by Alex Grecian
“And to you.”
Day watched the guard hustle away in the other direction and he shook his head wonderingly. At least there was one person in all of London who respected the bloody Yard.
He drew his Colt Navy from his pocket and moved down the hall. The lantern light didn’t penetrate far into the warren of cubbyholes. His whistle and the screaming of the injured man had turned the rest of the inmates shy. There weren’t many men showing themselves in the narrow tunnel. At every opening where there wasn’t evidence of a tenant, Day thrust the lantern inside and surveyed the room. It was slow going.
He was finishing his search of the fifth room on the westernmost side of the tunnel when he heard a gunshot somewhere behind him. He listened, waiting for the echoes to subside, and heard another, followed immediately by a third. He dashed out of the room and retraced his steps.
He found the young guard facedown in the hall near the entrance. He knelt and turned the guard over, but the man was dead. Blood seeped from a series of deep stab wounds up and down his torso. As Day watched, the flow of blood slowed to a trickle. He closed his eyes and said a short and silent prayer for the soul of the slain guard. A moment later, he was on his feet and running. There was a trail of blood, small dots that glistened yellow in the light of the lantern. They grew smaller as the trail lengthened, and Day guessed that the killer had not been wounded. The blood was dripping from his scissors.
But Day hadn’t found the guard’s gun, and that could mean the messenger had it now. The danger had doubled.
The bloody trail ended at the entrance to one of the small rooms. Day kept to one side and reached slowly into the room. He set his lantern on the floor and put both hands on his gun. He ducked into the room and swept the gun back and forth. It was empty. Something silvery glinted in the lamplight. Day moved some straw aside on the right-hand berth and found a pair of bloody shears. He wrapped them in his handkerchief and stuck them in his back pocket. Like the other rooms, there was a door on this side and another on the far wall, leading to yet another hallway. Day picked his lantern up and crept past the parallel berths to the second door. He crouched against the wall and peered out into the hall.
There was a sound behind him and he turned in time to glimpse the swirl of a dark cloak as a man leapt out from under the straw that covered the other berth. The guard’s gun went off and Day ducked. The lantern shattered. Day was already moving as he heard the crack of the shot and the tinkle of glass. He leapt forward, but the killer was gone.
Day rushed into the hall he’d come from. Up ahead, he could hear the clatter of shoes against the rough wood of the floor. There was a muffled cry and a thump. Day hurried forward and tripped when he came to a staircase that led into more darkness. At a landing halfway up he found a guard, slumped unconscious, his head sagging off a riser. Day checked and found a faint pulse. He adjusted the guard’s head, hoping to make him more comfortable, and moved carefully up the stairs, sliding his back against the wall, his gun ready at his side.
At the top of the stairs was a closed door. Day reached out and slowly turned the knob. When he heard the latch disengage, he flung the door open and threw himself through the doorway onto the floor.
The room Day found himself in was lit by dozens of candles on every side and an open window on the far wall. Outside, the day was grey and rain pattered against the windowsill. Curtains stirred softly and a cool mist wafted in on the breeze.
He was in the upstairs ward for women and children. The guard on the stairs had no doubt been put there to keep the men below from paying unwelcome visits. Mothers were backed up in a semicircle, hiding their little ones behind their skirts. Day looked the room over quickly, his weapon at the ready. There were beds set up in rows along the walls, plain straw mattresses, but nicer than the men’s barracks downstairs. Day dropped to one knee and glanced along the floor under the rows. Nobody hiding under a bed.
“A man,” he said. “Was a man here?”
One of the women, her eyes wide with fear, pointed to the open window and nodded.
He stood and went to the window and looked out. Inside the workhouse, he had nearly forgotten that it was still daytime. Beneath him, a wet stone path ended at a dark line of trees only a few paces from this side of the building. There was no sign of the killer. Day cursed himself silently and slipped the Colt back into his pocket.
Three men, one of them carrying another, came into sight below. The smallest of the men was carrying a black bag. He stepped out onto the path and looked around, then up. He saw Day peering over the sill and smiled.
“Detective,” he said.
“Dr Kingsley.”
The big man looked up now, revealing himself to be Henry Mayhew. The dancing man grinned and nodded. Day halfheartedly nodded back. The third man looked familiar, but Day couldn’t place him until he noticed the stained bandages around his arm. It was the fellow who had tried to stop the killer and had been stabbed for his trouble.
“Did you catch him?” Kingsley said. He was shouting. “The madman with the shears? Did you catch him?”
“He seems to have gone out this window just moments ago. I’m afraid he’s long gone by now.”
Day pointed at the trees and Kingsley turned to look.
“Well,” Kingsley said, “if he dropped from that window, he may well have hurt himself.”
“Still, he’s too far away by now.”
“Maybe you can catch him when he comes back,” Henry said.
“Why would he come back? He’s got clean away.”
“But he left his hat. Maybe he’ll come back for it.”
Henry set the injured man down against the side of the building so that Day could no longer see anything of him but his legs. Henry stooped and reached for something there out of Day’s line of sight. He held up the tall black hat Day had seen the killer wearing.
“Without this,” Henry said, “the rain will make him extra wet.”
“Why is that, Henry?”
“Because he’s bald. Didn’t you know?”
95
But why come to the Yard looking for you?” Kingsley said. “Why follow you to Hobgate?”
“I don’t know,” Day said. “Perhaps he was checking on my progress, worried that we might break the case and catch him.”
“Or perhaps you were his next intended victim.”
Day nodded, but didn’t say anything. The thought had occurred to him and he preferred not to dwell on it.
“I nearly forgot,” Day said. “I found these in one of the rooms.”
He produced his handkerchief and unwrapped the pair of shears from the workhouse.
“They appear to be an identical match to the first pair,” Kingsley said. “Two pairs of shears. A tailor indeed. May I keep these?”
“Of course. I’d hoped you could tell me something about them when you have a chance to return to your laboratory. You know, if he’d only kept to himself, we might never have found him, but the fool keeps throwing evidence at us.”
“You’d have found him regardless.”
“Perhaps. He might’ve removed his mark from inside his hat. That would have slowed our progress by at least a few minutes.”
“Detective work is more than the accumulation of evidence. Your instincts are good.”
“Thank you. Sir Edward said something similar not long ago.”
Kingsley nodded. “His instincts seem solid as well.”
“Thank you for not leaving me there,” Henry Mayhew said.
“Of course,” Kingsley said. He deposited the shears in his black bag and turned in his seat so he could see Henry more easily. “I could hardly leave my new assistant at the workhouse.”
“I wish this carriage would hurry,” Day said.
As he spoke, the carriage ground to an abrupt halt. Kingsley peered out through the curtains.
“I believe this is the place,” he said.
The three of them alighted from the police wagon and Day took a momen
t to instruct the driver. Then he held up a hand to stop Kingsley, who had stepped up to the door of the little shop.
“You wait here,” Day said. “If he’s come back, there may be danger.”
Kingsley nodded and backed up. He waited in the dancing man’s shadow as Day tried the door. It swung open easily. A white cat darted out, skirted a puddle, and disappeared around the corner. Day raised his eyebrows and entered the shop, his Colt drawn and ready.
Inside, the room was dim and cluttered. Clearly someone had ransacked the shop, tipping mannequins over and pulling drawers out onto the floor. Day moved quickly and quietly through the place. When he was sure there was nobody else there, he put his weapon away and opened the front door again, beckoning Kingsley in. Henry followed his new employer.
Kingsley took a deep breath and set his black bag on the main counter, next to a sewing machine that had a length of fabric tied around its base. From the bag he drew the pair of bloody shears.
“Shall we see if there are finger marks on these?”
“Did you bring your powder?”
“I did.”
With a flourish, Kingsley produced the little tin of charcoal dust. He opened it and blew a pinch of the black powder on the sewing machine.
“Look at this,” he said. “Several marks on this machine, clear as day. If there are marks on these shears we’ll know for certain whether this tailor was the man following you and whether he stabbed that man at the workhouse.”
“It won’t prove he killed Little.”
“No, but if we compare these shears to the pair used on Pringle and then compare them to the marks here on this sewing machine … well, if they all match, I think we’d be reasonably safe in pinning the blame on this fellow. What’s his name again?”
“Cinderhouse. The marks of his fingertips still won’t be enough to convict him.”
“Perhaps not, but they’ll be enough to convince you of his guilt, and with your case narrowed in so precisely, you’ll find the proof you need.”
Day smiled. “That I will.”
Kingsley went about the task of comparing finger marks, humming quietly under his breath while Day poked about the shop, looking for anything that might be construed as evidence of a crime. Henry Mayhew bobbed about in a corner of the shop, dancing to the tune Kingsley hummed.
“Detective,” Kingsley said.
Day looked up from a red smear he had found along a crack in the floorboards.
“This sewing machine,” Kingsley said. “It appears to be moving.”
Day trotted over to the counter. The machine, though bolted to the countertop, was rocking back and forth, almost imperceptibly, as if being tugged by something. Day followed the length of fabric tied around its base. The makeshift rope was pulled taut across the counter and ran down into a cupboard on the other side. In the base of the cupboard, there was a square hole. The fabric disappeared into the darkness below the shop. Day squatted outside the cabinet. He drew his gun again and shouted.
“Hullo! Is someone down there?”
After a moment, an answer echoed up and into the cupboard.
“Who’s that?” the voice said. “I warn you, I’m armed.”
Day frowned. “Hammersmith?” he said. “Is that you, man?”
96
Blacker followed Penelope Shaw through the foyer and into a well-appointed parlor. He whistled.
“Lovely.”
He meant that the lady herself was lovely. He had never seen such a creature in his life. He had seen her only briefly in hospital, where her husband had died, and her face had been red and puffy from crying. Even then she had been breathtaking. Her scent filled the room and he felt light-headed. No wonder Hammersmith had been so eager to spend time in her company. He would need to focus on the task at hand. He reminded himself that the most beautiful women were often the most dangerous.
“I mean your home,” he said. “You have a lovely home.”
“Thank you,” Penelope said. “My son, Bradley, and I are happy here. Would you care for tea?”
“Oh, good Lord, no!”
“Well, all right.” She looked hurt.
“I’m sorry,” Blacker said. “That was a bit emphatic of me, wasn’t it?”
“Yes, a bit. I take it you’ve spoken with Mr Hammersmith.”
“I do apologize.”
“No, it’s perfectly understandable. I made a horrible mistake with him. I should never have-”
“Think nothing of it. Water under the bridge and all that.”
Blacker was mortally embarrassed for having made things so awkward between them. He had no idea how to bridge the silence, and so decided he would take his leave and return another time.
“Well,” he said, “I’m sorry to have disturbed you today. Perhaps I could-”
“Mother?”
Blacker turned to see a young boy standing under an arch by the staircase.
“Oh, I’m sorry, Mother. I didn’t know you had company.”
The boy was perhaps five years old, and his tiny pointed face was creased with worry. He looked as if he’d always been worried. Blacker was glad of the distraction. He smiled and waved him over.
“Not at all,” Blacker said. “Come here, lad.”
The boy glanced at his mother and dragged himself over to them.
“What is it, Bradley?” Penelope said.
“It’s raining and I can’t go outside today. I thought perhaps we might play a game of draughts.”
“You always beat me.”
“I won’t beat you this time.”
“Maybe when I’ve finished with Mr Blacker.”
“Call me Michael,” Blacker said. “And your name is Hasenpfeffer, correct?”
“No. It’s Bradley.”
“That’s an extremely silly name.”
“Is not. It’s quite common.”
“It’s silly and I should know because I collect silly names.”
“It’s not a silly name at all.”
“I beg your pardon. Hasenpfeffer is a very silly name indeed.”
“But I didn’t say Hasenpfeffer. My name is Bradley.”
“I’m certain you said Hasenpfeffer.”
“And I’m certain I didn’t!”
“Well, perhaps you didn’t hear yourself say Hasenpfeffer. Honestly, I don’t see how you can hear anything at all when you’re walking around with that thing in your ear.”
“What thing in my ear?” The boy looked alarmed.
“You mean you didn’t put it there?”
Bradley shook his head.
“Then let’s see if we can’t fish it out.”
Blacker reached behind the boy’s ear and, with a flourish, drew forth a penny. Bradley gasped.
“Your ear is hardly the best place to keep money,” Blacker said. “Perhaps you should find a better place for it.”
Bradley took the penny and stared at it. Then he looked up at Blacker and grinned. He turned and held the coin out for his mother to see.
“Look, Mother, it’s a magic penny.”
“That’s wonderful.” She smiled at Blacker. “Bradley,” she said, “why don’t you go and show your new penny to Elizabeth.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“And have her put the kettle on for tea, would you? I’m in the mood.”
Bradley ran out of the room with the penny cupped in his hands as if afraid it would vanish as easily as it had appeared.
“Thank you for that,” Penelope said. “I can’t remember the last time anything made him happy.”
“My pleasure,” Blacker said. “I rather like making people happy.”
Penelope smiled at him, and Blacker decided that making her smile again might be the most worthwhile task he could take up.
“That’s a nice thought,” Penelope said. “Bradley’s had a rough time of it lately. But I don’t think being a child is ever particularly easy.”
“It’s not particularly easy being an adult, either.”
&
nbsp; “No.”
There was an awkward silence, but the tension in the room had dissipated and Blacker decided he didn’t want to leave after all.
“Ma’am, I’m sorry to do this, but I have to ask you some official questions.”
“Of course.”
“The person or persons who … well, who murdered Dr Shaw have, I believe, killed several others. I think they plan to continue killing unless they’re stopped.”
“You ain’t far wrong.”
Blacker and Penelope both turned at the sound of the woman’s voice.
Two women emerged from the entrance to a short hall at the back of the parlor. One was short and the other tall, with a long scar running down her face. They both wore too much makeup. The tall one had a pistol in her hand and it was pointed at Blacker.
“But you’re wrong about stoppin’ us,” the short one said.
“He ain’t the one,” the scarred one said.
“True. He ain’t the one. But he’ll do. Look at that silly ginger mustache.”
97
Up you go,” Day said.
He let go and the little boy, Fenn, was pulled upward through the shaft of light. The twisted linen rope held tight under the boy’s arms. Day stepped back and he and Hammersmith watched the boy disappear up into the tailor’s shop above as Henry Mayhew, the dancing man, hauled on his end of the rope.
“I’m a bit nervous,” Hammersmith said. “Can this fellow handle the weight of a full-grown man?”
“He’s unnaturally strong,” Day said. “I believe he’s perfectly able. Handy bloke to have around, to tell the truth, but he badly needs a hot bath.”
Hammersmith moved away into the darkness of the cave and Day followed him. He felt about until he encountered what seemed to be a leg. He grabbed it and pulled. Hammersmith had the other leg and together they dragged the unconscious man across the dirt floor until they had him under the trapdoor above. A minute later, an end of the makeshift linen rope was tossed back down and they tied it under the injured man’s arms.
“Well, if your dancing man can’t handle the weight, better he should drop this load than either of us,” Hammersmith said. “I wouldn’t mind seeing this one take a bit more punishment after what he put that boy through.”
