“Opium?”
He smiled. “Yes. Opium.”
Irene felt a part of her cringe at the word. She knew that opium was a dangerous problem and she had heard her father speak about his patients and the drug. But when her companion urged her to take another drag of the pipe, she did and she felt a rush of pleasure. She felt lethargic and at peace with the world.
“How do you feel Irene?” He asked, removing his evening jacket.
“I feel wonderful,” she smiled at him.
“You see? The world is wonderful.” He touched her hand and moved to sit beside her.
Irene felt his hand move along her arm and she enjoyed it.
“Everyone in the world should experience this,” he told her, and she nodded. “Here let me.”
He unbuttoned her jacket and removed it. “That’s better.”
Irene looked up at the ceiling and focused on one of the red lanterns. “The color red is so pretty,” she told him.
“It is.” He agreed.
When she felt his hands moving underneath her petticoats she tried to sit up. He pressed her back against the pillows.
“I merely want to look at you,” he said quietly.
/> Irene shook her head. “I want to go home now.”
He grinned and in the dark his teeth looked yellow and jagged. “Soon. But not now.”
She heard the moans of the woman nearby and closed her eyes. She couldn’t stop him. She was powerless. His hands moved further up along her stockings and she saw him unbuttoning his pants.
“Shhh,” he told her softly.
She looked away from him and watched the red lantern high above her.
???
Caroline awoke from a deep sleep. It had been troubled. She was upset about her last interaction with Annette, which had been unfortunate, and she had not wanted to leave it that way. In the cab ride home, she had developed a headache and she had gone to sleep early without seeing her family.
She didn’t know what had woken her. She felt something was not right and when she tied the dressing wrapper about her waist, it was then that she heard voices downstairs. She pressed back her hair and took the stairs quickly to see the gas lights were on in the front parlor.
“Gran?” She asked as she moved into the room. “Oh. I’m sorry,” she said clutching at her wrapper as she saw two strangers standing next to her father.
“It’s all right Caroline. Come inside.” Her father motioned to her.
“Detective Chief Inspector Pierce this is my daughter Caroline, Caroline Derry. Caroline this is Detective Chief Inspector Pierce and Sergeant Felix,” her father said quietly.
Caroline nodded at both men. The Sergeant appeared to be young. Perhaps a few years older than herself. He had a boyish face and kind eyes. The Inspector held an air of importance about him. Caroline was struck by how handsome he was, with brown hair that curled at the nape of his neck, and serious blue eyes.
“They want to speak with you, Caro,” her father told her.
Caroline looked up at the two men. “Yes? Is it regarding my social work?”
“Your social work?” Val asked, intrigued.
“Yes. I do various social work in the poorer sections of London. I have for some time. I help the women and their children with food and—” she stopped. “Well. I guess it’s not that much help when you think of it.”
Everyone in the room seemed to realize that Caroline had spoken aloud something she had not meant to, and when she looked up at her father, she made a start.