Hunting Down the Darkness

by European P. Douglas

  The horses slowed and the carriage came to a halt directly at the steps up to Edwards’ house. Dunbar on seeing the carriage arrive stepped down to the roadside to meet him.

  “What is it?” Edwards said in a surly tone that instantly wiped the greeting smile from Dunbar’s face.

  “You wanted me to keep you updated with any news of the Alderman,” he said.

  “Yes, and what is it?”

  “He’s leaving the city, today for a few days.”

  “Where is he going?”

  “To some place called Wild Boar Hall; I don’t know where it is or why he’s going though.” Edwards nodded at this news. He did know where Wild Boar Hall was and he also knew something of the legend associated with it.

  “It’s down near the coast in Waterford,” he said, “You say he’s leaving today?”

  “Yes, Sir,”

  “And he only told you this today?”

  “Yes, well, no, last night, but I couldn't find you.”

  “How does he seem?”

  “Sir?”

  “Does he seem agitated or rushed?”

  “I don’t know,” Dunbar said, “I told him about a houghing that happened and he was upset about this and the next I know he says he going away in the morning.”

  “Interesting,” Edwards said walking past Dunbar and going up the steps into the house without another word. Dunbar stood a moment looking embarrassed and then set off back to his duties.

  Once inside the house, Edwards sent one of his servants out to find out if there was any news recently of Wild Boar Hall, or of the Stapleton family who lived there.

  “I shall be sleeping until noon and I want some answers when I wake,” he warned.

  Edwards went to bed without eating, feeling as if he could fall asleep in a matter of moments. As he lay there, however, he found he could think only of the Alderman and what could have happened to make him rush off in such a way. It was very out of character for him.

  Since Spencer’s arrest, Edward had been very aware of efforts on James’ part to disassociate himself from Edwards. It had been the same after the Dolocher murders. Edwards knew how much his own lifestyle and disdain for the common people of the city offended the Alderman’s sensibilities. James was a god-fearing man, always looking to do right if he could. It amused Edwards to be in his company and talk of things at the Hellfire club and mock his faith.

  Still, Edwards had never felt more alive than when he was helping James with the murder investigations. They had been the only distractions in an otherwise mundane existence for him. Until, that was, he’d discovered the son of one Dublin’s most famous killers and took him under his wing.

  It was almost time to set his plan in motion, to spread terror in the city once more. But not just yet, one more distraction with the Alderman would be quite welcome now.

  Chapter 4

  Kate looked out on the Liffey in the direction of the Liberties; the place that had been until recently her home. Ship masts and the buildings beyond them obscured any chance of her actually seeing the places she loved so well but in her mind’s eye, she could see everything as though she were there.

  Every night, and perhaps more often than that, she would sit by this window thinking about her husband and the life they’d had for so short a time. Kate knew she’d done wrong but had done so for the right reasons. If she had not acted as she did in going to Edwards, Tim would be dead now. Hanged for the Spencer killing of which he bore no blame.

  “Do you think it could be time to try again?” Mary Sommers’ voice came from behind her.

  “There’s no point,” Kate answered without turning, “He’ll never forgive me.”

  “You saved his life!” Mary said in anger.

  “He’d rather be dead than saved in the way I did it.” Though Mary said no more on the subject, Kate could sense her anger at Tim, and could almost hear her voice saying ‘Let him have a go of being hanged and see how much he likes it!’

  “I’ll make some more tea,” Kate said coming away from the window. She loved Mary dearly and didn’t want to fall out with her. She knew Mary only had her best interests at heart but Kate was also aware of how Tim would feel about what she had done and she understood how he wouldn’t be able to get past it.

  “Why don’t you sit down a few minutes and I’ll make it,” Mary said getting up from her chair.

  Kate was about to answer when there was a sudden loud thump against the wood frame at the top of the window and something fell to the floor within the room. Both women jumped in fright.

  “What is it, a bird?” Mary asked looking over at the lump in the shadow of the wall.

  “It must be,” Kate said craning her head forward for a better look, “Poor thing must have lost its bearings and...” a loud shriek finished her sentence and Kate recoiled grabbing hold of Mary's arm as she did.

  “What?” Mary asked in fright.

  “It’s a rat!”

  “What?” Mary asked shocked back to calmness. She took Kate’s hand from her and took a couple of steps towards the window.

  Sure enough, laying there dead and still was a large rat. It was covered in blood and its head was hanging on by a thread, jagged rips in the flesh of the neck showed where it had been cut at. Yellow teeth showed in the lifeless head and the fur was matted and wiry with blood.

  Kate, getting past her fear now marched to the window, careful not to stand on the animal, and looked outside.

  “Someone threw that up here,” she said in indignation. “I could have got a belt of it if I was still at the window!”

  “Can you see anyone down there?” Mary asked. Kate looked but though there were people around no one looked to be guilty of this event. There was a pattering of blood where the animal had hit the window frame and then some on the windowsill where it had fallen inside.

  “No one who looks guilty,” she answered. Kate knew by Mary’s reluctance to come any closer to the window meant that cleaning up this mess was going to fall to her. “Heat some water and I’ll clean this mess up,” she said. Mary turned happily to this task without a word.

  Kate looked at the rat again. It was hands down the ugliest and nastiest sight she’d ever seen. Who could have done such a thing? She was no fan of rats but you had to be a pretty sick person to tear the head off one and toss it at someone’s open window. But then, her own experience had showed over the last few years that there was no shortage of sick people in Dublin.

  “Do you think we should start looking for somewhere else to live?” Mary asked once the water was over the fire.

  “What do you mean?” Kate asked, surprised by the question.

  The three women lived in these rooms on the second floor of a four story building on the quays. Edwards had allowed Kate to live here after Tim had thrown her out and she had been attacked one night by Spencer (how lucky could she be- Kate had survived attacks by both of the most notorious killers Dublin had ever seen). She’d intended leaving the rooms soon and had hoped to live with Sarah and Mary in their place on Skippers Lane. The idea came to her then, that it would be better for everyone if they all moved here. Edwards said she could do what she wanted with the place and she was not paying any rent. It was a perfect fit for them all to live here in those conditions and save money while also eating better than they ever had before.

  “Well,” Mary started looking for the right words, “We’ve been here a good few months now, and I suppose it would be best to find somewhere else in case something goes wrong here.”

  “Like what?”

  “God only knows, but Mr Edwards could turn on all of us in a second, and you know that better that anyone.” Kate nodded; there was no denying Edwards’ whims and dark moods. It was different now, however. Kate knew that he was in love with her, something she’d never suspected in the past. Surely, he would not throw her out now if he felt like this?

  No sooner had she had this thought than Kate smiled wanly; he may be in love with her but he knew fu
ll well that she was not in love with him. That old beast unrequited love was to be factored in here and there was no telling what that could lead to.

  “I suppose you’re right,” Kate said, “It will be a terrible shame to have to start paying rent again, though.”

  “We’ll manage,” Mary said patting her on the shoulder, “We always have in the past.”

  Chapter 5

  Dusk was settling as Alderman James first spotted the imposing Wild Boar Hall. As the carriage approached the house by the long driveway, James peering interestedly out the windows saw the flicker of many lights through the trees away from the house. He looked more intently to try make out what it could be and he was surprised when a brief opening in the copse showed him that it was what could only be described as a tiny hamlet not half a mile from the house. He found this to be quite odd, but before he could dwell on it, the carriage came to an abrupt stop.

  “Mr James,” the dry voice of the butler addressed him as he alighted the cabin, “I trust you had a pleasant journey? I am Hodges and I am tasked with showing you to your rooms.” The man bowed low and then stood erect. He was a broad-shouldered man of about forty, and he had the look of a person of diligence and hard work. James liked him straight off and smiled warmly,

  “The journey was fine, thank you Hodges. Please lead the way. My man, Owens, here will get my bags.”

  Hodges led James and the coachman though the main doorway and into an atrium that beheld a most exquisite carved stairs that ran off in two directions to each wing of the house about halfway up. The bannisters were thick well-preserved wood and the curved handrails were wide and polished to a sheen. James had never seen a staircase like it and he would have liked to spend more time standing there just looking at it.

  “Lord Stapleton has asked that you take as long as you need before coming down,” Hodges said, “He does not want you to feel under any pressure at all.” They were in the living quarters of what was to be James’ home away from home for the next few days.

  “That is most gracious of his Lordship, but I will come down in a matter of minutes,” James said looking about his rooms. Everything looked like it could cost a fortune and the bed was so well made up and adorned with quilts, pillows and blankets that it seemed a shame he should have to disturb it all later.

  “Lord Stapleton will be in his study. I will have someone come for you presently,” Hodges said with another of his stiff bows. James thanked him and Owens whom was led away to the servant’s area.

  Standing alone in this room, James felt tired. It had been a long journey and the weather had not been good. He would have liked nothing more than a quick bite to eat and to then go to bed, but decency and manners would not allow him to do such a thing, even if this was not the home of a Lord.

  He went to the window of the bedroom to let some air in when he saw that his room faced out in the same direction of the little town he had seen from the carriage. From this new vantage, he could see the place better but still not well as the dusk had settled to dark now.

  James guessed there were about a dozen fires burning in the small huts, perhaps some of the fires were outside in the open air. Overall, he would say there were twenty dwellings or structures; he would be better able to tell with the morning light. Still, it was intriguing, especially as he was no surer than before that this settlement was surely on the land of this house.

  Just as the Alderman was about to turn back into the room, movement caused him to look down and he saw two figures come out of the shadows on horseback. They were both men and they did not seem to be talking. One was sat upright and alert while the other slouched lazily. James thought at once about why he was here. A murder had been committed somewhere very close to where he stood and anything going on outside could be a clue.

  He leaned out to see if perhaps the men were talking even very low but he could make no sound out save the gently clopping of the horses hooves. He looked and saw then that the people he was so curious about were in fact, Hodges and Owens. This is when the settlement made sense to James, it was not peasants up there but the staff of the manor, Hodges was taking Owens off to his sleeping quarters.

  Well, that was one mystery solved, James smiled, and he could only hope the next one would be so simple.

  Five minutes later, there came a gentle rapping on the door. It was so soft, in fact, that James wasn’t sure for a moment that he’d actually heard it. After a moment however, he saw the light of a candle beneath the door and he knew there was someone there.

  Walking over, he was about to open the door when he caught himself. It wouldn’t do to be so open with a killer about, he thought.

  “Yes, who is it?” he said through the still closed doors.

  “I’ve come to take you to his Lordship,” a woman’s nervous voice answered and then hastily she added, “You’ve not to rush; you are to take all the time you need.”

  James opened the door and it seemed to startle the woman as she jumped a little and took a step back.

  “Don’t worry,” James said in apology, “I’m ready to go to Lord Stapleton, now.”

  James looked at the young woman as a shy smile came to her face. The candle glowed over her features and at that moment, he never thought he’d seen a more beautiful creature in his entire life.

  “You’re sure?” she asked.

  “Yes, lead the way,” he smiled back getting hold of himself once more.

  The woman bowed and started towards the stairs.

  “What is your name?” James asked on the way down.

  “Lisa, Sir,” she answered looking back over her shoulder.

  “Lisa, what a lovely name,” James said. He thought about telling her to call him by his own first name but that wouldn’t be proper. Instead, he followed in silence, on his way to meet Lord Stapleton.

  Chapter 6

  Approaching from the West, those same fires that Alderman James had been looking on came as a most welcome sight to Oliver Shandy. The former soldier had been in Galway delivering a message to his master’s mistress there. It had been a hard journey home, his horse having slipped and broken a leg more than ten miles from home.

  Though it had upset him to do it, Oliver had cut the animal’s throat to quicken the death and lessen the agony the creature was going through. It had been a fine mount and he was sad to lose it. The blood had soaked through his clothes and the rain that now fell prevented it from drying out. His feet were heavier with each step as he trudged on towards home; his only thought to be sitting by one of those fires in clean clothes as soon as possible.

  Oliver was reminded of miserable marches in Europe on the battlefields with His Majesty’s army. It was a life he’d lived since a young boy and he didn’t know how much he disliked it until he was finally discharged through injury. He had a meagre pension from the army but nothing close to being able to live on. He’d managed to secure work as a stable hand at Wild Boar Hall, after helping out on a cattle run to the area five years previous.

  At last, he came to the last rise and it was a short walk down to the settlement known to its occupants as ‘Stapleton’s Outhouse.’

  “You’re back, Shandy,” Peter the gamekeeper greeted him as they passed on the fringes of the village.

  “I am,” Oliver said, “You off out?”

  “Off to ‘protect’ Stapleton’s interests.” Peter said with a smile. Every night he went out and searched for poachers of the Hall’s livestock. It was very rare that he would come home empty handed himself and he was always willing to share with his fellow man.

  “Will you see if you can protect us up a chicken,” Oliver smiled, “I think I might need the broth tomorrow after being in this rain all day.”

  “I’ll see what I can do,” Peter winked and he went off on his way.

  A few more people greeted Oliver on his way home but he didn’t stop to talk, eager as he was to get out into dry clothes. He was surprised however; to find a man he did not know in his hut when he got th
ere.

  “Hello?” he said warily.

  “Evening,” the man replied pleasantly.

  “You new?” Oliver asked a bit put out that he would no longer be living alone.

  “Oh, no, I’m only here a couple of days. I work for the Alderman.”

  “What Alderman?”

  “Alderman James, he’s a guest of the Stapleton family this week.”

  “Alderman James from Dublin?” Oliver asked, his stomach turning as he awaited the answer.

  “Yes, that’s the one.”

  “The one they call ‘Level Low’?” Oliver said needing to be sure it was the same man.

  “Shhh,” the man said looking around nervously, “Don’t let him hear you say that.”

  Oliver slumped down suddenly more tired than he could ever remember.

  “Do you know him?” the man asked. For a moment the question didn’t register but when it did, Oliver answered,

  “Only by name.”

  “Speaking of names,” the man said cheerfully, “I’m Owens and I think you must be Shandy?”

  “Hodges put you in here did he?” Oliver said nodding to the question asked of him.

  “He did, he said you've been alone a while and could probably do with some company.”

  “I suppose he may be right,” Oliver said hiding behind a friendly smile. He knew it was out of spite; Hodges had put this man in here. Hodges was resentful of the secret missions Stapleton sent Oliver on and the special treatment he gained from it. “Have you eaten?” he asked Owens.

  “Not yet,” Owens answered clearly happy with the mention of food.

  “I need to get changed, but if you go down two doors you’ll find an old woman sitting at a cauldron; she had something hot going in there night and day and she’ll fix you up. Her name is Molly, but she is known as ‘The Banshee’ around. Tell her I’ll be along just after you.”

  “Why is she called that?” Owens asked.

  “She’s a bit of a mystic; some gypsy blood in her, don’t be surprised if she tries to read your palms or tell your fortune,” Oliver smiled.