Of Night and Dark Obscurity

Val sighed. “Yes, Sir. There has been a fifth victim.”

“Dreadful!” Arabella clutched at her neckline. “Decent women murdered!”

“How close are you to bringing the killer to justice?” Abram asked. “You should be out on the streets searching for him even now.”

“I would be except that I’m here with my loving family,” Val said, though his touch of sarcasm was lost on them.

“Remember you have a duty to uphold. For our family name and for justice,” his father said smiling.

“I’m aware of that.” Val said coldly.

“I hope you do remember. It would be a shame if you failed.” Abram nodded as the bell was rung for dinner. “It would be quite the blemish on your record.”

“Yes, it would be,” said Val softly.

Chapter 18

The rain was pouring down as Val left his family after dinner. He had no experience with other families so he assumed his was the norm, but they felt more like distant strangers. When he left his head was aching and he didn’t want to return to his small little room, although it had once seemed a refuge, it now seemed to illustrate where he didn’t want to be in life.

He patted his pocket and knocked on the roof of the cab. Giving the driver directions, the cab changed its route and soon he was standing in front of the beautiful new home. He had already decided to sign the papers and make it official, and using the key Caroline had given him he entered the home.

It was spacious with an open floor plan that he liked, with wood paneling throughout. He stripped his large frock coat off and hung it on the staircase bannister to dry. He could hear the rain hitting the window panes from outside and the coolness of the house throughout.

He could imagine the house filled with light and love and children running in the bedrooms upstairs. When he imagined what would make the house a home, he imagined an intelligent but kind woman and no one else came to his mind but Caroline.

His shoes echoed on the wooden floors as he walked to the window seat and looked out at what would be a lovely garden once it was complete. When he heard a knock upon the door, he knew it was only the rain beating down upon the roof and he continued to stare out into the dark night.

He turned instantly when he heard a noise inside the house. He could hear steps inside the hallway and he was alert as he moved toward the sound. Thieves? The house was new, maybe they were squatters trying to get out of the rain.

When he came into the hallway, he heard his name being called.

“Caroline?” He asked.

“Yes, it’s me.”

“What are you doing here? It’s late and raining.” He ushered her inside.

“I had to see you. I went by your room but you weren’t there. I don’t know why but I took a guess you might be here since I gave you the key,” she said.

“Are you cold?” He asked. “Here. Give me that wet jacket. I’ll hang it next to mine to dry.”

She shrugged out of her heavy jacket and he placed it on the bannister with his own. “I was in the cab most of the time so I’m not drenched.”

He moved to the window seat and she joined him. “I wanted to thank you for going to the Superintendent this morning. He had called me into his office before you arrived. He didn’t think it was true but he said I need to be careful. I was about to tell him it was untrue when you arrived.”

“I didn’t want you to get in trouble. That’s why I came,” she said sincerely.

He nodded.

“I came here for a particular reason. It’s doesn’t have to do with the magazine. It’s the reason I’m here at night and in the rain,” she said looking into his eyes.

“Yes?”

“I needed to talk to you. I needed to see you.”

He waited.

“You see when we last spoke at the townhouse, I said some horrible things to you,” she looked down at her lap and then back at him. “Things that can’t be unsaid, I know, but I at least owe you an apology,” she told him.