By lancellot
Warning: The author has noted that this contains the highest level of violence.
| Author Notes | Be sure to follow the further adventures of Justin Thyme, aka Twenty. |
By lancellot
| Author Note: | Part 1 of 2 |
Justin ‘Twenty’ Thyme had never been inside a noble’s home, much less that of the Duke of Sussex. He and Sheriff Thyme were escorted into the Duke’s private library and told to wait there; that was thirty minutes ago.
Sheriff Thyme sat in an ornate chair that was way too comfortable for waiting; he had to stand and stretch several times to keep himself from falling asleep. He currently sat watching his grandson perusing the Duke’s books at his leisure. Finally, sheriff Thyme pulled out his silver pocket watch for the third time. “Well, lad, it’s official, whatever this ‘incident’ of the Duke’s is, it will not be solved in twenty minutes, but don’t worry, I won’t be holding this one against you. I guess they don’t want us to get started.”
Twenty smiled and continued his walk around the expansive library. He noted the books were divided into sections: music, arts, politics, alchemy, history, and an unlabeled section. When he pulled one of those books, his face turned bright pink, and he started to sweat. He quickly finished the book with his speed reading skill, then chose a few more for… research purposes. He was careful not to open them where his grandpa could see inside. Justin wasn’t quite sixteen yet, a fact his grandpa constantly reminded him of.
Twenty shook his head and put the last book back. He walked to a full-length mirror at the far end of the room and stood in front of it. First, he checked his hair; it was messy but passible, then his teeth. Twice a day, brushing does its job, he thought. And, because of that last section, he checked his pants to make sure he had recovered, for modesty’s sake.
By all accounts, Justin looked like any other, almost 16-year-old boy or adult. He was about 75 centimeters tall and had a slim build. Justin wasn’t angelic, but his mother always said he was a handsome boy who resembled his father, whoever that was. He took a step back and let his eyes take in the entire mirror and the brick wall it was mounted to. He turned his back to the mirror and noted that the room was almost a perfect rectangle that tapered towards the mirror end of the room. The room had all the chairs facing the entrance at the narrow end. There wasn’t a single window in the room. Modern electric candles provided all the light from a crystal chandelier suspended from the ceiling, but no switch was in sight. He had noticed similar chandeliers in the foyer and hallways with light switches on the walls. Justin slipped a finger into his mouth, then casually let his hand trace the seams of the mirror. Instantly a huge grin appeared on his face.
“Someone could at least come and tell us what the bloody hell is going on.” His grandpa pulled out his watch yet again. The Sheriff was normally a patient man, and that trait was especially required when dealing with nobility, but he had his limits.
Twenty walked back to his grandpa, picked up a chair, and turned it so he would face the agitated man and away from the mirror. “It’s fine, Grandpa; they will be along shortly. They are merely checking to see if we can be trusted.”
Sheriff Thyme rolled his eyes. “How will they figure that out when no one has bothered to come and see us?”
Justin leaned toward his grandpa. “Someone has been here all along.” He pointed to the other end of the room with his thumb. “They’ve been watching us through that two-way mirror, and I would wager, based on how this room is constructed, they can hear me whispering.”
Twenty sat up straight and projected his voice. “Have we passed inspection, my Lord, or do you wish your problem to grow colder while we wait.”
Ten seconds later, the library door opened, and the same butler who showed them in stood there.
“My Lord will see you now. Please follow me.” The man turned, then walked away as if he had no doubt they would follow.
The Sheriff and Justin indeed followed the butler without question and with haste.
Sheriff Thyme buttoned and brushed his vest. His coat had been taken downstairs. “I hope I am presentable to be in the Duke’s presence,” he said to Twenty.
The butler stopped in front of what appeared to be a bedroom door.
Twenty looked up at his grandpa. “It’ll be alright, Gramps. We’re not meeting the Duke today.”
“What?” asked the Sheriff.
The butler opened the door and led the men inside. It was indeed a small bedroom with a king-sized bed. The floor was covered with plush red velvet carpeting—a single large white desk with a matching chair. There were no windows, and like the library and the foyer, a large ornate crystal chandelier hung in the center of the ceiling. The light fixture was not over the bed because another full-length mirror took that position.
The Butler cleared his throat and motioned to the young man of perhaps nineteen, dressed in a business suit with silver trim. “May I present his lordship, Earl Richard Von Whitman, 3rd son of his Grace, Duke Fredrick Von Whitman.”
The Sheriff and Justin both bowed deeply to the Duke’s son.
“My Lord, Sheriff Jacob Thyme of Scotland Yard and his grandson, Justin Thyme,” the butler said eloquently.
The Earl slightly bowed his head to the two and then turned his eyes to the butler. “Thank you, Geoffrey. You may leave us.”
The man hesitated just a fraction, then bowed. “Yes, my Lord.” As he opened the door to leave, he gave Justin and the sheriff a half-second glare before closing the door behind him.
The Sheriff and Twenty waited silently. It was customary for commoners to speak only when spoken to by nobility. It was an old custom but standing in the Duke’s estate before the Duke’s son, it was respectful and wise.
“Gentlemen.” The Earl stood with his hand on the chair before the desk. His face was slightly flush. “Thank you for coming on such short notice. But, before we begin, I have a request. First, I must ask for your discretion in this matter. Next, there will be no official reports filed, understood.”
Grandfather and grandson looked at each other. The request was not a request. It was an order, and they both well understood the Earl’s unspoken words. The days of nobles having commoners hung on a whim may be over, but more than a few families have experienced the mysterious disappearance of a loud-mouthed loved one.
Jacob and Justin bowed again and spoke at the same time. “You have my word, my Lord.”
“My Lord,” Twenty raised his eyes to the young man. “May I inquire as to the reason for our summons?”
Sheriff Thyme raised his head and briefly glanced at his grandson but did not say anything. Protocol demanded they wait for the Earl to broach the subject, but the Sheriff also knew that Twenty had started the clock when they entered the room.
The Earl paused, and the knuckles on the hand that held the chair turned white. He briefly closed his eyes and then slowly exhaled. “I have lost something of great importance. Rather, I believe it to be stolen. Either way, this… item must be recovered with all haste.”
Sheriff Thyme looked at his grandson and then at the Earl. “My lord, we will need to know what this item is and when you… noticed it to be missing.”
“And we will need to know all the details surrounding the missing item.” Twenty took a step towards the Earl. His eyes were glued on the young noble. “Nothing must be withheld if your important item is to be recovered.”
The Earl turned his head away; his eyes lingered on the bed. He sighed and focused his gaze on Twenty. “There is some… I was...” He shook his head as if to clear it of unwanted thoughts. “The item is the tiara belonging to my stepmother, the Duchess of Sussex. She is away with my father at the moment, but they are due back tomorrow.”
Sheriff Thyme looked at his grandson. His mouth opened, then closed. Finally, he turned back to the Earl. “The actual diamond tiara she wears for official functions?”
Richard lowered his head and nodded. The young man seemed unable to meet either man’s eyes briefly.
For several seconds silence hung in the room like a weight upon their shoulders.
“Hmm,” said Twenty as he began walking around the room. “And, this is the room where you last saw the tiara, yes?”
Richard did not raise his eyes. “It is the very room, Sir, and I have not left it since.”
Twenty noticed a slight quiver in the young man’s voice. He was understandably afraid, but there was more. Why would he wear his stepmother’s tiara? Twenty recalled an image of the Duchess. She is young, only slightly older than Richard. She is a regal woman of impeccable beauty and grace. Some say she resembles a storybook princess. She has long flaming red hair, framing an angelic face, and a figure that could shame an hourglass. Could Richard want to imitate her? Twenty looked closely at Richard, his posture, face, dress, and grooming. He knew some men preferred women’s attire and even claimed to be one. Richard, being a noble, would conceal such proclivities from his family and the public, but Twenty did not get that vibe from him. That meant... Twenty looked again at the windowless room and the sparse furniture.
“Ah, a room of assured privacy,” he said. “My lord, would you bring in the young woman with you when the tiara went missing? I shall like to interview her as well.”
Richard released his grip on the chair and stared at Twenty. His face turned scarlet, and his lips trembled.
(Continues in Part 2 of 2)
| Author Notes | A continuation of a story I wrote for the Twenty contest. I liked the character, so I decided to keep him living. Lets see how long it lasts |
By lancellot
| Author Note: | Part 2 of 2 |
Twenty glared at Richard. “My Lord, we are running out of time,” is what Twenty said, but he had no doubt Richard understood what he meant.
There was no we. There was only the youngest son of the Duke. An unimportant, barely noticed teen with three older brothers. He was someone who could quite easily be banished from England and all but forgotten.
The Earl looked at the sheriff, then turned to the desk and picked up a small golden bell. He rang it once, and the door immediately opened with the Butler standing at the ready. “Geoffrey, would you bring in Francesca.” Richard did not look at the butler. He did not meet anyone’s eyes at that moment.
“Yes, my lord.” The Butler bowed and then departed but left the door open.
Twenty immediately turned to the Earl. “My Lord, I have no wish to embarrass the lady; therefore, I will be brief. This room is strictly for clandestine sexual activities, yes?” Twenty’s voice was curt and direct.
Richard stared at the boy, pulled himself upright and erect, then nodded. “Yes, it is.”
“Were you on the bed, the chair, or multiple places during your activities?”
“Mostly on the bed, but we used the chair for a time.” Richard stepped away from the chair.
The sheriff walked to it, slowly knelt on the floor, then looked under the chair and the desk. He eventually rose and shook his head.
“My Lord.” Geoffrey stood at the entrance with a young red-haired girl of about 16 or 17.
She wore a maid’s uniform, and though her head was lowered, Twenty felt his heart skip a beat. He glanced at his grandfather, and the older man, too, appeared stunned into silence. If the Duchess were old enough to have an eighteen-year-old daughter, this girl would make all the gossip pages as her unclaimed lovechild.
“Come in, Francesca.” The Earl’s voice was rough and held a distinct edge.
Francesca entered the room with her head lowered. She did not look at the Earl or raise her eyes.
Richard took in a deep breath and then slowly blew it out. His brows knotted, and his lips frowned. “Francesca, where did you…?”
The girl immediately shook her head.
Twenty raised his hand before the Earl could continue, stopping him in mid accusation. Twenty then walked slowly around the girl, his eyes taking in every minute detail and dimension of her body. Finally, he stopped and gently took her trembling hands in his.
The young maid slowly raised her head, squinted a bit, and met Justin’s eyes.
Twenty smiled at the girl. “You have lovely green eyes, Francesca. Do you wear spectacles?”
The girl nodded, withdrew one of her small hands, reached into her apron, then pulled out a cheap pair of glasses.
“You should put them on. I’m sure you’ll see and feel better.”
The girl immediately looked at Richard. It was clear she was not allowed to wear them without his permission.
The Earl waved one hand dismissively and turned his head.
Twenty nodded at the girl. Then, still holding one of her hands, he took a step back and gazed into her eyes for several seconds. “I have no further questions. Thank you for your time, Francesca. You may go back to your duties.”
“What?” Richard exclaimed. “You didn’t ask her anything. She was the one who….”
Twenty turned sharply at the older teen. His eyes now glared daggers. “She did not take it, and she need not stay for what will happen next. If that is an issue, we can leave as well.”
The Earl opened his mouth and then abruptly closed it. He looked from his butler to the sheriff, but neither man said a word. Then, finally, he waved his hand again. “Geoffrey, see her back to her duties.”
Francesca curtsied and then walked to the door. At the threshold, she stopped, then turned back towards Justin. She smiled, then departed.
This time Geoffrey closed the door behind him.
Richard did not hesitate. “But no one else was in the room but us. So she must have stolen it.”
Twenty did not answer the Earl. Instead, he walked to the bed and sat on the edge. “You were having sex with Francesca because she looks like your stepmother.” It wasn’t a question. It was a statement of fact.
“Wait, just one….” Richard started.
Twenty raised his hand. “I’d go so far as to say that she would be a near-perfect match for a younger and nude version of the Duchess without her spectacles.” Twenty lay back on the bed and stared up at the mirror. “When you add the tiara… well, it would almost be like you were fucking the Duchess herself.”
The Earl turned his head, balled his hands into fists but remained silent.
Sheriff Thyme stepped between Justin and Richard, just in case. “Even so, Justin, that doesn’t account for the missing tiara.”
Lying on his back, Twenty positioned his hands over his waist and began pumping them up and down. “I’ve never been with a woman, but I’ve imagined it many times. Francesca, like your stepmother, is a petite woman. I assume supporting her weight would be easy, and to look up at those perfect breasts… swaying, that long red hair… flowing, and the diamond tiara… sparkling; all as she bounced effortlessly on your cock. Ah, that would be a sight no man could deny himself. Isn’t that so, Richard?”
The Earl glared menacingly. “My sexual habits are not at issue here.”
Twenty abruptly sat up. “Your sexual habits are precisely why we are here, and I remind you, my Lord, we are running out of time.”
Richard closed his eyes. “Fine, yes, I bedded Francesca because she looks like my damn stepmother.”
“And, you hate your stepmother, don’t you? I could tell by the way you treated Francesca.”
“That… that woman destroyed my family. She stole my father and chased my mother away. So, yes, I despise the woman with every fiber of my being. She may look like an angel but trust me; she’s nothing more than a cheap….
“I don’t care.” Twenty lay back down on the bed. “So, you want to hurt the Duchess, not just fuck her, but you can’t, so you took Francesca instead. As a young maid, she must have been flattered by your advances and readily agreed to sleep with you.” Twenty raised his hands over his waist again. “But the pleasure was not your goal. You want to fuck your stepmother in the most humiliating and painful way possible. Normal sex wouldn’t do. So, while imagining your stepmother, you shoved your cock where it didn’t belong. Without warning or preparation, you shoved it into her bum.”
Richard stared at Twenty. His mouth slowly opened. “How… how could you… possibly know that?”
Twenty sat up. “But young Francesca had never done that; I doubt she would even consider it for someone she loved. When you jammed your cock in, it not only hurt like the devil, but it surprised her so much that she immediately tried to jump off your cock. But you held down, so only her head flung up, and since the tiara was fitted for a woman slightly older and larger.”
Twenty’s finger pointed up to the crystal chandelier.
The sheriff and the earl stared up at the chandelier identical to all the others throughout the mansion.
Twenty stood on the bed and reached into the chandelier. “The tiara flew up and got stuck. And since it is mostly diamond. It blended right in with the rest of the clear crystals much like a chameleon.”
The earl gawked as Twenty held the tiara out to him. “It was right in front of me this entire time. Why, how did I miss it?”
Twenty handed the tiara over. “We see what we want to see. You hate your stepmother; think the worst of her. So, you naturally carried those feelings over to Francesca. You see the Duchess as a thief. You did the same with your maid.”
***
Geoffrey, the Head Butler, showed the Sheriff and Twenty out. Just before leaving, Geoffrey stopped and addressed Justin. “Mr. Thyme, on behalf of the earl, and the entire serving staff, I would like to thank you for your services and professionalism.” He reached into his breast pocket, pulled out a plain white envelope, and handed it to Justin. “My Lord instructed me to deliver this to you, with his profound thanks.”
“What is it?” asked Sheriff Thyme.
“It is a standard finder’s fee of five percent; as Justin is not a sworn member of the Sheriff’s department; my Lord felt it only just. Now, I must bid you, gentlemen, a good day and safe journey.”
Sheriff Thyme snatched the envelope from Twenty’s hand as they walked back to their waiting carriage. He opened it and pulled out a check. He whistled loudly. “Good heavens; it is five percent of the tiara’s value.”
Twenty climbed into the carriage. “More likely hush money, but it doesn’t matter. I would never disclose a client’s business. But on a more important note, Grandpa, do you think it would be improper of me to call upon Ms. Francesca?”
Sheriff Thyme folded the check and put it in his pocket. “It’s fine after you turn sixteen, but wouldn’t the earl be upset?”
Twenty leaned back as the carriage began moving. “No, I think he is done with her. She proved not to be the therapy he needed. He has no real feeling for her, and now, she would only remind him of his mistakes.”
“Hmm, I will deposit this check into your account in the morning. We’d better get home before your mother starts to worry.”
Twenty stared out the window of the carriage. His mind wasn’t on his mother or the check. Is love at first sight possible? Justin didn’t know, but he was sure that mystery wouldn’t be solved in twenty minutes.
| Author Notes | The conclusion of the second story of Justin Thyme. Hope people enjoyed it. I know it has mature parts but the world in which he lives has mature elements in it. |
By lancellot
Warning: The author has noted that this contains the highest level of language.
The big day had finally arrived, March 15, 1895, and Justin awoke that morning feeling… exactly like he had the day before. He lay in his small bed staring at the white ceiling, feeling a bit let down. He didn’t know why he thought there would be some dramatic change between fifteen and sixteen. The legal age of adulthood was a British creation, not a biological one. Nature did not operate by the Queen’s calendar or seemed to notice man’s existence.
Justin’s nose twitched, then he inhaled deeply. He was grinning like a cat by the time he exhaled. His mother was cooking breakfast, and by the sweet aroma drifting through the house, she was making his favorites. Nature may not notice man, but loving mothers sure did. He was no longer her little boy but now her little man, and she was letting him know it properly.
Feeling ten times better, Justin swung himself out of bed, then quickly prepared himself for the day.
Justin made it downstairs and into the kitchen in record time. His mother was just setting the table with pancakes, maple syrup, pork sausages, bacon strips, scrambled eggs - with cheese and apple juice. Justin smiled; the table had everything a young man wanted and nothing he needed. He loved his mother.
“Good morning, Mum.” Justin wrapped his arms around his mother and kissed her cheek.
“Well, someone’s happy today. I wonder why.” She winked at him and steered him towards the table.
Justin’s curiosity flared when Sheila Thyme placed one plate at the table. He sniffed the air to be sure and did not smell the strong scent of fresh coffee. “Mum, where is Grandpa? Is he sleeping in on my birthday?” Justin sat down and began filling his plate.
“Hmph, would you look at that? Something his majesty doesn’t know.” She placed a hand over her heart. “Oh, how I missed these moments. Back when my son needed his poor mother to explain how the world worked.”
Justin frowned. He should’ve known he wouldn’t get a straight answer from his mother without first obtaining a performance. Her stage days may be behind her, but that acting bug never dies. “So, he went to work early.”
“Yes.” Sheila fixed a plate for herself and then sat down with her son. “Inspector Simms came to fetch him before sunrise. They are staging a surprise party for you down at the Yard, not that anything ever surprises you.”
Justin stuffed slices of bacon into his mouth. When he noticed his grandpa was gone, his first thought was a surprise party, but when his mom said, Inspector Simms, he instantly knew that wasn’t so. First, Inspector Simms hated him; second, Inspector Simms really hated him.
“Slow down.” Sheila pointed her fork at Justin. “Are you trying to kill yourself on your birthday? Being a man doesn’t give you super-eating powers, you know.”
Justin looked at his plate. He hadn’t realized he was wolfing his food down. He was trying to hurry and leave for the Yard. Something was tickling in the back of his mind. “Sorry,” he mumbled and slowed his chewing.
“Justin.” Sheila placed her fork down. “Speaking of being a man. There are a few things I want to talk with you about.”
Justin’s well-trained eyes quickly scanned his mother. He noted the intense focus of her eyes, the slight twitch of her upper lip, the way she held her hands together, the….
“Stop reading me!” She banged her hand on the table, making him jump. “I swear, sometimes I just want to….”
“Sorry, Mum.”
Sheila opened her hands, inhaled, then exhaled slowly. “People are not books, Justin, and not everything goes according to plan. Things go wrong that are supposed to go right. People are far more complicated underneath than they appear on the surface.” Her brows scrunched, and she leaned forward. “Don’t think I don’t know what your grandpa has planned for you. He did the same thing with your uncle Sam when he turned sixteen. May God rest and forgive his soul.”
Justin innocently held both his palms up. “Mum, I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Whores, Justin ‘Twenty’ Thyme. Yes, I know about your little nickname too.” Shelia stood and rubbed her hands on her apron. “Not everything is fun and games, Justin. And, women can be more dangerous than they are alluring and in more ways than you can shake your little stick at.”
Justin calmly stared at his mother. He held his tongue mostly because he wasn’t sure how much about his Yard activities she knew. The fact that she knew his ‘nickname’ meant his mom paid more attention than she let on. That she said the word: whores, told that his grandpa had indeed taken Sam to a brothel, and now his mother suspected her son was next on those women’s menu.
Sheila put her hands on her hips, a sure sign she would not be letting the topic go. “Well, Mr. Twenty. What do you have to say for yourself? You’re a man now, right? Speak up.”
Justin sighed. He didn’t want to disappoint his mother, and he didn’t want to lie to her either. “You’re right, Mum. I am sixteen, legally a man, and it is about time I started acting like one. Although I have been a consultant to Grandpa, I am a private detective when I am not doing that. I was waiting for later this week to tell you. But I guess now will do. I intend to get an office of my own and, if need be, an apartment too. Also, as a man, if I were to have any activities with women, it would be both improper and unnecessary for me to discuss those activities with my mother. I respect your concern and advice, but I have responsibilities I must attend to right now.” Justin wiped his face and hands with a napkin. “I thank you for the wonderful breakfast. I am off for the Yard. Love you.”
Sheila Thyme watched her son grab his hat and coat, then walk out of their home. It wasn’t until the door closed behind Justin that she lost hold of her emotions and warm tears ran down her face. There was only one fact repeating in her mind: He never denied anything I said.
As Justin walked the streets of London, he reflected on what his mother said and didn’t say. But, of course, he knew all about his departed uncle. Justin knew how the man died on the job as a Deputy and knew his mother feared the same fate would fall upon him. He was not insensitive to his mother’s fears; he trained hard three days a week in hand-to-hand combat to lessen those fears. His mother’s feelings were also why Justin and his grandfather agreed years ago that Justin would only consult with the Sheriff’s Department and work on safe cases for which his grandson would receive payment deposited into his bank account. Still, he would not formally join the department. At least not until such a time that his mother changed her feelings or Justin decided the Yard was where he belonged.
Even though he was not a member of the department, his grandpa was the sheriff, and as such, Justin was well known and liked by most of the deputies. He walked into the station and waved at the desk sergeant. “Morning, Thomas.”
“Good morning, Twenty, and happy birthday.” Thomas smiled, then quickly turned to some unruly women.
Twenty walked unobstructed to his grandpa’s office as if he were a deputy himself. He knocked twice, then let himself in.
“I want to know who killed my deputy, Inspector, not excuses.” The sheriff looked at Justin as he entered the office. “Ah, I was just thinking about you.” He casually gestured at the other man in the room. “Justin, you know Inspector Simms from the Western district.”
Justin nodded his greeting to the tall thin man. He didn’t extend his hand because he knew Simms wouldn’t take it. “Good morning, Inspector.”
Inspector Simms folded his arms across his chest and stared straight ahead. “Sheriff, I and my staff are fully capable of….”
Sheriff Thyme shot up from his chair. “Do you know who did it?” He waited a few seconds for a reply that didn’t come. “Do you even know why?” Again, the sheriff waited in silence.
Inspector Simms glanced at Justin and then turned back to his boss. “We don’t have all the facts yet, Sir, but….”
Sheriff Thyme raised one hand. “If you are about to give me another excuse, you had better save it, Inspector. Dan Wilkens wasn’t just a deputy; he was also cousin by marriage to Baron Wilkens, the Duke’s brother. Why a man like that was allowed to patrol the third district is another question I don’t have an answer for. Much less how he was murdered in the same alley as Richard Vanhorn.”
“What?” Justin asked, remembering the name.
Richard Vanhorn was the banker murdered three weeks ago by former Deputy 3rd class Frank Murty. It was a case Justin solved at the crime scene in under twenty minutes.
“Yes.” Sheriff Thyme slowly sat down in his chair. He motioned for Justin and Inspector Simms to take seats. “I’m sorry to put you to work on your birthday, Justin, but I’m going to need your help on this one. And, I’m going to need you to work with Inspector Simms.”
Inspector Simms opened his mouth to protest.
Sheriff Thyme pointed his finger at the man. “Before you say it, Jim, you had better say you have a suspect in custody so I don’t stand before the Baron empty-handed tomorrow.”
Jim Simms closed his mouth and lowered his head.
Sheriff Thyme rose from his desk and grabbed his coat. “That’s all. I expect you, men, to work together, and I expect an answer before tomorrow morning. In the meantime, I have meetings with some important people I’d rather not have to speak with.” He turned his eyes to his grandson. “As an official consultant, you are under the supervision of Inspector Simms for the duration of this case. Act accordingly.” Sheriff Thyme walked around the desk and out of the office without another word.
Justin slumped in his chair and sighed. He could not believe that all this was happening on his birthday.
Inspector Simms stood and glared at Justin. “I’m going to say this once and once only. I don’t like children. I don’t particularly appreciate talking to them or working with them, but I hate men who can’t follow orders. I have my orders, and I intend to follow them. You may speak.”
There were several quips Justin wanted to say, but in the back of his mind, he kept hearing his mother’s voice. She didn’t see him as a man, and he was determined to prove to her that he was. “As I came in late to the discussion, I will need the facts and details you’ve collected so far.”
Inspector Simms blinked several times, then he reached into his back pocket and pulled out his notepad. “At approximately three this morning, the body of Deputy Dan Wilken was found in the alley between Crenshaw and Brooks. He was on his back, with bloodstains in the abdomen area. Preliminary investigation at the scene revealed a single stab wound to the stomach. In addition, a blood-stained twenty-five-centimeter knife of common kitchen design was found near the body. At approximately six-thirty, the body was transported to the city morgue. Initial canvassing of the area discovered no witnesses or at least no one willing to say they saw anything.”
Justin leaned back in his chair. “And how long was Deputy Dan assigned to that patrol area?”
“About three weeks.” Simms slipped his notepad back into his packet. “He took over patrol from ex-Deputy Murty.”
Justin closed his eyes. “Yes, Frank Murty…”
“He is scheduled for execution though no official date has been given. He’s on death row at Hazel Crest.”
“And just why was Dan Wilkens, a 1st class Deputy if I remember correctly, given a patrol beat normally assigned to a 3rd or 2nd class deputy?”
“After Frank Murty, it was decided that someone with a stronger moral compass and character would be best to replace him. Dan was a very pious man, a married man, from a good family. A man a spotless department record.”
Justin stood. “And whose bright idea was it to reward such a fine young man with a crappy beat?”
Inspector Simms lifted his chin a bit. “The decision was mine.”
Twenty had known that all along; he just wanted to see if Inspector Simms was the kind of man to own up to his mistakes. “Well, I will need to see the crime scene and the body. I believe the morgue is closer.” Justin turned for the door. “Shall we go, Inspector?”
Justin paused to look at a disturbance in the lobby involving several questionable-looking ladies on the way out of the station. Then, he turned to the desk sergeant. “What’s all this, Thomas?”
Deputy Thomas shook his head. “Been going on for days now. Some working girls decided to move their business across town, and they’re squabbling over territory.” He sighed. “It’s too early for this crap.”
“We have bigger issues, kid.” Inspector Simms walked past Justin and out the door.
Justin glanced at several women before leaving. Working girls, he thought. His mother would simply call them whores.
~
The London Morgue was a huge underground cavern. It was once an aqueduct for excess rainwater back in the 16th century. Years ago, it had been repurposed because of its location and natural year-round cool temperatures. It was an eerily quiet place with odd odors. Some even claimed to have seen a ghost or two walking the halls. It was not a place visited often.
Inspector Simms led the way to the new arrivals. Before entering the examination room, he paused and turned to Twenty. “If you prefer to wait here. I can bring out the coroner’s report to you.”
“That will not be necessary, Inspector.” Justin pushed open the double doors and entered the room.
Lifting his head from between a dead woman’s legs, the coroner turned to the duo. “Well, well, if it isn’t the Western district finest. I haven’t seen you in a while Inspector Simms, and you’re teamed up with the birthday boy or man himself. Happy birthday, Twenty.”
Justin walked up to the smiling man. “Thank you, Max. How’re things with the little lady?”
“Ah, my Anabelle is a happy woman. You were right about the weekly flowers. She’s got them all lined up in the window for the neighbor to see; she does.”
Justin’s nose wrinkled. He looked down at the dissected corpse, leaned over it, and sniffed. “Hmm, smells like Carotene.” He looked up at Max. “Poison?”
Max smiled and nodded. “That’s what I was thinking, I was. But, you know, when women decide to end it all, they do it so don’t mess up their pretty faces or clothes. Funny, the things that still matter to you when you’re killing yourself.”
Inspector Simms cleared his throat. “Right, Sir, we’ve come to see the report on Deputy Wilkens.” He didn’t say it, but the scowl on his face showed clear annoyance.
“Hmph.” Maxwell walked to a nearby gurney with the nude body of Deputy Wilkens partially covered. He picked a notepad from the end of the table. “Single stab wound to navel region. The kitchen knife was brought in with him. The blade cut clean through the abdominal wall, lower intestines, and stomach. A slow and painful way to go.”
“Slow?” Justin pulled the sheet off the body. “How long would death from a would like this take?”
Max rubbed his chin. “Hmm, I’d say five or eight minutes for a man his size.” He handed the pad to Inspector Simms.
Justin looked closely at the stab wound. “Angle of attack?”
“Slightly elevated. My guess is the other guy was taller.” Max bent over and gingerly touched the slit.
“Guy?” Inspector Simms handed the pad back to Max. “Why a guy and not a woman?”
Max Shrugged. “Guess it could be, but she’d have to be pretty strong, she would. The knife went to the hilt, and it wasn’t particularly sharp.”
“Any defensive wounds?” Simms asked, glaring down at Justin.
“Not a one. The guy probably sneaked upon him. It was dark in that alley.” Max then turned to look at Justin as well.
Justin had a small pair of tongs in his hand and was lifting the deflated penis and testicles of the corpse. “Max, are these lesions what I think they are?”
Max leaned over Justin’s shoulder. “Ah, the sailors’ curse. I found some in his mouth, too; I did. They look fairly new.”
“The anal region?” Justin looked over his shoulder.
“Nope, clean as a whistle, no trauma either.” Max grinned. “I know what you’re thinking. I checked the back of his throat too, and nothing.”
“Hmph.” Justin stood up straight and turned for the door. “Thank you for your time, Max. Be sure to get some sun now and again.”
“And you, try to get some time to enjoy your birthday.” Max nodded to Inspector Simms as he followed Justin out.
Back outside, Justin lifted his face to the sun and took a deep breath. He slowly blew it out and watched the azure sky and fat cotton clouds drift by.
Coming to stand beside him, Inspector Simms looked at the young man. “So, young Mr. Thyme. Shall we get to the alley now?”
Justin shook his head. “No, first I’d like to pay my respects to the widow.”
Luckily, the Wilken’s rowhouse wasn’t far. Justin quietly followed behind Inspector Simms. He didn’t say anything or make a sound.
When the two arrived at the house, Inspector Simms turned to Justin. “It is clear to me now that you are more mature than you appear. I will admit my earlier impressions of you may have been in error. But Mrs. Wilkens is probably still in shock and grieving. She should not be interrogated. Is that understood?”
Justin nodded his head. “I promise, I shall be brief and tactful.”
Inspector Simms knocked on the door and greeted Mrs. Wilkens, who knew the Inspector by face.
“I’m sorry I didn’t come by sooner, Mrs. Wilkens.” Simms took the young woman’s hand in his, noting she still wore her ring and understanding it was too soon to remove it.
“That’s alright, Inspector. I knew you would come. Please come in,” she said.
“Thank you.” Inspector Simms stepped to the side to reveal Justin standing behind him. “This is Sheriff Thyme’s grandson, Justin. He is apprenticing with me. I hope you don’t mind his presence.”
“Not at all. The Sheriff came by this morning. He is a kind man. He mentioned that you and his grandson would probably check on me today.” She led the two men into a small parlor, and they sat down.
Justin did not speak but kept his eyes focused on Mrs. Wilkens. He noted her slightly messy brown hair, pale skin, swollen lower lip, and sunken cheeks. She had deep dark bags under her red-rimmed eyes, indicating that she had been crying for some time before their arrival. Justin quickly scanned the room. He noted several crosses, a figurine of the Virgin Mary, and two pictures of Jesus Christ on the walls. Over the fireplace, displayed in a place of honor, was their family bible. The room itself was plain and simple.
Justin walked to the seated woman, then knelt before her. He reached for her small hands and stared into her grey eyes. “Madam, allow me to express my sincere condolences. I knew your husband only briefly before his transfer to the western district, but I had always found him a kind and God-fearing man. It was an honor to have known him. I know he is even now serving the Lord with distinction.”
****
Fifteen minutes later, Justin and Inspector Simms said their goodbyes and were on the street again.
Inspector Simms looked at Justin. “And, where did you disappear while I was talking to Katherine?”
Justin started walking. “I checked the kitchen, the bedroom, the lavatory, and the library. There is quite a collection of books on oriental culture and history.”
Inspector Simms slapped a hand on Justin’s shoulder, stopping him. “You did what?”
“I searched the house.” Justin stared up at the older man with cold, unflinching eyes. “Now, kindly remove your hand. You are drawing unnecessary attention.”
Inspector Simms looked around and indeed saw several people staring at them. He quickly released Justin. He took in a quick calming breath. “Okay, so what did you find?”
Justin began walking again. “In the house, only a possible motive for Deputy Wilkens death, but I want to make another stop first. Some things concern me.”
“And where are you going now anyway. The crime scene is the other way.”
Justin stepped into the street and hailed a taxi. Then, he and Inspector Simms climbed into the small buggy.
“Where to, gentlemen,” asked the driver.
“Hazel Crest Prison,” Justin answered and settled back as the carriage pulled off.
Inspector Simms pulled off his hat and wiped his sweating brow. “Are we ever going to the crime scene?”
Justin closed his eyes. “Why, we already know what’s there?”
Inspector Simms raised an eyebrow. “And what’s that?”
“An empty alley, closed windows, the stench of old piss, and people who will never talk to us. In essence… nothing.”
The Inspector shook his head. “So, you think someone there saw something?”
Justin folded his arms across his chest. “They saw everything; they always do, but it is no consequence. I already know what they saw.”
The inspector scoffed. “Would you care to enlighten me?”
“It is a thirty-minute ride to the prison. We should get some rest while we can.” With that, Justin began to snore.
***
Hazel Crest Prison was the oldest penal institution in England. It was drab, moldy, and had a mid-evil aura that killed a man’s soul long before his body died.
Inspector Simms and Justin were placed in an interview room, with a chilling view of the hangman’s scaffolding outside the only window. They silently sat across an empty wooden table from Ex-deputy 3rd Class Frank Murty for the last minute.
Finally, Frank slumped his shoulders and looked at Justin. “I suppose you want me to thank you for my temporary stay of execution. Is that right, kid?”
Justin shook his head. “Not why I’m here, Frank, but you’re welcome. I only asked the Judge to give me a few more days so that I could check on a few inconsistencies in your case. I’m supposed to meet with him again in two days to inform him of my findings; then, he’ll make a final decision.”
Frank’s lower lip began to tremble and tap his foot on the floor. “So, what is it you need from me?”
Justin folded his hands and leaned on the table. “First, I need you to tell me who is running the prostitution racket in your absence?”
Frank smiled and rolled his eyes. “How am I supposed to know that from in here. I’m locked up tighter than a squirrel’s ass, I am.”
Justin smiled too, but his smile held a dark tint. “Good news travels fast. But, unfortunately, bad news even faster, and this place is full of bad everything.” Justin leaned back in his chair. “Frank, tell me something. Did Della see you coming, when you ran into the alley to save her from Richard’s cock?”
Frank’s smile fell from his face, his head tilted, and his eyes narrowed.
Justin stared hard into the prisoner’s eyes. “I mean, it was a dead-end alley. Della had to know when she screamed that you would come running. That was your job as protector pimp. A man your size coming in the only way you could come. Hard to miss. I get why Richard didn’t see you. He was too busy watching Della’s sweet bum ripple as he slammed into her. When you entered the alley, he was looking down at her butt, wasn’t he?”
Frank was silent. His eyes held the glaze of a man looking inward instead of out. Then, finally, he slowly nodded his head. “Yeah, he didn’t see me.”
“But Della did. Didn’t she, Frank? She saw you, and she screamed even louder.”
Inspector Simms alternately looked at Frank and Justin. He knew Frank and thought he knew Justin, but at that moment, he felt himself draw away from the boy as if something dark and sinister had enveloped him.
A single tear fell from one of Frank’s eyes. “Yeah, she saw me, but it’s like you said. When I tried to hit him, he jerked his head back cause he’d just shot his load. So I missed the mark, is all. I didn't mean to kill him; just knock him out.”
Justin tilted his head to the side. “He jerked back, did he? Hmm. I recently came across some very erotic books that covered the aspects of sex in great detail. Of course, having no experience, I was fascinated by what I read. But you have lots of experience, don’t you, Frank? Perhaps lots of experience with Della too.” He leaned forward again. “Tell me, Frank. How much experience does Della have? And tell me, how many big cocks has she taken in her long and illustrious career? I bet she took bigger cocks in her other hole many times, without so much as a moan, hasn’t she?”
Tears were now flowing from both of Frank’s eyes. “What… what is it you’re saying?”
Justin shrugged. “When a man is about to blow his load. What does he normally do? Does he pull back as Richard did, or does he lean into the woman and try to bury his cock deeper inside? What do his instincts command him to do?”
Frank and Inspector Simms both looked at each other with open mouths.
Frank shook his head. “But, but… he did pull back. He did; I missed my mark.”
Justin lowered his voice. “Did he pull back because he was blowing his load or because Della suddenly clamped down with all her might on his cock at its most sensitive moment? Tell me, Frank, who is running the hookers now that you’re gone?”
Frank lowered his head. “Della, though she’s having some issues with a few girls. That’s what I hear.”
***
Justin and Inspector Simms hailed a taxi carriage back to the Yard. Justin stared at the setting sun and thought about what he would say to his mother when he got home.
“Justin,” Inspector Simms nudged the boy, “I’m still confused. What does this whore, Della, got to do with Deputy Wilkens’ murder? Did she kill him?”
Justin took a deep breath. “No, not directly, and Deputy Wilkens wasn’t murdered. He committed suicide.”
“What?”
Justin nodded. “Yeah, I knew that at the morgue. No doubt, Max will conclude the same thing in his report tomorrow. Whether my grandpa chooses to disclose it or bury it, we’ll see. Politics was never my thing.”
Inspector Simms threw up his hands. “If you knew that, then why did we go see his widow? Hell, why did we to see Frank?”
Justin turned to his partner. “For the why, Jim. We knew the who, but we didn’t know the why or not all of it. Don’t you hate not having a complete story?”
Jim Simms stared at the young man in disbelief. “Okay, I’ll bite. Why did he do it?”
“For the oldest reason, a person commits suicide, guilt. Dan was a very pious man. It must have broken his heart to cheat on his wife with a whore, and then catch a sickness and bring it home to his wife.” Justin shook his head. “It was probably too much for the man. To see his frail wife get sicker, knowing his sin was the cause. Then, when he saw the lesions form on her lip, he knew, in time, his godly devoted wife… would resemble a whore.”
“But, are you saying Della gave this illness to Deputy Dan? Why?”
“I don’t know if she did it herself or had another girl sleep with him. My guess is she was tired of being number two. So when the opportunity came to get rid of and replace Deputy Murty, she took it. She probably didn’t even plan it. How was she to know how big of a cock Richard had? Her first scream was probably more surprise than pain. The rest, no way. It was just done to draw love-struck Frank in.”
“Love?”
“Oh, yes, he was bitten hard; couldn’t you see it in his eyes. Della had probably been working on his for some time. She likely gave him everything a man could desire or think of. That’s why when she screamed that night, he came running like her white knight.”
“But Deputy Wilkens?”
“It’s hard out there for a pimp, but it’s even harder for street madam. Della found that out after Frank was imprisoned. She couldn’t protect the other whores as a big strong deputy could. That’s why some of them rebelled. So, what was she to do? First, she had to replace Frank, and you sent her Dan. So, she spent that last two weeks tempting and turning a saint into a sinner.”
“So, she had nothing to do with Dan’s suicide.”
Justin turned back to the window. “Who knows. Maybe she was there that night. Perhaps, it is her favorite spot. Maybe she met with Dan. He likely tried to get her to tell him a way to cure himself and his wife; it’s not like he could go to his family doctor with the sailor’s curse. Della probably laughed at his naivety. He then threatened her, and since she knew the kind of man, he was called his bluff and walked away. What else was he supposed to do? He had dishonored his badge, church, himself, and wife. He made the only choice left to him; he committed hara-kiri.”
“Ritual suicide.” Inspector Simms slumped back; then, he too stared out the window. “I suppose that will satisfy the Baron, and he will keep it quiet, considering the details. What happens to Frank?”
“Frank will be hanged before the week is out. We have no evidence to arrest Della, only theory. For now, she gets away with it, and after Frank is dead, no one will care. Hell, I doubt anyone cares now.”
Both men, young and old, watched the sun and it dipped below the city of London, each wondering what mystery the next day would bring.
| Author Notes | This is a contest entry where the minimum word count is 5000. It cannot be broken into smaller posts. There are 5154 words. |
By lancellot
Warning: The author has noted that this contains the highest level of violence.
Justin stared at the gold-colored stencil on the glass portion of his door. “Justin Thyme Investigations est. 1899.” He thought, ‘It has a good ring to it.’ He was aware of the pun his full name implied, but he figured that would serve him. He briefly pondered, adding his nickname, but that had been given to him when he was a boy. The guys at the Yard still called him Twenty for the speed with which he solved problems. However, now that he was a man with his own business, he had to be professional and take his time. He may have the answer his clients want quickly, but people often believe more in appearances than results, so a slow, methodical approach serves best with civilians.
Justin sat down behind his wooden desk and looked around his sparse office. He had only one desk, two basic chairs in front of it, a small bench along the west wall, and hardwood floors. It was his first job at decorating, and Justin was pleased.
His office was on the second floor of a three-story brownstone about two blocks from the Yard. On the first floor was a deli. For Justin, it was a great place to grab a meal. The building belonged to the store’s owner. The man and his wife had occupied the second and third floors in the past. He lived on the 2nd and his wife on the 3rd. But after the man’s wife passed. He remarried and moved into a proper house. This left both small apartments empty, and Justin took advantage. The 2nd floor became his official office and place of business, and the 3rd floor his home. Luckily there was an inside staircase that connected them both. Justin wasn’t surprised by that. The owner had three children, so he figured the man and his wife had some method of getting to each other.
Having nothing on his schedule and no clients on his first day, Justin opened a book by his favorite author and prepared to solve the mystery of the Mayan Empire when there came a knock on his door.
Half of his office door was speckled glass, so he could only make out two fuzzy shapes outside. Justin quickly glanced at his tan vest and black slacks. Then, finding himself presentable, he walked to the door. When he opened it, he gasped, for standing there were two beautiful women. One woman had long crimson red hair and a huge smile; the other was taller, with dark hair, but her face was more reserved with blue eyes. But what caused Twenty’s reaction and garnered his immediate attention was that the green-eyed young lady was none other than Francesca Ramsey, one of the duke’s maids and a bit more than that for the earl.
Twenty only knew he was staring with his mouth hanging open when his keen mind informed him that Francesca was blushing. The reason for that instantly registered in his brain and snapped him back to reality.
“Um, I beg your pardon, Ms. Ramsey, um… please come in.” Justin opened the door all the way and gestured the women in.
The two women came inside a few steps and stopped.
Justin closed the door and did his best to compose himself as he walked to the front of his desk. He wanted to speak, but his amazing mind went blank as soon as his eyes met Francesca’s again.
Luckily Francesca was prepared this time. “I apologize for coming unannounced, Mr. Thyme.” She turned to the other woman. “This is my sister, Elizabeth Parker; she owns First Addition, a rare Book Store on Baker Street. And, well, she has a peculiar problem, and when I heard the earl speaking of you starting your private investigations.” Francesca’s eyes brimmed with water. “I just knew you could help us.”
In those few sentences, Francesca had given many clues for Justin to explore, but that would have to wait. Finally, with the word help, Justin’s mind had cleared completely.
Justin gestured towards the two chairs. “Please, ladies, have a seat and tell me exactly what the problem is.”
Francesca turned her soft green eyes to her sister.
Elizabeth was the older sister; Justin gauged her age at about twenty-five or twenty-six. There was slight moisture above her lips and a slight flutter in her eyelids. She was nervous and unsure. He glanced down at her hands. She wore no rings, but a small white band of skin was on her ring finger showed she had recently worn, perhaps a wedding ring but no longer. The fact that she owned property meant that she either inherited it, unlikely since her last name was different, or the store once belonged to a deceased husband. In about three seconds, all this passed in Justin’s mind as he waited for the woman to speak.
“I…I am being extorted, young, um, Mr. Thyme.” She briefly lowered her head, raised it, and set her lips into a firm line. “I have gone to the local constable station, but they were unable or unwilling to help me.”
“I see,” Justin said, but he didn’t. So far, he had no idea why Francesca brought her sister to him and not the Sheriff or a higher-ranking inspector. “I have a few questions. First, how much are these ‘men’ demanding?”
“One hundred pounds a week.”
Justin’s brow rose. “That’s a hefty sum for a small book retailer. May I ask, what is your weekly income?”
Elisabeth lowered her eyes. “About fifty pounds.” She quickly lifted her head. “I owe much to Francesca. If not for her, I would not have made the last payment of seventy pounds.”
“So, you paid before, but you were short thirty pounds?”
“Yes, but before, the amount was seventy pounds, and before that, it was fifty.” She stared directly into Justin’s eyes. “You must think me a coward, and to be honest, I am. If not for the fire last month, I would….”
“Fire?” Justin leaned across his desk. “There has been violence?”
“Yes, well, there have been threats of more accidents. That and the fire is why I went to the authorities, but they were no help.” Elizabeth pulled out a handkerchief and dabbed at her eyes. “Oh, sometimes I think I should have taken Mr. Commons’ offer and sold. Now, I’m….”
Francesca laid one hand on her sister’s arm. “Do not give up hope. I’m sure Mr. Thyme can solve this.” She turned her soft green eyes to Justin.
Elizabeth gently removed her sister’s hand. “When my sister mentioned she knew a man who could aid us, I… but I didn’t know she meant.” Elizabeth lowered her eyes and looked away. “I am sorry to have bothered you, Mr. Thyme. The… the men who came to me are … well, they are rather large and intense men… Oh heavens, I mean no disrespect, but you are just a….”
Justin raised his hand. “I quite understand. Things seem difficult on the surface, but I will take the case.”
Elisabeth stood up and began shaking her head. “Oh, I couldn’t bear it if you….”
Justin got up as well and walked to the woman. “Fear not, my rates are quite reasonable, and I have no problem deferring payment until you’ve become financially stable again.” He took Elizbeth’s hand and began leading her to the door. “You ladies go back to the shop, and I shall be along shortly.”
“But, but…” Elizabeth stuttered as Justin opened the door and guided her out.
“Do not worry. I am on the case.” Justin held the door as Francesca passed him within a few centimeters. He caught the sweet fragrance of her perfume and felt his heartbeat quicken.
Francesca paused and leaned into Twenty’s ear. Her lips just barely touched his skin like a butterfly’s wings. “I believe in you, Sir Justin.”
It was only a moment, but Justin’s mind froze in that half-second. The women were gone when his brain restarted. “What?” He quickly reached into his vest pocket and pulled out his watch. It was one o’clock. It had been just after twelve when the ladies arrived and… Justin shook his head and stuffed his timepiece back into his pocket. It doesn’t matter, he thought. He had a job to do. Everything else could wait, even if a growing part of him didn’t want to. “God, am I really in that deep?”
Justin grabbed his hat and coat and headed out. Extortion was against common law, and he was not an official member of Scotland Yard. Elizabeth’s bookstore was on Baker’s Street, on the edge of the Western District. It was a middle-class area, and Justin knew a certain district inspector who owed him a favor.
Inspector Simms shook his head for the third time. He listened to Justin’s explanation three times, but his answer was always the same. “The District Chief will not dedicate additional resources with no evidence of a crime. With all due respect to your client, no deputy has encountered anyone harassing her bookstore from the reports I’ve read. And, before you ask, yes, the fire was investigated, and we didn’t find any proof it was intentionally set.”
Justin slowly replaced the hat on his head. “So, I’m hearing that you need proof, then you’ll arrest these men.”
Inspector Simms shook his head. “You get proof, and then… I will investigate these men, personally.” He extended his hand.
Justin nodded and took the Inspectors hand in his.
Twenty considered his first stop to be a success, considering his suspicions. Having Simms agree to investigate personally was both a bonus and puzzling. Inspector Simms was high in the chain of command; for him to explore such a low-level crime, even as a favor. Why? Why not simply assign a junior inspector? Justin put those thoughts out of his mind. He had gotten what he wanted without going to his grandfather, which was good. It meant he was becoming independent.
After a quick stop at his apartment for a change of clothes, Justin stopped at the Yard to pick up an old friend. While he didn’t like using his name and connections, there were times when it was unavoidable.
Justin finally made it to First Addition. When he reached for the door, he saw the sign read closed. He didn’t need to check his watch to know it was only half-past three. Francesca and Elizabeth might have closed early. Justin suspected the women would argue about his hire. Instead, Elizabeth’s attitude was one of reluctance. She seemed to judge him by his young age and slim build as someone who couldn’t possibly handle grown men. He didn’t mind that assessment, it was one he had encountered many times before, but he was happy Francesca did not share that opinion for whatever reason.
Justin turned the handle and pushed. The half glass half oak door moved open with ease. Justin and his hound dog walked into the shop to dead silence, and wide eyes pointed in his direction.
His surprise did not show past the smile on his face. The shock on the two men and two women’s faces was almost as if they had been caught naked in a four-way erotic act. But they were clothed; the ladies in the same everyday dresses they wore earlier and the men: One, the taller in brown work pants, a tan shirt with black suspenders. The shorter, beefy man was dressed pretty much the same but with a grey cap and brown suspenders. Both men were clean-shaven, with low-cut hair and trimmed fingernails. They had the rough appearance of two dock or factory workers, but their grooming spoke of order beyond their station.
The taller of two glared at Justin. “Who’s the mutt and dog?”
Elizabeth opened her mouth.
Justin ignored the insult and chimed in, “I’m back from my deliveries. Mr. Peterson paid for his order and the next two.” Justin walked in, paying the men no attention.
“So, you got money to hire a delivery boy.” The tall man turned back to Elizabeth. “Perhaps, the insurance fee should go up?”
The shorter stout man walked up to Justin. “Well, kid, how much cash did you collect?”
Justin’s lips quivered, and his innocent young gaze darted between the man and Elizabeth. “Ma, ma… Mam,” he stuttered while taking a half step back.
Francesca slipped around the counter and approached Justin. “It’s alright, Ralf, we‘re just buying some insurance from these gentlemen. It’s just business.”
“Yeah, it’s just business,” added the stout man.
Justin slowly reached into his pocket. “I…I got...” He pulled the new bills out and extended his hand to Francesca.
The man snatched the money from Justin’s trembling hand and quickly counted. “A hundred pounds.” He turned to the tall man. “Well, that should almost cover the two-hundred-and-twenty-pound policy.” The man turned and headed for the door. “We’ll just take this as a deposit, and we’ll probably bring the policy next week when you have the other hundred.” He flipped the closed sign back to open and walked through the door.
“Yeah, next week,” said the shorter man following his partner out. “Oh, and nice dog, kid.”
Elizbeth and Francesca immediately looked at Justin as if he was someone new.
That’s because he appeared to be just another London youth. His clothes were clean, but a bit shabby, his shoes were well worn, and his pants had patches on the knees. Although sixteen, he could easily pass for thirteen, and his quiet hound dog on a leather leash only added to the little boy look.
Justin leaned down to the dog. “Stay, Charlie.”
The dog immediately sat.
Justin walked back to the door and flipped the sign to closed again. Next, he walked to the checkout counter, pulled over a stool, then sat down. He crossed his arms, lowered his head, and closed his eyes.
Elizabeth stared at Justin, then turned to her sister.
Francesca shrugged.
Elizabeth walked over to Justin. “What… What are you doing?”
“I’m waiting,” replied Twenty.
Francesca joined her sister. “Mr. Thyme…”
“Please, call me Justin.”
“Okay, Justin, I have a few questions, if you don’t mind.”
“Not at all. I find your voice quite calming.”
“Oh.” Francesca’s face pinkened.
Elizabeth was not blushing; her face was red and getting redder by the second. “Mr. Thyme, you just paid them a hundred pounds and let them simply leave. Not that you could have stopped them.”
Francesca turned to her sister. “Elizabeth!”
Elizabeth glared back at her. “Oh, it’s true, and he looks even younger now than he did before. How will he save our money when he couldn’t keep his own?” She turned and looked at Charlie. “And why do you have a guard dog that doesn’t guard or even barks? And…and… dear Lord, what will we do now?” She pulled over a stool, plopped down on it, then laid her head on the counter.
Justin took a deep breath, then opened his eyes. He pulled out his pocket watch. “Now, we follow the trail home.”
Francesca turned to Justin, and Elizabeth lifted her head.
Justin walked over to Charlie, the hound dog, and extended his hand.
The dog stood, bent down, retrieved the handle of his leash with his mouth, then gently placed it in Justin’s waiting hand.
Justin reached into his pocket, then pulled out another bill. He placed it in front of Charlie.
The dog sniffed the bill once and then barked.
“Good boy.” Justin turned to the two ladies. “I shall return in the morning. You may stay here if you wish or go home. I doubt they will return tonight, but I don’t think they will wait until next week.” He turned to leave but then stopped. He turned back and looked at Elizabeth. “You mentioned an offer to sell the store. Was that before or after these two thugs came?”
“Before.” Elizabeth cocked her head for a second. “Yes, I turned him down twice. The last time was about a week before those two nightmares came. He hasn’t come back. So, I assume he has moved on.”
“Do you recall the buyer’s name?”
“Um, I believe it was Davis, David, or maybe Dan … oh, wait, he gave me his card.”
“Dan.” Justin let the name hang in the air as his mind processed the larger implications. He closed his eyes as dots began to connect. There was more here than what appeared. He opened his eyes and gazed at the two women. He smiled. “Ladies first.”
***
Justin let Charlie take the lead because, well… he’s a dog. Justin kept a smile on his face and occasionally whistled a tune. The two strolled down the street, with almost everyone ignoring them. A young boy walking his dog on a warm day in London was common, and Justin’s average face never got a second glance.
His smile did begin to change with the changing of the scenery and locals. They started in a simple middle-class area, but the further west Charlie led, the poorer and rougher the surroundings became. Justin was not dressed as someone of wealth, but he didn’t look like a typical slum-rat, as they called the poorer kids on the west end of London. He was sure several eyes were watching him, and he knew why. Now and then, Charlie would slow and sniff the ground. A hound dog is discernable by sight, and even the poor knew what police used the dogs for. His sense of danger increased with every block.
Finally, he had to decide about one unexpected problem.
“A moment, boy,” Justin said as he reigned Charlie in. “I think this has gone on far enough.” He held the dog’s leash tight and turned left down a nearby alley. Alleyways in that part of town were not safe spaces, but Justin felt he had little choice.
Justin turned the corner, ran to the middle, then ducked into a convenient shadow. Without being told, Charlie also sat in the dark; his black coat made him all but invisible. Nevertheless, he didn’t bark and seemed to lower his panting as if he knew they were concealing themselves.
A tall hooded figure stopped at the alley entrance, looked both ways, then turned quickly into the alley.
Justin’s hand shot out of the darkness and grabbed the figure’s shoulder.
The woman screamed and instantly dropped to her knees, burying her head under her small hands.
“Please, Francesca, not so loud.” Justin squatted and gently removed the hands covering her face. “I appreciate the sentiment, well… some of it, but you must go home now.”
Francesca slowly lifted her face and peered into Justin’s soft brown eyes. “I’m sorry. I didn’t want you to be alone. I didn’t want you to get hurt. You’re so… small. But, wait, you…you knew I was following?”
Justin gave her a lop-sided grin. “Your perfume is unmistakable. I could smell it whenever the wind changed. It’s very intoxicating.”
“Intoxicating,” Francesca’s voice was low, just above a whisper. “Is it just the perfume that you like, Justin?”
Justin felt his mind sliding away as her emerald eyes seemed to burrow into his soul, the soft warmth of her hands melded with his skin, and the rapid thump of her pulse kept pace with his runaway heartbeat.
“No.” Justin rose and pulled Francesca up with him, just as Charlie gave out a loud bark. “Shit”
“What?” Francesca asked, still looking into Justin’s face as his head turned left then right.
Charlie barked again.
Justin sighed and let Charlie’s leash drop to the ground.
“Look, gents, we’re interrupting a tender moment, we are,” said the tall man from the bookstore who stood to Justin’ left.
“The young chap was about to get his first kiss, I’d say.” Those words came from the shorter, stocky man to Justin’s right.
Justin glared at the two men and the five additional unsavory-looking men behind each extortionist.
Francesca stepped to Justin’s side with her back to a brick wall.
Justin could hear the heavy sound of Francesca’s breathing. He did not need to look at her to know her emotions had shifted 180 degrees, and she was close to panic. His worst fear since noticing her following was coming true. He knew he had few options, and waiting for death was not his favorite.
He leaned toward Francesca’s ear. “Stand still for now, but run when I tell you to. Don’t look back, and don’t worry about me.”
“I bet he had that hound dog track us,” said the stocky man.
Justin walked into the middle of the alley, and Charlie came with him. “Yes, he did.” Justin reached down. “He’s a good boy. Knows lots of tricks.” Justin unhooked the leash from Charlie’s collar neck. “Want to see one? Home, Charlie!” he shouted.
Charlie turned right and ran back along the wall, the way they had come.
One of the men blocking the entrance jumped in Charlie’s path and spread his arms. “Gotcha.”
Charlie opened his mouth in mid-run and displayed two rows of white ferocious teeth and fangs. The dog growled, increased speed, and his appearance morphed from cuddly pooch to murderous K-9.
“Oh shit!” The man pulled back his hands, covered his face with his arms, then ducked to his right just as Charlie leaped at the space his neck used to be.
“Idiot!” screamed the stocky man as Charlie jumped, then kept going.
Charlie turned at the end of the alley, then disappeared from Justin’s sight.
Two of the men at the entrance ran after the dog.
Justin smiled, stuck his hands into his pockets, and shook his head. He knew they would never catch the dog. “Four legs are always better than two,” he shouted, then laughed.
“Tsk.” The taller man frowned and pointed at Justin. “Get him.”
Four men ran towards Justin, two in the front and two from the back. Not waiting, Justin sprinted to his left and met the first pair head-on. The first attacker swung a huge right fist down at Justin’s face. Twenty ducked, then leaned to his left while swinging up with a much smaller right fist. The two fists connected with a loud pop.
The man screamed and pulled back three bleeding and mangled fingers.
Justin pressed a button on the palms of his two brass knuckles, then small brass blades extended from the bottoms of each of his fists. While the first attacker still screamed, Justin pulled his fist back, then sliced through the tendon of the man’s right knee.
Instantly the hobbled man fell back into the arms of his partner.
Rising, Justin delivered a sidekick to the man’s groin, causing both men to fall. Justin used the reactive force of the kick to accelerate his motion towards the next group of thugs, number three and four. Unlike the first two, three and four came side by side. Both men reached for him as he spun around, dropped to the ground, and slid between the men. As he moved, he pulled in his arm and sliced deeply into the thighs of both men.
Thugs three and four instantly hit the cobblestone, screaming.
Four men down, Justin stood and assumed a defensive stance and awaited more men.
“Get up, you lazy bums,” yelled the stocky extortionist.
“Silence!” The female voice came from the entrance of the alley.
Justin turned that way and saw five more people. Three women in different colored form-fitting gowns, wearing what appeared to be half-face masks. Flanking the three women were two of the biggest men Justin had ever seen. They had to be bodyguards, as their faces held no expression, and their bodies seemed relaxed and tense all at the same time. Justin swallowed and knew he was about to die.
The woman in the middle had auburn hair and dark eyes. She smiled at Justin. “Marco, please explain to me why the Sheriff’s grandson is slicing up my men,” she turned her eyes to Francesca, “in front of… his stunningly attractive girlfriend?”
The stocky man turned and bowed three times. “Madam….”
The woman held up a finger and slowly shook her head.
Marco bowed again. “Right, begging your pardon… Madam – X. Well, it’s like this. Me and Thomas, um… well, we were followed by um… that boy, his hound dog, and um…” he half turned and nodded towards Francesca. “That lady is the sister of the owner of that Book Store Dan was supposed to buy, and….”
Madam-X raised her hand again and then turned to the other two masked women. They whispered to each other for several seconds before she turned to Marco. She stepped forward and cast her eyes to the other end of the alley. “Thomas, could you come here please, and the rest of you pick up those three and take them to the clinic before they bleed out. I’m pretty sure--” She looked at Justin again. “Twenty, I believe, sliced their arteries. Am I right?”
Justin nodded. “Only the last two; the other one will never walk the same again.”
Madam – X grinned. “Well, and here our information only listed you as a brain. I shall have to chastise my informants.”
The thin extortionist, Thomas, ran, then stood beside Marco. He, too, bowed to each of the women. “My Ladies, how may I serve?”
Madam-X smiled at Thomas. “Tom, can you tell me why young Mr. Thyme, a servant of the Duke of Sussex, and grandson to the sheriff, is standing before us?”
Beads of sweat rolled down Thomas’ face, and he swallowed a dry throat twice before answering. “Well, after Dan failed. I…um… we thought we could convince the lady into selling; you know if we… um… applied a little pressure and make business more expensive and difficult for her.”
“Yeah, we were trying to do it as a gift to you, Madam,” added Marco. “We didn’t know she went to the sheriff, or he and that dog tracked us here.”
Madam-X quickly scanned the alley before turning her eyes on Justin.
“I sent him back to the Yard,” Twenty responded to her unspoken query.
Madam-X turned and walked back to the other two ladies. Again they quickly whispered among themselves before Madam-X faced Marco and Thomas again. “You said more expensive?”
Thomas quickly reached into his pocket, then howled in pain.
The large guard on the left instantly had Thomas’ wrist in one hand and his head in the other.
Justin blinked and took a step back. The man had moved so fast that he appeared to vanish and reappear, towering over Thomas. Justin pooled all his willpower to keep himself from turning and running. He looked over at Francesca, and the woman’s face was ghostly white.
“Make it quick, William,” said Madam-X.
The big man lifted Thomas off the ground with one hand. He pulled Thomas’ right hand out of his pocket with his other. A roll of pounds fell to the floor.
Thomas kicked, screamed, and flailed as the giant held him aloof. The sight was unreal, even pitiful. Justin watched helplessly as William, still with one hand, squeezed the pathetic man’s neck until his face turned a hideous shade of purple, and blood began running from his nose, and then a snap. Thomas hung limp, his head dangling to the side, his lifeless eyes open and bulging. Finally, William opened his hand, and the body fell to the ground like discarded meat.
Marco quickly scooped the rolled-up money. He did not look at his partner’s corpse. Instead, his body trembled as he held out the money to Will.
The guard snatched the cash from Marco’s hand, then casually tossed it to Francesca, who somehow had the presence to catch it.
Justin was stunned into silence. He looked at a trembling Marco and waited for his life to end.
Madam-X looked at Marco. “Do I need to say it?”
Marco dropped to his knees and slammed his head to the ground. “I beg your forgiveness. I beg your forgiveness. I was wrong to follow Thomas.”
“You two acted without authorization, caused injury to our family, and brought premature exposure to us. You will be sufficiently punished. Now, go dispose of that pile of garbage and await your penance.”
Marco scrabbled to his feet, grabbed Thomas’ corpse by his ankles, then began dragging him away.
“And Marco,” Madam-X did not turn to look at the man as he froze in place. “Before you go home, wash, and burn your clothes. We don’t want you to be tracked again, do we?”
Marco bowed, then quickly dragged his dead partner out of the alley.
It was at that moment Justin noticed something he had missed. He tilted his head and looked passed the five people before him. There was silence all about them. During all the time Madam-X spoke. No one had crossed the entrance of the alley. No person walked by; no horse or carriage rolled down the street. There were no sounds or signs of life or activity beyond the occasional bird. Justin looked up to the sky to ensure the clouds were still moving. Then, satisfied, he turned his eyes back to Madam-X.
Justin nodded. “We thought it was just the prostitution racket at first, but Grandpa and his top inspectors figured it was into something bigger. I guess they were right, Della?”
Madam-X stared intently at Justin, smiled, then slightly bowed her head. “I don’t go by that name anymore. I apologize for any inconvenience you and your… clients have suffered.” Madam – X turned, then walked back to the other two ladies.
As one, all three curtsied to Justin and then turned to leave, with the two guards backpedaling and keeping their eyes trained on Justin.
At the end of the alley, Madam-X stopped and turned back. “And Mr. Thyme, you’re reputation is truly well earned, but I wouldn’t put so much faith in the sanctity of the Yard. You would be wise to tread carefully in the future, the waters are deep this far from home, and they can be very cold.”
Justin nodded. He knew for sure his grandfather’s beloved force and extended family had been infiltrated.
****
Francesca and Justin did not speak during the walk back to Elizabeth’s bookstore. However, they found Inspector Simms, Elizabeth, and Charlie safe and sound when they arrived.
Elizabeth and Francesca immediately embraced, then both quickly burst into tears, as if some silent conversation had instantly taken place.
The women were still holding each other when Justin, Inspector Simms, and Charlie quietly left the store.
“Inspector, could you do me the favor of seeing Charlie home? I need to take a walk to sort my thoughts for a bit.”
Inspector Simms nodded. “I will, but I’m coming by your office tomorrow. I want to know what happened. Francesca’s demeanor and the roll of pounds in her hand say there is a story I need to hear. But for now, give me a glimpse of what you’re thinking.”
Justin turned and looked up at the sky. “I think it’s getting cold in London, my friend, and we may not be prepared, not prepared at all.” Justin Twenty Thyme waved goodbye, then walked away into that setting sun.
By lancellot
Warning: The author has noted that this contains the highest level of violence.
Justin took a deep breath and then opened his eyes. He pulled out his pocket watch. “Now, we follow the trail home.”
Francesca turned to Justin, and Elizabeth lifted her head.
Justin walked over to Charlie, the hound dog, and extended his hand.
The dog stood, bent down, retrieved the handle of his leash with his mouth, then gently placed it in Justin’s waiting hand.
Justin reached into his pocket, then pulled out another bill. He placed it in front of Charlie.
The dog sniffed the bill once and then barked.
“Good boy.” Justin turned to the two ladies. “I shall return in the morning. You may stay here if you wish or go home. I doubt they will return tonight, but I don’t think they will wait until next week.” He turned to leave but then stopped. He turned back and looked at Elizabeth. “You mentioned an offer to sell the store. Was that before or after these two thugs came?”
“Before.” Elizabeth cocked her head for a second. “Yes, I turned him down twice. The last time was about a week before those two nightmares came. He hasn’t come back. So, I assume he has moved on.”
“Do you recall the buyer’s name?”
“Um, I believe it was Davis, David or maybe Dan … oh, wait, he gave me his card.”
***
Justin let Charlie take the lead because, well… he’s a dog. Justin kept a smile on his face and occasionally whistled a tune. The two strolled down the street, with almost everyone ignoring them. A young boy walking his dog on a warm day in London was common, and Justin’s average face never got a second glance.
His smile did begin to change with the changing of the scenery and locals. They started in a simple middle-class area, but the further west Charlie led, the poorer and rougher the surroundings became. Justin was not dressed as someone of wealth, but he didn’t look like a typical slum-rat, as they called the poorer kids on the west end of London. He was sure several eyes were watching him, and he knew why. Now and then, Charlie would slow and sniff the ground. A hound dog is discernable by sight, and even the poor knew what police used the dogs for. His sense of danger increased with every block.
Finally, he had to decide about one unexpected problem.
“A moment, boy,” Justin said as he reigned Charlie in. “I think this has gone on far enough.” He held the dog’s leash tight and turned left down a nearby alley. Alleyways in that part of town were not safe spaces, but Justine felt he had little choice.
Justin turned the corner, ran to the middle, then ducked into a convenient shadow. Without being told, Charlie also sat in the dark; his black coat made him all but invisible. Nevertheless, he didn’t bark and seemed to lower his panting as if he knew they were concealing themselves.
A tall hooded figure stopped at the alley entrance, looked both ways, then turned quickly into the alley.
Justin’s hand shot out of the darkness and grabbed the figure’s shoulder.
The woman screamed and instantly dropped to her knees, burying her head under her small hands.
“Please, Francesca, not so loud.” Justin squatted and gently removed the hands covering her face. “I appreciate the sentiment, well… some of it, but you must go home now.”
Francesca slowly lifted her face and peered into Justin’s soft brown eyes. “I’m sorry. I didn’t want you to be alone. I didn’t want you to get hurt. You’re so sma-- Wait, you…you knew I was following?”
Justin gave her a lop-sided grin. “Your perfume is unmistakable. I could smell it whenever the wind changed. It’s very intoxicating.”
“Intoxicating,” Francesca’s voice was low, just above a whisper. “Is it just the perfume that you like, Justin?”
Justin felt his mind sliding away as her emerald eyes seemed to burrow into his soul, the soft warmth of her hands melded with his skin, and the rapid thump of her pulse kept pace with his runaway heartbeat.
“No.” Justin rose and pulled Francesca up with him, just as Charlie gave out a loud bark. “Shit”
“What?” Francesca asked, still looking into Justin’s face as his head turned left then right.
Charlie barked again.
Justin sighed and let Charlie’s leash drop to the ground.
“Look, gents, we’re interrupting a tender moment, we are,” said the tall man from the bookstore who stood to Justin’ left.
“The young chap was about to get his first kiss, I’d say.” Those words came from the shorter, stocky man to Justin’s right.
Justin glared at the two men and the five additional unsavory-looking men behind each extortionist.
Francesca stepped to Justin’s side with her back to a brick wall.
Justin could hear the heavy sound of Francesca’s breathing. He did not need to look at her to know her emotions had shifted 180 degrees, and she was close to panic. His worst fear since noticing her following was coming true. He knew he had few options, and waiting for death was not his favorite.
He leaned toward Francesca’s ear. “Stand still for now, but run when I tell you to. Don’t look back, and don’t worry about me.”
“I bet he had that hound dog there, track us down,” said the stocky man.
Justin walked into the middle of the alley, and Charlie came with him. “Yes, he did.” Justin reached down. “He’s a good boy. Knows lots of tricks.” Justin unhooked the leash from Charlie’s collar neck. “Want to see one? Home, Charlie!” he shouted.
Charlie turned right and ran back along the wall, the way they had come.
One of the men blocking the entrance jumped in Charlie’s path and spread his arms. “Gotcha.”
Charlie opened his mouth in mid-run and displayed two rows of white ferocious teeth and fangs. The dog growled, increased speed, and his appearance morphed from cuddly pooch to murderous K-9.
“Oh shit!” The man pulled back his hands, covered his face with his arms, then ducked to his right just as Charlie leaped at the space his neck used to be.
“Idiot!” Screamed the stocky man as Charlie jumped, then kept going.
Charlie turned at the end of the alley, then disappeared from Justin’s sight.
Two of the men at the entrance ran after the dog.
Justin smiled, stuck his hands into his pockets, and shook his head. He knew they would never catch the dog. “Four legs are always better than two,” he shouted, then laughed.
“Tsk.” The taller man frowned and pointed at Justin. “Get him.”
Four men ran towards Justin, two in the front and two from the back. Not waiting, Justin sprinted to his left and met the first pair head-on. The first attacker swung a huge right fist down at Justin’s face. Twenty ducked, then leaned to his left while swinging up with a much smaller right fist. The two fists connected with a loud pop.
The man screamed and pulled back three bleeding and mangled fingers.
Justin pressed a button on the palms of his two brass knuckles, then small brass blades extended from the bottoms of each of his fists. While the first attacker still screamed, Justin pulled his fist back, then sliced through the tendon of the man’s right knee.
Instantly the hobbled man fell back into the arms of his partner.
Rising, Justin delivered a sidekick to the man’s groin, causing both men to fall. Justin used the reactive force of the kick to accelerate his motion towards the next group of thugs, number three and four. Unlike the first two, three and four came side by side. Both men reached for him as he spun around, dropped to the ground, and slid between the men. As he moved, he pulled in his arm and sliced deeply into the thighs of both men.
Thugs three and four instantly hit the cobblestone, screaming.
Four men down, Justin stood and assumed a defensive stance and awaited more men.
“Get up, you lazy bums,” yelled the stocky extortionist.
“Silence!” The female voice came from the entrance of the alley.
Justin turned that way and saw five more people. Three women in different colored form-fitting gowns, wearing what appeared to be half-face masks. Flanking the three women were two of the biggest men Justin had ever seen. They had to be bodyguards, as their faces held no expression, and their bodies seemed relaxed and tense all at the same time. Justin swallowed and knew he was about to die.
The woman in the middle had auburn hair and dark eyes. She smiled at Justin. “Marco, please explain to me why the Sheriff’s grandson is slicing up my men,” she turned her eyes to Francesca, “in front of… his stunningly attractive girlfriend?”
The stocky man turned and bowed three times. “Madam….”
The woman held up a finger and slowly shook her head.
Marco bowed again. “Right, begging your pardon… Madam – X. Well, it’s like this. Me and Thomas, um… well, we were followed by um… that boy, his hound dog, and um…” he half turned and nodded towards Francesca. “That lady is the sister of the owner of that Book Store Dan was supposed to buy, and….”
Madam-X raised her hand again and then turned to the other two masked women. They whispered to each other for several seconds before she turned to Marco. She stepped forward and cast her eyes to the other end of the alley. “Thomas, could you come here please, and the rest of you pick up those three and take them to the clinic before they bleed out. I’m pretty sure--” She looked at Justin again. “Twenty, I believe, sliced their arteries. Am I right?”
Justin nodded. “Only the last two; the other one will never walk the same again.”
Madam – X grinned. “Well, and here our information only listed you as a brain. I shall have to chastise my informants.”
The thin extortionist, Thomas, ran, then stood beside Marco. He, too, bowed to each of the women. “My Ladies, how may I serve?”
Madam-X smiled at Thomas. “Tom, can you tell me why young Mr. Thyme, a servant of the Duke of Sussex, and grandson to the sheriff, is standing before us?”
Beads of sweat rolled down Thomas’ face, and he swallowed a dry throat twice before answering. “Well, after Dan failed. I…um… we thought we could convince the lady into selling; you know if we… um… applied a little pressure and make business more expensive and difficult for her.”
“Yeah, we were trying to do it as a gift to you, Madam,” added Marco. “We didn’t know she went to the sheriff, or he and that dog tracked us here.”
Madam-X quickly scanned the alley before turning her eyes on Justin.
“I sent him back to the Yard,” Twenty responded to her unspoken query.
Madam-X turned and walked back to the other two ladies. Again they quickly whispered among themselves before Madam-X faced Marco and Thomas again. “You said more expensive?”
Thomas quickly reached into his pocket, then howled in pain.
The large guard on the left instantly had Thomas’ wrist in one hand and his head in the other.
Justin blinked and took a step back. The man had moved so fast that he appeared to vanish and reappear, towering over Thomas. Justin pooled all his willpower to keep himself from turning and running. He looked over at Francesca, and the woman’s face was ghostly white.
“Make it quick, William,” said Madam-X.
The big man lifted Thomas off the ground with one hand. He pulled Thomas’ right hand out of his pocket with his other. A roll of pounds fell to the floor.
Thomas kicked, screamed, and flailed as the giant held him aloof. The sight was unreal, even pitiful. Justin watched helplessly as William, still with one hand, squeezed the pathetic man’s neck until his face turned a hideous shade of purple, and blood began running from his nose, and then a snap. Thomas hung limp, his head dangling to the side, his lifeless eyes open and bulging. William opened his hand, and the body fell to the ground like discarded meat.
Marco quickly scooped the rolled-up money. He did not look at his partner’s corpse. Instead, his body trembled as he held out the money to Will.
The guard snatched the cash from Marco’s hand, then casually tossed it to Francesca, who somehow had the presence to catch it.
Justin was stunned into silence. He looked at a trembling Marco and waited for his life to end.
Madam-X looked at Marco. “Do I need to say it?”
Marco dropped to his knees and slammed his head to the ground. “I beg your forgiveness. I beg your forgiveness. I was wrong to follow Thomas.”
“You two acted without authorization, caused injury to our family, and brought premature exposure to us. You will be sufficiently punished. Now, go dispose of that pile of garbage and await your penance.”
Marco scrabbled to his feet, grabbed Thomas’ corpse by his ankles, then began dragging him away.
“And Marco,” Madam-X did not turn to look at the man as he froze in place. “Before you go home, wash yourself, and burn your clothes. We don’t want you to be tracked again, do we?”
Marco bowed, then quickly dragged his dead partner out of the alley.
It was at that moment Justin noticed something he had missed. He tilted his head and looked passed the five people before him. There was silence all about them. During all the time Madam-X spoke. No one had crossed the entrance of the alley. No person walked by; no horse or carriage rolled down the street. There were no sounds or signs of life or activity beyond the occasional bird. Justin looked up to the sky to ensure the clouds were still moving. Then, satisfied, he turned his eyes back to Madam-X.
The woman stared intently at Justin while he was examining his surroundings. “I apologize for any inconvenience you and your… clients have suffered.” Madam – X turned, then walked back to the other two ladies.
As one, all three curtsied to Justin and then turned to leave, with the two guards backpedaling and keeping their eyes trained on Justin.
At the end of the alley, Madam-X stopped and turned back. “And Mr. Thyme, you should tread more carefully in the future, the waters are deep this far from home, and they can be very cold.”
Justin nodded.
****
Francesca and Justin did not speak during the walk back to Elizabeth’s bookstore. However, they found Inspector Simms, Elizabeth, and Charlie safe and sound when they arrived.
Elizabeth and Francesca immediately embraced, then both quickly burst into tears, as if some silent conversation had instantly taken place.
The women were still holding each other when Justin, Inspector Simms, and Charlie quietly left the store.
“Inspector, could you do me the favor of seeing Charlie home? I need to take a walk to sort my thoughts for a bit.”
Inspector Simms nodded. “I will, but I’m coming by your office tomorrow. I want to know what happened. Francesca’s demeanor and the roll of pounds in her hand say there is a story I need to hear. But for now, give me a glimpse of what you’re thinking.”
Justin turned and looked up at the sky. “I think it’s getting cold in London, my friend, and we may not be prepared, not prepared at all.” Justin Twenty Thyme waved goodbye, then walked away into that setting sun.
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