Of Night and Dark Obscurity

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The doctor’s practice was not as ostentatious as Val would have expected. He had the sense that Odean Barton was a showman and a pretender. This office was anything but that, and maybe that was smart too. No one would look twice at a doctor practicing off Harley Street, though his music hall performance might garner attention.

“Inspector,” Odean greeted him and Val introduced Sergeant Felix Grant. “Sergeant,” he said as they were introduced.

He brought them into his office. There was a desk which dominated the room and several filing cabinets stood to the left of them. “I keep my records as up to date as I can. These files are the patients I have seen since coming to London.”

Val nodded to Felix and the sergeant moved to the file cabinets and opened the top drawer.

“I must say that after our visit I tried to recall the name Irene but could not. But that might not be uncommon. A lot of women visit me for a wide range of issues. Some of them gave me false names, I know.”

“How do you know?” Val asked him.

“I’ve seen my share of too many Jane Browns and Sarah Smiths for them all to be real. But again. I understand. They don’t want their husbands finding out.”

“As you are a doctor, what is the reason they would be concerned about their husbands finding out?” Val quizzed him.

Odean gestured to the outer waiting room and then into the room where he saw patients. There was a table with stirrups and the body of a woman from her breasts to her thighs.

“You see this Inspector?” He pointed at the mannequin. “This is the female body. Now some doctors focus on the wrong part of the body. But I’ll tell you what the right part is. Here!” He pointed to the woman’s organs.

“A woman has concerns and issues that don’t plague men. We could never understand. But as a doctor, I have made it my mission to do so,” he nodded excitedly. “You see—“

Felix was standing in the doorway holding a file. He looked at the doctor and then at Val. “I found this,” he said handing it to Val.

Val took the file from his sergeant and looked at the name. He then handed the file to the doctor. “Describe this patient for us.”

Odean took the folder and read the name aloud, “Caroline Derry? I remember her vaguely. A young woman. Very young. She had issues with her menstrual cycle. It was very heavy.”

Val glanced across the room at Felix who appeared queasy. “What was her physical appearance?”

Odean paused to give this question some thought. “Brown hair. Slender figure.”

“And what happened? What did you prescribe?” Val asked.

Odean shrugg

ed. “I prescribed some medicine for her. She was very pleased.”

“How many times did you see her?” Val asked taking out his small notebook.

“A handful of times. It was rather straight forward,” Odean told them both.

“Did you see her outside your practice?”

“What do you mean?” Odean frowned. “Outside my practice?”

Val tapped his pencil on the paper. “I think you know what I mean. Did you take her out?”

“Of course not! She was a patient!” Odean sputtered.

Val nodded. “I think that will be all for now.”

“How dare you! I’m a respectable doctor serving my patients as best I can. Your insinuation is offensive,” Odean told the men heatedly.

“That was not my intent,” Val assured him. “I merely needed to ascertain the degree of relationship. As you said there was none but a doctor and patient I am satisfied. Good day.”

Odean watched the two men leave, still fuming.