Split Infinity

by Tony Rattigan

  ‘Thousands actually. They can do that at the local Post Office, I’m afraid. You know, like a dog license. They don’t need to come here for that,’ he said, almost with a sigh. ‘So tell me Mr. Cobb, what can I do for you? Do you have information about a demonic conspiracy to take over the land in the name of Satan?’

  ‘I’m afraid not.’

  ‘Do you need an exorcism? I have all the equipment,’ he said eagerly, pointing to a cupboard.

  ‘Er … no.’

  ‘Here to report an unlicensed fortune teller, perhaps?’ he asked hopefully.

  ‘Sorry, no. I’ve just come to see if you can supply me with a list of reliable diviners in the Londum area.’

  ‘Oh, is that all? How disappointing.’

  ‘You see, I’m a private detective working on a missing persons case and I have an item belonging to that person. I thought I’d see if a diviner could tell me about their whereabouts.’

  The door opened and Deirdre came in with a tray containing two cups of tea and some cakes. ‘I’ve brought you some cakes Rod … er ... Witchfinder, she said, glancing at Cobb. ‘They’re your favourites.’ She put the tray on the table and headed for the door. There was a slight ‘thump’ as she walked the wrong side of the open door and into the wall, which they both politely ignored and then she went through the open doorway and closed the door behind her.

  As Grindle dished out the tea and cakes Cobb looked around the room. On the wall was a full-length portrait of what Cobb assumed was the original Witchfinder, Thaddeus Flax. A tall imposing figure resting on his sword as in the background a witch burnt at the stake. Charming, thought Cobb. No wonder they revolted against him. He looked at Grindle’s desk covered with Magickal trinkets. Among them was a small crystal ball that Grindle was using as a paperweight.

  Once Grindle had sorted Cobb out with his tea he went into the main office to get Deirdre to compile a list of local diviners. While he was out of the room, Cobb picked up the paperweight and put it in his pocket.

  Grindle returned and joined Cobb in the tea and cakes. ‘So, a private detective eh? Must be interesting work.’

  ‘Not as interesting as being the Witchfinder I would imagine.’

  ‘You may be right there. It’s an awesome responsibility being charged with protecting the nation against the powers of darkness,’ he said pompously. ‘Most people only see the tip of the iceberg, the fortune tellers, the potion sellers, the diviners, they don’t know about the illegal covens terrorising whole villages. Witches who strike down herds of animals and lay waste to a farmer’s entire crop.’

  ‘There’s a lot of that in Londum is there?’

  ‘Er … well … no but you hear stories about it from all around the country. But never you fear Mr. Cobb. I and my entire staff …’

  ‘Deirdre …’

  ‘Yes Deirdre and I, stand ready to fight the good fight and defend the common man against these Magickal types.’

  Mercifully, at that moment Deirdre came in with the list of diviners, handed it to Grindle and left. Grindle glanced at it then passed it to Cobb.

  ‘There you are Mr. Cobb. Your diviners.’

  ‘Thank you. I’ll be on my way then.’

  ‘And Mr. Cobb, if you do hear of any illegal witch activity you will let me know, won’t you?’ Grindle asked almost desperately.

  ‘You can count on it,’ said Cobb. He walked into the outer office and closed the door behind him. Deirdre was still practising with the wand and the coal. She whipped off her glasses when she saw Cobb standing in front of her.

  ‘I’m going now, I just wanted to thank you for your help and to say the cakes were delicious,’ he said to her as he leaned over the desk and at the same time he switched the coal for the paperweight.

  ‘It’s my pleasure,’ she said. ‘Come again.’

  Cobb went out of the front door and could hear the squeal of joy as she put her glasses on again and saw what she thought was the coal, Magickally transformed into a paperweight.

  ‘I’ve done it … I’ve done it! Roderick come see, I’ve done it ... I’m a witch!’

  Cobb chuckled to himself as he walked down the corridor.

  ***

  After the visit to B. O. O. P. Cobb went round to Thornton’s bookshop for a drink. While he was there he told Thornton about his visit to the Witchfinder.

  ‘I say, do you have the list? I know one or two diviners.’

  Cobb handed him the list, which Thornton perused carefully. ‘Ah there she is,’ he said. ‘Amanda Stiverley, she’s one of the best in Londum, she does excellent work and is a personal friend so I know she’s reliable. Shall I set you up with an appointment?’ enquired Thornton.

  ‘Would you? That would be great,’ replied Cobb.

  ‘Come round this evening, I happen to know that she’s free. Say about seven?’

  ***

  That evening, Cobb arrived at the address on the list and rang the doorbell. To his surprise Thornton himself answered the door. ‘Ah, Cobb my dear fellow, do come in.’ He ushered Cobb in and took his overcoat. Thornton led Cobb into a small drawing room and poured them both a drink. Cobb noticed how at home Thornton seemed. He had removed his suit jacket and was now wearing a quilted smoking jacket, something a guest never did. Cobb even saw a box of Thornton’s favourite cigars on the mantelpiece. This was obviously one of Thornton’s “homes away from home”. Cobb knew he had several. Despite his age, he still seemed popular with the ladies.

  ‘So, how exactly do you know Mrs. Stiverley?’ asked Cobb.

  ‘Oh, we’re old friends,’ said Thornton. ‘I used to know her husband before he died, he was a good man and Amanda and I kept in touch after he was killed.’

  ‘Was he a colleague of yours?’

  ‘Yes, that’s right. Killed in the line of duty.’

  ‘Obviously a dangerous business, the rare book trade,’ said Cobb, trying to get a reaction from Thornton and possibly an indiscreet disclosure about his past but Thornton remained tight-lipped as ever.

  ‘So, do you come here often?’ asked Cobb.

  ‘I take supper here occasionally.’

  ‘And breakfast?’

  ‘Don’t pry Cobb; it’s none of your business. You said you wanted to find a good diviner, Amanda’s one of the best. You can trust her.’ A door closed somewhere upstairs. ‘Ah, here she comes now.’

  As they heard the sound of someone walking down the stairs, Thornton opened the door to the drawing room. A moment later Mrs. Amanda Stiverley entered the room. She was an attractive woman; in her fifties, Cobb thought but he could see why Thornton took supper there occasionally. She still had something about her.

  Thornton made the introductions. ‘Amanda my dear, let me introduce Cobb, my son-in-law. Cobb, meet Mrs. Stiverley.’ They shook hands. ‘Just Cobb?’ asked Mrs. Stiverley. ‘Does anyone ever call you anything else?’

  ‘Not twice,’ replied Cobb.

  Mrs. Stiverley took a seat at the table while Thornton got her a drink. She indicated the other chairs. ‘Please gentlemen take a seat. Now Mr. Cobb, Thornton tells me you are looking for someone and he thought I might be able to help.’

  ‘That’s right. I understand that you have some divining powers. I thought that you might be able to work on an object of hers that I have brought.’

  ‘I’ll certainly try. May I have the object and do you have a photograph of the lady in question?’

  Cobb did have a photograph. That day he had taken Adele’s photograph to a photography shop and had numerous copies made. He may have to spread them around amongst his contacts. He handed over the picture and the pearl drop earring.

  ‘Very pretty,’ said Mrs. Stiverley, looking at the picture. ‘Strong personality, good character. Looks like an interesting young woman. Could you dim the lights slightly please, Thornton dear? It makes it easier to concentrate.’

  Thornton did as he was bid and turned the flow down on the gas lamps. Mrs. Stiverley leaned back in her chair and closed he
r eyes, Adele’s picture in one hand and the earring in the other.

  After a few moments she sat up and said, ‘I’m having problems reading her, something is blocking me. But I’ll tell you what I can see. She is an intelligent young woman, early thirties, with a fiercely independent spirit. Well educated, she has devoted her life to helping, no, to educating others, perhaps a social worker or a teacher.

  ‘She has suffered a lot in her life, been very lonely. There was a family tragedy recently, a death in the family perhaps. This has caused her to choose a new direction to her life. To make a drastic change. But I sense danger involved in this change, great danger. For her and for many others. There are dark forces at work here Mr. Cobb, very dark. You need to find her and help her Mr. Cobb. She’s in trouble!’

  ‘What sort of trouble?’ Cobb asked.

  ‘There is some sort of power struggle going on between the forces of good and evil and this poor girl is trapped in the middle. She has stood up to it so far, but I fear she is not as brave or as clever as she thinks she is. That’s why you have to find her and be there when she needs you.’

  ‘What can you tell me about where she is?’ asked Cobb.

  ‘That’s the problem. I can’t locate her; there is some sort of cloaking spell concealing her whereabouts. I can’t break through it. All I can make out is that she is near a large body of water. A lake, not a sea. But I can’t tell where it is. All I know is that I’m seeing the lake because it’s what she sees. I’m sorry, I can’t tell you any more than that. I’m afraid you will have to find her by conventional means. Although a cloaking spell can stop you being found psychically it can’t stop you being seen in person.’

  ‘But who has put this cloaking spell over her?’ asked Cobb.

  ‘Why, she has I imagine. Didn’t you know she was a witch?’

  ***

  It was later that evening and Cobb was just finishing his evening meal, prior to going out on the town, when there was a heavy knocking on the front door. Just in case the occupant was able to ignore the knocking, the caller was pulling on the bell chain as well. Cobb went and answered it, to find Willy Templeton standing on his doorstep in some consternation.

  ‘What’s up Willy?’

  ‘Oh Mr. Cobb it’s bad, Jarse and that terrible Bruno, they’ve been threatening my sister. What am I going to do?’

  ‘Easy, easy Willy, come in and tell me what’s going on.’ He waved him inside and closed the door.

  ‘That fat sod Jarse went round to my sister’s place this afternoon. Told her you’d paid off the debt but he still wanted the interest that had accumulated. If she didn’t pay the interest by tomorrow, he was going to let Bruno off the leash. Said she shouldn’t have involved you. Oh Mr. Cobb, what am I going to do? I can’t raise that sort of money by tomorrow. What am I going to do?’

  ‘Take it easy Willy, just relax. Now, tell me where I can find him. Where does he go in the evening?’

  ‘He likes the Music Halls, he can usually be found in one of them. What are you gonna do?’

  ‘Leave that to me, I’ll take care of it,’ said Cobb putting on his overcoat. ‘So he likes to threaten women, does he? Tut, Tut Tut. I shall have to have strong words with our Mr. Jarse. Now you go to your sister’s and look after her. Tell her everything is going to be all right.’

  He opened the front door and led Willy down the steps into the street. ‘Run along now and take care of your sister.’

  ‘I will Mr. Cobb, I will. You be careful, that Bruno’s a bad ‘un.’

  ‘Oh and Willy?’

  ‘Yes Mr. Cobb?’

  ‘Give me my watch back will you?’

  ‘Sorry Mr. Cobb, here it is.’ Willy had automatically stolen Cobb’s watch as they had spoken.

  Cobb left Willy and headed off to find a Hansom cab. He found one within a few streets and asked the cabbie to take him to theatre area in the East End.

  Cobb wandered around the streets stopping in each Music Hall he came across, looking for Jarse and Bruno. He had a drink in each one so he was in a fine old mood by the time he actually spotted Jarse. He was sitting in the box nearest to the stage, up on the first level. Cobb finished his drink and made his way up the staircase. He threw open the door of the box and strode in.

  ‘Jarse, I want a word with you. I thought we had a deal.’

  Jarse shifted his huge bulk around in the chair to face the uninvited guest. Bruno stood up and faced Cobb.

  ‘I decided that I couldn’t allow my business practices to be dictated by somebody else. Besides, I don’t like being threatened. Bruno … hurt Mr. Cobb would you? There’s a good chap.’

  Bruno swung a massive fist at Cobb. A look of alarm came into Bruno’s face as Cobb caught the fist in his open hand, mid swing and held it there.

  ‘Like to threaten women do you?’ said Cobb and punched him in the mouth.

  Bruno staggered backwards off balance, caught his legs on the balcony and, arms waving wildly, spun backwards over the edge. He dropped about twenty feet straight into the orchestra pit, scattering instruments and musicians everywhere. This raised a tremendous cheer from the watching audience as it made a refreshing change from the entertainment on stage.

  Jarse heaved his bulk out of his chair and stood beside Cobb, looking over the edge of the box, watching the chaos below in the orchestra pit. Bruno had gone head first into the double bass and smashed it. Dazed musicians picked themselves up and tried to find their scattered instruments. The bassist was busy kicking the unconscious Bruno.

  Fights were beginning to break out between the musicians as they blamed each other for the damage. The saxophone had gone straight through the kettle drum, the accordionist had fallen into the percussion section and was making an awful racket trying to extricate himself and the piano player had got his head stuck in the tuba. The conductor was fencing with his baton against the violinist and his bow and only the Gods knew where the triangle had ended up. All this to rapturous applause and shouts of encouragement from the audience, who loved a good show whether it was the one they had paid to see or not.

  Cobb turned to Jarse and said, ‘That’s the trouble these days, too much Sax and Violins in the theatre. Now then, what about our agreement?’

  ‘Anything you say Mr. Cobb, anything you say,’ jabbered Jarse, his cheeks wobbling. He didn’t want to be on the wrong side of anyone that could do that to Bruno. ‘It was an error on my part, won’t happen again. I promise.’

  ‘See that it doesn’t,’ admonished Cobb and left quickly before the ushers came to throw him out.

  ***

  Next morning, Cobb walked up to Mary’s place in Cheapside. Willy, Mary and a little girl were coming down the stairs to a waiting carriage. Cobb had ordered and paid for it.

  ‘Mr. Cobb,’ said Mary, ‘I don’t know how to thank you for everything. You’ve given my girl a new life and for that I’ll always be grateful.’

  Cobb looked down at the little girl who was clutching a doll and staring wide-eyed at him. ‘That’s okay Mary. It was my pleasure. You go ahead and have a good life.’

  He looked round and saw that Willy had finished loading the cab with Mary’s things. Together they helped Mary and the child into the carriage then Willy climbed in after them. He was going to go with them to Paddingworth Station and see them off.

  Mary leaned out of the carriage and kissed Cobb on the cheek. ‘You’re a good man Mr. Cobb. May the Gods be kind to you.’

  Cobb was a bit taken aback; it had been a long time since a woman had kissed him. He stood there touching his cheek as he watched the cab rattle away down the cobbled street.

  Right that was one thing sorted out and off his “To Do” list. It looked as if this Quist affair was going to get complicated; he’d better clears the decks so he could deal with it without any distractions, which meant putting the Wilkes case to bed. He’d better go and see her next.

  ***

  Cobb knocked on the front door of the Wilkes household. He’d take
n a cab from Cheapside and reached the house before Mrs. Wilkes left for her usual lunch appointment.

  The maid opened the front door, ‘Good morning, sir. Can I help you?’

  ‘I’d like to see your mistress please, Mrs. Wilkes. Here’s my card,’ he handed her his card stating his name and the fact that he was a private detective, on the back of which he had written … “I am working for your husband”. That should get her attention, he thought.

  Shortly the girl returned and invited him into the house. Taking his overcoat she showed him into the parlour, where Mrs. Wilkes was waiting.

  ‘Good morning Mr. Cobb, please take a seat. That will be all Jenny,’ she said dismissing the maid. She remained standing by the fireplace. ‘Now pray tell me, why would my husband hire a private detective?’

  ‘I’ll come straight to the point, Mrs. Wilkes; he hired me to follow you because he thinks you’re having an affair.’

  Mrs. Wilkes blushed and put her hand to her mouth. ‘Why that’s nonsense, I trust you will be able to put his mind at rest on that score. On the rare occasions that I leave the house I’m with my female friends and it would be impossible for me to have an affair under those circumstances.’

  ‘I’ve been following you and that’s not true,’ said Cobb, calmly. ‘Does the name Simon Ellis mean anything to you?’

  She went pale, as the previous blush drained from her face. ‘Why no, why should it?’

  ‘Mrs. Wilkes, this will be easier for both of us if you just tell me the truth. He’s your son, isn’t he?’

  The elicited a gasp from Mrs. Wilkes and she went and stood by the window, looking out, with her back to him. Cobb just sat there playing with a loose thread on his sleeve as he waited for her to recover.

  She didn’t waste time trying to deny it. She turned to face him. ‘How did you know?’ she asked.

  ‘Well, first I found out your young friend’s name, Simon Ellis. I spotted the resemblance between the two of you after I’d followed you for a while. Then I remembered that your husband mentioned that you’d been engaged to a young officer that had died in the Sepoy Mutiny, twenty odd years ago, so I went to the Reading Room in the British Museum and looked up the casualty list for the Mutiny. Sure enough, there was a 2nd Lt. Ellis who was killed there. The timing was right for young Simon’s age, early twenties, so I put it all together and here I am.’