“Why would he do that?”
“I have no idea, but I know every time I talk to him it seems like we are talking about two different things and he’s all very mysterious. Have you not found him so?”
“I have,” James admitted, “But I would have thought you two would be very good company to one another.” Edwards didn’t know if there was an insult in this but he didn't rise to it if there was.
Something was up with the Alderman and Edwards didn’t know if it was suspicion or just tiredness but he didn’t like it. He stood up.
“I’ll call again some time soon; perhaps you’ll be in better humour by then?” James stood up and nodded as though he had not heard what he had said.
“Can I rely on you if I start to investigate the Hellfire Club members?” James asked at the door.
“If you think the killer is there, yes, you can rely on me, but I think Spencer was the man despite your change of heart.”
“I suppose time will tell,” James said dolefully and Edwards nodded goodbye and left.
Chapter 92
The night Mullins came home drunk and late Kate at first scolded him for both his drunkenness and his good humour with all that had been going on. When he told her how Muc had caught the killer and that it was Madame Mel’s brother Kate’s anger changed to euphoria and the whole house was up before long. They had celebrated the end of these evil times like nothing else.
Kate was thankful that it was all over and even more thankful that she had been reunited with her husband. She felt sorry for Mary about John but was also glad that whole mess was at an end too.
A few days after the killer had been caught Sarah and Mary came to her and said that it was time for them to move on. Kate did not want them to go but she knew it was time too. Herself and Tim had to get back to living as a married couple and the women had to get on with their own lives once again.
It didn’t take them long to get a place and it was very close by in Vicar Street. Mullins helped them in moving what little they had into the place and they seemed happy.
One evening after Mullins came home from the shop and they sat over dinner, he said to Kate,
“I’ve been thinking, love.”
“Yes?”
“This city has been an evil place for a lot of years now, and I don’t think I want our kids to grow up here.” She was delighted at the mention of children but also alarmed at where this was going- though she didn’t know why.
“What are you saying, Tim?” she asked.
“I think we should move away from here, far away, go somewhere nobody knows us and we can be happy there.”
“Where?”
“I don’t know, but I feel anywhere would be better than here. Can you not feel the dread in this place? It’s been here for years and it’s only getting worse. How long will it be before we are scared in our homes again by another killer, or this rebellion that people are always talking about?” Kate thought about this a moment and she had to admit that she felt the same. She didn’t know if she would ever feel safe in Dublin again once night fell.
“I know what you’re saying,” she said.
“My work can be done anywhere,” he went on. “I’d have to pass Larry on to someone else but he’s coming along fine.”
“Have you anywhere at all in mind?”
“Not straight off, but if we save a bit, I was thinking of,” here he paused and looked in to her eyes, “America!” Kate couldn't believe what she was hearing but she fell in love with the idea at once, not necessarily the America part but she was on board.
“When do you think we'd leave?” she asked.
“A few months?” he shrugged. She thought about this a moment and then nodded, a huge smile coming to her face.
“Yes, Tim, let's do it, let’s get out of this place as soon as we can and never look back!” she jumped into his lap and threw her arms around him and he clasped her waist and they kissed. This was the first moment of their new life she thought, and what a way to start it.
Chapter 93
The light was failing when James’ carriage rolled towards Wild Boar Hall. If the circumstance of his visit had been different, there might have been a sense of Deja vu. As it was, this was just one more sad end to be tied up. James wasn’t even going to spend the night but instead would travel back to Dublin as soon as possible this evening so as to be back in time to be rested before Gaspard DeLacroix’s trial.
Stapleton himself was waiting on the steps as he pulled up and this was a surprise. He looked older than he’d been and struck a sad figure.
“Alderman James,” he greeted with outstretched hand. James shook it,
“Lord Stapleton.”
“I can’t believe what has to come to be,” Stapleton said, “I could never have expected it would be Lisa!”
“I didn’t think so myself until it became clear to me,” James conceded. Stapleton shook his head, “I know this isn’t very professional of me, Lord Stapleton,” James went on,” But, I have come to ask if there is anything you can do to show some leniency for Lisa when her trial comes up?”
“There’s not going to be a trial, Alderman,” Stapleton answered and this took James very much by surprise.
“What do you mean?”
“Lisa escaped from the local gaol two nights ago; I doubt we’ll see her again.” James didn’t need to ask how a young woman could manage to escape and then vanish into the night. He knew she could not have done this alone.
“I see,” he said.
“Shandy will hang no doubt?” Stapleton asked of his former messenger. Of course, news of what he’d done had reached home.
“I’m afraid so,” James said, there was nothing he could do to prevent that now.
“I suppose it’s what he deserved,” Stapleton nodded.
“How is Lady Stapleton?” James asked after a brief silence.
“Happy at last,” Stapleton answered and James looked at him, “She’s finally talked me into going back to England. None of the family save myself has ever been comfortable in this house and each will be glad to see the back of it.”
“You intend to sell?”
“Not straight away, but I don’t see the point in keeping it long term if I’m not going to see the use of it.” James could understand this, if the family disliked living here and were afraid of the place it was unlikely they would consider such as a ‘summer home.’ James also had a feeling Lisa would magically turn up wherever Lord Stapleton settled in England. Probably not what she would ideally want in her life, but it was better than rotting in prison or swinging from the gallows.
“Well, I better get on my way; I only called down to speak this word to you.”
“Fair enough,” Stapleton said and they shook hands once again.
“If you’re ever back in England look us up, we would always be honoured to have you as our guest,” he said.
“Thank you, I just might take you up on that invitation someday.”
“I hear congratulations are in order for your capture of the Frenchman in Dublin too, my God you’ve been a busy man of late.”
In official circles, Muc had been so good to lay the catching of Gaspard on James’ shoulders. He did not like it and it felt hollow now to receive the praise for it.
“The trial begins in two days and I imagine he’ll be hanging by the end of the week,” he said. At least it was over, at least all of it was over now, he thought. If he’d been exhausted before, he was beyond shattered with tiredness now. The quiet life back in England called out to him once more.
“Well deserved by the sounds of it,” Stapleton said.
“If only everyone got what they deserved,” James responded looking off into the distance.
GASPARD DELACROIX WAS found guilty of seven murders, including the former serial killer Colonel Spencer. He was sentenced to hang and a huge crowd had gathered to watch this event. The people of Dublin hadn’t seen a crowd this large for the gallows since the morning Thomas O
locher had been scheduled for death in 1788.
James and Edwards watched on from a vantage point off to the left of the gallows structure. They did not speak and each looked around taking in the crowd and watching the men setting up on the platform.
Opposite to them, with an even better view of the platform from within a spacious comfortable hotel room, Madame Mel looked on. She could not be seen by the rabble outside as she waited to witness the hanging of her brother for his crimes. She had been interviewed by James as to her knowledge of his actions and had played dumb, enough to convince him that she had no idea what he was up to. As far as she had been concerned, she told James, Gaspard had been out of the country for most of the time the murders were taking place. She didn’t know he’d come back until he showed up in the brothel one day looking for a place to stay. Naturally, she turned him out, she went on, she didn’t run a boarding house after all. She even told James about her own fears on becoming a victim and how she had gone to Mullins for protection only to be turned down. It seemed like her story had been believed and she was then left alone.
A knock came on the door and one of the servants answered. Melanie knew who it would be and he had arrived just in time. The servant had been told to let the man come to where she sat alone. She heard his footsteps close behind her,
“Welcome back to Dublin, Dr Adams,” she said, “You’re just in time for the excitement.” Dr Adams, moved forward and took the seat beside her,
“Good to see you again, Madame Mel,” he said looking out over the crowd, “It feels good to be back.”
“It will feel even better soon,” she said pointing to the far side of the crowd. Adams looked where she pointed and nodded. Edwards stood off beside Alderman James, with no idea he was being viewed by these enemies of his.
A terrific booing and hissing suddenly erupted and they looked and saw that Gaspard was being led through the crowd to the gallows. People shouted and jeered at him and some threw things at him. The Frenchman's face remained implacable. There were some cuts and bruising on his face that must have happened in his time in prison awaiting this sentence.
A few minutes later he was on the platform, the crier reading out the charges as the hangman noosed Gaspard’s neck.
Madame Mel sat forward in her seat and bit her lower lip in anticipation. She looked to Adams and smiling said,
“Wait until you see this.”
The End
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