Stalking Jack: The Hunt Begins... (Madeline Donovan Mysteries Book 1) (24 page)

“Good evening. Can I get you a glass of bourbon?” asked Patrick.

“Yes, please, one for each of us,” said Jonathan.

When he returned, she said, “Patrick, Hugh told me you recently gave someone information to someone that I was staying at the George.”

“Yes, I did. I forget to tell you. I hope he was able to reach you.”

“Unfortunately, he did find me and left a threatening note for me.”

“What do you mean? Was not this gentleman someone you wished to speak to?”

“No, I don’t know who he was, and I am hoping you can help with that. He left a note threatening me to stop asking questions of any kind in Whitechapel, or I would come to harm. Hugh was assaulted, and we think it may be the same man.”

He looked stunned and said, “I’m so sorry. What have I done? I was certain it was someone, like Annie, who you wished to speak with. I was foolish not to check with you. But you are so anonymous when you are here; I assumed that he must have known you. He knew your name and even who you were with.”

“Patrick, there is no fault assigned. I know you did what you thought was helpful. In the future, could you please ask me before divulging that information, as I feel I may have put myself and my friends in a precarious position?”

“Of course—I should have asked. Is there anything I can do?”

“You have been a friend, Patrick—please do not feel that I am upset with you. Do you think you might remember what the man looks like? This much we know, he is an older gentleman, tall and thin with a mustache, but as to his motives or why he did it, I am at a loss. He certainly isn’t the Ripper, or he would have done more damage than broken ribs or a push against the wall, but maybe he has an association in some way to him.”

“I don’t remember…let me think. Wait, there was one thing when he shook my hand, I noticed he wore a gold horseshoe ring that was inlaid with rubies. I had admired it and commented on it. Other than that, he was, as you say, an older man who looked similar to many older men. I am not sure whether I would even recognize him. He did not stay to drink, nor have I seen him here again that I can recall.”

“That is something; the ring is a calling card—that will help. At least now we can all keep an eye out for him. Have you noticed any peculiar behavior by anyone?” said Madeline.

He laughed and said, “It might be easier if you asked, have I seen anyone who didn’t act peculiar. On that subject, most people here, with the help of the spirits; do not act in a way I would call normal. Rocks has been here more often than usual, but there was nothing out of the ordinary in her behavior that I noticed. If anything, she seemed a little nicer these last few weeks.”

“I’m sure I will see you again soon. Take care, Patrick,” said Madeline.

“One mystery is solved, at least now you know how someone knew where you lived,” said Jonathan.

“I had the impression that this old man was harmless, but apparently that is not the case. What I remember about him when he delivered the note did not seem menacing at all. It is a strange world, Jonathan. I am so grateful for your friendship and the aunts. It is so easy to become jaded about humanity when you spend time in Whitechapel. I can see why people behave the way they do.”

They parted with a quick hug, this time, and she received it with an open heart. Jonathan and Hugh were important to her.

Chapter Twenty-One

Nursing Hugh

Over the next few days
, she spent as much time with Hugh as he would allow her to. She mothered him, cooked for him and had a pot of tea ready for the drinking at any time. She fluffed his pillows and kept the fire lit. When we informed the aunts, they bustled over with peach pie and other delightful pastries. Anna made him chicken soup with homemade pasta, and Helen made Polish cookies from a recipe handed down from her grandmother. Mrs. Scott spent less time there, as the ladies had taken over the main part of her duties.

“You ladies have spoiled me, and how will I be able to go back to my bachelorhood existence. It will never seem suitable now, and I will be looking to arrive home to the aroma of hot soup. Just the smell of it within the room makes me feel better.”

“We have had too much time to grieve. It had paralyzed us. We are happy to be of some service to you. You flatter me, and I am happy you like the soup. It was a staple in our home when we were young, and my sister and I still enjoy it,” said Anna.

“I feel so helpless while you fuss over me as if I were a boy. It is an uncomfortable feeling.”

“Enjoy it while you can, like you said, you will be back to work soon enough,” said Madeline. “Besides, we do it without a second thought; it is a pleasure to look after you.”

“Anna and Helen can keep you company while I go to the market in Whitechapel for more provisions,” said Madeline.

“I don’t like the idea of you going alone. I will go with you,” said Helen.

“I am comfortable now going there; it is all right. I am not going to a pub, just to the market.”

She left with a flurry of protests from the ladies and Hugh but bid them good-bye with assurances of her safety. She had lost almost all fear of going into Whitechapel now; she was one of the regulars on the streets. She understood the nuances of how to mingle in the crowd and not cause attention to her.

The other reason she wanted to go alone was for the procurement of her opium. She was in the grips of it now, and knew she was having problems, but continued to rationalize her use of it. She had convinced herself she needed it so that she could continue in her pursuit of this killer. She was on a side street near the market when she thought she saw Bob Fielding round the corner. She was in the midst of her transaction and could not follow him, but he was headed in the direction of the market.

  She had a basket full of lovely fresh oranges and assorted vegetables. She wanted to partake of some of the substance she had purchased and decided to stop in for a cup of Darjeeling. Rocks busily hacked away at a pig, dissecting it with ease. She took the closest seat she could find to her.

Busy pushing her bloodied hands through the dead carcasses; she didn’t look up when Harry Nelson walked in, but Madeline saw him. He was hard to miss, the sores on his face still did not appear to be healing, and his cough came at frequent intervals. He did not see her but was looking at Rocks, apparently trying to get her attention. When she finally looked up, she nodded to him, wiped her hands off and went to see him. It was nothing out of the ordinary; she gave him a packaged bit of beef that already had his name scrawled on it. But then she bent over and whispered something to him, and they had a brief, hushed conversation.

When they finished, Madeline walked to where Harry sat.

“How are you Harry?” she asked.

“Mrs. Donovan, I mean Madeline…I still do not have the fortune to be rid of this sickness. It is taking a toll on me,” said Harry.

“I am sorry you are still ill, and you have my best wishes for recovery. These are difficult times. My friend Hugh, who has been a companion to me while I have been in Whitechapel, was attacked here a few days ago, just a block or so from here.”

She had told of Hugh’s misfortune to see how they reacted, and to her disappointment, they seemed surprised.

“He seems a good man. I am sorry to hear it. Has he recovered?” asked Harry.

“He is on the mend.”

“This place is a cesspool. No good can come to anyone who frequents these streets, and I still blame the whores for starting this mess,” said Rocks, hesitating then adding. “I saw someone on the streets the other night that looked a might like you.”

“In the dark of the night, many people look alike,” said Madeline.

“I have thought that I saw you, also,” said Harry.

“Perhaps there is someone who resembles me, but I would hope not.”

“Why is that? Then you agree to be a woman of these streets is as low as you can get,” said Rocks.

“No, because I would think that would be the most unfortunate place you could find yourself in life. It is not pleasure they seek; it is a roof to cover them from the rain.”

“That’s a ridiculous assumption,” said Harry. “They like the men and the drinks. They leave their husbands to come down here. Most of ‘em had a roof till they left their men for the streets and the alcohol.”

“Amen to that,” said Rocks. “You don’t know nothing if you think theys as innocent as that. You’ve a brain of a bird.”

“You are right that I am assuming the best part of their nature. I don’t know what their stories are, but I would like to think better of human nature,” said Madeline.  “Well, I must be returning to my patient and bring him his supper, but good day to you. Perhaps one day Whitechapel will return to its moral ways.”

They both laughed, and Harry said, “Not in my lifetime.”

She had taken the opportunity to take her bit of opium and was feeling rejuvenated. As she exited the market, she once again saw Bob Fielding leaning against the wall outside the market front where Rocks worked. She thought he had seen her and then acted strangely as if he didn’t wish her to notice he was there. He turned his face away and pulled the collar of his coat up around his face.

She continued walking when a familiar voice interrupted her thoughts.

“What are you thinking?” asked Russell.

He was walking beside her, and it startled her. Russell had never before appeared to her outside of her hotel room.

She covered her mouth so that no one could see she was conversing.

“Russell, you know I cannot speak to you here. I am not at liberty to talk openly to you.”

“Then go around to the bench there and feed the pigeons. People will think you are talking to them.”

She sat on the splintered wooden bench, pretending to be throwing things to the birds that walked by her feet. She now wondered if there could be such things as ghosts, for he looked so real to her, and she could hear him with such clarity.

“So what do you make of Harry and Rocks now appearing to be chums?” asked Russell.

“I find it curious, just as curious as Harry’s relationship with Bob Fielding. She was just giving him a package of meat. There is nothing out of the ordinary about that, but something…something in the way they spoke was strange. They seem the most unlikely of friends or associates, whatever they are to each other. How is it that I can see you in full daylight? Am I going mad, Russell?”

“You know why, did you not just take a bit of the sweetness?”

“I know I shouldn’t. I don’t know what’s happening to me; I thought I was stronger than that. I don’t know if I can stop.”

“A difficult lesson to learn—so many of the people here started as you, looking for just a momentary break from reality, to have it become their only reality. Maybe you should speak to Dr. Scott. You can go to him in confidence.”

“I am too ashamed. I couldn’t tell him, especially after his warning to me. If Hugh ever found out…”

“I see my memory is starting to fade for you.”

“No, don’t say that...never could that be, but I do find I am aching for the warmth of love and kindness again. Do you fault me for it?”

“You are my dearest love, and all I could ever want for you is happiness, and then I could go away in peace knowing you are loved once again. Is it Hugh or Jonathan that you think of?”

“I just think of them both in a kindly manner, nothing more than that…not yet.”

“You should go; I will see you tonight. Look for me by the window.”

She walked slowly, contemplating what had just happened. Her mind continued to tell her that ghosts must exist; she could have never seen him so clearly if they didn’t. She couldn’t have fabricated a vision that perfectly with a hallucination. She tried to shake off what she saw so that they would not read anything into her face.

“Madeline, you look like you’ve seen a ghost,” said Hugh.

She almost laughed and said to herself, “I have; I have”.

“I have seen Rocks, Harry and Bob Fielding.”

“In that short time you were gone? Come sit by me and tell me all,” said Hugh.

“The strangest thing really—when I came in, Rocks was just doing what she normally does, cutting up meats, but then I saw Harry sitting at the end of the counter, and he was just staring at her. His eyes fixed upon her. I know it couldn’t have been a romantic look, heavens no, so what was it. I continued to watch him, and when Rocks finally looked up, she nodded and went right to him. Again, nothing really to think about as she had a package of meat for him, but it was the glance exchanged between them, that connection was odd. When she brought him the meat, they started whispering to each other.”

She went on to explain all of the people she had encountered, including Bob Fielding.

“I don’t know what to make of them. It is strange that Harry should be acquainted with such unsavory individuals. He is so genteel, but perhaps it has something to do with his illness. He may have need assistance because of his health and turns to those most likely to give it for little money,” said Madeline.

He leaned in and spoke quietly, “When the aunts leave, I will tell you more.”

They continued their visit with all of them enjoying a cup of hot broth.

“This is delicious Anna and on a crisp day like this, it feels comforting,” said Madeline.

“I will bring another pot of broth over to you in a few days,” Anna said to Hugh.

“You are too good to me. I am not that unwell. Today, if it weren’t for my discolored face, I would probably venture out,” said Hugh.

The ladies packed up their kitchen items and gave him a motherly kiss on the cheek. Madeline smiled to see this; sweet moments like this had not been plentiful.

“So tell me, what is it you wanted to say?” asked Madeline.

“When I first was assaulted and was sitting in one of the rooms of my uncle’s office waiting for him to treat me, I heard soft moaning, perhaps crying from the other room. I didn’t think anything of it, until I heard my uncle say something, addressing the patient as, Harry. I could hardly move, but I tried to get as close as I could to the wall to hear him. It may have been unethical, but I thought it important. I heard him talking about his wife and her death. He said it was his fault. I didn’t hear anything from him about why he thought he was responsible for her death.

When he left, I forced myself to walk into the other room. I thought I could claim I was looking for my uncle if I got caught. His file was gone, but there were notes my uncle left on a scrap of paper that said, “Change from hydrag. cum creta with opium to hydrag. perchlor with potass.”

“I have seen those words or something like it when I was working with my father, but I am not certain what it means. Do you know?”

“I know all too well. I have had acquaintances with this affliction. He has syphilis, and my uncle is changing his medication to hydrag. perchlor with potass that is done in the late stages of the disease.”

“Dear Lord, now we know why he is not getting any better. The pitiable man—do you think that is why he has associated with Rocks and Fielding? Do you think he needs their help?”

“It may have something to do with his involvement with them. Maybe he is soliciting some illegal drugs or something like that.”

“If he has any money at all, Bob and Rocks may be trying to take advantage of his illness and take whatever he has left. If he’s too weak, he may be willing to go along.”

“I wonder if any of it is associated with the attack on me.”

“What purpose would they have? Although, looking too deeply into motive doesn’t always make sense. The violent nature of Whitechapel as a whole tends to feed on itself.”

They had dinner together, and she sat and read to him from
A Study in Scarlet
, just as she once had read with Jonathan on the SS City of New York. Hugh drifted in and out of sleep, and she felt happy that she had brought some comfort to him. She left him with the promise to return the next day.