A Despicable Crime

by Liza O'Connor

  “Why does he need to be watched?” Xavier challenged.

  “According to Dr. Connors, head traumas should always be tended for several days. If a person begins to speak in a sluggish manner, or they claim they cannot see, Dr. Connors would come over at once, for either would indicate bleeding inside the head. However, Dr. Connors does not expect that is going to happen. He is just being cautious since he knows how much we care for Jacko.”

  Vic ran to her butler/parent and hugged him. “Thank you.”

  “I haven’t done anything but report the facts.”

  “That’s not all. You paid for and installed a telephone in your room. Without you doing so, this night could have been the death of poor Jacko.”

  Xavier sighed. “Vic has a point. I would like to reimburse you for whatever costs you incurred having that noisy contraption placed in your room.”

  “I like my telephone and will be keeping it in my room,” Gregory replied.

  Vic spoke up before they began an argument neither meant to have. “Gregory, Xavier does not wish to take your telephone from you. He just wants to reimburse you for putting up with the noisy but very useful contraption.”

  “Ah, now I understand. There is no need for reimbursements. The truth is I am rather proud that I acquired a phone before any other butler. Not even the queen’s butler received one before me.”

  “That is rather impressive,” Xavier admitted. “Very well then, I withdraw my offer to compensate you. But exactly how did you manage to outrank the queen’s butler?”

  “The Queen, like you, thinks they are dreadfully noisy. So, she has banned them from the private sections of the castle. Thus, the butler must walk a great distance to even locate a phone,” Gregory explained.

  Vic grinned at Vivian. “We think very well of telephone stock. Even Xavier, who hates the contraptions, owns their stock.”

  Xavier chuckled. “Indeed, I do, and it does very well.”

  ***

  When Jacko arrived, Tubs carried him directly to his bed. Xavier, Vic, and Vivian followed Tubs upstairs and watched from the door. Xavier shooed Vic and Vivian away, explaining they needed to remove his clothes.

  Gregory led Vivian to a room he had readied for her then left. Vic followed and hugged her tightly. I’m so happy to have met you!”

  “The feeling is mutual. I am very pleased Xavier has found such a fine partner. Your instincts are most remarkable. I’ve never seen anything like it.”

  Vic thanked her for her kind words. Then she yawned loudly.

  Vivian chuckled. “You are exhausted. Go on to bed.”

  Vic nodded in agreement and stumbled to her room where she collapsed into sleep, certain all those she loved were alive and well.

  Chapter 3

  The next morning, Vic rushed to Jacko’s room, to see if he was better, but the bed was empty. Just then, a naked Jacko stepped from the bathroom and cursed her a blue streak.

  “Vic! You cannot just wander into my room!” Jacko stopped yelling because Vic had run from the room. When Jacko was dressed, he stepped out into the hallway. He heard Vic’s voice from David’s room. He softly knocked, then walked in, concerned what Vic and David were up to. He relaxed when David was dressed and the two were playing with the baby, Danny. Satisfied all was fine, he slipped out and headed downstairs. He had only taken his fifth step when Gregory ordered him back to bed.

  “Bloody hell, I’m a grown man,” Jacko declared.

  “Yes, you are. But, I’ll not have you rolling down the stairs. Turn around and return to your bed, so I may deliver you your breakfast.”

  Vic and David had entered the hall to discover what had riled Gregory into a fury.

  Jacko stormed over to Vic. “Will you tell him I’m a damn pirate. I don’t require being coddled!”

  Vic shook her head. “Gregory is only following Dr. Connors’ orders. The gash on the back of your head is the danger. Evidently, if there is a leaky blood vessel inside your brain, it could kill you. Dr. Connors doesn’t believe you have a leaky blood vessel, but he knows how valuable you are to us, to Alice, to your kids, so go sit in the bed and allow Gregory to treat you like royalty.”

  “Well, when you put it like that,” he chuckled and returned to his bed.

  Once Gregory had plumped up the pillows behind him he placed the large tray over Jacko’s lap and removed the metal covers of a very grand breakfast.

  Jacko grinned. “Gregory, you truly have outdone yourself. Not even the Queen could have a better breakfast.”

  “Thank you. When you have finished, please remember that you are to remain in bed until Dr. Connors arrives. Ring the bell and I will retrieve the tray so you can sleep a bit more.”

  “I am wide awake, Gregory, but I will stay in bed until Dr. Connors arrives, assuming he arrives before noon. Also, I have a vague memory of Tubs stuffing something in my vest pocket. Could you check and see? Vic and Xavier will want it.”

  Gregory went to the closet and frisked Jacko’s vest for the document. Finding it, he hurried downstairs and found Xavier and Vic frowning at a document in Xavier’s hands. She looked up with concern. “This isn’t the document we expected to find,” Vic said as Gregory entered.

  “Perhaps this is what you wanted.” Gregory handed over the paper he had located in Jacko’s vest pocket.

  Vic grabbed it before Xavier could and read it quickly. “Yes, this is the document! How did it get into Jacko’s pocket? He wouldn’t have had the time to tuck it away before falling unconscious.”

  “Call in Tubs and Casey and see if either of them can solve this mystery,” Xavier suggested.

  While Vic stared impatiently at the library door, waiting for Gregory to return with Tubs and Casey, Xavier snatched the document from Vic and studied it carefully. “This is the document we wanted.”

  When Tubs and Casey arrive, Xavier spoke at once. “How did this get in Jacko’s vest?”

  Tubs grimaced. “When I went in to rescue Jacko, he had the paper I gave you this morning in his hand. But as I was leaving, I noticed this document lying next to the safe, so I took it as well, only it was easier to stuff it in Jacko’s vest pocket than any of my pockets, since I was carrying him.”

  “Excellent work, Tubs. Find Gregory and ask him to request Vivian to come to the library.”

  Vic objected at once. “Tubs is not a messenger. I’ll find Vivian and bring her here.”

  Once Vic had left, Xavier asked Tubs to remain. “Did you read the other document you retrieved?”

  “No, it was too dark.”

  He handed him the document. The further Tubs read, the deeper the furrows in his brow became. “Do you want me to take care of this?”

  Just then Vic arrived with Vivian. “I understand you found the document and matters are exactly as Vic thought.”

  Xavier sighed. “Unfortunately, matters are a bit worse than we thought. When rescuing Jacko, Tubs picked up a second document. It is allegedly your Last Will and Testament, leaving everything to Daniel.”

  “He is the last person on earth I would leave money to. In fact, I have left everything to you,” Vivian assured him.

  “That was not necessary.” Xavier replied.

  “And irrelevant,” Vic added. “Had Jacko not found this new Will and Testament, then this forgery would be the last Will written and it leaves everything to Daniel.”

  Xavier focused on Vic and Tubs. “Tubs, are you still on good terms with the forgers?”

  He shrugged. “One of them.”

  “Then see what you can find out about these documents. I need a timeline. When he requested them, if he ever paid for them, if they blacklisted him, and if anyone else is capable of creating such documents.”

  “You don’t believe destroying these will keep Vivian safe,” Vic stated.

  Xavier shook his head. “No, I fear his next move will be to murder her.” He then approached the grand old lady and grasped her hands. “While you may not be my great-grandmother by blood, you wil
l always be so due to your love, kindness, and intelligence that you instilled in me. So—”

  “We want you to stay here, where you will be safe, and we can enjoy your company,” Vic finished.

  Xavier’s eyes shone with love for Vic, then returned to Vivian. “Exactly my thoughts as well.”

  “But what of my house and my servants?” Vivian asked.

  Vic gripped her hands. “If you return to your house, there is a strong likelihood that Daniel will kill you. This recent forgery of a Will and Testament would have been considered your last and final Will if Tubs and Jacko had not retrieved it.

  “However, by taking the document, we may have left Daniel with no option but to kill you,” Xavier warned.

  Vic focused on Vivian. “I am certain Daniel knows you have a will that does not include him.”

  Vivian shook her head. “But how? I certainly never told him.”

  Vic gripped her hand “It is likely during all the years he successfully stole money from your account, he would have had the opportunity to see the other documents you have stored in the bank.”

  Xavier sighed heavily. “While that should not happen, it could happen if Daniel presented you as a demented old woman who no longer could recall matters correctly, and himself as the kind grandson who needed to watch over you.”

  Vivian nodded “That no doubt is why the copies of my Will that I placed in the various banks would sometimes go missing.”

  “Once you began moving your money each year, it would have become harder for him to be certain he would inherit your money. Thus, instead of removing your Will and Testament, he simply had a forger prepare a Will that would supersede the one in your bank,” Vic explained.

  Xavier paced back and forth in agitation. “What I don’t understand is how he convinced one of the forgers to make him a new document. We need to know if they will be creating a new document for Daniel, or if his last resort is truly killing you, and taking the risk that you don’t have a Will.”

  “Which I do,” she stated proudly.

  Xavier turned to her. “That’s why I need Vic and Tubs to talk to the forgers. But until we get this settled, Vivian, I need you to stay in our house. Will you do that for me?”

  Vivian walked to him and gripped his hands. “We are not of blood, but I have always loved you, and now I love Victor as well. However, I cannot continue to wear the same clothes, and sadly, I have not purchased a telephone, so I cannot call my butler and have him handle the matter. Thus, I must return home, if just for a moment.”

  Xavier frowned for a bit then replied. “Vic, may I borrow Fagan as backup while I drive Vivian to her home?”

  “You’re planning to let Davy drive the carriage, I hope,” Vic teased.

  Xavier chuckled. “Without question. I just want some backup.”

  “Tubs would be better,” she stated.

  “I agree, but Tubs must go with you.”

  She nodded in agreement. “If I went to the forgers without Tubs, they wouldn’t tell me anything.” She glanced at Vivian. “You should let Vivian wear your bullet proof vest.”

  Xavier ruffled her short blond hair, then focused on Vivian. “Would you mind wearing a less than pristine vest beneath your jacket?”

  Vivian grinned. “I would be honored to wear it.”

  ***

  “Gregory, do you know where Xavier’s vest is now?” Vic asked. “I checked upstairs, but it is no longer in Jacko’s closet.”

  “The vest required a bit of patching, so I gave it to Sara. She is attempting to stitch new silk over the torn area,” Gregory explained.

  “Any idea how long it will take? Xavier wants to leave now,” Vic explained.

  Just then, Sara entered and held out the vest. “I sewed patches over every layer of silk inside, including those that weren’t torn. That way, if the patches don’t hold, then the six layers that were fine will have additional strength.”

  Vic took the vest, gave Sara a hug, and rushed from the room. As she entered the library she declared her search a success and helped Vivian put it on beneath her wool jacket.

  “I am most impressed Vic. I had no idea you could sew so quickly,” Vivian said.

  Vic laughed. “You still don’t. Sara has been sewing patches for each layer all morning.”

  “Well, thank her for me. She has done a beautiful job, and it fits remarkably well. I had feared it would be too small.”

  “That’s odd, I had feared it would be too large,” Xavier replied.

  “While you are broad-shouldered and tall, I am quite bosomy.”

  Vic grinned. “Gregory had Sara pin the back, so while the front provides ample room, the back would not be too large.”

  Xavier nodded in understanding. “Proof yet again, that there is not a staff better than ours.”

  “I absolutely agree. You have acquired the finest staff I have ever met. Are we ready to go?”

  “I believe we are.” Xavier turned to Vic. “Are you ready to attend to your assignment with Tubs?”

  “I am. Are you sure you want us to take the documents? Would it not be safer to destroy them now?” Vic asked.

  Xavier shook his head. “I fear matters are more complicated than even you expected. I need to know if the forgers were somehow tricked into creating the Will, or if they are still doing business with Daniel.”

  “We’ll get the answers,” Vic promised and hurried out to the coach where Tubs had been sitting for quite a while.

  Upon climbing in, she apologized to Tubs and handed him the documents. “Tuck those away.” Then she stuck her head out the window. “We are ready, Casey.”

  Tubs called out the location of the nearest forger, then frowned at the documents. “Why haven’t we destroyed these?”

  “Xavier is concerned Daniel may have tricked one of the forgers into creating the Will recently. We need to know if they are purposely still working for him or if they were fooled by another customer into making this.”

  “Why would anyone stick their neck out for Daniel?”

  “I’m sure someone likes him.”

  “Doubt it,” Tubs grumbled.

  “Well, his mistress must like him,” Vic countered.

  Tub chuckled. “You’d be right there.” He leaned out the window and gave Casey new directions.

  “We aren’t going to visit the mistress, are we?”

  “Nope, but I’m pretty sure I know which one of the three fellows made both these documents. And if I’ve got this figured out, he is not going to be happy.”

  Vic grinned. “You think the mistress asked the forger to create the Will for herself, when in fact, it was for Daniel.”

  “That is exactly what I think but let me ask the questions. While Granger would never shoot you, he will lie through his teeth, so I may need to terrorize him a bit.”

  “Then I’ll remain mute,” Vic promised.

  “Granger knows who you are. You’ve made quite a name for yourself and your involvement in this situation will give him great concern. Thus far, all three forgers have managed to avoid the attention of the police. But their free ride stops today. I’ll try to scare Granger back to his honest trade, but if that doesn’t seem to be working, feel free to threaten him with not just the loss of their forgeries, but his honest trades as well. All three of these forgers like to pretend they cause no harm, but false documents can ruin a person, causing them to commit suicide, or end up in the poor house.”

  Tubs sighed heavily. “In this case, I suspect they intended to kill the lady on paper and toss her out in the street where she would have died from starvation or gotten thrown into Bedlam for claiming to be a dead woman.”

  “Is it really so easy to steal a person’s life?”

  “I’ve seen it happen many times. A quality forgery can do great damage.”

  Vic mulled over the matter. While annoying, the original document giving Daniel money each year, was not nearly as dangerous as the will. In fact, it hadn’t been nearly as effective as Dan
iel had planned, since Vivian kept moving her money to different banks, which meant he had to discover her new bank before he could extract money.

  However, the Will and Testament was far more dangerous. Once Vivian was declared dead, for all practical purposes, she no longer existed. Proof of this was Xavier belief that she had died long ago. Only this time Daniel would have strong proof, and if she had the audacity to object to her false death, he could easily have her placed into Bedlam. And while Jacko could rescue someone from Bedlam, doing so wasn’t easy, and the time inside, waiting for rescue, normally took a terrible toll on the one falsely held.

  ***

  The carriage stopped at the same building that her man of business, Mr. Ascot had an office. The forger had what appeared to be a thriving business on the bottom floor. People were coming and going, customers stood in long lines waiting to receive a stamp or whatever else they needed. In another section, machines produced blank forms, so the legitimate people could fill them out and then have them stamped.

  The place gave no hint of illegal activities. Then a young man looked up at Tubs and shook his head. “We’re a bit busy today. Perhaps you could return on Wednesday. That’s our slowest day.”

  Tubs snorted. “Not that I’ve noticed. I want to speak to Granger now.”

  “He’s not here,” the young fellow said.

  “Of course, he’s here. He’s the hardest working fellow I’ve ever met. So, escort Vic and me to his private room before I become angry. You do not wish to see that.”

  To move matters along, Vic widened her eyes and shook her head as if terrified by the thought of an angry Tubs.

  The young man stood. “Stay here and let me see if he came in unexpectedly.”

  Before the boy could turn to run, Tubs snatched him by the back of his collar and pulled him close. “Listen very carefully. I want to see Granger now. Just point out which room he is in and you can return to your work. However, if he is not there, I will find you, and it will be the worst and probably last day of your life.”