Page 48 of Molly Boys
“I swear to you, that is exactly what I saw. I know he looks like a monster from a fairy tale. I, too, refused to believe the boy’s account until I saw him for myself. I believe this is the man who abducted Charles Wakefield and most likely David Perkins. When he tried to take another victim the other night, I was able to retrieve a scrap of material almost identical to the one I found trapped under Charles Wakefield’s body, both of which had been doused liberally with chloroform.”
“He subdues them with chloroform?” Shaw squinted at the picture. “A man that size would have no trouble overpowering them.”
“But if you’re right and they are being experimented on, my guess is that he doesn’t want them damaged.”
“And David Perkins?”
“Perhaps Perkins was an accident.” Archie resumed the unconscious tapping of his fingers against the desk as his mind worked the puzzle pieces together. “A man that size, with hands like that, he could easily break bones without meaning to.”
“That makes sense,” Shaw agreed. “If he accidentally broke David’s neck, that would explain the bruising. He was angry at himself for damaging him and not being as careful as he was with Wakefield.”
“It’s possible,” Archie hummed. “But look at the size of his hands. I assure you they were that large. In your professional opinion, wouldn’t that make it difficult to use a scalpel with precision?”
Shaw’s eyes widened when he followed Archie’s trail of thought. “My god,” he breathed. “There are two of them.”
“That would be my guess,” Archie nodded. “The bigger man is sent to collect the victims and he brings them back to his partner who may have access to a laboratory, a mortuary, funeral home… somewhere private set up for medical procedures. But this partner, the one with the medical experience, if we find him, we find his tamed monster.”
There was a discreet tap on the door. Archie called for them to enter and as the door opened, Constable Merritt appeared.
“Excuse me, sir.” He entered the room more fully. “But I thought you might want to see this.”
He handed Archie a copy of the Herald.
“Thank you, Tom.” He took the paper, then waited until the man had gone and closed the door behind him before looking down at the headline.
Killer Tries for Next Victim! H Division Cover Up!
“Bloody Grover,” Archie growled. “That weaselly little back biter.”
“As much as I can’t stand the rat, he has a point.” Shaw held up his hands at Archie’s sudden glare. “You’ve been extraordinarily tight- lipped about the man who was attacked the other night. His name doesn’t appear on any of the reports.”
“Right now his name is immaterial,” Archie said. “Unless he is called as a witness in an official capacity, he is entitled to his anonymity.”
“Have you spoken to him since then?”
“No, why would I?” Archie snapped.
“Because you usually make it a point of following up a few days later in case the victim has had time to recall new details.” Shaw’s eyes narrowed as he watched Archie.
Archie cleared his throat. Dammit, Shaw was right. Despite his intention to stay as far away from Lord Stanley as possible, the man had not been far from his mind for the past two days.
After Henry had returned with the doctor, he’d waited for news, only feeling safe to leave once the doctor had declared Lord Stanley had suffered no grievous injury. He’d returned to the cold station house to spend the rest of the night propped in an uncomfortable chair in his office attempting not to think about the beautiful young man.
His resolution not to return had tested every last ounce of control Archie possessed. For the last two days he’d tried to convince himself that returning to Bedford Square was a terrible idea.
There was a part of him that wanted to make sure Lord Stanley had indeed recovered with no lingering ill effects but another part just wanted to see him again, wanted to know what haunted him, what drove him to seek the oblivion of the opium pipe.
“Inspector?” Shaw startled him from his thoughts.
“My apologies.” Archie shook his head. “I have a lot more work, if you don’t mind? Thank you for bringing the autopsy report personally. I’ll make sure to read it thoroughly.”
Knowing he was dismissed, Dr Shaw rose from the chair. With a gesture of farewell, he reached for the door, but then hesitated and looked back.
“Inspector… Archie,” he said quietly. “We’ve known each other a while now and I hope it’s not too presumptuous, but I consider you a friend. If there is something bothering you–”
“There isn’t,” Archie replied, his voice softening when he realised how abrupt that sounded. “But thank you, Robert, I do consider you a friend, and I don’t have that many.”
“Perhaps you should come to dinner some time, meet Peg and the boys,” he offered.