Of Night and Dark Obscurity

She looked across at him and then nodded. “Handsome—maybe. But a devil none the less.” She said before departing from the cab.

???

Val smiled as he knocked on the roof and the cab headed toward his club. He could accept that he was a devil as Caroline suggested. But it was so hard to be around her, to catch the scent of jasmine when she neared him, and not be dragged into a sort of dance with his desire.

He had kept his distance in the beginning. He had tried not to let his feelings overcome his better judgement. He knew as an Inspector it crossed the boundaries and he had never done that before. But Caroline Derry was intoxicating.

When she was near him, he wanted nothing more than to pull her in his arms and feel her against him. He realized it was strange and unknown to her and maybe a bit frightening. He needed to rein himself in before he completely alienated her.

He had a simple meal at his club, read the newspaper and headed to his lodgings. When he returned to his room, he was reminded once more that the small room no longer suited him as it once had. He wanted something that befitted his lifestyle as an Inspector. Perhaps when he visited Peter Davies in the morning for the owner of the building, he would discuss it.

???

The next morning, Val took the files he had procured from the doctor’s office and gave them to Felix. His instructions were to check the dates and times of the doctor visits with the families of the women. He wanted to see if he could gauge for certain that the patients were the victims. If he could distinguish that, then perhaps Odean Barton was the key to the murders.

As he was coming downstairs, he heard two constables arguing. It appeared to be over a minor criminal the policemen had brought in.

“He looks nothing like him,” the one man said.

“I tell you he’s a dead ringer. A dead ringer!”

“What’s this about?” Val asked as he rounded the corner and came upon the two men.

“That man, in the sketch. The one you asked us to circulate.” The one constable asked.

“Yes?” Val asked.

“I think he’s in a cell for a pick pocketing charge but Jones here says he looks nothing like him.”

Val sighed. “The likelihood that the man we have been looking for this whole time has actually been here in the station is ridiculous.”

Jones nodded furiously and even showed a smirk.

“Nevertheless, bring him to me,” Val concluded. “Just to be on the safe side.”

The two constables went away throwing each other fierce looks as Val returned to his office. It was impossible that it should be as the one constable thought, but he cleared off his desk pulling out one piece of paper and placing it in a folder.

The constables brought the man into Val’s office and he was seated before him.

“You can wait outside,” he told the one constable while releasing the other back to his duties.

Val turned his attentions to the man before him. “What’s your name?”

“Robert Sawyer,” the man said turning his sullen gaze to Val’s.

Val studied the man before him. He was young. He could easily have paid a call to Simon Eastoft or have him come to the station to identify the man before him. He probably would anyway but he would play along with this game that the man seemed to want to play.

“Mr. Sawyer. I’m Inspector Pierce. Do you know why I wished to speak with you?”

“A pick pocketing charge. It’s a lie. I did no such thing.” He crossed his arms about his chest.

“Where were you previously employed?”

“Here and there. I’ve sold newspapers and the such.”

“Do you have family?”

“A sister. Her husband doesn’t like me though so we don’t see each other often.”