A Despicable Crime

by Liza O'Connor

  “I’d rather you step out.” Xavier said.

  Vic shook her head. “Can’t. I’ve got to remove all these Rupert’s Drops. I’ve got the steadiest hands of anyone here. Jacko is keeping her secured in the chair. Tubs has secured her feet, so she cannot slam her legs against the floor. And I’m carefully removing the hem stitching to remove the damn drops. To be honest, we are very lucky we aren’t all dead. At first, we laid her on the floor, only she tried to raise her legs and slam them down. Fortunately, Tubs grabbed her legs before she could break the drops.” She glanced at Tubs and smiled. “Once again he saved us.”

  Tubs grinned in return.

  “Xavier, please leave this room. I need to concentrate and remove each one perfectly.”

  Xavier stepped from the parlor and discovered Gregory standing in the hall. “Gregory, we’ve a mass of Rupert Drops to deal with. Any chance you bought the small cast iron crate I requested last week?”

  “It arrived this morning. I placed it in the carriage house, uncertain of its purpose, Gregory replied.”

  “I want it inside the parlor, so I can place the drops into the crate.”

  “I will have Casey bring it at once,” he stated and hurried off.

  When Casey brought in the heavy steel case, Xavier yelled a warning that they were coming in as he opened the door.

  “Xavier, you are not helping!” Vic stated.

  “This is a cast iron trunk with excellent seals around the rim. While you remove the drops from the hem, I will place them in the trunk.”

  “Thank you for the trunk. That is very helpful. But I will put the drops inside.”

  “You presently have twelve drops sitting on the floor just waiting to be knocked over. Allow me to assist you, for if you were to die, I would rather die with you, than live in regret for the rest of my life.”

  After a heavy sigh, she met his gaze. “I understand your feelings, for they are mine as well. Go ahead and place them in the steel box...carefully.”

  A half-hour later, the last Rupert’s Drop was removed from the hem of Claire’s dress. “Now I need to carefully remove her skirt to ensure there is nothing else tucked away.” For the first time since she had entered through the parlor window, she focused on Claire. “I’m sorry I have to do this, but I have to ensure you have no more tricks up your sleeves. And I cannot risk sending Tubs, Jacko, and Xavier out of the room. So, you are just going to have to bear the humiliation.”

  Clare released a screeching tone that had dogs barking for several blocks.

  Upon removing Claire’s clothes, she found nothing else. However, when she assessed Claire’s hair she discovered three more drops. “Damnation! We’ve got three more and they aren’t protected. We are damn lucky they didn’t break when we laid her down.”

  Xavier and Tubs evaluated the problem He touched the hair further out. “I see why they didn’t move. They are trapped within her hair. The biggest danger will be when we try to remove them. Tubs, her head will need to be kept completely still.”

  “Hold on,” Vic said. “This does not feel like her hair. See how the color on top is slightly different from the ringlets down her back?”

  “Tubs’ keep her head still. Xavier, she’s wearing a wig. We need to lift it up equally from both sides.”

  “Then what?”

  “Then we’ll gently carry it to the trunk and put it inside.”

  “I don’t like this plan at all,” Jacko declared. “Can’t we just dump her in the Thames.”

  “She’s my sister. I know she wanted to kill us all, but if I don’t do everything feasible to make her better, I won’t be able to live with myself.”

  “All right,” Xavier sighed. “Let us figure out how to do this. Is the wig attached to her, or is it just sitting on her head?”

  Vic carefully felt about the hair while Tubs kept Claire from moving her head.

  “I think it’s just a cap.”

  Jacko lost his temper. “No offense, but I’m not crazy about risking my life trying to save Claire, if you don’t know for sure we’ll be safe.”

  “I agree,” Vic replied, then met his angry gaze. “Jacko, you should step out. You have a wife and children who love you.”

  Xavier spoke up. “Vic’s right, you should go.”

  “What about Tubs. He has a wife and child, too.”

  Xavier looked at Tubs, but the giant shook his head. “I’m staying.”

  “Thank you, Tubs,” Vic whispered.

  Tub’s focused on the location of the drops. “I think we can do this. Instead of pulling off the hair piece, let’s cut the dangerous section out and only lift that up. It will be much safer than tugging at the cap.”

  “Yes,” Vic said. “Thank you, Tubs. We can do this!”

  Tubs looked at Xavier. “Grab a child’s chair from the dining room. Then we will make her sit in it, so Vic will have a better angle to cut from.”

  Xavier grabbed one of the children’s chairs and with Tubs continuing to hold her head and Vic ready to secure her to the chair, they moved in unison and soon the angry hellcat was seated and securely tied to her small chair.

  Vic wasted no time in cutting away the cap of danger. She then gently lifted it off and carried it to the trunk. Xavier opened the trunk as she slowly settled it on one of the cushions. Then Xavier closed and locked the trunk and they all sighed in relief.

  When they left the room with a naked, partially bald Claire, Gregory quickly found her a robe to wear. “Why is she naked and what happened to her hair?”

  When Vic explained the reason for both, Gregory calmed and spoke to Xavier. “Casey is ready and waiting for you.”

  Gregory then patted Tubs’ back. “Good job keeping her still.”

  Tubs nodded. “Had she not burned down her house, I would have said she planned to escape with Maddy after she killed the rest of us. However, there is no question in my mind. She clearly planned to kill us all, including herself and Maddy.”

  “Let’s not share any of that with the rest of the household,” Gregory stated. “It would only cause unnecessary panic.” He then focused on Xavier. “Shall I let the maids and children out?”

  Xavier gave him a nod. As Gregory headed upstairs, Xavier hurried to the library and knocked on the door, letting Vivian and Charlotte know that all was safe, and they could open the door now.

  He sighed heavily as he faced Tubs. “Place Claire in the carriage trunk, I don’t have the energy to fight with her. And the insane always have excessive energy.”

  Tubs nodded and hurried off.

  Xavier sensed something was wrong. “Damn it, where’s Vic?”

  No one answered him. “Vic!” Xavier bellowed.

  Just then Tubs returned from the carriage. “I put Claire in the trunk, but then Vic showed up. She’s sitting in the carriage, crying.”

  Xavier groaned. “No. She’s been through enough today, I don’t have the energy to fight with her about this. Tubs...”

  The big guy shook his head letting him know he wouldn’t help remove Vic from the carriage.

  “Vic’s not my boss, I’ll do it,” Jacko stated.

  Xavier followed him out and held the carriage door open while Jacko and Vic swatted each other like feral cats a few times before Jacko got the upper hand. “Damn it, Vic. I’m just trying to save you some misery and heartache.”

  “You had no right to lock her in the trunk!”

  “We had every right,” Jacko snapped. “She had enough Rupert drops to kill everyone in this house five times over.”

  Vic stopped fighting. “She didn’t know what she was doing!”

  “Yes, she’s gone off the deep end. But that doesn’t mean the rest of us need to die.”

  Vic climbed out of the carriage and plowed into Xavier. “I’m sorry, but you need to do this without me.”

  “I know,” Xavier stated and kissed her on her head. “Go inside and try to sleep.”

  Vic snorted. There was no chance in hell that she would be
able to sleep, but she knew at least one other person in the house who wouldn’t be able to sleep either. She climbed up the stairs and entered David’s room. He was crying on little Danny.

  “Don’t drown him, David. He’s one special little boy.”

  David smiled at her. “He truly is. He’s like a little angel. I’m hoping he can heal broken hearts.”

  “That’s a big task for a little baby,” she warned.

  “It is,” he admitted. “Would you like to hold him? I know you are hurting too.”

  “I am,” her voice trembled. “Can we hug each other while we both hold Danny?” Vic asked.

  “If you want,” he said and slipped his left arm around her waist while she did the same, only slipping her right arm around him. Vic held Danny’s head with her left hand while David ensured little Danny remained in their laps.

  Suddenly, tears flowed down Vic’s cheeks. “I don’t recall ever hurting this much before. She is my baby sister. I was supposed to watch out for her, to keep her safe.”

  “I understand exactly, because I was her husband, and instead of fixing her, I left her. And now we have both lost her.”

  “I won’t except that. Not until Dr. Frederick gives up all hope. I will continue to believe Claire will get better.”

  “Then I will believe the same. A positive attitude goes a long way when you need to turn the tables.”

  Chapter 15

  Xavier and Jacko sat across from the cursing, thumping seat.

  “We were so close to getting her help,” Xavier said.

  “She must have realized that. The truly insane will always fight those who try to rescue them. However, burning her own house down makes no sense,” Jacko observed.

  “I know why she burnt it down. Turns out that Vic could not give her the house. It could only belong to a male heir. So, the house could never truly be Claire’s, and thus she burned it to the ground. If it could not be hers, it would be no one’s.”

  Jacko sighed. “It’s a shame. Vic was so optimistic about the doctor being able to help Claire.”

  “I never thought it would work, but I do believe neither David nor Vic were ready to suggest they lock her up for life. Hopefully, both will come to the conclusion that there is no recovery solution anymore.” Xavier sighed heavily, “I’m tired of talking about Claire. How are you doing?”

  “All right, I guess,” Jacko replied.

  “Are you and Alice having trouble?”

  “We have our spats, but then I believe most couples do.”

  “That is true. Vic and I have frequent arguments, such as whether I was to stay or go from the room. But we always settle them.”

  “Don’t laugh at me, but sometimes I feel like I’m the wife in the marriage. Alice returns to her estates and leaves me and the boys for weeks! And when she finally comes back she always declares she’s exhausted. It can be three or four days before we get a moment of pleasure.”

  “Do you still love her?”

  “Without question,” Jacko admitted. “I would be lost without her. I know this for a fact since she is gone most of the time.”

  “Jacko, would you be happier at the estate?”

  “Honestly, since I was nearly charged and hung for murder, I don’t want to live near those people ever again. I am much happier here working for you, even when I do get shot. By the way, don’t ever mention to Alice, that I was shot. I didn’t tell her that bit.”

  “I won’t say a word, but you do realize Alice and Vic are friends?”

  “Yes, but I have discovered Vic is very careful about what he shares.”

  “More so than me?” Xavier asked.

  “No... there is no one who can keep a secret better than you.”

  “I’m sorry to say, that is not always the case with Vic. He greatly disappointed me recently,” Xavier admitted.

  “Well, he has never caused me any trouble with Alice. However, the thumping box has.”

  “Why would Claire talk to Alice? Alice doesn’t even like her.”

  “I’ve no idea.” He then whispered, “And we shouldn’t be talking about this. The trunk has airholes.”

  “Speaking of that. Should I check and make sure she hasn’t choked on her gag?”

  “Oh, I removed that. It’s not safe for a person to be locked in a box with a gag in their mouth. Don’t you remember her threats of violence when we first got in?”

  “I do, so why don’t we hear anything now.”

  “It’s possible she fell asleep, but I seriously doubt it. Claire is most likely being quiet, so we’ll worry about her.”

  “Well, she hit her mark, because now I am very worried about her,” Xavier admitted.

  “Let’s look at this practically. No one, but the doctors and guards at the asylum will understand why a beautiful young woman needs to be thrown in a trunk. If you foolishly fall for this trick, then when you open the trunk, she will attempt to claw your eyes out before she leaps from the carriage. And if she looks like she’s going to be successful clawing your eyes out, I’ll have to shoot her, because this country needs you with your eyes intact.”

  “True enough. Very well, we’ll leave her be.”

  Xavier’s words caused a fire storm inside the trunk. Claire demanded to be let out. Her threats became more hostile as time moved slowly by. Fortunately, the Asylum was on a road to literally nowhere. When the carriage wheel slammed in a pot hole, instead of cursing, Xavier thanked God. “We should be there in another half hour.”

  “Good, because I’m tired of her. Can we talk about my boys?”

  “Of course. But you’ll have to start because I don’t know anything about the younger three. However, I can say Pete is a fabulous young man.”

  “I can’t take much credit there. He was fabulous when I got him. However, the younger three are holy terrors. They are worse than I was, when I was a pirate.”

  Xavier chuckled.

  “I’m serious. They will pretend to shoot at people and then laugh. Fortunately, the guns are wooden sticks, so no one is harmed, but it does upset and unnerve the old ladies they shoot at.”

  “Have they tried that with my great-grand mother?”

  “No. I told them she died a long time ago, but now she is back, and they leave her alone because she possesses the powers of the dead.”

  Xavier broke out in laughter. He gripped Jacko’s shoulder. “Thanks for giving me a moment of humor.”

  Jacko smiled. “She doesn’t look old enough to be your great-grandmother.”

  “Vic did the math and says she’s eighty-eight or eighty-nine.”

  “Well, she looks much younger than her age. Are you sure she’s not an imposture?”

  “She’s my great grandmother,” he stated with pride. “You should be aware that one of your scoundrels attempted to steal her shoes while she slept.”

  Jacko sighed. “Do I need to buy her a new pair of shoes?”

  “Not at all. The boy failed in his mission. She woke, he fell on his butt, then he ran off. I suspect it was the older two who put him up to the nonsense and are no doubt the reason why they are worse than true pirates.”

  “You’re laughing about this, but then your child behaves. My boys will do the opposite of whatever I ask. And your new baby! That is the most adorable, smiling, good-natured child I have ever met!”

  “He is! But that is no credit to any of his parents. The boy was a charmer from the day we claimed him. Vic believes he had a kind and loving mother and grandmother.”

  “My younger boys just fight all the time.”

  “You know, Gregory is very good with rumbustious young boys. He did a fine job with Victor.”

  “Think I could pay him to straighten them out? I’d be fine having three little Victors.”

  “I don’t think you’ll need to pay him. Gregory allows no one to misbehave in the house for long. Just stay in our house until Alice comes back.”

  “So that is why Gregory never left the room when the children were buil
ding the castle yesterday. And now that I think about it, for once my boys were behaving. Yes, we will definitely stay with you.”

  Claire began a non-stop howling. Xavier had the carriage stop and Jacko and Xavier climbed onto the driver’s seat.

  Casey just shook his head and continued on. “I don’t know which is worse. The road or the banshee in the trunk.”

  When they finally reached the gates, the same guard as before approached. “So, you brought a patient this time. How old is she?”

  “She’s in her twenties, healthy, brilliant, beautiful, and she has killed someone before,” Xavier replied.

  “Any chance your trunk can be taken out of the carriage?”

  “Yes, and I strongly suggest you keep her in the trunk until she is locked in her room.”

  Four guards extracted the trunk, but Claire did not make it easy. She would slam her weight against a panel, trying to cause the men to lose their grips. She no doubt hoped the trunk would break apart in the fall.

  “Claire, you are only hurting yourself. There are four very strong men carrying the trunk. You will not escape. In fact, you are already inside the gates of the asylum, so just calm down.”

  The trunk grew still and quiet.

  Frederick stood at the door and said nothing as the guards carried the box to a concrete room with no windows and a thick steel door. They set down the trunk but made no attempt to open it.

  Xavier was impressed. Frederick had her walls painted in a soft peach color, which happened to be her favorite color.

  “Xavier. Would you and your friend wait for me in my office?”

  “With pleasure,” Xavier stated and motioned for Jacko to follow.

  “This really is a nice asylum,” Jacko admitted.

  “By far the best,” Xavier said as he led Jacko to Frederick’s office. A servant entered and asked if they would like tea. Both nodded and the servant left.

  They both knew the moment Claire was let out of the trunk. She was screaming loud enough to wake the dead. In a short time, Dr. Frederick entered, out of sorts. “She bit one of the guards. Does she have any disease I should be worried about?”