Page 70 of Molly Boys
“Charles Wakefield, yes,” he admitted openly. “He was a clerk at a shipping company I use.”
“Did you know him in any other capacity?”
“No,” Edmund said, but there was a tiny little flicker in his black eyes. As quickly as it appeared, it was gone. “I only knew him in passing.”
“Then why were you at the inquest?”
“Curiosity.” He shrugged, giving the impression he was unconcerned with Archie’s line of questioning. “It is part of the human condition, is it not? To seek the answers to life and death.” He lifted his arm and Archie noticed he had a tremor that shook his whole hand.
Archie’s gaze flicked to Edmund’s other side and sure enough, that hand shook just as badly.
Edmund’s eyes followed Archie’s gaze. “Ah yes, forgive me. The tremors in my hands can seem quite unsettling to someone not used to them. I hardly even notice anymore. It makes gripping things more difficult, but it is an unfortunate lingering side effect of my condition and the medications I take.”
“Condition?”
“Stemming from childhood illness. Incurable, I’m told, unlikely to ever improve.” His voice was matter-of-fact, but there was something in his eyes. A flash of something Archie couldn’t quite put a name to but it caused a cold and unpleasant sensation to trickle down Archie’s spine.
“I see” Archie replied. “Well, thank you for your time.”
“Of course, Inspector.” Baxter smiled, but the expression didn’t sit right.
Bidding both men a farewell, Archie stepped out of the office and closed the door. The whole exchange felt wrong, but he couldn’t put his finger on why. With such a pronounced tremor in both hands, it was unlikely Edmund Baxter would be able to hold a scalpel, much less make such precise incisions. That would mean he wasn’t the man they were looking for, but Archie wasn’t so sure. That gut feeling he’d come to rely on told him something didn’t add up.
Shaking his head, he set off down the corridor, intent on putting distance between himself and the unsettling man for now.
* * *
Harold Baxter waited until the footsteps faded away, making sure the policeman was gone before he turned on his son, his eyes blazing furiously.
“What have you done?” he hissed.
“Nothing that concerns you, Father,” Edmund said coolly. “Go back to your desk… and play with your empty ledgers.”
“Doesn’t concern me?” He closed in on his son. “Do you really think it didn’t cost me to cover up that business with the Royal College of Surgeons? You promised! You said it had all been a misunderstanding.”
“And it was,” Edmund replied, his tone unconcerned. Gripping his fists with no sign of a single tremor in either hand, he turned toward the door.
“Don’t you walk away from me.” Harold grabbed his son and swung him around, clutching his arms tightly enough to leave marks.
Edmund’s mask dissolved and he bared his teeth, a low growl emanating from his throat. He didn’t know what his father saw in his expression, but the older man’s face drained of colour, his eyes widening in fear as he released Edmund and stumbled back. Putting his desk between him and his son like some kind of barrier, he said nothing, just continued to stare skittishly, like a creature caught in the sights of a predator.
Edmund’s mouth curved and for a moment he allowed himself to enjoy his father’s fear, to bask in it. Finally, he turned and ambled from the room.
He headed straight for his laboratory, not stopping until he stepped from the little cage into the wide open space.
The inspector coming to his father’s factory had been unexpected. Perhaps he hadn’t given the man enough credit. The fake tremor in his hands should have thrown the man off, but then again, after tonight it wouldn’t matter.
His gaze shifted over the surgical table laid out in the middle of the room. Four thick leather restraints with heavy buckles attached to either side sat at the middle of the table, two to bind wrists and two at the bottom for ankles. Dividing the table further were two wider straps which, when used, would buckle across the chest and thighs. They lay open… ready.
Soon… soon the world would see. Greatness came with a price. Yes, there were some who’d question his methods. But he had learned not to heed the opinions of a society that had tried to shun him, that couldn’t see his worth.
They had no idea who he really was, he thought with a wave of pleasure that rippled down his body and warmed his stomach. They would soon enough.
He glanced toward the passageway that led down to the hidden dock. Soon the beautiful lord would be brought to him and at last he would be able to complete his work. It was such a shame it would cost Lord Stanley his life, but there was always a price to pay.
At least Lord Stanley would meet his end knowing that his sacrifice was for the greater good.
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