Of Night and Dark Obscurity

by Nicola Italia

  Caroline looked at the bed and then at his shelf which held many books. “You’ve never been married?” She asked.

  Val raised an eyebrow at the question but answered it. “I was engaged. Once.”

  “What happened?”

  “She died.”

  “I’m being presumptuous,” she admitted.

  “Your curious. You’d make a fine detective.”

  She smiled lightly. “I don’t know what I was thinking coming here. It’s highly inappropriate I know. I’m sorry.”

  “No one else need know. I’ll take you home now.”

  He picked up his hat and led her outside. They hailed a cab and he gave directions to her townhouse.

  “You can rest easy Miss Derry. I will find the killer. You have my word,” he said.

  She nodded. “Thank you, Inspector. Again, I’m sorry for the intrusion.”

  “Don’t give it a moment’s thought,” he told her in return.

  When the carriage deposited her, he waited until the door closed behind her and then knocked on the roof of the cab to start the driver moving again.

  Caroline made her way up to her room, climbing the staircase slowly as if she was a woman of seventy. She felt the emptiness of it all closing in around her and when she lay upon her bed, she could feel the tears trickling from her eyes. Irene was gone.

  ✽✽✽

  She slept later than usual. When she awoke, she felt exhausted and not rested at all. Her dreams had been filled with Irene. Irene had either been lost or running from her in each dream, she could never do the one thing she longed to do; which was hold her sister one last time. She pushed the dreams from her mind and dressed quickly in a dark blouse and skirt. She made her way downstairs and saw that her father had already left. She sat down across from his empty chair and stared at his linen napkin thrown across his plate and his coffee cup half filled.

  The Times newspaper was beside the napkin folded in half as he always read it with his breakfast. She helped herself to a cup of coffee from the side board and pulled the newspaper towards her.

  She tried to stay abreast of newsworthy events, especially when it came to the East End of London and the issues that affected the people she knew needed it the most. She scanned down the front of the headlines and one caught her attention. She felt her heart thud inside her chest and then an anger filled her. She almost crumpled the newspaper before she grabbed her small purse and headed out the door.

  ✽✽✽

  Val pointed to the map he had spread out between himself and his sergeant on his desk. He pointed out the four different places he had marked on the map where the four bodies had been discovered. He added the latest victim to the map, which had been found at Hyde Park.

  “There’s no pattern,” Val shrugged. “They were all discovered in different areas.”

  “Indeed Sir,” Felix agreed.

  “We need to start interviewing everyone connected to Irene Derry. I’ve drawn up a list and—“

  They both turned to stare as the door to the office flew open and in walked Caroline Derry with a clerk apologizing for the intrusion. Val waved the clerk away.

  “Miss Derry,” Val said standing up to greet her. “What brings you here?”

  Felix stood as well looking at Val and then staring at the lovely woman who had interrupted their meeting.

  “I came to confront you. You lied to me Inspector.” She said hotly.

  “Miss Derry. I’m at a loss. Truly. I don’t know what you are talking about.” He said, coming from behind his desk.

  “This!” She said, taking the newspaper, which she had stuffed into her small purse, and pushing it into his hands. “Look at that headline! The Primrose Strangler claims a fourth victim! You never told me that she was one of four victims. You didn’t even tell me last night when I came to your—“

  “Sergeant. I think you can leave us alone,” Val said sharply to his sergeant.

  Felix looked entirely too interested in their exchange and seemed reluctant to leave at all. But he nodded to both and left the office closing the door behind him.

  “Miss Derry.” He waved her to sit at the chair recently occupied by Felix and took the one opposite her. “I didn’t tell you or your father because I didn’t want to distress you further. There is some evidence she might by the fourth victim—”

  Caroline shook her head. “You think because I’m in this situation that I can’t be told the truth. I want the truth. I’m not some simpering woman to be told half-truths or no truth at all. This is my sister. I demand the truth Inspector.”

  “I’m sorry Miss Derry,” he told her quietly. “I’m used to dealing with very fragile women. Most never want to hear anything. Most would never come here to see me and they tolerate me in their homes because they hope I’ll bring the killer to justice.”

  Caroline nodded. “Well I’m not most women, Inspector. And anything concerning my sister Irene, I want to know about.”

  “Since you’re here you can save me some time,” he pulled the small notebook to him and a pencil.

  “Yes?” She asked her hands folded primly in her lap as she gazed at him.

  “I’d like to ask you some questions about your sister,” he began.

  “Of course. Anything I can do to help you.”

  “Can you tell me about her friends?”

  Caroline frowned. “She had several. You know about her two closest friends. Ethel and Nell. They’ve been friends since childhood. They are both from good families and my father and grandmother approved.”

  She watched as he noted her words in the book he kept and her eyes swept over his form. He wore striped blue pants and jacket and a waistcoat of a lighter color. He looked very handsome and serious and not at all how she imagined a detective to look.

  “Was anyone courting her?” He asked.

  She shook her head. “No. Not that I know of.”

  “Did she have any admirers? Someone who might have not liked the fact that she wasn’t giving him attention. Someone who was angry at her inattentiveness?”

  Caroline shook her head. “We attended the same balls, gatherings, supper parties, picnics. Everyone liked Irene. She was lively and made friends easily. I don’t recall anyone making a nuisance of themselves.”

  “I’ll speak in depth with Ms. Church and Ms. Lewis.

  She nodded. “I’m sure they’ll both be willing to speak to you.”

  “Do you know of anyone who wished her harm?” He asked suddenly.

  Caroline swallowed. “No,” she whispered and her eyes filled with tears. “I can’t think of anyone.”

  Vat stood up. “If anything comes to light, I will let you know Miss Derry. But sometimes these things move very slowly.”

  She nodded. “Thank you. I’m sorry for barging into your office.”

  His hand was on her lower back as he walked her out. “There is no need to apologize. I’m at your disposal.”

  When he returned to his office, Felix was leaning against the door frame like a permanent fixture.

  “You and Miss Derry seem quite close,” he said softly. “Something about last night—“ he let the question hang in the air.

  “We have work to do.” He said ignoring his sergeant’s quizzing glance.

  “Yes Sir,” Felix said smiling.

  Chapter 5

  Val entered the dark auditorium and took a seat in the back row. There were very few empty seats available and he noticed the room was filled mostly with women and a few men. An older man in his forties was on the stage in a cleanly pressed suit with muttonchops and dark hair heavily salted. He gave off an air of professionalism.

  “Finally, in closing, I’d like to thank you all so much for being here today,” the man said and Val detected a hint of an American southern accent. “You must understand that I come here today to speak to good folks such as yourself because I care. Because I’m a concerned human being not just a doctor. Now is the time where I take questions from the audience. Yes
Ma’am,” he pointed to a middle-aged woman wearing a large black hat.

  Val couldn’t hear the woman’s question but the man onstage repeated it.

  “Ladies and gentlemen. This fine woman asked me why she should purchase Doctor Barton’s Healthy Tonic. Well that is an excellent question Ma’am and I have an answer. I stand by my tonic and the many benefits it offers my patients. You see, unlike the snake oils and elixirs that are peddled willy nilly on many a street corner, I am a doctor prescribing my tonic for the health of my patients.”

  Val watched as several women nodded and another raised her hand. He listened carefully and then spoke to the audience.

  “This lady asked me what was in the Healthy Tonic. Another excellent question. I must say you London women are intelligent,” Val watched several of the women eyeing the charismatic doctor. “The tonic contains natural ingredients that are cultivated on my plantation in Georgia. The recipe dates back hundreds of years to the time the red Injuns lived there.”

  Several women gasped and Doctor Barton continued. “Yes. That’s exactly so. The Red Injun taught my distant relative the recipe and it has been handed down from generation to generation. But why should only American women profit from my family’s good fortune?” He smiled widely.

  He held up the small bottle for all to see and Val saw there was a larger version of the bottle on a poster beside him. On the bottle cover was a vibrant young woman in a dress with a spoon in her hand about to take the tonic. In curved script it read Doctor Barton’s Healthy Tonic.

  “Ladies and gentleman,” the doctor smiled to the audience. “This healthy tonic brings back the bloom and beauty of a woman and helps with headache, stomachache, bloating, life changes for women and helps rejuvenate the spirit. Now who here can say they don’t want that?”

  The audience smiled in mass at him and some even clapped.

  “For the men in the audience, you can give this tonic to your mothers, daughters, sisters to help their aches and pains and restore them to good health. And I’m sure the good Lord above wants all his children to be healthy,” he smiled.

  “There will be bottles sold in the front of the theater’s foyer and today I am running a special for you London folk. I care so much about the health of you fine women, I will give you a free bottle for every bottle you purchase!” He said passionately.

  The audience gasped and when he thanked them again applause filled the air. When it finally ended Val watched half the audience rush to purchase their bottles of tonic while a small portion stayed behind to speak to the doctor. Val waited patiently as Doctor Barton spoke to each of the women in turn.

  As the audience dwindled, Val stood up and walked toward the doctor.

  “Odean Barton?” Val asked, coming to stand before the charismatic man.

  “I’m Doctor Odean Barton. How can I help you Sir?”

  “I’m Detective Chief Inspector Pierce of the Metropolitan Police. I have a few questions to ask you,” he told the man.

  “Of course,” Odean said and then nodded to two seats in the now empty auditorium. “Will this do? Or do you prefer elsewhere?”

  “This is fine.”

  The two men took chairs in the audience with an empty chair separating them.

  “A fine rousing speech. It’s fitting that you chose a music hall for your venue,” Val smiled.

  “I attract large audiences who are very interested in my medicines,” Odean side-swiped Val’s attempt to compare him to an actor.

  Val pulled out his small notebook while Odean lit a cigarette. “How long have you been in London?”

  “A little under a year.” Odean replied.

  “And you are normally a resident of the state of Georgia?” He asked, taking the state’s name from his tonic speech to the audience.

  Odean smiled. “I was born in Georgia though I was recently a resident of the state of New York.”

  “Occupation?” Val asked.

  “Doctor.”

  “Hmmm,” Val countered. “Where did you obtain your degree?”

  “Harvard.” He blew the smoke out of his mouth.

  Val nodded. “You practice medicine here?”

  “I do. I have a small practice off Harley Street.”

  “What is your specialty?”

  “Female problems.”

  “Female problems?” Val repeated.

  Odean nodded. “Yes. My tonic is only a short-term solution. Many of the women I see need extended visits.”

  Val looked down at his notebook and then back up at the doctor.

  “Has a Miss Irene Derry ever been a patient of yours?”

  Val watched the doctor carefully.

  He frowned and then shook his head. “I’m not certain. I would have to check my files. I’ve answered all of your questions, Inspector. I’d like to know what this is all about,” Odean asked.

  “Give me the address of your practice,” he directed, and after Val wrote it down, he placed the notebook inside his jacket pocket.

  “A woman was murdered,” he told the doctor. “I was informed by one of her friends that she had been seeing you. She mentioned you by name, yet you seem to have no recollection of her.”

  “I have many patients, Inspector. I told you that.”

  “Yes, well tomorrow, I shall visit your practice and we shall see if Irene Derry was among them.” Val picked up his hat. “If that suits you?” He asked Odean.

  “Tomorrow then, Inspector,” Odean nodded.

  ✽✽✽

  Entering the light of the afternoon as Val walked out into the street, he blinked several times until his eyes adjusted to the grey light. Previous to visiting the doctor, he had tea with Irene’s friend Nell Lewis. She had led him to speak to the charismatic Doctor Barton. Nell did not know much about him, but Irene had told her friend that she was seeing him. Exactly what she had been seeing him for remained a mystery. Nell also said that Irene spoke of him often and held him in very high regard. Irene said he was a miracle maker and urged Nell to see him but she had not done so.

  Nell had also mentioned another man that Irene had been quite taken with, but she was very secretive about his identity. Irene had said that the man was very wealthy, and unbeknownst to her family she had attended several music hall concerts and suppers with him and told no one except Nell. Her family thought she was with her friends while she was secretly alone with him.

  Nell did not approve of the man because he seemed unwilling to be honest about his status with Irene. He took her to out of the way places and it seemed as if he was hiding her. Nell and Irene had quarreled over the man several times and it had become a bone of contention between the two women. Nell had felt that Irene was involved in something, but wasn’t sure what, and she had stopped speaking to her in the last month before her death.

  Val hailed a hansom cab to return home. He rested his head against the back of the cushion and as the cab swayed with the movement of the horse he thought suddenly of Caroline Derry. Caroline as she had been that night when she had come to see him. He felt a rush of desire, which surprised him. He remembered her soft curves under his hands and the feel of her against him.

  He pushed the thoughts of her away. He didn’t want to get caught up in anything and he knew these feelings were not returned. Caroline Derry was an intelligent beauty but not flighty like her sister. He had a job to do which was to find the killer of the four women, but he racked his brain to find out who might know more. Obviously, the family was oblivious and he didn’t want to harm Caroline with questions that would lead to more questions.

  He smiled suddenly. Who knew next to everything that went on in any house at any given time? Of course. It was clear. He would speak to the servants.

  ✽✽✽

  Malvina pulled the thread through her embroidery piece and glanced up at Caroline periodically. She could tell her granddaughter was not reading the book she had in her lap. She was miles away. There were circles under her eyes and her hair looked dull and unwash
ed.

  “Caroline, dear,” she said.

  “Yes Gran.” She said looking up.

  “This Inspector. Inspector Pierce,” she began.

  “Yes?” Caroline asked.

  “I’ve spoken to several of my friends. Do you know who he is?” She asked.

  “Yes, Gran. He’s an Inspector with the Metropolitan Police. He’s overseeing the death.” She said the last word softly.

  “No dear. Not that. Do you know who his family is?”

  “I don’t know anything about him Gran. Except that he’s an inspector.” She said tiredly.

  Malvina nodded. “He’s the second son of the Earl of Banham.”

  “The Earl of Banham?” Caroline frowned.

  “Hmm. There’s no money or title for the second son so I’m assuming that’s why he went into the police service.”

  “Very likely.”

  “His older brother has a reputation. In the gambling halls and with the ladies,” she told her. “Apparently the brothers are quite different.”

  “I’ve never met his brother, Gran,” Caroline said sighing.

  “I was surprised when I was told about his family name. I knew his father briefly when I was younger,” Malvina recalled.

  “Yes?” Caroline asked but was not that concerned.

  She didn’t want to make idle conversation with her grandmother in the front parlor. She didn’t want to be anywhere except in her bedroom with the silence and the moonlight. Her grandmother was talking about the Pierce family but she didn’t care at all. When she grew silent, Caroline excused herself kissing her grandmother’s powdered cheek.

  “I’m sure no matter who his family is or where he comes from, he’ll do his job properly. I’m going to retire Gran. Good night.”

  ✽✽✽

  Aida was walking in front of him. Her long dark hair spilled out behind her and he smiled. He would hold onto her forever this time and never let her go. That had been the problem before. He had not been watching. He had not been aware. There had been too much that he had let slip through his fingers. This time would be different. He would take care to safeguard her.