The Circassian. "Wrong Side"

by Bob Bidecant

6.11

  Nobody noticed Levi slip through the main reception. The Sanatorium was designed to stop patients getting out, not people getting in; he strode directly to Jaak’s room. He took out his revolver, opened the door and stepped into the room. It was empty. He looked at the white gown laying crumpled on the bed and the four restraints hanging open. He picked up a note that lay on the table, he recognised the handwriting on the envelope, it was the note he had given to the blind flower seller from Jacobson. He opened it, and read the name. “Feliks Vetrov.” He sat on the bed and scratched his head.

  ‘What the hell is going on here?’ He said.

  He heard a knock at the Sanatorium back door and poked his head out of the room; the doorman was removing a heavy iron bar that held the door shut. Levi pulled Jaak’s door shut behind him and walked to the opposite room, trying the handle. It was open. He slipped inside and shut the door, standing in the semi darkness; every room door had a small four inches square window with bars in. The nurses could check the patients without opening the whole door. Levi kept his head back as he watched outside. Gurin appeared with Jaak. Levi stood transfixed as he watched Jaak stride along in front of Gurin. No longer the bedraggled wretch Levi had observed before, he walked with a purpose, shoulders back and head held high. Stopping in front of his room door, he pushed it open and stepped in. Levi breathed a sigh of relieve and stepped back from the door.

  A hand touched his shoulder; he whipped his body around, with such ferocity, the bones in his neck clicked loudly. He stood fist back, poised to throw a punch.

  ‘I’m Vanessa, Fuck me.’ Levi held himself back from striking. He lowered his arm and looked at the young woman standing before him. She only had on a small gown, which she lifted over her head and threw it onto the ground, standing naked.

  ‘Fuck me, come on, and fuck me now.’ She grabbed her own breasts and squeezed them hard with her fingers. One hand darted between her legs and she played with herself. Levi fell back against the door and didn’t move.

  He glanced through the small opening in the door and his heart missed a beat, Gurin was looking directly at Vanessa’s door. Gurin stood listening for a moment, then walked towards the door. Levi ducked down and held the door handle shut. Gurin placed his hand on the door handle and tried to turn it, it didn’t move so he put his face against the opening and looked into the room.

  Vanessa threw herself towards Gurin’s face.

  ‘I’m Vanessa, Fuck me.’ She screamed at him through the opening. Gurin jumped back, letting go of the handle. He laughed nervously.

  ‘Sorry Vanessa, not today, thanks.’ He walked across the corridor and went inside Jaak’s room. Levi sighed; he turned and looked more closely at Vanessa. A chain from the padded restraint around her ankle, connected to the wall allowed her limited freedom to walk around the room. She sat on the bed, her legs open, looking at Levi. Her long brown hair reached her waist, not pretty; she had a small petite figure. Levi stood up and looked at her, naked on the bed.

  ‘What a shame.’ He said. A woman’s voice brought his attention back to the opposite room. He placed his face by the opening again and saw Putchin standing outside Jaak’s room with an older woman. Levi recognised him; he had been watching him talking to Jaak in the garden. He looked at the woman, she was middle aged, unwashed and scruffily dressed with a yellow jacket, a red blouse and a black skirt.

  Levi felt a hand on his crutch. He looked down. Vanessa was kneeling in front of him, fumbling with the buttons on his trousers. He pushed her hands away. She screamed loudly. Levi stroked her head and tried again to stop her opening his trousers. She screamed again.

  ‘I want a fuck.’ She slapped his hands away. Levi glanced at Jaak’s room as he heard the woman with Putchin laugh when Vanessa screamed.

  ‘Looks like I’m not the only one in here tonight about to get a poke.’ She raised one hand to her mouth and called out. ‘I’m Mary, fuck me.’ Putchin walked towards the window.

  ‘Shut up.’ He told her. Levi ducked down out of sight. Putchin peered through the opening but couldn’t see anything. Levi felt Vanessa’s fingers working through his flies and exploring inside his trousers, he was helpless to stop her. Putchin tried the door but Levi was leaning against it. Jaak’s door finally opened and Gurin popped his head out.

  ‘Come on.’ Called Gurin.’ Putchin finally turned away and took the woman inside. Levi touched Vanessa gently on the head; she threw a tantrum again, slapping Levi on the legs. Levi didn’t know what to do, he was scared she would turn nasty and bite him. He leaned back against the door, shut his eyes and let her continue.

  Jaak’s door opened again and Levi turned his head in time to watch Gurin and Putchin head towards the rear exit, lighting cigarettes as they walked. He heard a woman scream inside Jaak’s room and the sound of furniture knocked over. Finally a loud banging on the door from inside.

  ‘Let me out,’ the woman screamed. ‘Help me. He is going to murder me.’ Then silence. Levi waited for the Sanatorium staff to appear. Five minutes passed and no one came, her screams ignored. Gurin returned and entered the room, Putchin followed with a handcart and Levi watched him push it inside Jaak’s room.

  Vanessa stood up and smiled at him; she stretched her body like a cat and looked at Levi licking her lips.

  ‘Now you can fuck me.’ She said seductively. Levi smiled at her; he pursed his lips and lifted her chin up with his left finger. She leant forward to kiss him, eyes closed and lips ready.

  Levi punched her directly under the chin.

  He bound her arms quickly with her own gown as she lay unconscious, then he shortened the chain attached to her leg so she couldn’t reach the door again. Levi watched Putchin and another man wheel the handcart out and towards the exit. Gurin left minutes later and shut the door. Levi waited for five minutes and then slipped out of Vanessa’s room. He opened Jaak’s door slowly, his revolver gripped in his hand. Jaak was lying on the bed sleeping, his restraints were back in place and he had a fresh gown on. This time Levi kept his distance, he picked up a hypodermic needle from a kidney shaped bowl and, shaking the last drop onto his finger, he tasted the contents.

  ‘Cocaine.’ Levi looked around the room, a blood stained gown lay untidily on the floor, and the tiles were still wet where they had been recently washed. Levi put his revolver back in his pocket and from his other pocket; he took out a small bladed knife. He unfolded it and held it under Jaak’s throat, the point digging into his skin.

  ‘Thank you.’ Jaak spoke quietly. Levi was startled. Jaak spoke again.

  ‘Do it, and give me peace.’

  ‘You want peace? Levi asked. ‘You think you deserve peace? You just killed that poor woman. What for? Is that how you find fulfilment?’

  ‘Kill who? Oh the woman, she was Russian, she deserved to die.’

  ‘I am Russian too,’ said Levi. ’Do you want to kill me too.’

  ‘Yes.’ Said Jaak.

  6.12

  Levi hadn’t slept all night, he was confused, and things didn’t make sense. He removed his hat and gave it to the servant who had opened the door for him. He tried to straighten his jacket with his hands and suddenly his boots looked dirty. He was nervous.

  ‘Is this the first time you have met the Lord?’ asked the servant in a friendly manner. Levi nodded. ‘Don’t get too worried he doesn’t bite.’ Levi wasn’t too sure. He had some news for Jacobson and he didn’t know how he would react.

  ‘I will just tell him the facts and let him sort it out, he had decided that morning on the way over. He was shown in and directed to a large leather chair.

  ‘Lord Jacobson knows you are here, he will be down in a few minutes. Would you like a drink?’

  ‘Yes please, a cup of tea.’ He was thankful for the servant being there. He sat down and accepted the tea, trying to drink quietly. The only other sound in the room, the clock ticking. Jacobson entered and Levi stood up. Jacobson waved him to sit back down and sm
iled.

  ‘Hello Levi, I am so happy to finally meet you. You have worked for the family for several years now?’

  ‘Yes Lord Jacobson, ten years now.’

  ‘Ten years already? My God how time flies. And your father is he well?’ Levi was surprised. He didn’t know Jacobson knew his father.

  ‘He is quite old now and suffers a bit with his back, but is still up at dawn every day, gardening.’ Jacobson smiled. Levi relaxed a little bit.

  ‘Levi, the reason I asked you to come here in person is because I need to know what you discovered about Mikael’s brother. Does insanity run in his family?’

  ‘Lord Jacobson, I have to be honest with you, Miss Julia also asked me to find out.’

  ‘Yes, I already know she visited you.’

  ‘You know?’ Levi breathed a sigh of relief.

  ‘Yes, I know and I am glad you told me. Miss Julia is not at home now so we can speak freely.’ Levi began.

  ‘Jaak, Mikael’s brother is the one in Bethnal Green Sanatorium. He is kept in the West Wing, the Asylum. That side is for the dangerous patients.’

  ‘Damn, so he is insane. Then unfortunately I can never allow Julia to marry his brother.’ Jacobson was genuinely upset at the news. Levi continued.

  ‘There is more.’ He waited. Jacobson nodded to him to continue.

  ‘I believe he is responsible for the murders of the prostitutes in Whitechapel.’

  ‘What? How? I thought he was kept secured in the Asylum.

  ‘The prostitutes were brought to his room by another man who took the body away afterwards.’

  ‘You are certain?’ Jacobson asked. Levi handed over the newspaper he had brought with him.

  ‘I am certain. There is a newspaper report in here. Her body was found last night. The description fits her and she was wearing the same clothes as the woman I saw enter Jaak’s room, she never walked out.’

  ‘Then we must inform the police, immediately.’ Levi reached into his pocket and produced the note he had found on Jaak’s bed.

  ‘When I went back last night, his room was empty.’

  ‘He could have been moved to another room or to the infirmary.’ Jacobson offered.

  ‘Yes Sir, That’s what I thought at first, but I found this on Jaak’s bed.’ He handed Jacobson’s note to him. Jacobson turned pale. He looked at Levi.

  ‘What does this mean?’

  ‘I watched Jaak and another man return to the Asylum. They had been out in London, without a doubt. I saw Jaak walk in with a top hat and tails. He wouldn’t have looked out of place in the west end Sir.’ Jacobson stared at the fire as he asked.

  ‘Was he wearing glasses?’

  ‘Actually Sir, yes he was. They were…’

  ‘Blue tinted.’ Jacobson interrupted. Levi lowered his voice as he answered.

  ‘Blue tinted. Yes. How could you possibly know that?’

  Levi sat silent for several minutes waiting to hear what Jacobson would say next finally he spoke.

  ‘Levi, don’t have any more contact with the boy and especially with Julia, she must never know that you told me about Jaak.’

  ‘What do you want me to do next?’

  ‘Wait for my instructions. I will contact you when I know what I have to do. I need to speak to somebody first.’ Levi got up and left.