Scotland Yard - ArtL Nightshade (the gingerbread man read aloud .TXT) 📗

Damn it all to hell. I cannot take yet another minute or day of this. The man had to be set put into justice. Not only women were being killed now men. And when you think we've got him, turns out to be naught but a street dweller.

I practically threw my paper work down on the floor below, scattered before I sat down on my chair behind the desk, my forehead resting on my knuckles as my personal maid picked the paper work and placed them neatly on one of the shelves.

I waved my hand for her to take leave. I sighed heavily before I got up and grabbed my coat and hat. I set off outside of the building house and into the fresh and foul stench air of good 'ol London. My mind racing like a madman, Jack the Ripper and Shadowman both must be put into justice. 

***

Boys were running amoke, girls followed along after, all were playing a game of blindman's buff. The one with the blindfold ran into me. He unocvered the blind from his eyes and winced when he saw me.

"Sorry sir, we're just playing here." The boy protested, his actions made it seem he committed a terrible crime. I smiled and ruffed the boy's hair, messing it up even more.

"It's alright lad, but this is a very bad idea for you and your friends to be playing at, why don't you go out into the fields near my house and play there. You know well where that is right?" I asked with a smile. The boy nodded and smiled back before he went off and told his friends.

As I watch them run off towards the field near my home, I could not help but smile. I remembered when I was but their age, we would play that game. Me, Copper Graeme, Ian, Copper Thatcher, and Edric. It was the moment we met Edric, the brother of Ian. Oh what glorious childhood days.

***

"Try and find us!" Thatcher yelled out to me, as he kept running in circles around me. I had a wide grin on my face and my hands reached out so I would know if I was about to run into a wall or something else other than my friends.

I touched another friend,a  girl named Clarissa, she was a sweet bonny girl and so much fun. Graeme told us all he liked her but he knew and so did we that she was smitten by Ian who was not here at this very time.

The sun beat down on us and we continued to play our game of blindman's buff when Ian called out to us. His cries sounded muffled but it was a good scream, and excited one. I took off my blindfold and ran down the hill, following the others. 

"Thatcher! Leave this boy alone, can't you see you are scaring him?" Clarissa said, sticking up for the boy. The new-comer came out from behind Ian, his hand still in Ian's but he was now right beside him. Clarissa turned her attention to the boy. "Hello, my name is Clarissa, what's your name?"

We all waited for the boy to anwser. He let go of his brother and slowly took his hand out for her to shake, for all of us to shake.

"I'm Edric. Ian's brother." 

***

I knew, Edric hated to be called that by adults so he asked if he could be adressed as Jack but they, his parents, would not give into it until he reached mature age of tweleve, when he did, they, and all adults called him Jack. I also remembered all the ladies our parents made us be with in hopes we would soon find ourselves a wife.

Ian found his, it was Clarissa, Graeme became cold and heart-broken but kept it within himself and married. Thatcher was aquainted with a lady but no marriage yet, Edric, no one knew, as for me, I had a wife, she was murdered. By Jack the Ripper. 

I had my suspiscions that Edric was indeed Jack the Ripper since they both had the name Jack but Edric himself had helped us with the Shadowman case. I have not seen him since after the last few weeks. Worry has gotten to me.

Thatcher ran up to me, panting like a dog, he had been laughing, he still had that smug grin on his face. I turn to face him with a scowl, Thatcher, as old as he was, still was indeed childish.

"Fenwick, you, you would not believe this. 'Tis about Edric," He started, panting still. I took out my whiskey and gave it to him for him to drink. Once he had his fill, he returned it for me then went on. "I know the reason why we have not seen him since the last week." 

***

"Marriage? Edric has proposed?" Dr. Kingsley asked, not looking up from his operation. He had been studying a dead body of a young boy who had been washed away near the river of Thames. Poor boy, had so much to live but the killer gave him so little time.

"Indeed Kingsley and I was there, well not invited, I came upon them just as Edric was getting up from the floor and placed the ring on her delicate slim finger. She was indeed a bright red-haired lady." Thatcher said in a dreamy voice. Graeme smacked him in the back of his head then spoke, "but who is the woman's name?" 

Thatcher thought and thought but shrugged before the doors flew open and appeared Edric and a red-haired lady, possibly the woman he was bethrothed with.

"The woman's name is Julianna, and we have been seeing each other for years. So lady gents, I would like for you to meet my soon-to-be lady wife, Julianna Nickleby." Edric introduced his lady with a smile, the lady smiled back at him then to us. 

***

Everyone turned to see a young redhaired woman next to Edric. There was no doubt about it, she had every man in the room smitten by her. She smiled knowingly.

Publication Date: 01-20-2014

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