“The opium den.” Felix said just as Val was pulling on his coat and hat.
“Let’s bring two policemen with us. Just in case,” he said ominously.
???
“W-what is this?” Caroline asked as the man moved even closer to her. “W-what are you?”
The man shrugged. “An association of sorts. We meet from time to time to discuss the world’s problems, enjoy a good cigar, a good whiskey and challenge each other.”
Caroline’s eyes darted to the other men. There were four in all. She only recognized the one before her and Charles.
“What sort of challenges?”
The man smiled widely. “Ahhh. The challenges of life. Or should I say the challenges of taking a life.”
“The primrose strangler.”
The man smiled. “Beautiful and intelligent.”
“Which one of you killed my sister, Irene?” She asked, dreading the answer.
“I had that supreme pleasure,” he told her.
Caroline felt a wave of sickness overwhelm her.
“And me? Why me?” She asked.
“Well, you are the icing on the cake,” he said happily. “I shall tell you how it will unfold. You see, Detective Chief Inspector Valentine Pierce is being pressured from all sides. Not only was his beloved fiancée killed but so were the other women. His Superintendent is wearing him down and in a fit of violence, he kills Caroline Derry, sister to one of the victims and confesses to be the primrose strangler. Poetic, isn’t it?” The man smiled.
“But, how could you?” She asked, tears filling her eyes. “You of all people?”
“It’s not personal, my dear. It’s his neck or mine. I prefer my neck intact.”
“You’re a monster,” Caroline lashed out.
He tsk-tsked her. “You aren’t leaving this building alive. So, cease the dramatics.”
“How should we handle this? Since we are all here together,” one of the other men asked.
The others looked about but it was Charles who spoke up. “I-I really don’t think we should. This isn’t a good idea.”
“You idiot! She’s seen my face. She’s seen us all. What do you suggest? We release her back to the arms of her lover?” The man sneered.
Caroline knew that of all the men in the room, Charles might have lured her there, but he was also her best chance of getting out of there alive. She moved closer to him.
“Charles. Perhaps yo
u could escort me home. I know your mother spoke about seeing me tomorrow,” she said lying to him.
“My mother wants to see you?” He asked. Then he turned to the other men. “You see? We can’t do anything. Maybe we can—“
“Maybe we can do what?” Roared the man Caroline knew. “Maybe we can reschedule Caroline’s demise for another day? Maybe Saturday afternoon?”
“All of you. Shut up,” said another man. “We end this now. One of you take Caroline. We need to hurry. We have no more time.”
Caroline waited until the man came closer and when he was almost close enough to touch her, she swung her small purse at him hitting him in the face. He yelped and she took this moment to run. The dark building was large and filled with many rooms. She ducked inside one room just as she heard one of the men swear.
“Fan out! She’s here!” The voice directed and she could hear the footsteps echoing throughout the building. She knew she had come in through the main door but surmised a building this large must have another exit.