by Avell Kro
appeared to be generated from the man’s chest reclined on the bed. A streak of light weaved its
way to a glowing sphere the lady bore in her left hand. “There it is, the transgression in progress,
your mumbo priestess taking Emilio Moya’s soul. The image is so clear because the soul transferal
is a violent discharge of metaphysical vitality”
Rose observed Dolly. He went from a cop conducting an objective analysis of the scene, searching
for clues, to a human disgusted and horrified by what the tableau presented. It was hard to fathom
what Moya went through, but here you could see agony and fear on Moya’s face. Moya still looked
human not like the mummified shell left in the hotel. This was the moment where the priestess
used her power to rip his eternal essence that which is beyond the mortal realm and stole it or
destroyed it. Rose wondered if the detective understood what he was observing. If Moya’s soul
were destroyed this would be beyond murder in wickedness. The survivors, family, and friends of a
murder victim can take solace that the victim is somewhere, maybe even a place better than here,
but no longer with them physically. In this case, the victim’s unique essence that being that is you
beyond the voices in your head is obliterated. No longer eternal or universal; no chance of an
encounter on some other plane at some other time. Obliterated!
The Sister felt a strange joy and sense of accomplishment watching Dolly looking at her
contraption, he was like a schoolboy staring in the window of a toy shop. Rose also felt sorrow as
she focused on the image within her invention, the murderess conducting black magic. Ironically
the Priestess’ face was also a mix of exaltation and sorrow. It was then while looking at the
predator and the prey, Rose saw something similar and familiar in the faces of the victim and the
murderess. Rose wondered if Dolly saw the same.
“How is this possible?” Dolly asked watching the vision fade as the smoke stopped blowing.
“It’s science, Detective. Have you read the works of John Dalton?” Rose took out the slide and
stored it in a protective holder.
“No, I'm just a dumb cop, Rose.”
“Dalton advanced the atomic theory that the whole universe is comprised of atoms. The simplest
of elements. All the elements are made of the same aether and the number of aether particles
makes up the difference between lead and gold. Preston taught me is that the universe is of the
Aether and it's all connected. By understanding its properties, we can manipulate matter, electricity,
and in this instance, I can detect the old aether imprint left from a moment in time.” Rose declared.
“So this is science, not spiritualism?” asked Dolly.
“It’s both, I say they are the same just different ways of looking at the universe”
“Well like I told Keane the other day ,I never thought a man could fly and now we are building
airships the size of buildings.”
“Keep that mind open as possible Fredrick, If you don’t that is when you are damned," Rose replied.
Rose knew Dolly took that in as a philosophical metaphor, but she meant it. She has seen souls
sent to other planes of reality, she had been to other planes herself. It was when you grappled with
the concepts of the eternal and universal that your limiting beliefs drove you mad.
“Dolly, when we find this woman I need to learn how this arcana works.”
“Well she can teach you while she waits for the gallows,"
“That is my point, she can control the forces of life and death itself. She won’t be afraid of your
gallows," said Rose.
“I am a simple fella Rose, responsible for detecting the work of criminals in this city and bringing
them before the crown for justice to be served,” Dolly said as he looked over her contraption.
There were many similar contraptions in various states in her shop. “Any of these other things
work?”
“Some do, some are in progress, others are parts to tinker with,” answered Rose as she organized
items on a counter, almost an attempt to clean up the mess. “What if the priestess has killed no
one? She could just have trapped them in that orb she was holding. She could be holding them
hostage” Rose followed up.
Dol y gave her a look of disdain, “Well, here is my small mind closing. I signed off this morning to
hand Sir Francis Chilton’s body back to his family. So seeing as most folks bury the dead, am I
supposed to instruct them to hold off until we catch a voodoo sorcerer that may or may not have
their loved one’s soul in a box; or do we dig him up after I get Miss Mumbo here in irons and have
her funnel Sir Francis back into his rotting corpse?”
Rose hated this part of Dolly, the less he understood the more his hackles were raised. “Dolly, that’s
not the point, I want you to work on catching her so I can learn from her. This could be a powerful
weapon for her majesty.”
“Nice try Caldwell, use my allegiance to the crown. Just walk me through that conversation with
the Home Secretary. Your honor, I have it on good authority from an ex-nun we will soon have the
ability to trap the souls of our enemies. After I apprehend the person who damned the souls of one
of your mates, not to worry I am hot on her trail because I know what she looks like from a ghost
picture I saw in a tenement basement. I would ask that we not hang her until she teaches the ex-
nun how to steal souls. What did I miss? Oh yes, and could I please have a pension and a
knighthood,” He walked down one of the aisles to leave.
“Dol y, there is a bigger game here. You and I are fighting this war together, this is about the light
and the dark and we need any advantage to win.” Rose implored grabbing his arm to halt his exit.
“Rosie dear, I thank you. This contraption of yours is plum. We got something here to go on, but
this is a murder investigation and a robbery. I need to identify your mystery woman and catch her
before she kills someone else or gets away. Let’s say I get somewhere on this lead and we find her,
what should we expect with this magic, is it like firing a gun or does she need to get prepared?”
asked Dolly.
“It’s ritualistic, she has to establish a contact with the victim and enthrall him. Preston told me that
some of the most potent work requires multiple hougans or very powerful ones. I expect she has a
natural talent and is getting more experience with the most complex of the Voodoo rituals. The
amulet I gave you will afford protection.”
“This might sound stupid but, do you think she has the power to stop a bullet?” asked Dolly.
“I doubt it.” replied Rose.
“Well, there’s a bright spot. This thing of yours on my watch fob should give me enough time to put
a shot on her,” Dolly looked Rose in the eyes. “This won’t be another case where I shoot someone
and they won’t die.”
* * *
11:30 PM The Carlton Hotel
At half past eleven Dolly arrived at the Carlton. The hotel was frenetic with horse-drawn and
steam carriages pulling up and departing. A society event in the ballroom recently concluded and
couples in tuxedos and ball gowns lined up waiting for livery to retire home.
The detective sergeant made his way to the lobby counter and requested to speak to the night
supervisor, Hodges was his name. The day manager informed Ho
dges that Detective Williamson
would need to talk with the night staff. Hodges was a man who prepared. “I would be delighted to
call on the staff and have them sent to you for interview” said Hodges as he handed the
handwritten list to Dolly. "I also have arranged an office, my office for you Detective Williamson,
to get you out of all the hustle and bustle of the hotel.” Dolly knew it was to keep him out of the
sight of guests. What hotel wanted an active homicide inquiry in plain view of its patrons, even late
at night.
“I don’t wish to be problematic, it would be best for me to just visit with the staff on the floor.”
suggested Dol y.
“Very well, but my office is yours if you should need it. Who would you like to chat with first?”
“Let’s begin with the doorman, is this Winters on duty tonight," said Dolly.
“Yes, that is him at the door.” The Manager pointed to an average looking man in a top hat and
overcoat.
The doorman was frenzied with commotion of guests exiting and Dolly had to make sure he was
standing out of the way of the traffic. Winters was sweating working the door and being
overdressed for the balmy night. “Good Evening, Sir,” announced the doorman.
“I’m Detective Sergeant Williamson of the Metropolitan Police Service. I understand that you were
on duty Saturday night and Sunday morning.”
"Yes, I was.”
“I would like to ask you some questions.” voiced Dolly.
“And I wou
Tel you what, I have a break in a ‘alf hour and I go over to that alleyway to have a smoke in peace.
Meet me there,” replied the doorman.
Dolly made his way to the register to discuss the events of the evening with the bel staff and
concierge, four young bell hops and an elderly gentleman.
“Good evening gentleman, I’m Detective Sergeant Williamson of the Metropolitan Police Service
and I would like to speak with you if you worked the night of the eleventh.”
“This is my first night in a week,” pointed out the Concierge without glancing up. “I was off that
night,” one of the four bell hops said. Dolly looked at the remaining three. “Would you mind if I
had a chat with you three in Mr. Hodges office?” The three acknowledged yes with looks, shrugs
and head nods. “Then let’s make our way there, you can take the lead as I don’t know my way
around here.”
The door to the manager’s office was open. This was the shared work space of both the day and
night manager. It was small berth with a roll-top desk and two wooden chairs to its side, not much
more than a closet. Hodges was seated at the desk Dolly taking the rear following the group into
the office. Seated at the desk Hodges voiced “Can I help you gentlemen?” The lead bell hop replied,
“The detective told us to come in here to have a chat” Dol y pushed through the trio “Sorry about
the change of plans, but I felt it best to speak with the boys in private”
“Oh, yes. All right let me get my things and you can have the office. We are short on chairs. Adams,
go down the hall to the accounts office and pinch a chair from them,” said Hodges.
“Yes, Mr Hodges” shot back the young Adams as he scurried down the hall to fetch a chair.
The three lads and Dolly settled into the cramped office. The boys sat on wooden chairs facing the
desk and Dol y perched on the corner of the desk to make the situation more casual yet still assert
his authority. He started the questioning with a simple query. “You hear about what transpired last
Saturday in room 8A?”
“Slaughter, I heard,” declared a bell hop.
“Blazed up in his bed was what I was told," said Adams.
"I would appreciate if you fellas help me catch the criminal,”
“How can we help, mate?” asked Adams.
“All of you think about that night and if you witnessed anything unusual. If perhaps you spoke
with Señor Moya, or knew about his whereabouts or associations with others that evening.”
instructed Dolly.
The taller bell man spoke up. “I was on the eighth floor collect’n shoes to shine and saw a fella
enter that suite.”
“What time was this?” Dolly asked pulling out his journal and pencil.
“I’d say round two in the morning gov," the boy said.
“Your name?” questioned the detective.
“It’s Tim Walter sir,”
"What else did you see, Tim?”
“None to speak of, I was going about my business collecting boots and shoes to shine,"
“Do you remember what the man looked like?”
“No, I was a ways down the hall. He was a gentleman, smartly dressed and a fancy walking stick.
He was at the door talking to who I assume was Señor Moya then he went in," said Tim.
Dolly thought this could be helpful but needed more. “When you say he was smartly dressed, like a
dandy, as some of Señor Moya’s associates may dress?
"No, more like a gentleman you know, - a business man, but there was something a touch flash
about him,” answered Tim.
"Did you see the man leave?"
"No, I didn’t think much of it so I went about my rounds and finished the floor before he left the
room.”
"Did any of you other fellas see the gentleman with the walking stick?"
The group looked to each other for an answer. None came.
“Did any of you observe an African woman in the hotel?” asked the detective.
Again the three exchanged silent befuddled looks.
“Thank you for your time, if any of you recollect anything further, please come see me at the yard.”
Dol y pul ed out his silver card case and handed each of the men one of his cards.
It was just about time to meet the door man. Dolly made his way to the alley. He packed a pipe
with tobacco and lit it. The doorman finally took a break and walked up the alley to Dol y. "I can
talk now," said the doorman.
“So you were on duty last Saturday night?”
“Yes sir, I rolled in about ten to get on me livery and have a cupa” the doorman answered as he
rol ed a cigarette.
“Did you see Señor Moya leave the hotel?” asked Dolly. He knew from the valet he left earlier but
he was looking for conflicts.
“No I didn’t see him leave,"
“Do you remember Señor Moya returning?”
“Yes Sir, well sir, he returned by a cab around twelve thirty I’d say," answered the doorman.
“Was he with anyone?” followed on Dolly
“No. Just himself,"
“Did he say anything to you”
“Just the usual pleasantries”
“Did you happen to see a man, a smartly dressed business man with a walking cane that night?”
“Quite a few at this place, sir.”
“This would have been later around the time Señor Moya returned or even later?”
“Well there is Mr. Strathmore. If I recall he came in about one thirty that evening.” The doorman
said as he finished up his smoke.
“Why would he be coming in that late?” Dolly asked.
“Well I don’t know the specifics but he is a regular guest here. When he is in town from America,
he stays with us.” the doorman blowing out smoke with a puzzled look; stamped out his cigarette
butt on the pavement.
“He is staying with you now at the Carlton?”
“Yes Sir.”
“Did you happen to see a negro woman come
into or leave the hotel?”
“Now that sir I would have noticed, and I did not” said the doorman.
“Thank you for your help. Here is one of my cards if anything crosses your mind you can reach me
by wire-type at Scotland Yard." recited Dolly.
The detective made his way back into the hotel and found the manager. He waited by the lobby
counter until the manager had completed some task. When he finished he looked up over his
glasses and presented Dolly a pleasant smile. “So Detective Williamson were we of any help?”
“I have a few questions for you?”
“By all means, should we step into my office?” asked Hodges.
Hodges settled into his chair behind the desk. Dolly stood in the doorway.
“Did you see anyone here that seemed suspicious that night?”
“I did not.”
Did you see either Señor Moya or Mr. Strathmore come into the hotel?
“I did not, but Mr. Strathmore has the penthouse and that suite has a private verticulator and
entrance on the east lane. He uses it from time to time.”
Dolly made notes “Is Mr. Strathmore in tonight I would like to ask him some questions. Could we have Walter run a message up to him?” asked Dolly, thinking this would be a quick way to qualify
if the man the bell boy saw in the hall was Strathmore.
“No need to have him do that, I can call up to the penthouse butler and ask if he is available. We
recently installed a telecom system of Mr. Bell. What a time saver rather than have a bell boy run
up now I can just call up to that floor,” Hodges went to a walnut box on the wall with a brass cone
on the front. He selected an input hole to plug in the connecting cable. “This won’t take a moment”
“This is Hodges, I have a Detective Williamson who would like to speak with Mr. Strathmore,”
“I see. I will let him know,”
Hodges placed the earpiece back in the holder and unplugged the cable.
“Detective, you will need to call on him tomorrow, he has already retired for the evening.”
“Thank you very much Mr. Hodges and if you would please leave a message for Mr. Strathmore that
I would like to have a word with him at his convenience.”
“I will pass on the message.” replied Hodges
Dol y got up and made his way out to the front of the hotel to catch a cab.