Hunting Down the Darkness

by European P. Douglas

  “No, nothing like that comes to mind,” he said.

  Though he couldn’t put his finger on it, something in Edwards' demeanour told him he was either lying or hiding something and it flashed hot fury in Spencer’s heart.

  “Do you not understand I could be killed if I don’t get to the bottom of this!” he shouted. “This is not one of your childish games, Edwards, it’s the gallows for me if I’m caught before I prove my innocence!”

  “And, that my old friend is your concern not mine!” Edwards replied curtly. Spencer could not believe his ears; the complete indifference to his suffering in the voice.

  “I wouldn’t be surprised at all to find out it was you who killed all those people,” Spencer said getting up. Edwards laughed at this,

  “Why don’t you run along before you get yourself in even more trouble,” he said.

  “I’ll find out who did this to me, Edwards, mark me, and when I do I’ll kill him,” Spencer warned.

  “That won’t do much for your case now will it,” Edwards sneered.

  “Maybe not, but it will do a lot for my soul,” Spencer replied and he stormed out of the room and out of the house by the front door.

  Chapter 79

  It seemed to James like history repeating itself. He walked the streets of the Liberties and the surrounding areas questioning men he found out after dark and moving them along. He’d ordered extra soldier patrols of the area too and he would pass them a few times each evening on his route knowing each time without asking that they had found nothing worthwhile reporting. These wanderings were of little use he supposed. The killer was clever and devious, able to hide where you wouldn't expect to find him. Otherwise he would have been found out by now. The idea that this was the same man killing for the last two years galled him and he felt sick at the idea of this becoming public knowledge.

  If he could just catch this man that would be it for Alderman James, he would leave the city as he’d been thinking and never return. It was sad to think that his services would not be missed. He was so tired and it was a mental and spiritual tiredness that he saw no way of ever lifting. The unsolved case in Waterford irked him too. He didn’t like the way he’d had to leave so suddenly with his questions as yet unanswered. He felt it was someone from the house who had killed that stableman and he intended to go back there and finish the case when he could.

  James was thinking this when he saw ahead that he was coming around by Hell again and the archway with the statue of the Devil came into view. This was a place that unnerved him as much as it did anyone who passed by it at night. As usual, some joker had put out the light and the archway was in darkness making it all the more mysterious and scary. A light suddenly lit up and James was surprised to see the torch being reignited. The shape of the man who now threw the light was unmistakable.

  To any other viewer the size, height and shape of the man's long hair against the light would have sent terror crawling over the skin, but James knew this man and he walked on unperturbed.

  “You think he is afraid of the dark?” James said when he reached the archway and saw Daniel Deek standing before the statue. Deek turned and smiled at him,

  “I think he likes the darkness,” he said, “but I prefer the light.”

  “What has you walking the streets at night, Mr Deek?”

  “I have heard tales about this killer,” Deek said, “I think he is inspired by our watcher here,” he indicated the statue.

  “All killers are, are they not?”

  “I don’t think so, Mr James, but in this case I feel sure of it.”

  “How so?” James wondered did he know something the Alderman did not.

  “I’ve told you that I can feel when his work is being done, yes?” James nodded, “I feel it now, in this city, in these streets.”

  “Can you be more specific?” James asked in hope rather than expectation.

  “I’m afraid not, Mr James,” Deek smiled, “If only it were that easy.” James nodded at this. “What has you walking the streets alone? Do you not work with Mr Edwards on these things?”

  “That was in the past,” James said, “Mr Edwards is a very whimsical man. He will tag along if he is interested but this time he must have something more appealing to occupy his time.” No doubt involving alcohol and women, he thought but didn’t say.

  “Yes, he does not strike me as the concerned citizen type,” Deek smiled graciously.

  “I must get on my rounds,” James said, “Soldiers are out patrolling as well as myself. Would you like me to walk you back to your lodgings so you don’t get arrested?”

  “Why would I get arrested?” Deek asked calmly as though the idea were preposterous.

  “There are a lot of murders happening and you are a stranger, to the average soldier those two things add up to you being guilty of the murders.”

  “But you would know I was innocent,” Deek said.

  “Yes, but I might be at home in my bed and you would spend the night in a very cold and dirty gaol before I’d be able to get you out.” Deek nodded at this,

  “I see your point,” he said with that same warming smile, “Perhaps it is time I retired for the evening.”

  “Where are you staying?”

  “I have lodgings on Suffolk Street, not very far from here.”

  “Not far at all, I’ll walk with you that far.”

  They set off leaving the Devil to his bright for now archway.

  “These last few years have seen a high increase in murder in Dublin?” Deek asked.

  “Certainly,” James nodded sorry to be giving this answer. “Rebellion is hotting up too,” he added.

  “That can make for a chaotic scenario if you are searching for a killer.”

  “It doesn’t make it easier. Half the men in the army on duty tonight are following up one story of rebellion or another. It drains on the manpower for everything else.”

  “These are problems, the empire over I think?”

  “It seems that way of late,” James said, “and the damn French problem is not helping matters either, though you must feel that more on the European mainland?”

  “It is trying,” Deek sighed, “But like all things in history it will work itself out in the end.”

  If only my own history would work itself out in the same way, James thought. They strode on in silence for a time each living in his own mind until it came time to depart.

  “I wish you luck in you search, Mr James,” Deek said tipping his hat.

  “I can’t wish the same for you,” James smiled back and Deek grinned in appreciation of the joke.

  Deek went into his building and James was left alone on the quiet streets once more. Two more hours and he would go home, he promised himself.

  Chapter 80

  It was late afternoon when Madame Mel came into the blacksmiths. She stood there a moment before Mullins looked up from his work.

  “You?” he said with a snarl, his face whitening in anger. Mel smiled sheepishly and called out to Larry who came running from the back yard.

  “Madame Melanie,” he said and Mullins anger faded. He did not want to let the boy see how much he hated this woman and also Mary was out the back too and he didn’t want her to hear about what had happened in the brothel. She was sure to tell Kate and who knew what trouble that could lead to. Things were at a delicate balance and he didn’t want anything to come along and spoil their reunion. He could already feel the prying eyes and gossiping tongues of the neighbours and street traders but he could live with that for now.

  “Hello, little man,” Mel said to the boy “Or should I say big man now,” she squeezed his biceps, which has grown considerably of late. His response was to blush and look at the ground. Taking out her purse she gave Larry some coins and said,

  “Why don’t you run down to the bakery and get some buns for us all?” Larry looked to Mullins for permission and he nodded, it would be good to get him out of here while he talked to this woman.

&nb
sp; “I’ll walk down with you,” Mary said coming in from the yard. Madame Mel looked at her in surprise. Though Mullins did not want Mary getting out of his sight he supposed a quick walk to the bakery down the street with the boy for company would not do any harm.

  “Alright,” he said, “But the one down the road here and don’t go anywhere else.”

  “Yes, Mr Mullins,” Larry smiled and Mary nodded in agreement

  “And come straight back here,” Mullins added as they left.

  As soon as they were out the door Madame Mel said quickly,

  “Before you say anything, I just want to say sorry for my actions the other day.”

  “What are you here for?” he asked wanting to get this talk over as soon as possible.

  “I think I am in danger,” she said.

  “What? What kind of danger?” he hadn’t been expecting this and he was thrown.

  “I think someone is watching me and I am afraid it is the killer.”

  “Did you see someone following you?”

  “No, but I can feel it, every night as soon as the sun goes down. I am terrified to leave my house.”

  “The whole city is afraid to be out at night,” he said.

  “Not you,” she said and her eyes wavered seductively and again he saw how beautiful she was.

  “I stay at home most nights, and have recently decided to stay home for good until this killer is caught.”

  “I was hoping you would agree to protect me,” she said fluttering those eyelashes of hers.

  “I have more than enough on my plate right now,” he said, “and I can’t be at that house of yours in the evening.”

  “Is there nothing you can do?” Mel asked and he found that her powers were coming over him; he was actually thinking of a way he could help. Then he shook his head and came back to his senses, he looked away from her and back to his work.

  “I’m sorry, but I’m not the man to help you. What you need is to go to either Lord Muc or Alderman James.”

  “I couldn’t let that animal Muc near my house,” she said laughing, “and as for Alderman James, let’s just say he doesn’t agree with my line of work. He would probably be as happy for me to be killed as not.”

  “Well if you’re looking for protection those are the only two names I have for you,” Mullins said, “Now, if you'll excuse me I have more work to do.” It struck him that she still had not paid him for the fence he’d made for her but he didn’t bother pressing this, it would only rekindle the conversation and mean it was longer before she left.

  “I just hope this all ends before I become a victim,” she said piteously and he was glad he wasn’t looking at her at that moment.

  “I’m sure it will all be over soon,” he said softly.

  “Well, I will say good day to you then,” she said, “I hope you enjoy your buns when the boy gets back.”

  “Thank you for those,” he said thinking that at least he was paid that much for the fencing work. He could feel her lingering and he knew she wanted him to look at her. He tried to resist this but it only lasted so long. “You’ll be fine,” he said, “Just do what everyone sensible is doing; stay indoors at night and try not to be alone if you can avoid it until this maniac is caught.”

  “I suppose you’re right, Mr Mullins,” she said flashing a dazzling smile, “Perhaps I am only letting my imagination run away with me after all.” She nodded her goodbye, he nodded back, and then she left.

  No fear for her safety came to him and he didn’t feel like this was going to be the last time he would see her. She was going to be fine, he thought, after all didn’t she live in one of the busiest houses in the city. She could never be truly alone in there.

  When Mary and Larry got back, she gave him a look that asked if all was well. He nodded to her and smiled,

  “Let’s see what treats you have for us here,” he said coming over and looking at the bag Larry carried. Mary smiled and seemed placated by this and they all took a break from work to share the buns and have some tea.

  Chapter 81

  Lord Muc was a man of keen interest in all topics and one who noticed a lot about the city around him no matter what state of inebriation or violence he was in. As such, he fell into the role of investigator very easily. He had a knack for knowing what people were thinking and how they might react in a given situation. He was also adept at making connections between things. Things that other people, professionals in this field even, would overlook or never take into consideration.

  And so it had happened when Muc heard tell one evening of a young man cornering and bludgeoning a rat to death, and then seeing a young man skulking in the area around Market Hall with a tell-tale bulge of a bat of some kind pressing in his inside pocket and saw the dark flecks he knew to be blood on the bottom of his trousers he was able to tell these two men were one and the same. He didn’t see the face but Muc could often tell a man by the way he moved and as he studied this one now he knew he would know him when he saw him again.

  Now that he was looking into this thing for Mullins, trying to find out who was terrorizing Mary Sommers, Muc made himself known to the Alderman and the soldiers who were also patrolling the areas. Muc wasn’t so much simply wandering the streets like they were, however, he was going in and out of pubs, taverns and coffee houses asking questions of men he knew and taking note of things he saw around him as he went.

  The evening was cold and he could see his breath misting before him. He liked weather like this; it was hard for anything that breathed to stay hidden for long. As he walked, he glanced up from time to time at the rooftops of the buildings wondering if the man he chased often traversed the streets by them. He was sure that the man he chased and the one tormenting Mary Sommers were two different people. One was a killer and the other a minor nuisance, two different levels of men altogether despite what Mullins, Kate or Mary thought about it.

  On a couple of night’s he’d seen the German but they had spoken only briefly. In his estimation, Deek was eccentric and harmless. Despite his size Muc didn’t think he’d put up much of a fight if it came down to it. There was something mysterious about the man though and it was always possible he was showing the world one face while hiding away the other. There were no shortage of men who did that in this city.

  The drinking establishments had seen some drop off in custom since the killings started up again but not much. Now that soldiers and the Alderman were walking the streets those numbers were beginning to rise once more in the perceived extra safety afforded. Mullins was missing more from the night life, but that was a good thing in Muc’s book- it meant he was getting fitter and their fight when it came would be all the better for it.

  Moving through the streets and alleyways Muc came at last to the marketplace at Temple Bar. The smell of the rotting leavings of the market, stray vegetables or fish drippings hung in the air. The ground was slippery underfoot and he recalled tell of Kate’s near miss here at the hands of the Dolocher. He looked at the moored ships and boats, saw on some the peering eyes of lookouts watching him, wondering if he was a thief come to board, and make off with what he could. The only sound in the air was the creaking of the boats and the tapping of ropes on those same boats as the light wind caught them.

  Muc took in those ships one more time and then he turned and headed for home. He’d seen and heard much this evening and though none of it was startling, he needed time to let it all sink in so he could take better stock of it.

  On his way home, he went past Mullins’ place and as expected, he found the door open with Mullins standing there and Kate scrubbing at the wall beside the door. He nodded to himself, glad to have been correct in his thinking but didn’t approach to let them know he’d seen this scene. Muc had bigger fish to fry, and tracking down this childish nuisance was not at the top of his agenda right now. What he wanted now was the man who had eluded him in that chase. That was the real interest now.

  He was sure it wasn’t Olocher, definitely not Ed
wards but his true suspicion had grown, and now he felt he was on the right path. And all because of his skill for seeing and hearing disparate things and being able to piece them all together.

  Chapter 82

  Lisa travelled in full daylight at the busiest times since arriving in Dublin. That first night she felt sure Shandy would be waiting somewhere to attack her if she left the lodgings but she hoped that this had passed and that he was well on his way to Galway by now. He should be lest he get in trouble with Stapleton for taking so long on his journey, but there was no way to be sure and until she was it was best to play it safe. Besides, there was a real killer in this city to watch out for too. Dublin was not a place for a young woman after dark.

  She was on her way to Alderman James to try one last time to get herself a position there. It had taken her a few days to get over the humiliation of her visit to Edwards’ house but now that she had she was determined to get work with James. She knew he was nothing like Edwards as a man and she hoped that her feminine charms would be better appreciated in James’ house.

  It was coming close to three in the afternoon when she called to the backdoor of the house. An older man, pleasant in countenance answered and she told him who she was and that she would like to see the Alderman if possible. Five minutes later, she was in a nice but not ostentatious room standing on good thick carpet and looking out through the large window on to the street outside. James came in.

  “Lisa, what has you here in Dublin?” he asked smiling at her. He looked tired and seemed to have aged in the short time since she’d seen him in Waterford. It was clear this city was doing him no favours.

  “I have left the service of Lord Stapleton, I don’t think I need to explain to you why, and I have come seeking a position in your house. I can do any work and would be happy with any position until one more fitting to my talents might arise,” she said breathing in deeply after saying her practised line. James stood there a moment looking at her and then said,