“What does that mean?” Posy said.
“You know what I mean. I wish Silas would hurry up and get here.”
“So what do we have, then?” Dalton stepped up to the map.
“Well, we have a killer who is attacking this group of girls and killing their unborn babies,” Belloc said. “The question is: why? First, we have the parents. They are ordering someone to go around and assault their children.”
“But what kind of parent would do that to their child?” Posy asked.
“Good point,” Belloc replied. “Secondly, we have the possibility of some other group, something higher than the Valentine Society, who has inflicted this killer on these girls, maybe from a group dispute or vendetta. You know how these social elites are. Thirdly, we have the killer himself, this Mr. Factory. He could be out for revenge of some sort, or to manipulate the Valentine Society for his own interests. And fourth...” He stopped.
“Fourth?” Posy said, waiting.
“Fourthly, there is no real explanation. Mr. Factory could be attacking and killing these girls out of pure joy and pleasure. No motive. Nothing.”
“That doesn’t really explain why they’re all pregnant, and not just that, but pregnant from one father,” Posy added.
Belloc sat down. “Precisely. As you can see, nothing really fits. The only thing we have going for us is that we have a good chance of knowing where the killer might strike next, and we should be there at this very moment.” Belloc stood up. “I’ve had enough of this blatant disregard for the law. I’m going straight to the source. I’m going to find that Lattimer girl and ask her everything about the Valentine Circle, whether it gets me locked up or not.”
“We can’t risk that,” Posy said.
“You have a better idea?” Belloc countered.
A knock at the door.
They all looked at each other, surprised.
“Are you expecting anyone?” Dalton said.
“Not that I now of,” Belloc said, walking up to the door. “Step aside.”
“No, Inspector. I’ll get it.” Quickly, Dalton stepped up to the door and looked out the peephole. “Oh.” He opened the door. “It’s you.” He moved out of the way.
Silas stood at the entrance to the townhome.
“Wait, you’re using the front door?” Posy said, bewildered.
Silas half-grinned as he stepped inside, carrying a couple of bags with him.
“Are you all right?” Belloc said, noticing something wrong with him.
“I’ll be fine. I had a few visions while I was out hunting for you-know-who. One of them was stronger than I had ever experienced.”
“Oh?”
“Yes, so strong that it put me in the hospital for a few hours.”
Concerned, Posy approached him, as if to put her hand on his waist, but caught herself before she could.
Silas noticed her worry. She shied away.
“What on earth happened?” Belloc asked.
“I must’ve passed out waiting for my train.” Silas sat down. “Next thing you know, I woke up inside a taxidermy shop. Seems like the owner saw me fall down as she passed by me. She took me to the hospital, where I stayed for a couple of hours, then she gave me a ride to her shop and gave me some food and drink. It was quite nice of her. The shop was a bit scary. Lots of dead animals smiling and winking at me. Though, in another section of the store, she sold collectibles, books, and a little bit of forged weaponry. Now that I found very appealing.” Silas rubbed his eyes. “Oh, that reminds me, Posy. I have something for you.” He went over to one of the bags and pulled out a bright, shining sword—a rapier to be exact—quite glorious and impressive. Though the blade itself was slender, the guard was quite thick and ornate.
Posy’s eyes couldn’t have gotten any bigger.
“When I saw this hanging in the shop, I knew I had to get it just for you,” Silas said. “It was a little dirty, but I had the shop owner clean it up. It also had the sword’s name engraved on the hilt, though I didn’t think you would particularly care for Fat Bastard, so I had the owner cover it up with some leather wrapping and then engrave its new name on the blade itself. See here. It says Little Lass.” He smiled as he gave it to her. “What do you think? If you don’t like it, I can return it. They have a shop in Boston as well.”
Posy gazed at the sword. It’s freaking gorgeous! “The sword’s nice,” she said, and nothing else. Belloc discreetly slapped her in the leg with his cane. “I mean...thanks.”
“You’re welcome.” Silas stepped up closer to her. “Look, Posy, I’m sorry for acting like a jerk back at the school. I let my temper get the best of me. I promise not to do it again. I don’t want you to be angry with me.”
Posy kept her mouth shut, still overwhelmed by her gift as well as his sincere apology. Belloc slapped her leg again. “Uh, it’s okay,” she blurted out, turning towards Belloc and giving him a look. But then she secretly smiled.
Silas looked around. “Posy, did you get the...” He didn’t see the bouquet of flowers anywhere inside the room, so he quickly kept quiet.
“The what?”
“Um, nothing. I’m still a bit groggy. Sorry.” Silas walked over to the map. “So, what do we have here?”
“We’ve been trying to put the pieces together,” Belloc replied.
“And?”
“And it just gets more confusing, though we think we know where the killer is going to strike next. He’s going to go after the Lattimer girl.”
“Perfect,” Silas said. “Let’s go, then.”
“It’s not that easy, Silas,” Belloc said. “My hands have been tied by the top brass. They don’t want me talking with or snooping around the Valentine Society anymore. We can’t just walk up to these people and start asking questions. By now, I’m sure O’Hara has posted up an army of guards around the Lattimer mansion.”
“I see.”
“Maybe someone could go sneak into the mansion?” Belloc hinted at something.
Silas knelt on the floor while folding his legs underneath his thighs, resting his rear on top of his heels. “Good idea. I nominate Posy.” He smiled, but she didn’t think it was funny. “Good grief, why all the long faces?”
“It’s been very taxing,” Belloc said. “For all of us.”
“Well, acting taxed is not going to help anyone.”
Posy stepped up to Silas. “Why are you sitting like that in the middle of the floor?”
“Don’t ask. I’ve been sitting like this the past couple of days; the urge just came to me all of a sudden. It’s how they sit back in Japan. It’s...how I used to sit.”
“Looks painful.”
“Actually, it’s quite comfortable. You should try it.”
Posy tried sitting down with both her legs tucked underneath her thighs. “Oh, that’s not comfortable at all.” She got a cramp. “Ouch, ouch, ouch.”
“You really do need to stretch more.”
Posy slapped Silas on the shoulder before standing up. “So, are you going or not?”
“Going...to the Lattimers’?”
“Yes,” Belloc said. “To be quite honest, I would feel even better if you brought the girl over here, knowing quite well she’s the next victim.”
“You want me to kidnap her?”
“Well, it wouldn’t necessarily be kidnapping.”
“According to whom, exactly?” Dalton asked.
“Guys, look,” Silas said. “Relax. No one is kidnapping anyone. Let’s think about this. We must strive to always find the simplest way. Don’t make this too difficult.”
“Since when did you become the voice of reason?” Posy said.
“Let’s figure this out,” Silas continued. “There’s no need to sneak in to the Lattimers’ mansion. Instead of going to the Lattimer girl, we’ll have her come to us.”
“What do you mean?” Belloc said. “How do we do that?”
“We lure her out of the house,” Silas said.
“How, exactly?”
“Don’t think too hard on it. We’ll find a way. Let me handle it. We’ll go over there, we’ll lure her out, and we’ll talk to her. One, two, three.”
“That simple, huh?” Posy said.
“Yes, that simple. Trust me, Posy.” He stared at her with his big brown eyes.
She melted. “Fine. Well, let’s go, then.”
Silas stood up.
“Wait, wait,” Belloc said. “We can’t leave yet. You haven’t told us about the whole reason you’ve been gone all this time. Did you find anything on Mr. Factory?”
“I did, and it was quite disturbing. Unfortunately, I couldn’t really find anything that could help us solve the case, but what I did find certainly sheds a light on who this man is.”
“So what did you find?” Posy asked.
“I’ll explain it on the way to the Lattimers, but just know we’re dealing with a certain kind of individual, one that is far beyond your average murderer. This man we seek, this Mr. Factory, was trained and schooled to become a monster. He was raised as such by doctors and psychologists. I’ve been contemplating for a long time as to why someone would do this to a young boy, and I haven’t really come up with anything. It all seems senseless. But that’s not the strangest part.”
“Oh?” Belloc said, full of intrigue.
“Forty years ago, the town of Andover suffered a number of kidnappings during the span of one year, not unlike the kidnappings that have been happening around town lately. I believe that this Mr. Factory was one of the boys that was kidnapped back then, and he was taken somewhere to be schooled and indoctrinated, possibly along with the rest of the other kidnapped boys.”
“Wait, so you’re saying there might be more like him out there?” Posy said.
“It’s a disturbing thought. Hopefully, my theory will be proven wrong.”
“Yes, let’s all hope so.” Belloc grabbed his coat and hat. “For now, let’s make our way to the Lattimers. Dalton, you go and survey the Haralsons and Dupuyses like you mentioned before.”
“Are you sure?” Dalton asked, looking at Posy, not really wanting to leave her side.
Silas noticed.
“Yes, Dalton,” Belloc replied. “It’ll work better that way, especially if we’re wrong about our theory.”
“You guys be careful,” Dalton said, turning around and taking one last look at Posy.
“We will.” Silas kept his eyes on Dalton as he left the room. He approached Posy. “So, are we okay?”
“What do you mean?”
“I meant it when I said I was sorry.”
“I know.”
“Good. So...what are you going to do with your sword, your Little Lass?”
“That’s a good question. I don’t know how Horace is going to react to me bringing home a sword. Maybe I can hang it here in your study, Inspector? It’s where I work out most of the time, anyway.”
“It’s fine with me. Just don’t break anything.”
“Or you could wear it,” Silas said, smiling.
“Funny.”
“What? You don’t think people won’t understand why you’re walking around with a rapier strapped to your waist?”
“Yes, I’m sure all the men in the streets will love that. ‘The gall of that woman! Who does she think she is? Give that woman a broom instead of a sword!’”
“Not you, Posy Chapman,” Silas replied tenderly. “You’re better with a sword than any man I’ve seen.”
Caught off guard, she paused for a moment and smiled at his sincerity. “Even better than you?” she then said, testing him.
“Um...well, I said any man that I’ve seen. And technically I can’t see myself, so...”
“Oh, as if,” she said, walking away to grab her coat.
“Well, it’s true.”
“Come on, you two,” Belloc said. “Silas, you can tell us more about Mr. Factory on the way over to the Lattimers.”
“Absolutely.” He followed the other two out of the townhome, shutting the door behind him.
That evening, just after the sun had escaped below the horizon, Belloc’s carriage finally took its last turn into the famed subdivision of Worcester Estates, where the secretive, though some say, nefarious, Valentine Society resided.
First, they rode up Valentine Lane. The street was eerily quiet and dark. Only a few of the lampposts were lit, while the rest were suspiciously turned off. Yet when they passed the Decampses’ mansion, it seemed as if the whole neighborhood had decided to visit them that night.
“Wonder what’s going on in there?” Posy said.
“I’d love to be a fly on a wall inside that house,” Belloc commented.
“Done it,” Silas said. “Not as exciting as you think.”
They both turned to him, mouths slightly ajar.
“What?”
Next, they strolled by the Reillys’ grand abode, which was already in a deep slumber. Silas kept his eye on the house, wondering if Lucy was inside, sleeping in her room. Posy caught him looking, and he quickly turned away.
The carriage took a left turn on Valentine Court, passing a couple other large homes until they reached Valentine Street. They took a right and slowly approached where the street intersected Valentine Lane, for that was exactly where the Lattimer mansion resided.
“Slow down,” Belloc said to the driver, poking his head out of the carriage. “Go a bit further and then stop.” The carriage rode on for another ten yards or so and then halted in its tracks. “Silas, you have the best eyes. Go take a look.”
Silas jumped out of the carriage and unexpectedly leaped on top of the roof, startling everyone inside. He stood up and did his best to survey the house. A few minutes later, he returned.
“What did you see?” Belloc asked.
“There are four officers at the gate. Two are patrolling the mansion’s perimeter, and there are two guarding the front door, and a couple more are near the garage and stables.”
“That’s more than I thought they’d have,” Posy said. “The mansion’s heavily protected. We may not be able to get in, but I’d suspect that neither would the killer. Don’t you think?”
“With this group of cops, one can never tell,” Belloc said. “That’s what worries me. Who are they keeping out, exactly? The killer? Or anyone trying to stop the killer?”
“Better go and find out, then,” Silas said. “Though I didn’t know there’d be this many guards hanging about. Luring out the Lattimer girl might not be the best idea after all.” He got out of the carriage and took one last look at the mansion. He saw that there was some commotion near the front entrance and also near the garage.
Looks like they’re leaving.
“Hey guys.” Silas poked his head inside the carriage. “Someone’s leaving, and it might be the Lattimers.”
“What do we do now?” Posy asked.
“Well, we can follow them,” Belloc said.
“But where are they going?” Posy said.
“No, I have a better idea,” Silas said. “Stay here.”
“Wait, Silas, what are you doing?” Belloc said, but it was too late. Silas had already escaped into the shadows.
“Where’s he going?” Posy asked. “Why does he always leave like that?”
“It’s who he is. I wonder what he’s got up his sleeve?”
Up ahead, Silas scurried over towards the mansion, keeping himself low and under all of the guards’ line of sight. He stuck to the shadows, like he was trained to do, blending in with the scenery. When he reached the front gates, he kept himself hidden in a group of bushes, waiting for the right time to jump over the fence. He sat idly, watching the four officers chat amongst themselves. He waited until one of the officers finally pulled out a small cigarette and match. Perfect.
The officer lit up the match, creating a flash of light in front of him, drowning out the background in pure shadow. Once that was done, Silas snuck by the guards and then swiftly scaled the fence over to the other side. Landing softly, h
e hurried across the expansive yard, keeping close to the landscaped greenery. He saw the Lattimers exiting the house.
Need to hurry. He ran up towards the main garage and stopped just short of twenty feet from the group. The father, mother, and daughter had already slipped inside the carriage. Silas saw three guards standing in the way of where he needed to be. He looked around and noticed there was a pond near the middle of the front yard, equipped with fountains and benches. He took a few small rocks and threw them at the pond, forcing a few nightly birds to scatter up into the air, startling the guards that were standing in his way. Curious about the noise, the guards left their post to investigate the pond.
Silas took off running straight for the garage. Once inside, he saw that it was Miss Harlow Lattimer sitting in the backseat of the carriage, alongside her parents. Where are they going?
Near the front of the carriage was the driver, messing around with the horses’ reins.
Hmm. Using a birdcall, Silas whistled to the driver, who then turned his head towards the garage, curious, but after a brief moment of contemplation, decided to ignore it. Silas acted again, this time a bit more blunt. “Over here,” he whispered, but did it in such a way that it sounded more ghostlike than human.
Alerted, the carriage driver walked over to the darkened garage and began inspecting the shadows inside. “Is someone there?”
Silas made a small creaking sound with his mouth.
“Hello?” The driver took a couple of steps towards Silas. “If anyone’s there, come out now.”
Shrouded by shadow, Silas stood up and immediately mimicked the man’s voice perfectly. “If anyone’s there, come out now.” That’s a handy skill.
The man stood paralyzed before being put to sleep by one of Silas’s deadly finger pinches. It only took Silas a matter of seconds to change into the driver’s uniform and hat. After covering up the driver with his own clothes, Silas ran up to the carriage.
“Hello there, sir,” he said, mimicking the driver’s voice and keeping his face tucked into the shadows. “Where did you say you were meaning to head?”
The Valentine Circle Page 22