The Light Beneath the Cauldron

by European P. Douglas

  “If you have any sense, you won’t make that appointment tonight, Alderman.” Muc’s voice was grave. “I will be back in the morning and can help you with this, there will be other opportunities.”

  “I have to go alone,” James said also nodding to the letter.

  “You don’t have to go at all,” Muc said and he looked out onto the street. “I better go after him,” Muc said speaking of Mullins, “I have a personal score to settle while he saves his wife.”

  “What score is that?”

  “My poisoner is the same man who took his wife.”

  James was shocked at this but didn’t get a chance to ask anything more as Muc bounded out the room and pounded down the stairs. He went to the window, taking up the letter and watched as Muc left the house at a run and headed off down the street to help his friend.

  At least one thing is cleared up, James thought, Edwards couldn’t be the killer. Not if he was going to be down in Waterford trying to fight off Muc and Mullins, a task James did not envy him. Edwards was a wily one, however, and James supposed he would come out of this one the same as he always did. Happy and laughing at the entertainment afforded him.

  Chapter 50

  Mary Sommers was pacing the room furiously when Mullins came in through the door.

  “What did he say?” she asked about his visit to James.

  “He’s not helping,” Mullins said moving past her and into the bedroom where he started rummaging about. “He says Edwards is most likely taking her to a house he owns in Waterford.”

  “Waterford?”

  “I’m just grabbing some stuff and then going down after her. I don’t imagine I’ll be too far behind by the time they get there.”

  “You’re going on your own?” Mary asked. She had no doubt that Mullins could deal with Edwards one to one with no problem at all, but she didn’t think Edwards would be alone.

  “Yes, I’ll be fine,” he said coming out from the bedroom with a knapsack over his shoulder.

  “He won’t be alone, Mary, so you needn’t worry about him,” the voice of Lord Muc came from the doorway. Mullins looked at him,

  “You don’t have to do that,” he said. Mary was glad of it, even in Muc’s weakened condition she doubted even six or seven men would be able to hold the two of these giants back.

  “I have my own business with Edwards,” Muc said.

  “Mine is longer standing,” Mullins answered.

  “You have to save your wife; that should be enough for you.”

  “There’s no point you arguing here,” Mary interjected, “You’ll have hours for that on the road to Waterford!” The two men looked at her and nodded,

  “She’s right,” Mullins said, “I’m leaving now. If you’re not ready Muc, I’m going without you.”

  “I’m ready,” Muc said, “But I’ll follow you out.” Mullins put his hand on Mary’s shoulder,

  “I’ll have her back here as soon as we can make it.” Mary touched his hand and nodded at him. She felt embarrassed that he might be doing this for her as well as for himself.

  “I know,” she said patting his hand lightly. He left.

  “Mary,” Muc said coming up to her now, “The Alderman has a letter from the killer looking to meet him tonight at midnight at Christ Church.”

  “The killer?”

  “Yes, but that’s not what is important right now. James thinks he needs to go alone or else the killer will escape again. You have to make sure he doesn't get there this evening.”

  “Why?” Mary did not understand why Muc would ask this of her.

  “If he goes there, he will be killed. I can’t make it any clearer than that.”

  “What can I do?” she asked seeing that he was impatient to leave and catch up with Mullins.

  “Anything you can, Mary. Anything.” These were his last words on the subject. He gave her a steely look over and nodded before leaving her.

  Mary stood there a long time after the two men left thinking what she could do. Normally in a situation like this, it was Mullins and Kate she would come to, but they were not going to be able to be of any help this time. Then she got it; there was only one person she felt she could trust to help her in this. Grabbing her shawl, she wrapped it around her head and went out into the afternoon.

  Lenny was at the docks as she hoped when she got there. He was leaning against a large crate; his hands in his pockets watching some of the men unload from one of the ships. He smiled as he saw her approach.

  “This is only the second time I’ve seen you without your chaperone,” he said looking behind her as though Kate might be hiding there.

  “I need your help,” she said. His smile dropped away when he saw how serious she was.

  “What is it? Are you alright?”

  “I’m fine,” she said, “But I need you to help me...” she stopped here about to say ‘Save the Alderman,’ but was that what she really wanted?

  “Help you what Mary?” Lenny asked at her pause, “Whatever it is, I’ll help you.”

  “The Alderman is meeting the killer, tonight in Christ Church. I need you to help me catch the killer before he kills Alderman James.”

  Lenny knew by the look in her face that she was deadly serious about this but he didn’t understand what she meant.

  “Won’t he have the soldiers with him?” he asked.

  “No, Alderman James is to come alone or else the killer won’t show.”

  “If we go with him is that not the same thing?”

  “We don’t go with him; we go there now and wait.”

  “Wait for a killer?”

  “Yes.”

  “Have you thought this through, Mary?” Lenny asked.

  “No,” she admitted, “But we have a chance to stop him. The Alderman won’t know that we know about his meeting. We can stop all the killing.”

  “I don’t know, Mary,” he said, “I don’t want you putting yourself in danger.”

  “I’m in danger already,” she said, “Every night this killer is allowed to roam free is a night I could be killed!” His face went pale at this and Mary knew for sure how much this man felt for her now. She softened her voice, “It can all end tonight and I can feel safe again for the first time in such a long time.” He nodded and took her hands in his.

  “Alright, Mary,” he said, “But you have to let me take the lead on this. You stay behind me all the time. Deal?”

  “Deal,” she said.

  They made their way up to the Cathedral and looked on its immense size from outside.

  “Any idea where the meeting is supposed to happen?” Lenny asked. Mary shook her head.

  “Well, I suppose the higher we can get inside the better. Give us more range of vision.”

  “Won’t the killer be doing that too?” she asked.

  “Most likely,” Lenny agreed, “But if we are here first we will have the drop on him.” Neither of them said it but both thought on the converse of this. The killer would have them cornered. That was a worry for later—if it turned out this way.

  Chapter 51

  Madame Mel had been crying. Adams could see it in her red eyes. He took this to mean she had been unsuccessful in her attempt to save her brother. He’d known she wouldn't be able to stop the hanging, he’d used some contacts of his own to make sure it went ahead smoothly.

  “Gaspard?” he asked with a look of pity on his face as he took her hand. She nodded and the tears started again. Adams offered his handkerchief. “I’m so sorry,” he said.

  “I really thought I would be able to get him out again,” she said, “But they moved the hanging up by twelve hours.”

  “Why?” he asked. She shook her head,

  “Oh some magistrate wanted to make sure no one knew when it was really on in case someone tried to free him again.”

  “How awful,” he said surprised by how sincere his voice sounded even to himself. “I am very sorry for your loss, Madame Mel, but I have come with news of Edwards.”
<
br />   “What is it?” she asked though she seemed to have no interest in the answer.

  “It seems there was a falling out,” Adams said smiling. Now Madame Mel’s face did turn to his in interest, if only slight.

  “One of them is dead?” she asked.

  “Not yet,” he said, “But there was a row and Edwards fled the house.”

  “What did they fight about?”

  “I don’t know but Edwards was sufficiently worried about it to flee the city.”

  “To where?”

  “A recently purchased house in Waterford, Wild Boar Hall. It’s the former home of Lord Stapleton, do you know it?”

  “Yes, but only by name, I have never been there.” Adams smiled at this, ‘Of course you haven't been in a Lord’s house you French tart!’ he thought.

  “It seems Edwards bought it very recently. I suppose he will intend to travel to England from the coast down there.”

  “He is going to get away?”

  “No, not at all. I am leaving for Waterford right after my visit here with you.”

  “You intend to kill him?”

  “I do,” he answered, “Things have gotten far out of hand here. I will kill Edwards in Waterford and then come back for Olocher tomorrow.”

  “Things seem to be working out very well for you in this deal,” she said.

  “We are both getting what we want,” he said, “Perhaps you are not satisfied with what you are getting?”

  “I wanted him to suffer more,” she said.

  “He’s been suffering for many months now,” Adams said, “and don’t think I will let him die without him knowing your part in all of this. I am a good artist I will be able to draw you an image of his face at the moment he knows you did all of this to him.”

  “I suppose there is some comfort in that,” she said listlessly.

  “I’m sorry things have not worked out as you wanted,” he said, “perhaps I can bring Olocher to you before he dies? He may be able to tell you more about the suffering Edwards has been going through?”

  “That little boy is of little concern to me,” Mel said, “He only has to die in case he foolishly seeks revenge.”

  “Well, as of last night, we find ourselves and Steven Olocher on the same side of a feud against Edwards,” Adams pointed out. Madame Mel nodded slowly at this.

  Adams heard something in the hall and he listened more closely a moment. Heavier footsteps than the ladies in the house should have. He knew what awaited him outside the door and he smiled at Mel’s cunning. She knew about his role in Gaspard’s death.

  “So, until tomorrow,” he said in his normal voice standing up. She turned to him and still he could see no intent in her eyes, how skilful she was in deceit. He took her hand and drew it to his lips and the last mistake Madame Mel ever made was to let him do this.

  He planted a soft kiss on the glove and then yanked her hand towards him gripping her throat with his other powerful had as he did. They were face to face and he looked hard and mean into her eyes. Now fear came to her as she found she could not cry out. She kicked and pulled at him, digging her nails into his skin and though it was terrifically painful, he held his own grunts inside.

  “Best to leave murder to the murderers,” he whispered and then turning her slowly he twisted an arm around her head and snapped violently at her neck. There was a loud crack and she fell limp instantly. Adams lay her down on the couch and felt for her pulse. There was nothing, just as he’d expected.

  He sat down beside her and felt her dead weight against his leg as he gazed at her beauty. He wondered how many people he was going to have to kill to get out of here today. There were a minimum of three, he thought going by the footfalls. That could get very messy and he wanted to get to Waterford as soon as possible to deal with Edwards.

  Perhaps it would be best if he did not leave by the door he finally decided. As much as the killing of those men waiting outside appealed to him, there was always the chance it wouldn't go well or some mishap would prevent him from going after Edwards. It was not worth the risk. If he really wanted to, he could come back here after he killed Edwards and Olocher and then have some fun.

  Standing up, he took one more look at his former partner in crime and then made his way to the window for the climb down out of here. He had a long ride ahead of him and wanted to get going immediately.

  Chapter 52

  The day had been the longest Alderman James could remember. Since receiving the letter it seemed like a week had passed but it had been mere hours. As he walked towards the Cathedral wondering if he would ever see another morning, he thought of Edwards and the trouble he would be in once Mullins and Muc got to Waterford. On another day, James would have done his best to talk to those men, to try to dissuade them from their travelling but this was not another day. Had he done Mr Edwards some great disservice today? Perhaps that was something James was not destined to ever find out.

  It was cold as he walked through the archway and he was so distracted by his thoughts he never looked at the carving of the Devil, something that always drew his eye. This time, perhaps the last time ever, their eyes did not meet.

  James walked the full perimeter of the walls of the Cathedral before he finally found a way in. This was most likely what the killer wanted he mused, to be able to see him move around and know that no one was following him.

  The air inside was warm, and the smell of extinguished candles filled the air. Though he tread softly, his footsteps still echoed around the cavernous hall. He walked to the aisle and looked around. No sign of anyone. A thought crossed his mind—It was possible he was lured here as a joke while some terrible murder was being committed elsewhere. Something told him this was not the case, and his gut told him he was not here alone. He could feel someone else even if he could not see them.

  “You kept good time, Alderman” an unfamiliar voice called to him from somewhere high above. He looked up but still saw no one.

  “I’m here now, what is it you want to tell me?”

  “There’s a stairs at the back to your left. Come on up, as far as you can. I think it best we have this talk face to face.” Still nothing in the voice registered in James’ memory and he looked nervously at the stairs. Going up there could be suicide, but then he came here hoping to catch this man and that was always going to be face to face. Without answering, he made his way to the stairs.

  James took his time going up; first to conserve his energy, he didn't want to be out of breath when he came upon the killer. The second reason was the same old fear and his own will to live holding him back. His brain telling him not to go up there and making each step forward harder than the last.

  “You must have youth on your side,” James called up. The voice did sound like that of a younger man.

  “That’s true,” the voice came back. “When you reach the top you will see me on your right. Don’t worry; I won’t be close to you. Neither of us will be able to reach the other.” James supposed he would have to take his word on that, there were no guarantees he was telling the truth.

  After a long time James reached the top of the stairs. He carefully poked his head up through a gap at the top and glad to see the killer was not there. He’d been telling the truth. James came on to the level mezzanine far above the altar below and looked to his right. There a few feet across a gap James knew he wouldn’t be able to leap was the man he’d come to see. His cloak hood was up and his face obscured in the shadow of it. He was standing on a small jutted outcrop that held one of the statues that looked down over the congregation during masses.

  “Who are you?” James asked. He didn’t expect an answer at first but then he saw the hands of the killer rise and take the edges of the hood in his fingers.

  “Are you sure you want to know this?” he asked and the sentence sent a shiver down James’ spine. It had to be someone he knew for them to say that. He nodded weakly.

  The hood came down and James was face to face with the killer who
had so long evaded him. He knew the face at once, but the trouble was putting one name to it. Two contrasting names shot through him, one from the long past and one from the recent past. It could only be one of them but looked exactly like the other.

  “You’re the apprentice at the blacksmiths!” James exclaimed, “Scally, isn’t it?” the real name evaded him though he was sure he’d heard it from Mullins before.

  The young man laughed,

  “That name is one that was given to me but was never my own,” he said, “My father’s name is my true one and the one you should be most concerned with.” James knew the name but he couldn't believe it, had never known of a son.

  “My father was Thomas Olocher,” the killer said, “and I am here to avenge my father!”

  Images of the crazed killer Thomas Olocher came to James’ mind. He remembered the bodies of the victims and then finding Mary Sommers running through the streets crying, and lastly the arrest of the man.

  “It was a bad day for you that you found out that truth,” James said to him.

  “It was the day I feel I was truly born,” Steven Olocher said smiling though there seemed no joy in that face of his, so like his father’s.

  “You turned your back on a good life for this?” James asked.

  “A good life!” Olocher scoffed, “Sweeping up and running errands for a blacksmith!”

  “It was honest,” James said, “and Mullins is a good man. He could teach you a lot.”

  “I have no grudge against Mullins,” Olocher said. “That was Edwards' bugbear; I have only issue with you and Mary Sommers. The two people who made sure my father died in the rotten tower of the ‘Black Dog!”

  Chapter 53

  Mary Sommers flinched at the sound of her name. It was so unexpected and she was glad of Lenny’s calming grip on her arm. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Here was the son of the man who had brutally murdered her aunt Paulina when Mary was a much younger girl. It had seemed a lifetime ago but now she was right back in that moment, hiding in a cupboard while the killer went about his business not knowing she was there. Only this time, she didn’t intend the result to be the same. Alderman James was not going to die here tonight if she could help it. And neither was she, for that matter.