Hunting Down the Darkness

by European P. Douglas

  “Sir, there’s really no need. Anyone you want to speak to can be brought down here to the house.”

  “I understand that,” James said, “But I’d like to ride in on them unawares; see if anyone looks caught off guard or like they might have something to hide.” Hodges sighed and nodded,

  “You know your own business, Sir.”

  James wanted to go out on foot but Hodges insisted they ride horses due to the nature of the ground. He was very concerned about what might happen to the Alderman’s shoes and clothes up in the village with all the grime and mud about. James let him have this one without arguing the toss.

  “I must warn you, Sir,” Hodges said as they mounted the horses, “It is a grim scene up there. Not in keeping with the rest of the house and grounds.”

  “I’ve come from some of the grimmest scenes you could imagine,” James answered him. “I don’t think this will be any worse than what I have seen before.”

  “I hope you’re right, Sir,” Hodges said grimly.

  Chapter 16

  From the loft of the stable, Oliver Shandy had been able to hear all that had been said between Hodges and James. His eyes were trained the whole time on James' face through a gap between the roof and the wall. So this was the man who’d had Oliver’s brother hanged all those years ago. To be honest, James didn’t look anything like as stern or foreboding as Oliver had come to imagine him. If anything, he looked like a gentleman in easy middle age. The kind that wouldn’t do harm to even the smallest of creatures.

  Oliver listened to Hodges' explanation for what might have happened to Thompson and he knew this was the general view held by most of the servants of the house. Thompson had a good standing amongst the others, but Oliver had seen a darker side to him once or twice and knew he wasn’t above having an enemy. Just who that might be, however, was not something he could claim to know.

  Oliver had been away to Galway while all the fuss was going on around the body being found, so he was sure none of his own footprints would be found in the mud. When James was gone, he went around the side of the building to have a look for himself, careful not to make any impression as he did so.

  As far as he could make out, six or seven different people had stood on the ground about the body. One set would have been Thompson’s himself, one would be the killers and the others would be the staff who milled around after the discovery. Oliver saw how easy it would be for someone to be falsely accused here and have no way out. Plenty of people on the grounds of Wild Boar Hall, got up to one thing or another that they wouldn't want either Lord Stapleton or their fellow servants to know about. Trying to keep those secrets could make a man look guilty for this crime. He looked down again at the prints and felt reasonable in guessing they were all male and probably as heavy as Oliver himself was. That didn’t narrow it down much at all.

  Oliver at first thought it would be best if he did not go to the outhouse so he could avoid James, but on second thought, he felt he might make himself noticeable by his absence. Hodges would no doubt like to believe Oliver Shandy was the killer and would have no trouble in pushing the Alderman’s thoughts in this direction if any suspicion was aroused. Oliver would just have to take a chance on James not seeing the family resemblance.

  As he walked on foot after the two horses that carried James and Hodges, Shandy came up with an idea to assist in his deception while also allowing him to be in James presence for a time. Looking around to make sure that no one was watching him, he ran a few steps and dived chest first into the muddy road, letting his face be splashed badly in the process. He stood up soaked to the skin but felt the sticky mess on his face and felt it would do the trick. He smeared a little more on thickly just to be sure. When it began to harden, there was little chance he would be recognised by anyone who didn’t know him well.

  When Oliver got to the village, James and Hodges were talking to Owens in the middle of the pathway. Oliver put on a disgruntled face and stomped towards them. Owens was the first to see Oliver coming and his facial reaction led James and Hodges to look at him too.

  “What happened to you?” Hodges asked unable to contain a laugh.

  “Sir,” Oliver said to James and bowing a little, playing the part of the peasant, before answering Hodges, “I fell off a cart as I was trying to mend a wheel in the stable yard.”

  “Alderman James, here,” Hodges said, “Is investigating Thompson’s murder.”

  “A terrible thing to happen,” Oliver said blessing himself.

  “Did you know the man well?” James asked him.

  “Well enough, Sir. He worked the stable and I was often out on horses for his Lordship.”

  “You were friends?”

  “I suppose you could say that, Sir.”

  “Do you know of any reason why anyone might mean him harm?”

  “No, Sir, not at all.” James seemed to scrutinise Oliver's face at this point but Oliver wondered how much he would be able to read in a face completely covered in muck.

  “You should go home and get cleaned up and into something warm,” James said to him after a long pause. “I may want to talk to you again Mr?”

  “Oliver, Sir,” he answered quickly hoping Hodges would not correct him with the surname. James nodded and then turned back to Owens to resume the conversation they’d been having when he walked up. Seeing, gladly, that he was now being ignored, Oliver set off for home. He was happy that he had managed to get through this first meeting without incident or raising a notion in the Alderman.

  Back in his hut, he stripped and washed with cold water all the while looking out at what James was doing. He was talking to everyone he met but it didn’t look like too much of an interrogation for anyone. What was he up to? Oliver guessed he was testing the water, trying to see if anyone would act guilty. That was probably the whole reason he came up to the village at all. Oliver had to admit he didn’t think the man would come to this rotten dump at all.

  Oliver looked on with burning hatred for the man and smiled at the idea of James’ final comeuppance. It was not going to be long now, and at that last moment when it was too late to do anything about it, James would finally know Oliver’s surname and regret all he’d ever done to that family.

  Chapter 17

  Mullins was in the shop early on the morning he was to meet Madame Melanie and the boy Larry. He had not gone out the previous night, had instead went to bed early, and woke early this morning. He was washed and his clothes were as neat and tidy as he could muster before setting off to open the blacksmith and tidy it up a bit as well.

  It wasn’t until he’d done all this, that he realised with horror that he was going to all this trouble for this woman based solely on her beauty. He suddenly felt very ashamed of himself and a grimace of annoyance came over his face. Mullins thought about what this woman did for a living. Well, he didn’t know what she did herself, but he knew what the girls in her employment did and that was bad enough. And yet, he found he was still looking forward to seeing that face again and the shape of her body as she walked. With this in mind he looked over the shop one last time deciding it was fine as it was, he stepped outside so he would be able to see her coming.

  It wasn’t a long wait and Melanie appeared around the corner only moments later. The boy at her side looked meek and nervous. He was small and dark haired with a clean white face and nice clothes on. He looked about as far from an apprentice as Mullins could imagine, but then he'd thought the same thing about Scally when his mother brought him here many years before.

  “Good morning,” he said with a smile when they got to the shop.

  “Good Morning, Mister Mullins,” Melanie said with a smile on her own face that was enough to make Mullins’ day. “Larry,” she bent to the boy who was clutching her hand tightly, “This is Mister Mullins. Mister Mullins, this is Larry Redmond.”

  “Hello there, Larry,” Mullins said as cheerily as he could.

  “Hello,” the boy answered glancing at him and then ba
ck down to the ground.

  “Do you want to have a look inside the shop and see the tools and the fires?” he asked.

  “Wow, doesn’t that sound interesting?” Melanie enthused in her French accent. Larry didn’t say anything but he did look at the shop door in curiosity.

  “Come on,” Mullins said, “Madame Melanie can come with you.”

  Mullins held the tarp over, let the two enter, and then followed inside.

  “Let me show you this, Larry,” Mullins said passing by and putting on his gloves. He’d put an old sword sitting in one of the fires before they had come and now he lifted out the white hot metal and placed it on the flat stone surface in the centre of the room. “Look how hot that is,” he said cheerily to Larry. The boys eyes lit up and he took a step away from Melanie. “Don’t get too close, it could take your skin off even before you touched it!” Mullins smiled at Larry as he said this and the boy beamed back at him. “Now here’s the fun part,” Mullins said.

  Leaning over he took up his lightest hammer and handed it to the boy. Larry looked to Melanie as though for permission and she nodded encouragingly. He took the hammer by the handle and looked at Mullins waiting to be told what to do.

  “You see the way the sword is bent, here,” Mullins said pointing and moving the sword so he could see. Larry nodded. “I want you to hit it here as hard as you can, say maybe three times. Can you do that for me?” Larry nodded excitedly.

  “Crack away, Larry,” Mullins said smiling. Melanie stood back a little as the boy raised the hammer and looked up at Mullins who gave him a nod to go on.

  The hammer came down and there was a loud metallic clang in the room. Larry looked to Mullins who again indicated for him to go on. Once more, the hammer went up in the air and crashed down. Melanie winced at the noise and Mullins couldn’t suppress a smile at this. Larry didn’t look for any more encouragement this time but instead slammed down with the hammer even harder than before. Mullins was impressed with this blow and the accuracy of the three shots and saw that perhaps there was a blacksmith in this boy after all.

  He took up the sword and plunged it into the barrel of water and it hissed and steamed all over. Larry watched on fascinated and even Melanie seemed keen to see what was happening. When he thought it was cooled enough Mullins took the sword from the water and held it out for Larry to see.

  “Look at that,” Mullins said proudly, “A natural!” Larry blushed deeply at the praise but it was clear he was delighted by it.

  “Very nice,” Melanie said and she actually sounded like she meant it. “So you will take him as your apprentice?” she asked Mullins.

  Mullins made like he was thinking about it but he had already made up his mind. It didn't help that he found Madame Mel impossible to say no to, a reason she was perhaps so well to do in life. He was impressed with the boy, however, and saw no reason not to take him on.

  “I will,” he said patting Larry on the head. He handed him the sword, “You can keep this; just be careful with it.”

  “Oh, thank you!” Larry said and it was as if this was the greatest thing that had ever happened to him.

  “When can he start?” Melanie asked.

  “How does Monday sound to you?”

  “Monday is fine. I will bring his things here?”

  “Does he have much?”

  “Not really, only clothes.”

  “Yes, bring them but I hope they are not as nice as what he is wearing now. They will soon be destroyed working here.”

  “I will see to it that he has appropriate clothes for the work,” Melanie said, “I must thank you for this, Mister Mullins.”

  “Think nothing of it,” he said.

  “I will pay you something for him weekly,” she went on.

  “And I will pay him something for his work,” Mullins said. “He will do fine.”

  “I think so,” she agreed, “Thank you once again Mister Mullins.”

  Chapter 18

  Edwards was practically giddy as he rapped on the door to Wild Boar Hall. It was true that he’d always intended on coming here; to see the place where the Devil legend had reportedly taken place. It was a place of folklore in the Hellfire Club and many of the other members had been here in the past and told him of it.

  Of course, what the general public seemed to be unable to grasp of the Hellfire Club was that they no more believed in the Devil than they did in God. This place had no real meaning for them, but it was good to keep the rumour mill running. As such, a visit to a site associated with the Devil was never a wasted journey. It had been a while since the club was the talk of the town back in Dublin and this would light a few stories- though nothing in comparison to what was coming.

  The door opened and Hodges stood there,

  “Sir?” he asked.

  “I’m Mr. Edwards, Lord Stapleton is expecting me.”

  “I’m very sorry, Sir, I did not see or hear your carriage approach,” Hodges said looking out behind Edwards.

  “Don’t worry my good man,” Edwards said with a smile. “I walked from the gate, my belongings will come later.”

  “I see, Sir. I am Hodges, the family and their guest are about to sit down to dinner. A place has been set in case you arrived this evening. Would you like me to show you to your room first or shall I take you directly to the dining room?”

  “Why don’t we go straight to dinner,” Edwards said gleefully. He was eager to see James’ reaction when they met.

  “Very good, Sir.”

  Edwards took as much of the house in as he could on the short walk to the dining room. The halls were lit with as few candles as possible and he wondered if this was thrift or for effect. Dark corners lurked everywhere and he could imagine the average person who’d heard the story of the house being quite unnerved as they walked along here.

  They came to the dining room faster than Edwards would have liked and Hodges announced him.

  “So glad you could make it this evening,” Stapleton said striding across the room to shake his hand. The rest of the family rose from the table and were followed reluctantly by Alderman James. Edwards saw his expression reflected in a mirror as he greeted Lady Stapleton and it was most satisfactory. It was clear he had spoiled the Alderman's dinner.

  “And of course you know Alderman James,” Stapleton said when he was finished introducing the family (Fredrick hadn’t shown for dinner yet so was not present).

  “Of course,” Edwards smiled warmly shaking James’ hand, “I couldn’t believe it when Lord Stapleton informed me you were here just as I was visiting!”

  “Quite the coincidence,” James said dryly.

  “What has you down here, anyway?” Edwards asked.

  “The Alderman has come down to investigate a murder on our behalf,” Lady Stapleton answered.

  “A murder! How awful. Who was the victim?”

  “I can fill you in on all the details after dinner,” James said, “We mustn’t hold everyone up from their food.”

  “Quite right,” Edwards smiled, “My apologies.”

  “No apology necessary, I assure you,” Stapleton said as everyone took to the table.

  Just then, the door opened and Fredrick came in waving his hands,

  “Sorry I’m late,” he said but didn’t offer any explanation. Edwards recognised him as they met eyes.

  “I believe we shared a bottle of sherry in Limerick about seven years ago,” Fredrick said to him.

  “I’m afraid you are mistaken,” Edwards smiled, “It was two bottles.” Everyone save James laughed at this.

  “I’m afraid your name escapes me?” Fredrick said.

  “Edwards,” he replied, “and I believe you are Planter? Am I correct?”

  “You are Sir, good memory.”

  “Perhaps you had the lion's share of the sherry that night!” Again, everyone laughed save James. Fredrick found this very funny and he had to wipe tears from his eyes when he stopped laughing.

  The table spoke of genera
l things for a time, about the war in Europe and the French Problem. The conversation came back to more local matters later and James said,

  “I think you may have come at the right time, Mr Edwards. Fredrick is going to tell us the tale that made this house famous this evening.”

  “How delightful, that is fortuitous timing,” Edwards exclaimed smiling at the whole table.

  “I’ll tell you about it in the study when we are digested,” Fredrick said.

  “I can’t wait,” Edwards said and after a moment’s pause addressed the family once more. “I suppose the Alderman has been too modest to tell you all about his exploits in the Dolocher and Shadow of the Dolocher cases?” He could feel James squirming at the mention of it.

  “He has been too modest,” Stapleton said, “And we have been too polite to ask.”

  “There’s really not all that much to tell,” James said. “Whatever news sheet reports you read would have been much more entertaining than anything I could have to say.”

  “Nonsense!” Edwards said, “Did he tell you that long before the Dolocher was actually captured the Alderman came with a few inches of catching him in a rooftop chase!”

  “Really?” Henry asked.

  “It wasn’t as dramatic as Mr Edwards makes out. I pursued him down an alley and he escaped over a roof before I could follow him.”

  Edwards knew James lamented that night quite a bit. If he’d have caught the Dolocher that night he could have been the hero he so wanted to be and some lives would have been spared into the bargain.

  “Perhaps tomorrow evening you can tell us all about it?” Fredrick suggested. It was clear to Edwards that he didn’t want to have his thunder stolen this evening.

  “Yes, I think everyone would be interested in that,” Edwards said with a smile to Alderman James.

  Chapter 19

  Mary had been very frightened since the night she was chased and she’d stayed at home as much as she could. She was even more alarmed when she heard about the murder on Angel Alley and Kate told her Muc thought it was going to be the start of a new wave of murders. Mary genuinely felt whoever had chased her that night was the same person who killed Tam Grady.