Outside a light rain had begun to fall and Val pulled his overcoat closed.
“So, who do you suppose killed the good doctor?” Felix wondered.
“I’m certain Odean Barton had no shortage of those who didn’t like him. Both here and in the states. But I find his death and his visit to the opium den last night too coincidental,” he said.
“Yes. That is too coincidental.”
“And now we have another body who, while not a victim of the primrose strangler, is known to one of the victims,” Val reasoned.
“It makes no sense,” Felix shook his head.
“Let’s visit the opium den,” Val said.
Chapter 13
Val knocked several times on the door to the mysterious building but no one answered.
“Maybe no one is in,” Felix said.
“They’re in.” Val looked about. “Always more than one entrance. Let’s look about.”
Moving to the alley, they circled the back of the building until they found a small door that, with enough force, could be opened.
“Well done, Felix.”
Felix smiled. “My pleasure.”
Entering the building, the first scent that Val smelled was the opium. It seemed to cling to the walls. Next, he noticed the cheap, red lanterns hanging everywhere, similar to the one that had been outside the night before.
He saw a small divan with a man lying face down in it snoring. In another room, a man was lying on the floor surrounded by pillows and a naked woman.
“Who runs this place?” He asked Felix.
“They must be around here somewhere,” Felix asked just as a small Asian man dressed in a long black tunic and trousers came forward. He was slight of stature and he bowed to them.
His English was broken. “How I help you?”
Val introduced themselves to the man and explained why they were there. “A man was found drowned in the Thames and he was last seen here at your establishment.”
“No drowning. Never had,” the man replied.
Felix sighed. “No. Listen to us. A man drowned. He was last seen here. We can describe him to you. We need you to tell us why he was here and who he might have been with.”
The man nodded at the words.
Felix proceeded to describe Odean Barton and the time he was at the opium den the previous night.
“He come alone. Stayed a while. Then left. Nothing more,” the man said.
“What did he do while here?” Val asked.
“Smoke the pipe. Enjoy the dream world,” he smiled showing his yellow teeth.
“What is your name?” Val asked.
“Cheng Sing.” He gave a little bow again.
Val sighed. “We are going to look around. We will need to talk to anyone who was here last night.”