Of Night and Dark Obscurity

“It is strange,” Val said as he sipped his coffee.

“And the police think it might be one killer, who’s committed all four?” He asked his son.

“That would be my educated guess unless the last victim was something different and not related to the others,” Val said.

“Your profession is interesting Valentine dear, but not exactly talk for polite conversation,” Arabella said as she looked over at her son and husband.

“Of course. And I must be going as it’s getting late. I have some work to attend to,” Val said standing up.

“It was good to see you, Valentine,” Arabella said. “Take care of yourself.”

“Good night Mother, Father, Rowland,” he exited quickly scooping up his coat and hat in the entrance way.

Making his way to the coffeehouse as discussed, Val saw Felix waiting for him.

“How was dinner with the Royals?” He asked, grinning as he stamped out his cigarette.

“Fairly awful.” Val sighed. “Have you been trailing him?”

“Just as you asked. He’s at the pub now and has been there for two hours as he did every night this week.”

“Excellent. Let’s go.”

They hired the hansom cab and pulled up to The Black Crow. It was a public house hidden on a dark alley that looked like it had seen much better days.

“Seedy little place,” Val said as they ordered the cab to wait nearby and they took a hidden nook across the street to watch the pub and Odean Barton in particular.

“He seems to like this place for whatever the reason,” Felix returned as they wa

tched Odean slowly drink an ale at a table that overlooked the street.

“What has he done the last few nights?” Val asked.

“Not much, Boss. He seems to be fairly boring. You sure you want us to trail him?”

Val nodded as he removed his pipe from his coat pocket. “I can’t say what it is but there’s something not right about him. We’ll trail him a few more days and then decide our next stop.”

“Right you are.” Felix nodded. “You don’t think he’s the killer?”

Val tapped on his pipe and lit it with the wooden matches he carried. “No. But there’s something deceptive about him. Something not right.”

“I’ll say!” Felix chuckled. “The man’s a pervert!”

Val eyed the doctor seated in the window nursing his drink and shook his head. “There’s nothing illegal about what he’s doing. If it wasn’t for the fact that some high and mighty society matron took offense at him, he’d probably still be in the states practicing his cures. As it is, he’s here. Whether to escape censure or start afresh, he’s here.”

“We’ll I’ll be damned if I ever let my wife go to see them quacks,” Felix voiced.

“You’re not married,” Val reminded him.

“Sweetheart then.”

“Look sharp!” Val told his sergeant as Odean Barton looked to be settling his bill. “Go get the cab!”

Felix disappeared just as Odean entered the dark street and hailed a hansom cab. His cab disappeared from view just as Felix appeared in their own. Val jumped inside and their driver had instructions to follow Odean’s cab.

As the cab trotted along the cobbled streets and made several turns, Felix frowned.

“He’s not headed home. He would have turned right at the last street,” Felix told him.