Chapter 7 - The Arrest

The door was locked and attempts to force it down were also unsuccessful, because the door turned out to be really strong, so one of the policemen had to shoot the lock. They finally entered and headed towards the living room, from where the man's screaming came. Before they got there, however, they heard something like a gust of wind, quite strong one, because it had reached the hall, and they could hear the sound of breaking glass in the windows. And when they finally got to the living room, there were indeed glass everywhere, and the windows were broken. There was a blonde-haired man lying on the floor, and his physique matched the 'Mad Dog' description, but he appeared to be unconscious, so Esther approached him slowly, and Leo followed her like a shadow.

- Look for the woman.- he turned to the other policemen, and they immediately scattered around the apartment.

When Leo and Esther were next to the unconscious man, she crouched down beside him, still holding the gun in one hand, and with the other she brushed the fringe from his face, then parted his lips a little.

- It's him, it has to be him.- she said, glancing at her partner and nodding her head so he would look closer.

The man did have a kind of artificial jaw on his teeth, but made of metal, and the teeth on it had very sharp tips. In addition, there was a thin rope near the man's hand, and behind the waistband of his pants there was a dagger in a sheath. Esther put on a latex glove and pulled out a dagger. Soon after, the policemen brought the shaky woman from inside the apartment.

- She locked herself in the bathroom with the telephone.- one of the officers informed.

- Is this the man who came into your apartment through the window and wanted to attack you?- Esther asked, getting to her feet.

- Yes... Yes, that's him.- the woman confirmed with a shaky voice, looking at the man lying down on the floor with obvious horror, and that look meant more to Esther than any words.- But... he must be... really crazy... Before you arrived... he suddenly... stopped looking... for me and started... shouting... something like... "Who are you?"... "What do you want?" or... "Leave me alone, monsters!" and... then he would... scream as if... as if someone... was skinning him.- she added after a moment.

Esther and Leo looked at each other slightly surprised, but on the whole, knowing the 'Mad Dog' case, they considered the option that he might not be right in his head.

- Okay, take her downstairs. We will drive her to the hospital for examination, the help of a psychologist will also be useful.- Leo instructed the policemen, they listened to him and led the woman out of the apartment, because she could barely walk herself.

- Don't do this, please... Show me mercy...- they suddenly heard a terrified, delirious male voice behind them.

They both turned almost simultaneously. It was the man lying on the ground who seemed to regain consciousness, so Leo hide the gun and took out the handcuffs, chaining the man with them before he woke up for good.

- Where... What... What's going on?- the man asked, opening his eyes, looking at Leo and Esther standing above him.

- You're under arrest for burglary and assault. For now.- Leo said, glaring at him.- You have the right to remain silent. If you waive this right, anything you say from then on can be used against you in court. You have the right to a lawyer and his presence at the hearing. If you cannot afford a lawyer, you can get a public defender. During the questioning, you can use this right at any time without answering questions or making statements. Do you understand?- as necessary, he informed him of his rights, then grabbed his arm, helping him to his feet.

- I understand.- the man replied, and while getting up he swayed a bit.- But… where are they?- he asked again, his eyes darting from Leo's to Esther's face.

- They? Who are you talking about? There was someone else here?- picked up Esther, looking at him intently.

- These creatures... with scarlet wings.- replied the man, frowning as if he wanted to remember something.

- Let's just take him downstairs and get him to the station as soon as possible.- Leo interjected, impatient, clearly not wanting to listen to the gibberish talk.

- Wait a second.- Esther put a hand on his partners shoulder.- If there was anyone else here, we need to find out who, so as not to miss anything or make a mistake.- she noted.

- They looked like angels, but their faces were cold like a stone, they had a punishing gaze... They were the 'Scarlet Angels', those punishing heavy sinners...- the man started to talk again.

- What did you say?- Esther revived immediately, hearing the familiar name.- The ‚Scarlet Angels’? How do you know that term?- she asked, grasping the man tightly by the shoulders.

- This is how they introduced themselves...- he answered.- They said that I have sinned unforgivably and they came for me because I avoid human's justice, therefore I will receive a divine punishment. Then they started to torture me... I felt the pain of every person I took the life of... It was unimaginable suffering. But then they suddenly disappeared, I think they heard you coming... Soon after I lost consciousness.- he continued.- I guess I owe you my life... Thanks.- he smiled slightly.

- You crazy son of a...- Leo said through his teeth, ready to punch him. His eyes flashed lightnings, and face was clearly full of disgust and anger.

- Wow, take it easy, Leo.- Esther stopped him, waking up just in time from her thoughts.- Let's take him downstairs, put in the police car and take to the station, okay?- she continued pleadingly.- If you hit him you'll be in trouble.- Esther then reminded him.

Leo lowered his fist and gripped the man's arm tighter, but started dragging him to the door without an ounce of delicacy, like a sack of potatoes. Esther just sighed heavily as she followed him. Leo was a nice guy overall, but not to criminals, especially murderers. For him, they shouldn't be considered human beings and shouldn't have any rights, since they were depriving people of the basic right to life. Maybe he was right about that, but Esther couldn't have thought like this about any human, no matter what crime he had committed. Moreover, not every murderer committed his crimes with complete premeditation and for absolutely no reason. Yes, no matter what trauma they experienced, it didn't give them the right to kill, but the fact that they just reacted in this way surely meant that they had human feelings. So far they had no idea what exactly was the reason why 'Mad Dog' decided to torture and kill promiscuous women, and the mere fact that this man chose only such women meant that he must have had a reason to do so.

On the stairs, they passed the officers who were supposed to secure the apartment so that no unauthorized person could get to it. When they got outside and reached the police car left in front of the building, they placed the detained man in the back seat and took the front seats themselves - this time Leo on the passenger's and Esther the driver's side. She felt that in his current state her partner should not be driving. The words from the man about the 'Scarlet Angels' crashed into her mind all the time, but for now she tried to push them into the background, after all they had to arrive safely to the police station. There was the second police car in front of the building, the one that belonged to the policemen securing the apartment. The third was gone long ago with a would-be victim. Esther fired up the engine and looked in the front-view mirror before heading out into the street to see the passenger in the back seat. His eyes were fixed on the window, there was something like relief on his face and a soft smile on his lips.