looking Victorian house with a huge door and a bold black knocker with the number 38 engraved on it in silver leading. I knocked on the door. It was almost two minutes later before an old mysterious looking lady, who had bleached wire like hair and brown paper-thin eyes, which looked like crushed crepe paper around the corner of the eye, opened the door. She smiled as she softly said,
“ Come in, come in,” We both entered into what seemed like an on-going mansion.
“ Nice place you’ve got here,” I commented.
“Thank-you,” she replied. We entered the large antique filled living room, equipped with numerous collectables.
“I am very sorry to hear about the loss of your son Mrs Barnett,” I tried comforting her.
“ I had two sons,” a tear fell from her eye, “ one’s dead and the other left us.”
“I know this is hard for you Mrs Barnett, but it is important we ask you some questions,” Andrew said hastily. I looked at him sternly; he had no right to upset her in such a way.
“Don’t worry Mrs Barnett take all the time you need,” I said.
“What are the names of your two sons?” Andrew went on, “and where were they both living?” Tears ran from her eyes,
“Ian was,” she paused, “Ian lived here with me, and he looked after me. The other one, Michael he’s called, although he didn’t like the name. He was the aggressive one. My late husband and I adopted him when he was three years old. Nobody knows where he is.”
Soon after we found ourselves leaving. On route to the Brown household I received a call. We were told to leave immediately and head for the office, it was an emergency. A police car picked us up and dropped us on Willington’s Avenue.
We entered the office in a rush and to my surprise we sae a young man sitting there anxiously. He was wearing a white shirt with dried blood on his cuffs and on his fingertips. I felt sick. Yet another murder had been committed. He was winning. I looked at this man sitting low in his seat with his head bowed down and his hands firmly crossed on the table; his appearance was shabby and dirty.
“I’ve…I’ve…I’ve come forward as a witness,” he said stuttering. I called for an inspector to take over the questioning whilst I went and sat with Andrew behind the two-way mirror. His name was Hart, Hart Lewis. He was in his mid twenties. He looked scared and was extremely pale with fear.
“Can you tell us your account of what you saw yesterday please?” The inspector said with his finger ready to press the record button on the player.
Hart looked up for a second and then lowered his gaze again.
“ I went out with some friends yesterday to Club Zulu. I was walking home through the subway when I saw a man, who looked as though he was in his mid fifties, attacking another man, a younger man. He was screaming for help. I ran over to him before realising I had made the wrong move. The man struck me out with a huge blow. I fell to the ground unconscious. After regaining my balance I did all I could to help this poor man. We were alone, in the middle of a poorly lit, eerie subway. He had a wound just below his liver and blood was flowing out.” He lifted his head and his wrists, “ that’s where this is from.” He looked at his hands in disgust and began crying. It was later found that Hart was our only witness and therefore it was very important we didn’t lose him. We involved him in all our case discoveries and used him as a source of reference.
Weeks went by and still the killer was on the loose. We had visited all family members but none seemed to be of any help. Concern was growing. Andrew had almost given up, he seemed to have lost faith in everyone. Hart had become a member of the team. He dealt with the case just as any other one of us would.
Almost three weeks later Hart announced to us he would have to leave, he was only staying here temporarily and this wasn’t his hometown. He was returning back to Spain. This caused more uproar, he was one of the most important members of the team and already he was giving up! There was no stopping he, he had made up his mind and that was final. Although he did promise to be back soon, he felt it was his duty. I was sad he was leaving, although this was not my hometown either. I felt that over the weeks Hart and I had learnt to bond and get along with each other, we understood each other; we were good friends.
Andrew requested that we have one more meeting before Hart left us. Timothy, Joey, Hart and I arrived at Andrew’s office in the early hours of the morning.
“Now you do know Hart that we cannot leave this case unsolved, we need to find him.” Andrew went on, “you have been one of our most reliable sources and I thank-you for that. I just want to inform you that our next step of action will be to limit th…” My mind wandered off. I saw in the far distance a face that I recognised.
“Won’t we Angelina?” Andrew said. Who was that? Who was that woman? I had seen her some where before! Who was she? Who was she?
“ ANGELINA!” Andrew yelled, “ARE YOU WITH US ?”
“ Err…Yes that’s right, we will!” I said hoping that I had answered correctly, not even knowing what he had said. I said my last goodbyes to Hart and watched him leave. He walked over to the elevator with his suitcases and left.
Andrew had dismissed us and I rushed out of the office still trying to figure out who the lady was. Suddenly I remembered, Mrs Barnett! What was she doing here? I followed her down the stairs until finally I caught up with her.
“ Mrs Barnett,” I panted, trying to catch my breath after running after her.
“ Yes dear?” she replied, lifting the sunglasses up, revealing her eyes.
“ May I be of any to you?” I inquired.
“I am here to speak to Andrew regarding my son, “she went on, and “perhaps you may know where I could find him?”
“ Sure he is on the floor above this, room 401,” I explained She
began heading for the stairs.
