Of Night and Dark Obscurity

She pulled the shawl tightly about her shoulders as the rain beat upon her windows. It was getting worse outside. The dark clouds had become black as night settled upon the city. She would wait.

???

Charles looked at the other men who were sitting nearby watching him. They seemed to think this was his fault when he had been the only one whose hands were clean. Why did they have to make him feel like that? Why couldn’t they just accept the fact that he was a part of them but not completely a part of them. He was loyal. He was loyal to the group but he couldn’t do what they had done. He just couldn’t.

“So, where does that leave us now?” Mr. Sage asked. “What do we do now? We know he’s closing in. He’s found you. He traced you to the club and now it’s only a matter of time.”

“This is all your fault,” Charles yelled back. “I told you not to. I told you to stop. But no, you couldn’t.”

“Silence!” Came Mr. Willow’s cold voice. “This isn’t the time for bickering amongst us. What’s done is done. We all knew this time might come. The question is—what should we do next.”

“I know what should be done. We make that one the scapegoat,” Sage angrily jerked his chin at Charles.

“Oh, that’s brilliant! That’s perfect! I’ve kept your secrets to be a part of this—“

“No one is going to be the scapegoat because I know what to do next,” said Mr. Basil quietly.

All the men looked at him.

“What is to be done next?” Mr. Sage asked.

Mr. Basil grinned. “I have the simplest solution.”

???

Caroline listened as the clock ticked away its minutes. She should have gone herself and avoided all of this intermediary. She took the stairs quickly and turned up the gas lamps in the downstairs parlor. She crossed the room several times waiting for Wilmot to return. She felt bad that she had sent the footman out into the severe storm.

She looked out the window. There were few carriages about and even less people. The heavy rain and thunder were enough to send most people back into their houses. She crossed the floor again and nibbled on her thumbnail. This was ridiculous. She should have gone out herself and saved herself this not knowing. She should have made the trip herself. This was a waste of time.

The heavy knock on the door startled her and she rushed to open it. A small boy was standing on the doorstep dripping wet.

“Ma’am. Are you Caroline Derry?” He asked.

“I am.” She replied looking at his small face.

“I have a message for you. You are to meet the Inspector at the building. I am to give you the address,” the boy said pulling a scrap of paper from his small jacket.

Caroline smiled. “Val sent you. Give me the address,” she said and he did so.

She turned from him to retrieve her purse from the foyer. She gave him a pound and he looked at it incredulously.

“Thank you, Ma’am!” His little hand clutched around the coin.

“Please get yourself home and stay out of this rain,” Caroline commanded and he nodded his head and disappeared into the dark.

Caroline changed quickly into a warm dress, pulled on her heavy raincoat and looked about for a pen and paper to leave a note for Wilmot and her family. She couldn’t find any and though she contemplated on waiting for him to return she wanted to be on her way so she could return all the sooner.

???

“I followed him to the opium den,” Felix confirmed to Val as they sat across from each other at the station. “He’s been there for some time. I wanted to send you someone as you mentioned before but the storm is bad. There’s very few people out in this weather.”

“Yes. I just received a note from Caroline before you arrived from her footman Wilmot. She had a strange encounter with Charles herself so I think it’s best we head to the opium den and see exactly what Mr. Lyttleton is up to.”

Just as they were exiting the office, an old woman came in. She had on a hat with a drooping feather in it and she looked wet and exhausted.

“Are you young men working? I need help.”

Felix and Val nodded to the old woman. “We are both working Ma’am,” he said introducing them both to the woman. “How can we help you?”