When he awoke, I found the denouement - the police fought crystal disappeared. A few minutes later our soldier came around and stopped struggling, as it turned out, did not remember anything about what happened exactly with the moment went to the bypass area.
- And how it ended?
- Yes, nothing. Crystal we did not have, and I've only seen him, and a mysterious cloaked figure seen only Rogers. The attack on me was completely inexplicable. In general, I was ordered to forget this history and to reflect in the report only the fact of suicide. And we all also was reprimanded that did not have time to prevent it.
- What did you do next?
- Well, I finally understood that an investigation by all the rules I did not give. And having seen firsthand the very blue crystal, which flashed in the very first series of murders, I decided to look for information about other similar cases. All week I was lost in the libraries and archives of the police, and, besides the two I had already known, found five more runs in the last 100 years.
When I thought about it, I realized that there is already not talking about an ordinary man, there is clearly smacks of mysticism. After reflection and comparison of known facts, I came to the monstrous conclusion. In my very materialistic world view must somehow keep the existence of the criminal, who for a hundred and thirty years, and possibly longer, kills young girls, the man was not old, not decrepit, and moreover, there is a strong likelihood that this is a woman.
After that, I started to dig in another direction. I wanted to know how you can live many years, and at the same time to keep youth? The inevitability of the next victim I'm not even mentally challenged, but just in case, put the guard near the shelter, on the night of the alleged suicide. This time she did not come out, she cut her throat at the establishment attic.
At that time, I studied the ancient tomes and recording long-dead witch and Malefic. Among the piles of obscure mystification, I once came across a text, or rather its a piece that spoke of a woman who has sold his soul for the ritual knowledge, who can give eternal youth.
It was almost a fairy tale, it is one of those small villages scare naughty children, but the main thing - go. It said that by looking at his eyes, witch can cause a person to do whatever he wants, and there is no force that could resist it. "... and turn Every man is a beast at her request, his father would rush with a knife on his son, a husband to his wife. And she knows the secrets of the dark, both from young girls to take the glory for himself, it is to leave only death and decay ... ".
Mr. Leksidi spoke slower and quieter, it was obvious that he seemed relives his story.
- You knew who to look for?
- Too late. After the sixth suicide, it was decided to close the institution. All teachers and staff laid off, the pupils were sent to different orphanages and boarding houses for orphans. The last girl, who disappeared just before the dissolution of the shelter and has not been found. We decided that she ran away, frightened by everything going on. And I would have never figured out who is behind all this, if not for the lucky break.
Then our section chief decided to personally express my sympathy to the now former owner of a shelter, and put her on notice that the case will be closed, and soon nobody will disturb not. However, dealing a visit, its very he did not find the house, and met only with her lovely daughter, which made it not such a lasting impression that he described it as the existence of an angel descended from heaven to the entire site. Intrigued by his new acquaintance that I found out that the mother of this heavenly creation suddenly felt sick, not otherwise because of everything that had happened, and went abroad for medical treatment. My daughter also came from a foreign pension, where she was brought up from childhood, before the city had never been.
- Yeah, my daughter! But then you already knew that this was not a daughter, and she?
- Of course, I realized. Yes, but this knowledge has not been able to change anything, but to prove nothing I could not. Yes, I can not imagine the reaction of his superiors, I stated that this lovely girl, really a witch and a cold-blooded killer. No. I decided to act himself.
- You were going to kill her?
- Yes, that's right - the old man frowned. - I am aware that it is a mortal sin, but also well aware that it will be impossible to stop it anyway. I came to her house late at night, with the intention to end this once and for all. With a cop he took Rogers, intending to surrender to him immediately after the murder.
Leaving him to guard the main entrance, I walked around the house with the yard and broke the back door. Everything in the house was asleep, and no one will let me go up to the second floor bedroom. When I saw her sleeping, I refused to believe a few seconds to himself. Well, this could not be as wondrous shell rotten inside. However, all the evidence was there, at least for me. I gritted my teeth and took aim. And at that moment she opened her eyes.
For this second, I no longer remember anything.
Chapter 20.
The old man suddenly coughed and stopped his story, rising for a glass of water. In principle, I already did not have much sense doslushivat the whole story to the end, about the middle of his narrative, I understood that I needed to know. Held two things - it was interesting, Mr. Leksidi in such a situation, he managed to survive, and the thought of that quest I have so far not count, so it can not be interrupted.
- I woke up in a prison hospital, a week, - continued Mr. Leksidi. - It turned out that we are with Constable somehow miraculously appeared in the country, where shooting at each other. I was wounded in the shoulder, Rodgers so lucky, I hit him right in the heart. When the investigator told me the news, I was struck on the spot - out, I some time was a puppet of the witches, and not only I, but also Rogers.
When I tried to imagine what really happened back then, I vidilas such picture - taking control, the criminal has forced me to call in the constable's house, where he instilled in us the idea to go as far as possible and kill each other. Other options I have not seen. Talk about it to the investigator who conducted the case, I did not dare, but his boss, who seemed to me an intelligent, reasonable man, I told him everything.
I was ready for what he would laugh, or think I'm crazy, but he listened in silence for a moment, then said something like this: "Edward, I do not want you to lose, as a brilliant detective, but this is too much thing about death. constable Rogers will be closed, as self-defense in an attack on a police officer, but to restore you to the position I can not leave or go to the archive, there just make room Main -.. no one has ever tell more about what you only- that told me. Otherwise, I can not do anything more for you on elat. " After this conversation, I realized that the best thing I could do in this situation, it is easy to forget about everything and move on.
- And you could do it safely?
- No, I could not. A very long time the girls came to me in a dream, I did not sleep, did not eat, started drinking. There was a time when I really feared to lose my mind from these thoughts. So two years passed. And on the third, I suddenly calmed down and ceased to reproach myself, and, in general, began to live a quiet life. So far, the killer did not appear again ...
- But why did not you tell the detective about everything Marchena?
- A stupid boy! Do you think that something has changed? Detective likewise would not have brought the investigation to the end, he simply did not allow to find the real killer, or removing of a detective, or another pawn podsunuv him, as it did this time. I am sure that this woman, in addition to its ability to control minds, or rather, just because of this - extensive contacts that allow it to affect anyone in this city.
- But why then you are now telling me the truth?
- I have nothing to lose, young man, and then, just a shame that I, as an adult, a strong man, once departed, and you, still a child in fact, continue to forge ahead. And besides, there is hope that you, just by virtue of your age, would get desperation to finish the job.
- Did you know the detective is ready to continue the investigation, al
beit informally, but ready.
- Well, I'm glad that it was wrong. And I am sorry that once upon a time, I did not have the courage to try again, I hope that you get it right.
- I hope so too, sir, - seeing that the conversation comes to an end, I went with a shabby sofa.
- I would like to believe that my story will help you. And thank you for the picture, I'm afraid that in our last meeting, I was not polite. It really is very beautiful, I sincerely touched. But of course, the most important gift for me - it is an opportunity not simply die of hunger without work.
- Congratulations! Quest: "What is important is not a gift, but attention!" made.
- Reward: experience 2000 (2500/15000)
Yeah, that's the quest zachelsya, then the information is really on.
- Not at all, sir. And now I'll go, I urgently need to talk to Detective Marchi.
- Are you sure that the detective will help you?
- I am sure, sir.
- Well, so help you God.
Out on the street, I first went to the shelter, hoping to catch the detective there. Data that pointed to a certain person was more than enough, and in fact, I might have known about this before, too many suspicious matches were connected with this person. Hopefully, for the detective Marcha my words will be quite significant.
The shelter, during my absence, nothing has changed, children are not found. The only news was the arrival of the detective and the emergence of Donnie, who warned that today will be absent from class.
Check with Mr. Robertson, a detective in the library along with other employees of a shelter, I hurried up. Time was very little, but I still had to convince him of the correctness of my findings and guesses, though I personally have no doubt.
In the library were all the same person. Miss Emily kept her eyes pleading with a detective who, deep in thought, paced the room.
- Well, you find out all the details? - my question to Mr. Murch brought out of his reverie.
He raised his head, gave me a careful look.
- I learned, but I have a suspicion that you know more. Guessed?
- Yes. I have some information, the conclusions you make yourself.
The detective turned to Miss Emily:
- Emily, where I can talk face to face with the boy?
- My office is empty, there is no one you can not hurt ... - the woman looked even more lost than in the early morning, when I first heard about what happened. Apparently, Detective shattered her hopes for a quick and favorable resolution of the case.
After passing the detective's office, I sat down in a chair next to a floor lamp, which usually sat Miss Emily, when not working with the papers and just relax or read a book. The detective sat down on the edge of the table, crossed his arms and stared at me insistently
- Well? Begin.
- Yes, now I will tell you all that I was able to learn, but first answer me one question. You heard the testimony of Mrs. Rose, the cook?
- I understand what you want to ask, Sherlock. Children who are left, as if for a pipe Pied Piper of Hamelin?
- Yes. You know, that's the most important piece of evidence? Children in the middle of the night, dressed as if bewitched, leave is not known where.
- Are you implying that they actually went against their will?
- That's right, Detective. And knowing what I know now, you're just so sure. That's just the story is long, and began a long time ago.
One and a half hours I spent on it, to tell all the detective that he had heard from Mr. Leksidi, starting with the investigation, in which he was still as young and inexperienced assistant detective. As soon as my story progressed, the detective's face became more wary and disturbing. When I got to the point where for the first time saw a beautiful Lady Elizabeth, which replaces the suddenly ailing Mrs. Findish detective jumped up excitedly.
- When it was? Can you remember the exact date?
- The exact date? Hardly. Perhaps it remembers Miss Emily, it's because she led the woman. But it was just after the death of Molly. And her alleged mother, Mrs. Findish, came just a couple of days before.
- And you're sure this is it?
- Detective, stop pretending you're too sure of that. And if there were that day in the dining room and could see it in one second, without straining, fall in love with a crowd of boys, I would not have doubted. This is exactly the kind of woman we need. And the worst thing that I know what she wants to do.
- What are you? - man frowned.
- The fact that all these children, all boys, would be sacrificed, and perhaps already born. She wants to buy an eternity, but it needs to give a lot of other people's lives. Do you remember the old woman, a witch from Hackney? She told me and I believe her.
- Wait, wait, let me think - the detective even more frowned, and began to rub whiskey fingertips, as if trying to help the thinking process. - Do not be so easy to prove that a woman from an aristocratic class, well-known philanthropist, involved in the murder and disappearance of children.
- Prove? - there are already out of the chair, I jumped indignantly. - What are you talking about? What evidence? You little Appleton, you want to get you framed another puppet?
- So, stop! Let's calm down a little, and think, okay?
- Well, let's - I'm not going to calm down, but he was willing to listen to the detective.
- Well, firstly, I believe you. I accept everything you told me for the facts that do not require evidence, in accordance with what and going to act. Secondly, I like you, I recognize the obvious very high likelihood that the loss of children to blame the same perpetrator, and it is none other than Lady Elizabeth, aka Mrs. Findish.
- Very high probability? Detective, when you have become so cautious? I do not just do not know. Is this the man that made pressuring Norrie and bluffing, having no evidence, relying only on my words?
- Listen to me, boy! - Detective March raised his voice. - Do you think a bluff with petty crook and usurer Norrie, the same as dealing with a woman, I went to the queen and living in the house, which overlooks the Trafalgar? I recognize your invaluable assistance in the investigation, so that there is help, your leadership role. And, as promised, I will help you and will take part in it, but! Do it the way you want, I think it is wrong. I have to think things through and develop the perfect plan, otherwise we risk to catch the pacifier again.
- Detective, you know, that we simply do not have time for this? Yes, and not allow it just to catch myself ...
- And what do you suggest? To do so as this is your Mr. Leksidi? Do not even think, everything will be according to the law. Today, we will install surveillance of her house, spying on workers. When it detects anything suspicious, the servants will be detained and questioned. I am sure I will be able to gather strong evidence base, we will be forced against the merzavku to the wall, and no tricks will not help her. And you know what? I think you do not necessary to climb into it. Go home and wait for news.
I looked at the detective and wondered - is it really the type of person who is so enthusiastically talked about the truth of the service and that there are things that are beyond human reason. And he now calls tricks that recently he believed almost black magic? No, something is not right here ...
- You know, Detective, perhaps you are right - I said slowly, trying to look as natural. - Especially since I now have their concerns fully, although it is certainly not the case. I can do this, why can not you do with your experience and capabilities? Especially, if the criminal does go into a higher circle. How do you know so much about it?
- Well, it's hard not to know. If you are interested in gossip, he would know that she, like her mother, became interested in philanthropy, constantly helping orphanages and shelters, organizes charity balls and receptions. And in addition, it produced in high society created a furor with its beauty. And as far as I know, her mother, well, she is, if you believe your story, bought the most luxurious house in the Strand, where it goes into Trafalgar Square. The house, whic
h takes up almost an entire city block, and on the territory of which even has its own chapel! That is, it is fabulously rich. Do you understand now that we need to prepare thoroughly before risen to such a colossus?
- Now understand.
- Well. I am very pleased that you and I understand each other. And yes, you're done, just done a great job!
- Congratulations! Quest: "excursion into the past!" made.
- Reward: 3000 experience (5500/15000), the continuation of the quest chain.
- to offer you the quest: "Fishing with live bait!".
- Quest Conditions - take part in the capture of the murderer. A job is a quest progress offset "Puppeteer".
The award - Experience (5000), a continuation of quest chains (variably).
Penalty failure - variability.
Accept the quest?
Yeah, that's just the quest, just as a direct indication that the need to take matters into their own hands. Detective Marchi, in my opinion, can not be trusted more. I do not think that it bribed, rather it just in the nick of time scared, considering the scale of the forces, which had to be faced. Only it does not change, the detective is now becoming more of a threat than likely assistant. Now the main thing, not to give himself that he did not know what I thought of everything.
- And I must say - continued, meanwhile, detective - I am very glad that we had the opportunity to meet and work together. I think one of us would get a good running mate, what do you think?
- Simply sure, detective - I sprained my naughty lips into a smile, hoping only that it does not look too fake.
- Well, once we found out, now it is necessary to decide on the plans. What are going to do in the near future partner?
Named Sherlock Page 56