Of Night and Dark Obscurity

She took the glove in her hand. “You didn’t need to make th

e trip here. I’m sure it was out of the way.”

“It was nothing. The police station is nearby. It was not that far out of my way,” he said.

Caroline tried to meet his eyes but felt flushed at the thought of his mouth on hers. She remembered his hands when he pressed her body into his and she looked away.

“So, what are you to think on?” He asked again.

Caroline frowned and then smiled. “Oh that. Charles is an idiot. I think he asked me to marry him.”

“Marry him?” Val tensed.

“I think he must have had quite a night and he is still enjoying the remains of it,” she smiled.

“Not something to take lightly,” he told her.

“Charles is flippant and not ever serious about much.”

“Well I’ll leave you to your appointment,” he nodded to the estate agent’s name on the building.

“Good afternoon Inspector,” she told him.

Val looked back at the building once and then took the few steps down and thought about hailing a cab when his name was called.

He turned to see his sergeant striding toward him.

“Sir! I happened to see you from the cab. I was wondering where you had gone.”

“What is it Sergeant?”

“A body was fished out of the Thames. They’ve taken it to the morgue. Superintendent Osgood asked us to visit the morgue and see if it fits with any of the other murders,” Felix told him.

Val nodded and joined Felix in the hansom cab which took them straight to the morgue. Dr. O’Brien was busy examining a body when the two men entered the cold morgue.

“It’s cold in here,” Felix complained.

“I like the cold,” O’Brien smiled. “I always have, even as a boy.”

“To each his own,” Felix returned.

“There’s been a new murder?” Val asked the man.

“They just fished him this very day. He didn’t have any identification on him. I don’t see any scars or tattoos so I’m at a loss. If he’s married or has a sweetheart, maybe they might notice him gone,” O’Brien said popping a humbug into his mouth.

“What was he wearing?” Val asked retrieving his notepad from his coat pocket.

“A simple suit. Grey in color. Wool in cloth.”

Val nodded. “Let’s see him.”

O’Brien pulled back the linen sheet from the dead man’s body and Val and Felix both gazed down at the face.

“Look familiar to you?” O’Brien asked.

Val looked at his sergeant and then back at O’Brien. “He sure does.”

???