The Crucifix Killer(119)

‘So you don’t wanna know about what’s happening tonight?’

‘What’s happening tonight?’ Hunter asked with renewed interest.

‘I’m not sure, but whatever it is, is something big.’





Sixty-One





Hunter followed Steven’s directions and met him outside the disused factory in Gardena.

‘Jesus! What the hell happened to you?’ Steven asked as he caught sight of Hunter’s battered face.

‘Long story. What have we got here?’

Steven handed Hunter a pair of binoculars. ‘Down there, towards the back of the building.’

Hunter looked in the direction Steven had indicated.

‘It’s too dark. What the hell am I supposed to be looking at?’

‘Close to the north wall. Right over there,’ Steven said, pointing at the main building again.

‘Wait . . . Is that a van?’ Hunter asked, a little more excited now.

‘That’s D-King’s van. He and four of his men parked down there about half an hour ago and went into an underground entrance further towards the rear of the building. They were carrying a small arsenal with them.’

Hunter’s interest grew. ‘What’s this all about?’

‘I don’t know, but we split the surveillance team in two. One team kept an eye on D-King and the other tailed his right-hand man, the giant muscle guy.’

‘Yeah, and?’

‘Well, in the past few days something’s happened. They’ve been going crazy searching for something or someone. Whatever it is that they’ve been after, I think this is it.’

Hunter had another quick look at the rear of the main building. D-King doesn’t know the first victim isn’t Jenny, he thought. He’s been after the killer and he might’ve found something, some sort of lead. ‘Where’s the rest of the surveillance team?’

‘I pulled them. You said we didn’t need to keep an eye on your drug-dealer friend anymore. I’m just showing you this because I thought it could be of some interest. I’m out of here myself.’

‘Before you go, where exactly did they go?’

‘See that little trail at the back of the main building?’ He pointed down to the factory once again. ‘Follow it. That’s where they went, but you’re crazy if you’re thinking about going down there alone. Where the hell is your new partner?’

Hunter hesitated for a few seconds. ‘He’s coming,’ he said in a not very convincing tone.

‘Do you want me to call for back-up?’

‘No. We’ll be OK.’ Hunter knew Captain Bolter would throw a fit if he called for back-up after their conversation earlier.

‘Suit yourself.’

Hunter watched as Steven jumped back into his unmarked vehicle and drove off.

‘What the fuck am I doing?’ he said out loud while checking his weapon. ‘Haven’t you had enough action for one day, Robert?’ He retrieved a small flashlight from his glovebox and started down towards the little path Steven had indicated.





Sixty-Two





Hunter made his way down the dirt track at the back of the old factory, until he came to an iron door concealed by some overgrown vegetation. Behind the door, he found stone steps leading to an underground area. He waited a few seconds listening for any sounds.

Silence.

Cautiously he started down the dark tunnel.

A heavy moldy, damp smell made him gag. He hoped nobody heard him cough.

‘What the hell, Robert?’ he whispered. ‘Another old building, another dark basement . . .’

The tunnel at the bottom of the stairs was narrow, lined in concrete and filled with debris. As he moved deeper underground, voices started to materialize – several voices – angry voices. The foul smell now mixed with some sort of raw sewage. Rats meandered everywhere.

‘I fucking hate rats,’ Hunter murmured through clenched teeth.

He reached a large circular area with a half-demolished square structure at the center of it. Its walls were full of holes. The voices were coming from inside the makeshift structure.

He turned off his flashlight and edged closer, being careful not to disrupt any of the loose bricks that littered the entire underground floor. He went around to the left of the squared structure and positioned himself behind some old cement bags, just a few feet away from the wall. Hunter bent down trying to level his eyes with one of the holes. He could see some movement inside but his angle kept him from having a clear picture.

The voices got louder. He could clearly recognize D-King’s voice.

‘We’re not gonna hurt you. We’re here to get you away from these fucks. You’re free, it’s over. I’m gonna undo your blindfold and gag OK, don’t be afraid, I’m not gonna hurt you.’