by Clay Moore
They sat on the settee and had a sandwich with coffee. A three-note jingle was played throughout the Theatre, signaling the imminent return of the play.
They finished their coffee and sandwiches; returned to the chairs facing the stage.
Rowena looked at the settee and said wistfully: “That would have made a perfect Love bed.”
William could hardly believe his ears. “I wished you would have said something earlier.”
“I didn’t dress to enable that entertainment.” She raised her skirt just a little to reveal her bloomers.”
“I say that was a moment stolen from us. We’ll have to remember for the next time.”
“That would be an interesting conception story to tell to the child if one results from that. You were conceived by us during a play, Molly.”
William chuckled. “Your Dad got this twinkle in his eye. I let him in. Come to find out he just had something in his eye.”
“You are the limit, William.” She chuckled, taking the bite out of the phrase. “Here we go.”
The evening was a swirl of the acting, staging, and the poetry of Shakespeare. Rowena decided that she could give the players a third standing ovation. Then she got herself together buttoning her bodice after William had teased her by unbuttoning her bodice.
William never got close to the skin, but he could feel what her body was like. He was content with that. She would have to find clothing that would be easier to take off or sneak a hand in her clothes. She finished the repair to what William did with her full permission.
There was a knock on the box door. Rowena allowed them to come in. Through the door came John Booth. He was still in his costume of the last act, the fencing scene.
For a moment, John Booth seemed taken aback by Rowena and William. He quickly changed his manner. William caught it, but William had no idea what it was for. He gave John Booth more careful regard; Rowena asked for Booth’s autograph. William supplied a pencil. That was how William obtained John Booth’s signature.
John took his leave. William stopped by the private box offices to ask a question. Who was to have the Box I was in tonight?” The clerk seemed unwilling to supply that information until William flashed his badge. It was a couple called Crandall. William joined Rowena.
“What was that for?”
“Let’s get into the Carriage. Right on time.”
William helped her into the Carriage. He clambered on the Carriage sitting next to Rowena. He tipped his head to touch her’s.
“Booth abhors autograph seekers. I told you the National Police Gazette can be good for somethings.”
“He seemed really nervous to see a tall fit man like you. That was why I asked for his autograph. I wanted you to see it.”
“Great minds think alike.”
They pulled into the driveway, and they entered the House. Rowena and William went to check on Johnny. He was fast asleep. He did seem to relax when his mom entered the room. Gladys had given up her night off. She had nothing to report. Then she walked out of the suite. One more check on Johnny and Rowena drug William to his suite. William helped her out of her dress. He just about had her disrobed in the Theater.
She had him help her out of the corset. She disrobed herself and slipped between the sheets. William took off his clothes. He slipped in bed with her.
Here was another stolen moment that William and Rowena took. They gave up some sleep to consummate their love.
CHAPTER SEVEN
A Most Unusual Murder
*****
IN THE MORNING, William was up first, as usual. He had gotten a nightgown and a housecoat for Rowena when she woke up. Hazard walked down to the breakfast table. All he had last night was a couple of sandwiches and coffee at the theater. William filled his plate with two fried eggs and four strips of bacon. He poured out a good cup of orange juice. He saw to eating his breakfast when Gladys came in her maid’s outfit she carried a silver salver with an envelope on it.
William took the envelope. He opened it with his pocket knife; He read a typewritten message from signals. The Police have a murder they would like help with. The address was for the Secretary of State Franklin Knox.
“Gladys, I need you to enter Thomas’ room and wake him up.”
“How did you know?”
“Thomas is not a quiet lover. I heard you two until I was lost in my own fine woman. I need him now, please.”
“Okay.”
William realized that he was not going to be able to eat the rest of his breakfast. He took the remaining bacon strips. Hazard rushed down to his gymnasium. He made sure that he had two filled magazines. William put those on his gun belt. He also added handcuffs. William added his leather helmet. He took off the frock coat and put on one that he wore as a duster. He included the new device that allowed him to talk with base. That went in the outer duster pocket.
Thomas came down the spiral staircase out of sorts. He had been awakened by the woman that he spent a pleasant evening with. He was told that William needed him.
They had to ride to the site of a murder of a government official. Since the killing was unusual, the Secret Service wanted it’s two most accomplished Agents on site.
William said nothing, but let his smile stay on his lips. The smile should be enough for Thomas to know that William knew.
“Okay, get it out.”
“Get what out,” asked William handing Thomas the duster and leather helmet.
“Get out all the things you want to say to me.”
“How was it in bed this time, instead of on your laboratory slab?”
Thomas could not contain his mirth. “It was a lot less cold. I think Gladys appreciated the bed.” He could not hold the laughter.
William joined him. “Let’s get out to the Secretary of State’s home.”
William opened the external door that allowed them to ride straight out of the basement on the surface roads. The sun was shining through the clouds. A light dusting of snow was falling on the ground, but it was not staying. They drove to a row of houses that belonged to the Cabinet.
William flashed his badge to the Policeman; The Policeman passed them both into the townhouse. Both Secret Service agents carried doctor’s bags. In William’s case, his bag was a medical bag. He passed the test to be a county coroner. What allowed him to practice being a county coroner was that he was also a nurse practitioner.
Nobody dared laugh at William for being a Nurse Practitioner. Thomas thought he was immune from William, so he enjoyed a round of laughs, making fun of William for being a nurse practitioner. Rowena had seen her man making the signs of being livid. Rowena let it go, Thomas would learn soon enough not to question William’s manhood.
Thomas found himself on tippy toes while William lifted Thomas up from the floor.
“Good thing, I am a Nurse Practitioner you might be needing my skills in a few moments.”
“I’m sorry, William. I am an insensitive lout. Why did you do it?”
“Since we are called to so many murders, we needed a coroner. Nurse Practitioner was something I could quality for quickly.”
“Why did you not let us come to your awards ceremony.”
“Rowena was the only one that saw what I was doing. She even acquired medical reference works so that I could study. She tells me after I became a Nurse-Practitioner, there was a run on those medical books. Seems quite a few agents had some basic training. At least when there is a cry for doctors and such, there will be an answer to the need if I am there.”
Thomas no longer commented on William being a nurse-practitioner. They both rushed into where the body lay.
The Body of John Knox lay on its back. Protruding from his forehead was a silver-toned metal dart without the fletching. He took out the metal dart and showed it to Thomas.
“Recognize this?”
“Vaguely.”
“You wanted to know how those dolls worked. What did you do with them?”
“I set them aside.�
�
“Not anymore.”
“The boy’s quarters?” William asked a Policeman.
“West corner, second floor.”
William went up the stair and went to the Boys’ room. Along one wall was a collection of model soldiers cast in metal, usually of lead. Then he saw the Automata. It was dressed as a Queen’s guard with shako and everything. William picked the automata up. He brought it with him. He set it in front of Thomas, who picked it up.
“This rifle is intriguing.”
“There is pneumatic tubing coming from inside the body of the doll. The tubing ends at the bottom of the rifle. Could this fit in there.”
“Wash it off.”
William went into the closest lavatory. Willian turned a spigot control and washed off all the blood. Then he came out and fitted spike with the rifle barrel.
“Did someone come in, Did he know that he had a weapon in that doll, came down here with it, and returned it to the boy’s room after death?”
“Could be, but I got a wacky idea,” said Thomas.
“Your wacky ideas have been fruitful so far.”
“Okay. What if this device was instructed to murder the Secretary of State. It got down off the shelf, walked to the study where Knox was smoking, and considering his words for a foreign country.”
“You are saying, Thomas, that the Automata came to him, aimed, and fired at Knox.”
“Why didn’t he say anything?
“It’s a children’s toy, William. He probably saw it work all over the House. He was used to seeing it around.”
William picked up the doll.
“We’re taking this doll. I want to know how it works.”
“You and me both brother.”
William paused, looking at Thomas. Then he realized that he would soon be brothers for real.
“I’m getting used to it. At the rate you two are moving, you’re going to tell me that you’re getting married Wednesday.”
William said nothing to Thomas,
“Good lord, you are not getting married Wednesday, are you?”
“No, we will give everyone enough time to send their threats, condolences, and wishes to us.”
“You took care of everything? Her family on her husband’s side thinks this is the fourteenth century and believes they have a proprietary lien on her,” said Thomas.
“Some of my girlfriends will send me condolences, and all our friends will send us well wishes,” said William.
“What if they try to enforce an agreement between her husband and her?”
“An Agreement of that kind does not survive the termination of one side of the agreement. If I have to I can do my own termination.” William patted the gun holster.
William went to the late Secretary of State’s desk; He took a pen from the stand. William dipped the pen into the inkwell. He took out his Certificate of Death pad. William filled out the form, blotted it, and tore it out of the pad. He handed the certificate to the ranking Policeman.
William, then, took Thomas to the son’s bedroom. He showed Thomas to the spot the toy stood on the shelf. The toy climbed down the shelving unit. The shelving unit yielded it’s secrets to William and Thomas’ magnify glass. There was paint transfer to the shelf, as well as some scrapes on the finish.
“William, I see it, but it is hardly possible. This automaton would have to navigate the whole distance, fire the spike, and hoof it back before its winds down.”
“Could you develop a system to allow one key to wind multiple clockworks.”
Thomas looked at William with a mien of concern. Once again, his partner seemed almost preternaturally brilliant. “How do you do it?”
“Do what?”
“Take a couple of things and cobble them together and make them work. Let’s get back to my lab. No going to see Rowena. I am sorry about that. Get ready to wear a lab coat for a while.”
They collected all their tools. They told the Police it was murder by a doll. Then rode back to the House.
Rowena was waiting for them in the garage on the gymnasium level. William explained the murder and that they think it might have been a children’s toy. They have to cut open the doll and see how It works.
“I apologize. I will not be able to sleep with you tonight. Please sleep in my bed; maybe it smells like me.”
“You and my brother are going to put your heads together to solve this murder. I was asked by signals to look into a sobriquet for a living person called the Spymaster. All I got were several Spies that the Confederate uses to glean information. Maybe that has something to do with your case.”
William smiled. It was valuable information. If signals saw an uptick in the number of messages about the Spymaster, then someone had taken over for the resident Spymaster. Who was the Spymaster?
He gave Rowena a peck on the cheek and followed Thomas into his laboratory to work. He saw that Thomas had the doll out of the bag and its head covered with a cloth. William took off his coat and put on the lab coat that was reserved for his use. He came to the doll and looked at him from the doll level on the table.
“Why is its head covered.”
“Because I thought that a clockwork doll of this sophistication might have the ability to broadcast a signal of its location and what it sees to its true owner.”
“You’ve made a logical leap. Take me through it.”
“Ever since the toymaker’s arrival into Washington DC, there has been loss after loss until we bought the toy for Johnny. What I think we are going to find when we get into this toy’s innards will astound us. If I were the toymaker, I would not put any explosives into the toy if a child opened it up. We are going to proceed as if we are defusing a bomb, though.”
William nodded. Thomas showed William a metal probe used by doctors to find and retrieve bullets from wounded. It was amazing what Thomas found to help him in the manufacture or study of a machine that came straight from a surgeon’s bag. William picked up two hemostats. He attached those to both sides of the main stitch in the back of the doll. When Thomas picked up the scalpel, William pulled down gently and put a tension on the stitch.
Thomas put the scalpel where he wanted, but his hand was moving erratically. “Let’s change, William. You do the scalpel. I’m too nervous.”
William surrendered the hemostats to Thomas. William picked up the scalpel. He put it to the stitch that closed up the doll’s jacket. Then with steady pressure, he cut the strings until the stitch unraveled. Thomas took the jacket off and recovered his hemostats. William put the scalpel back in its position on the tray.
Thomas reached up and turned on the hospital light. He brought it down so that he and William could see the interior of the chest.
“I didn’t bother with the legs. They would be the same as the arms but articulated differently. The chest and the head are where all the fun is and where our answers lie. Look at this material covering the chest.”
William put his finger on the material. It felt soft and plaint as skin, but he knew that it could not be real skin.
“I’d swear that this is real skin.”
“I thought so too,” said Thomas going to his desk and bringing a journal written in German.
He flipped through a few pages until he came to the article. He showed William the article.
“Just make believe that I don’t read and write German.” William guffawed
“You do all right with French, Latin, and Spanish?”
“I had training in French and Latin because the Point required it. Spanish I picked up in Mexico. They all use the same root, Latin. German does not, for the most part.”
“Okay, this article is about a chemical company is producing something called plastic from petrochemicals. The product looks and acts like skin. This could be it. The toymaker would have to make the skin parts and create the skin of the toy.”
He grabbed the scalpel from the tray. He cut through the plastic with aplomb, the nervousness from a few minutes now gone. He
peeled back the skin.
William saw how the toy could store up energy to do the nefarious deed. It was arranged just as William had suggested.
“Well you got it correct, brother.”
“What is that tape thing.” William used his probe to point out the device.
Thomas saw it. It was tape with holes passing over a spot reader like a player piano. If this was a mechanical program, the reader would be a series of needles. The move of the needle would move something on the doll. There was no mechanical reader. The reader had to work on light. There were some electronics in the body. The motors were attached to the electronics.
“Is that strip of aluminum controlling the automata?”
“I think so.”
“You know what this means? We could put this on a bomb and drop it from the airships. The bombe could be controlled by one of these strips and hit its target.”
“Sometimes, William, you have depressing ideas, accurate, but depressing.”
“I’m ex-army, that means I think with an army thought pattern. I can see the potential of these things aggressively.
Thomas had nothing to say on that subject. Then William opened Thomas’s mind on another thought.
“Could this be used to give the automata a mind? A personality? Could the automata actually think?”
“Having seen the results myself, I cannot say absolutely no. If the toymaker did that, it would have taken the Toymaker years to punch the required code into the strip. The strip in this automata before us is nearly a yard in length. Every day when she starts the day, it would have to play into its electrons at a speed of 60 MPH to reduce the load time to under a minute.”
“Very thin metal,” asked William?
“Aluminum, quite possibly. My question is, why?”
“At the risk of being called a lecher, perhaps it is as simple as the drive of human sexuality.”
“It is as small as a large girl.”
“Yes, she, in the toymaker’s shop, had rather large breasts, Thomas. Her skin has the waxy luster as the solderer doll.”
