“Silence!” Came Mr. Willow’s cold voice. “This isn’t the time for bickering amongst us. What’s done is done. We all knew this time might come. The question is—what should we do next.”
“I know what should be done. We make that one the scapegoat,” Sage angrily jerked his chin at Charles.
“Oh, that’s brilliant! That’s perfect! I’ve kept your secrets to be a part of this—“
“No one is going to be the scapegoat because I know what to do next,” said Mr. Basil quietly.
All the men looked at him.
“What is to be done next?” Mr. Sage asked.
Mr. Basil grinned. “I have the simplest solution.”
✽✽✽
Caroline listened as the clock ticked away its minutes. She should have gone herself and avoided all of this intermediary. She took the stairs quickly and turned up the gas lamps in the downstairs parlor. She crossed the room several times waiting for Wilmot to return. She felt bad that she had sent the footman out into the severe storm.
She looked out the window. There were few carriages about and even less people. The heavy rain and thunder were enough to send most people back into their houses. She crossed the floor again and nibbled on her thumbnail. This was ridiculous. She should have gone out herself and saved herself this not knowing. She should have made the trip herself. This was a waste of time.
The heavy knock on the door startled her and she rushed to open it. A small boy was standing on the doorstep dripping wet.
“Ma’am. Are you Caroline Derry?” He asked.
“I am.” She replied looking at his small face.
“I have a message for you. You are to meet the Inspector at the building. I am to give you the address,” the boy said pulling a scrap of paper from his small jacket.
Caroline smiled. “Val sent you. Give me the address,” she said and he did so.
She turned from him to retrieve her purse from the foyer. She gave him a pound and he looked at it incredulously.
“Thank you, Ma’am!” His little hand clutched around the coin.
“Please get yourself home and stay out of this rain,” Caroline commanded and he nodded his head and disappeared into the dark.
Caroline changed quickly into a warm dress, pulled on her heavy raincoat and looked about for a pen and paper to leave a note for Wilmot and her family. She couldn’t find any and though she contemplated on waiting for him to return she wanted to be on her way so she could return all the sooner.
✽✽✽
“I followed him to the opium den,” Felix confirmed to Val as they sat across from each other at the station. “He’s been there for some time. I wanted to send you someone as you mentioned before but the storm is bad. There’s very few people out in this weather.”
“Yes. I just received a note from Caroline before you arrived from her footman Wilmot. She had a strange encounter with Charles herself so I think it’s best we head to the opium den and see exactly what Mr. Lyttleton is up to.”
Just as they were exiting the office, an old woman came in. She had on a hat with a drooping feather in it and she looked wet and exhausted.
“Are you young men working? I need help.”
Felix and Val nodded to the old woman. “We are both working Ma’am,” he said introducing them both to the woman. “How can we help you?”
“I need help. Immediate help. Mr. Jackson is missing.” She said her eyes filled with tears.
Felix led her to the office to have a seat while Val took out a pencil and paper. “All right Mrs. Jackson. Please have a seat. Now tell me what happened.”
“Well to begin with, my name is not Jackson. I’m Mrs. Morse.”
“Mrs. Morse.” Val wrote the name down. “And Mr. Jackson is…“ He asked.
“My dearest companion,” she sniffed. “Who is missing.”
“I see,” Val nodded, writing the names down.
✽✽✽
Caroline was just entering the carriage when she saw another carriage pull up and Wilmot step out. He shook the rain off his coat and placed his hat on his head.
Caroline was already inside her own cab so she stuck her head out to speak to him. “I received the note from Val. I’m going to see him now. No need to wait up,” she told him briefly before the cab pulled off into the street.
Wilmot looked puzzled. As he watched her leave, he recalled that the inspector had looked briefly at her note but had no response for her. Had it changed since he had returned home? He doubted it. He looked at the cab disappearing into the night and suddenly thought of the women who had been killed. He instantly sprung back into the cab that had brought him home. He must tell the Inspector what had occurred.
Caroline felt the carriage sway in the wind as the rain continued to fall heavily. She had been hesitant to leave the townhouse even though she wanted to speak face to face with Val. Now that he had asked for her, she was anxious to see him. Even if he thought that the conversation had not been significant it still showed that something was odd and Charles needed to be further questioned.
When the cab turned down one street and then another, she saw there were less carriages about now and even less people. The winds continued to howl and the rain was heavier than ever. She shivered in the cold and when the driver deposited her in front of the building, she paid him and entered it.
✽✽✽
Val looked sympathetically at Mrs. Morse. “Ma’am. You know there is a storm. The winds are blowing and the rain is very heavy. Maybe Mr. Jackson sought shelter somewhere.”
The old woman looked through her small purse and took out a handkerchief. “That’s what I thought. But I looked in all the usual places. He was nowhere to be found. You must help me.” She dabbed at her face.
Val nodded and Felix offered to make them all tea.
“You see I care for him greatly,” she sniffed. “He means the world to me.”
“We’ll find him, Mrs. Morse. As I said, the storm is great and he’s likely nearby. I can send a constable out to search for him.”
“I hope you are right Inspector. It breaks my heart to think he might be out there in the cold.”
Val nodded. “How old is Mr. Jackson?”
“You know I’m not at all sure,” she said her voice cracking. “I never thought about it.”
He patted her hand and smiled. “Let’s wait for Felix to return with the tea. Then we can talk further.”
“Thank you, young man. I knew you’d be able to help.”
✽✽✽
Caroline tried the large front door to the building and it opened easily. She stepped into the dark cavernous space and shivered in the darkened interior. The building seemed completely empty and it was very cold. Her eyes began to adjust to the light and she saw several windows high above, almost eight feet high. The scant light they did let in was not much as the storm swirled around them and the night was pitch black.
She moved through the building and called out Val’s name. “Val! I’m here. It’s Caroline.”
But in response to her calling out, silence greeted her. He had sent her the note so she assumed he might be waiting outside for her or had met her when she walked in. Instead there was nothing. She clutched at her small purse, touched the tortoiseshell buttons that lined the bodice of her coat and moved forward into the building.
She passed one room that was set off to the side and peered into it. There was nothing. She looked back behind her but there was nothing. She saw bits of trash here and there but not much else.
“Val?” She cried out.
She stopped walking. He was not here. He would have answered by now. Why had he asked her to come to this warehouse in the middle of nowhere? It was so odd. She turned to leave when she heard a slight noise. It wasn’t something an animal would make or the settling of the building. It sounded like the scrape of something. The scrape of a shoe. The sound of a shoe moving. The sound of walking.
A strangeness gripped Caroline. She felt a terror s
eize her. She was in danger. She knew it instinctively. Someone was in another part of the building watching her. In the darkness eyes were upon her. She turned around and peered into the black hole. Nothing.
She turned again and looked in another direction. Her eyes trying to find the culprit. She could see nothing. Someone touched her shoulder and she turned with a yelp.
“Caroline. It’s me.”
Caroline looked into his eyes. Was she frightened even more or not at all?
“Charles.”
“Yes.” A small smile was on his lips and he looked at her in the dark.
“Did you send the boy? To have me come here?” She asked.
“I did.”
“Why Charles? We just saw each other.” She shook her head.
“I-I’m not like the others Caroline. I never could be,” he said softly.
Caroline smiled but shook her head. “The others? What others, Charles?”
She tried to move past him to get him to walk with her to the door but he grabbed her arm and held her tightly to him.
“Caroline. I tried not to be like them. I wanted to belong, but they don’t want that. They want me to do something- something very bad,” he said the last word in a whisper and the word terrified her.
The words he was saying and the way he was holding her, she suddenly felt as if they were not alone.
“Charles. You must simply be strong,” she said the word trying not to tremble. “You must stand up to the others.”
But Charles shook his head. “They are stronger than I. They want too much. I see that now. I wish I never joined. I wish—“
“Yes?” Caroline asked him.
“It was stupid of me. I should not have joined. I wanted to belong. I wanted a sense of belonging. The same lads that joked at me and called me names at University, I wanted to feel important.”
Caroline nodded. “I understand. My sister was always the outgoing one. She said I was the pretty one but I always admired her. She had a way about her.”
“Irene.” Charles said.
“Yes. Irene.”
“Oh Caroline. I wish you hadn’t come.”
Caroline smiled lightly. “But you asked me to come here.”
He shook his head. “It will be too much. Your father and grandmother…“ he sighed deeply.
“My father and grandmother?” She echoed not following his words.
“They lost Irene. So young. Tragic. Now you.”
Caroline glanced around her and then back at Charles’ face. “No Charles.”
“But I have to. They’re making me.” He almost whined.
“Who is they?”
“It doesn’t matter,” he told her solemnly.
“It matters to me,” Caroline said with a burst of anger and vitality. “Show yourselves you cowards! Show yourself!” She yelled in the building.
Charles startled, released her and she stumbled. “Show yourselves!” She yelled again in the darkened building.
She heard a man’s laugh somewhere nearby and a slow clap, clap, clapping.
“No need for the theatrics,” the voice said. “We always knew dear Charles couldn’t perform so to speak.”
Caroline saw the outline of a man. Then another one and then another. When the man came closer, she saw the outline of his pants, jacket and then his face.
“Oh my god,” she placed a hand to her face.
✽✽✽
The hot cups of tea were placed on the table and Mrs. Morse took hers. She thanked the sergeant.
“So,” Val began. “Let’s have the vitals of your Mr. Jackson.”
The old woman nodded. “Ask away dearie and I’ll tell you what you need to know.”
“His age you said you weren’t sure,” Val recalled.
“I’m not,” she said smiling at Felix who was standing at the doorway, and Val diligently writing her words down.
“His hair color?” He asked.
“Hmmm. Well let me see. I’d say it’s ginger but also white in some places.”
Val nodded. “Eye color?”
“A lovely green.”
“And does Mr. Jackson have any known associates? Friends he might have visited?” Val asked.
The woman seemed to give this much thought. “Well, the next-door neighbor. He likes them. They’re an older couple. No children.”
“And what does he normally like to do?”
“Well. He’s a lazy sort. Sits around most of the day. If he’s not lazing about, he’s watching the birds outside. He loves the birds.” Mrs. Morse smiled.
Val looked down at his paper and then to Felix. He looked out the window for a few moments and then turned to Mrs. Morse.
“Madam. Is Mr. Jackson a cat?”
Mrs. Morse sniffed and sipped her tea. “He’s not just a cat. He’s my dearest companion. And in this storm, he may have been hurt or crushed by a carriage.”
Val watched Felix smother a wide smile as he turned back to Mrs. Morse. “I’ll send our constable with you to look for your dearest companion. In this storm I can’t promise much.”
“That’s very kind of you dearie,” she said smiling.
“Felix fetch the constable for Mrs. Morse,” he directed.
When Felix returned, the constable was with him as was Wilmot, the Derry’s footman.
“Wilmot? What brings you out here again? Did Caroline send you?” He asked.
Mrs. Morse was led away while Wilmot stood before Val and Felix. He relayed the conversation he had with Caroline and Val was filled with dread.
“The opium den.” Felix said just as Val was pulling on his coat and hat.
“Let’s bring two policemen with us. Just in case,” he said ominously.
✽✽✽
“W-what is this?” Caroline asked as the man moved even closer to her. “W-what are you?”
The man shrugged. “An association of sorts. We meet from time to time to discuss the world’s problems, enjoy a good cigar, a good whiskey and challenge each other.”
Caroline’s eyes darted to the other men. There were four in all. She only recognized the one before her and Charles.
“What sort of challenges?”
The man smiled widely. “Ahhh. The challenges of life. Or should I say the challenges of taking a life.”
“The primrose strangler.”
The man smiled. “Beautiful and intelligent.”
“Which one of you killed my sister, Irene?” She asked, dreading the answer.
“I had that supreme pleasure,” he told her.
Caroline felt a wave of sickness overwhelm her.
“And me? Why me?” She asked.
“Well, you are the icing on the cake,” he said happily. “I shall tell you how it will unfold. You see, Detective Chief Inspector Valentine Pierce is being pressured from all sides. Not only was his beloved fiancée killed but so were the other women. His Superintendent is wearing him down and in a fit of violence, he kills Caroline Derry, sister to one of the victims and confesses to be the primrose strangler. Poetic, isn’t it?” The man smiled.
“But, how could you?” She asked, tears filling her eyes. “You of all people?”
“It’s not personal, my dear. It’s his neck or mine. I prefer my neck intact.”
“You’re a monster,” Caroline lashed out.
He tsk-tsked her. “You aren’t leaving this building alive. So, cease the dramatics.”
“How should we handle this? Since we are all here together,” one of the other men asked.
The others looked about but it was Charles who spoke up. “I-I really don’t think we should. This isn’t a good idea.”
“You idiot! She’s seen my face. She’s seen us all. What do you suggest? We release her back to the arms of her lover?” The man sneered.
Caroline knew that of all the men in the room, Charles might have lured her there, but he was also her best chance of getting out of there alive. She moved closer to him.
“Charles. Perhaps yo
u could escort me home. I know your mother spoke about seeing me tomorrow,” she said lying to him.
“My mother wants to see you?” He asked. Then he turned to the other men. “You see? We can’t do anything. Maybe we can—“
“Maybe we can do what?” Roared the man Caroline knew. “Maybe we can reschedule Caroline’s demise for another day? Maybe Saturday afternoon?”
“All of you. Shut up,” said another man. “We end this now. One of you take Caroline. We need to hurry. We have no more time.”
Caroline waited until the man came closer and when he was almost close enough to touch her, she swung her small purse at him hitting him in the face. He yelped and she took this moment to run. The dark building was large and filled with many rooms. She ducked inside one room just as she heard one of the men swear.
“Fan out! She’s here!” The voice directed and she could hear the footsteps echoing throughout the building. She knew she had come in through the main door but surmised a building this large must have another exit.
No doubt the murderous men were guarding the front door anyway and she would never make it. She heard the shoes echoing against the cold concrete slab and she flattened herself against the walls and inched backwards from the voices.
She couldn’t believe it. She dared not believe it. Her heartbeat was thundering inside her chest. She must be having a nightmare. She heard the lightning and saw the thunder crash through the sky from the windows high above.
“I’ll check this room,” she heard someone say but the voice was moving farther away not nearer.
She felt along the blackness even as she knew the men were searching for her. It was unthinkable. Unbelievable. She still couldn’t grasp the face of the man who had stared back at hers. She shivered. She couldn’t stop to dwell on it now. She must leave this place and find Val. He could end this.
She was feeling her way along the wall when before her she saw a set of concrete steps. A door! Her heart beat faster. It was a door! She moved down the steps just as she heard someone crash into the other side of the building.
Of Night and Dark Obscurity Page 27