Stalking Jack: The Hunt Begins... (Madeline Donovan Mysteries Book 1) (7 page)

Chapter Five

The Ten Bells

She was exhausted when she
returned to the Hotel George and allowed herself the luxury of soaking in a hot bath to obtain some physical relief. She wondered how life could be so despicable, in such an age of electricity, with all the other modern inventions that were marvels of the abilities of mankind. The good things of life seemed to have passed over Whitechapel, like an ugly stepchild. Her father would be appalled at such a site, and he would not be at peace until she returned home if he knew. They had found out more information than she thought possible in the chaos that was Whitechapel. Tomorrow she would begin again.

August 19, 1888

It is another dreary London morning, the fog reaches to every nook and alley, covering it with an eerie, almost hallucinogen effect. Sometimes you cannot distinguish the movements of men from women, and children distinguished only by their small size. It is a perfect setting for murder and a perfect place to be invisible.

I am hopeful now of finding Polly and grateful for Phillip and Hugh’s kindness to come along with us to the place of great unhappiness. Hugh is handsome and genteel, not rough and gregarious like Jonathan, but even though they are so different, I have favorable opinions of them both.

Jack, I will find you. I am not afraid of you.

She was more determined than ever to see that Polly was safe, especially after seeing the conditions people were forced to live in. With all they had to endure, now they also had this deviant preying on them. It is too cruel. She thought,
I must spare someone this tragic death, even if it is only one person, I will believe I accomplished something of merit.

She had slept until nearly ten, feeling sluggish from her late arrival back to her suite the evening before. After a light breakfast, she was once again ready to return to Whitechapel.

“Clinton…”

“I know, Mum, as soon as I saw you I called up the driver. Did you have any success last evening in your quest to find your Polly?”

“I think we just might have. At least two people seemed to think they knew her. Clinton, it is not a place for anyone to live, that area. How do they go on like that?”

“They don’t live long, Mum. Many a time I’ve heard of another death that occurred from disease or some other unfortunate accident, and they have not reached their 30
th
year.”

“If my friend Phillip should inquire or anyone else, you know where I will be then.”

“Good luck. I will see you upon your return.”

She had reread some passages in
A Study in Scarlet
and found herself once again fascinated with Mr. Holmes, and thought she would try to apply his logic to the situation she found herself in. It certainly couldn’t be a detriment to observe and look for hidden clues in the case of the quest for Polly Nichols.

Anna and Helen were sitting on the front porch, dressed in lovely blue and maroon suits with pill box hats. Although matronly, the warmth of their smiles transcended age, and she felt a sisterhood with them.

“Good afternoon, did you sleep well?” asked Madeline.

“If the truth be known, we had a restless night. We began the morning tea at five, as we were unable to stop thinking of our brother’s daughter. I suppose we had always suspected it was that bad, but not having ventured there in the evening for a very long time, I don’t think we really understood how horrific the conditions were,” said Anna.

“My dears, it is a dreadful place to try to exist. It is certainly understandable why those who find themselves with no other way to live would choose a stimulant to erase the pain of the life they are experiencing. What a playground for this mad man, or woman, but of that I doubt. You can see how he could mingle unnoticed in that crowd,” said Madeline.

“Before this person began terrorizing our city, we did not seek her out. We had considered it and worried to ourselves, but did not take any action. We feel guilty we did not act sooner, but I feel now we may have a chance to save her,” said Helen.

“We will certainly do all we can. Ladies, I must say, you both look very smart.”

“As do you, I like your lavender coat. It’s becoming and brings out your lovely blue eyes,” said Anna.

“I have very little clothing that does not appear somber and devoid of any fashion. This is one of very few items of clothing I possess that is not dreary. Someday again I will wear something other than black. There will come a time when I will not need to carry my grief so openly and can keep it close without the garb that makes me look so pale and unattractive.”

“Nonsense—you are not unattractive, but anyone can see in your eyes that you carry a burden. Someday if you feel able to, we will be here, if you wish to talk,” said Helen.

“Yes, someday, but this day we have urgent business, so let us go.”

The sun was again not the friend of London.  Although it was not raining, the wet in the air dripped onto your clothing. The fog drenching them with dampness made them uncomfortable, and Madeline clenched her coat around her.

“The Britannia is on Dorsett, just off of Commercial. Would you like to begin there?” asked Madeline.

“That’s fine. I’d like to go to the Princess Alice, also. I spoke with Sophie and the girls yesterday, and they said they heard the Alice was the pub all the young people frequented,” said Helen.

Even in the inclement weather, they were forced at times to walk single file. The mass of human flesh grinding against each other resembled cattle passing through a small gate.

“Thank goodness, I see it in view. Let’s get out of this throng,” said Anna.

Once inside the Britannia, Madeline was comforted to see they also served food and alcohol. She ordered bourbon for her and tea for everyone else, and they also ordered a plate of dried pastries. The pastries looked like they were several days old, but they nibbled on them despite this. It gave their fingers something to do in this place so unfamiliar to all of them.

A bedraggled girl with a stained apron and unkempt black curly hair approached, “Is that all, Mum?”

“There is one more thing. We are looking for our niece Polly; we hear she sometimes calls herself Penny. Here is a picture of her. I am not sure if the likeness is accurate, but we believe she frequents this establishment with a man named, William. Do you think you might have seen her?”

“It’s not a thing we like to speak of, Mum. It’s considered the code of silence. People they come here not to be found or talked about. It’s why they comes here.”

“We understand that, but we are not seeking her for any purpose that would be unfavorable to her. Her aunts have come into some money, and they wish to share it with her. I’m sure you can understand that she might wish to show herself when she hears of this.”

“That’s another thing entirely. I might know her. I’ll write an address down for you. I think she might have a room with another lady around Buck’s Row.”

Anna stood and unexpectedly took the girls hands and squeezed them, thanking her over and over.

“May I have another bourbon and soda, Miss?” asked Madeline.

Then she turned to Anna and Helen and said, “I think we are making progress, ladies, don’t you?”

Helen was about to speak when she gestured over towards the bar, “I do believe that might be Jonathan.”

They turned and looked towards where she had pointed, Madeline hoping in her heart she was right.

“I’m not going to sit here and wonder about it, I’ll go to see if it is,” said Helen.

Helen was the most gregarious of all the ladies and the most forthright. The last few days had emboldened her even further, and she appeared to be at home with her new independence.

  Helen touched his arm, and Madeline watched as he smiled at Helen, the two then returning to their table.

“Jonathan, what brings you to this place—your story about the Ripper?”

“No, I was looking for you, well, all of you. I have left several messages at your hotel, and when I didn’t hear a response, I was concerned. I went again this morning, and Clinton told me where you had gone. I can tell you I was not completely shocked, but I became, even more, concerned and wanted to see all of you.”

“I have not checked my hotel messages; it didn’t occur to me that anyone would leave me one. I apologize for that. I thought you would be too busy, with you news story, to be in touch with us.”

“I have been working long hours, but I meant what I said about being a bodyguard of sorts, if I am able. I know you are all capable women, but still, this is a hostile environment even for men, let alone ladies.”

“It hasn’t been pleasant, but we have some leads to our Polly. Do you have any to your Ripper?” asked Anna.

“It seems just about everyone who has ever broken a law is suspect, and anyone who might have knowledge of how to dissect a carcass of some sort, human or animal. But as he has not struck again, there is some talk that he may have left London due to the extensive search for him.”

“That would be the easy answer. If only that could be true, but after having spent a little time down here, it seems it is a place ripe for the taking place of a crime. Accessibility to women is easy, and comes cheap because there is so much desperation,” said Madeline.

“May I join you in your search? I have to be down here, so perhaps we can try to achieve mutual needs,” said Jonathan.

“That would be wonderful, I will feel so much better with you with us,” said Anna.

“Yes, I think we all feel that way,” said Madeline at she smiled at Jonathan.

She looked at him, as if for the first time, and thought she had never realized how ruggedly handsome he was. She supposed she had not allowed herself to think of him in that way, but now she was noticing him, and a part of her felt an uneasy guilt about it. She was somewhat angry with herself as if she had somehow besmirched the memory of Russell. Still she had allowed herself the luxury of wondering what it might be like for him to hold her in his arms.   

“Should we leave then and have a go at the Princess Alice and see what we can find out?” said Jonathan.

“The clouds look like rain, so I do think we should go quickly if we are going to get anything accomplished today,” said Helen.

Madeline and Jonathan had dropped back behind the ladies, and he said to her in a hushed tone, “I know you have a mind to become a sleuth, so I wondered if you would like to go by the place of Martha Tabram’s attack. I don’t imagine the ladies would like that, but I know you are conducting your investigation of this, aren’t you?”

“It is a sensitive matter indeed. I think you are right, and it would not be appropriate to take them there, but yes, I would like to go. After knowing me for such a short time, you have made a quick and accurate assessment. I have to say, I have been thinking about Polly and the Ripper during every waking hour. Perhaps it is a necessary distraction or maybe something more; I don’t really know right now what is driving me, maybe it is Mr. Holmes,” she said smiling again at him.

The Princess Alice was just a short walk from the Britannia and of all the pubs, it could easily claim the title of being the most run down and dirty of them all, despite its lovely name.

Responding to Jonathan’s inquiry, a young man said he knew of a Polly that came in at least twice a week. He said he remembered her because she was rather loud when she took to the drink and had many men friends.

Anna blushed and put her head down when he said this, and Helen started fidgeting with her gloves. Once again, they left an address and note in the hopes he would see Polly again soon and pass the information on to her.

“Anna, Helen,” said Madeline. “Jonathan and I would like to go into some other areas that might be of such a nature, that it might upset you. May we take you home, and then we will return to see you later this afternoon?”

Helen was about to speak when Anna said, “I know my sister, she would most likely go, but I have seen enough, enough that I am happy to return to the safety of our meager rooms. They no longer look as small as they did before, after seeing how these poor people live.”

“All right, Anna. Let’s go home,” said Helen.

It had begun to rain, a light rain that came upon them as they arrived at the aunts’ home. Madeline assured Jonathan she still wanted to go back into the heart of Whitechapel. Anna and Helen had invited them to supper upon their return, and they had accepted.

“You know their niece may not wish to return and live with them, even if you do find her. It becomes a sort of addiction, the nightlife, the drinking. I believe it’s very difficult to leave that life once you have immersed yourself in it,” said Jonathan.

“I hope that will not be true in Polly’s case. They will be offering her more than just a place to stay; they intend to give her part of their recent inheritance.”

“That may help, but I have known people close to me who have fallen into the trap of addiction; it can prove almost impossible to return to a life without these influences.”