Team of Seven Heroes Shorts Tales 3; Chapter 6

6.

Doctor Moriarty looked at the figure who had stepped into the study chamber of his. He was studying the latest discovery of mathematics when the uninvited guest barged in.

“Moriarty. I want your best on this task.” It was Lord Millard who stood there dressed in his best and then stood over the study table. “My nephew was humiliated yesterday. He was with some friends, as conveyed to me and then things got out of hand, he was singled out to be strung bare assed before he was covered with blood onto the street.”

Doctor Moriarty partially upset at the intrusion but he held in check his emotions to weigh on the beneficial side of the group. He offered the Lord a drink and seat before he took a genuine interest in the tale. It was a short or in most cases, edited to suit the victim’s position on the social ranking.

“If you wished to stay as a member, show me your contribution or I will remove your rights.” It was not a threat but an insult then. The Doctor feigned a smile and then nodded.

“Good, you will do the needed.” Lord Millard then marched out. The Doctor then looked at his watch and then picked up his coat to leave. He was in no rush but he was overjoyed that he was doing something to solve his predicament in the group.

“The tea is tasteless today.” Colonel Sebastian seated there on the chair at the café overlooking the river Thames. He placed the cup on the saucer and looked to the figure across the table. The other was a lady dressed in the latest that the London society could offered frowned on the Colonel’s distaste.

“I have not much to comment on as that was the finest tea in London.” The lady remarked back. “After all, I get the best.”

“From the coast of Boston perhaps. The tea tasted as if it was immersed there.” Colonel Sebastian was in his foul mood. He was called on by the Doctor a few hours ago to check on the case of a young master who was humiliated on the street. Things like that does not happened without the lady knowing it first.

“It was a wild party on the east end side. They held that once a forth night, the usual spectacles of sacrifices and then the orgy. I think the one you mentioned was name the Brute. He was one with my girls telling me that he was like a bull.”

“I thought you liked that.” Colonel Sebastian smiled at the lady. He knew her as Madame X.

“Bullish from you is ever welcomed but that Brute was more of his namesake. The girls asked for triple their payments from him, and he does pay well.”

“So why the …. Humiliation?”

“That I was told some new boys who had just joined took things a way bit further. They took advantage of his drunken state.”

“Names, my dear.”

“Some foreigners. They are Spaniards. Naval Academy brats.” The lady looked into the cup of tea. “Miguel Panama and Antione Vincenzo.”

The Colonel left the lady wanting more after she had compared him to a brute. They had the taken the hospitality of the café owner of the use of the bedroom upstairs. The lady was left wanting for more but the Colonel was perfunctory in his approach and left on the completion of his task. He then took the carriage to meet the Commanding Officer of the Naval Academy. They used to play chess at the club.

“Checkmate, Commander.” Colonel Sebastian smiled at the Naval Academy office. “You are getting careless in your old age.”

“None so, Colonel. I am just distracted by the recent events. Do you know we have some guests from the other Naval Academies with us for the season? Well, I won’t go for it but the Admiralty overruled me. They claimed its good for the nation to be seen in togetherness. I missed our olden days when we roamed the seas then.”

“Foreigners in the Academy? I say we are in the ruts.” Colonel Sebastian looked on with the frown on the face. “Who are they?”

“Spaniards. They won’t even put up with the others at the barracks. They got their own lodgings outside under Commander Tyrone Smith. An arsehole for an officer.” The Naval Officer offered the address then. “Perhaps you can shoot them up like the chicken in the coops.”

Both officers laughed. They used to do that to scare the neighbours.  It was not as scary than to be seated across the arsehole named Smith.

“Colonel Sebastian, I doubt we met but hello to you.” Commander Smith was a real gentleman. He even offered to introduce the cares under him. “They are Spanish officers.”

It did take long for the Colonel to know more on the Spaniards and their mentor. He found them abusive to the ones they deemed to be lowly in taste. He played his time with them and on the second week, even with the papers moving onto latest murder then; ‘another died’ or the evening tabloid; ‘are you safe?’. Nevertheless, the Colonel invited the two Spaniards to visit on the seedier side of the city after three nights of card wagers and drinking binge.

“I am not clear how our new wager will include a visit to the ghetto?” Miguel was the elder of the two and held a clearer head despite the alcohol inducted into him. They have left the sleeping Major Smith in the company of two lovely ladies.

“Come, Miguel. We are in the company of one Colonel Sebastian. He will protect us like the Major.” Antonio clearly intoxicated took to the challenge. “You mentioned a wager that we would not be able to pick up the ladies. Name me one.”

“Better still show you one.” Colonel Sebastian feigning being drunk too, led the lads on a merry ride into the seedier part of London. They disembarked at the dark street a distance from the gas lighted pole. The Colonel led the lads into a walk into the alley. They kicked at the garbage there and spat at the drunken fools that slept there. Soon they emerged on the other end and was confronted by the sight of a lady standing there. Miguel turned to look for the Colonel but was surprised to see the Colonel had turned back. He was to call the Colonel when he heard the scream. He turned and saw the Antonio was holding the lady who was clearly not eager for company. He rushed to Antonio but he then saw the screaming had brought in men from the different directions. In military terms, he was ambushed. He pulled at Antonio arms but it was too late. He was surrounded by a group of men and was assaulted with sticks and fists. He tried to defend himself but there were too many. He was to break away when the dagger went around his neck. He fell to the ground trying to breathe but he was soon dead.

‘Spanish officers harassed out lady, and got themselves killed.’

‘Keep your hands off or we will remove them.’

The headlines drove the Naval Command mad with the insult that they had to take from the Spanish Admiralty. Major Smith himself admitted that he was asleep that night and pointed the blame on one Colonel Sebastian of the Army. He did not reveal the two ladies he spent the evening with. Neither did the Butler of the Club.

“We live by our discretion to the gentlemen’ here.” It was their code of conduct and being part of the group that pledged allegiance to Colonel Sebastian, the oath of denial was without doubts.

Nevertheless, the incident drew flaks from the Army and the Colonel denied meeting the lads that night although he had drinks with them before. He found them ‘arrogant and uncivilised’.  His words made the Spanish Admiralty furious and the relationship between the Army and Navy was at tatters.

It was to be settled in a civilised manner.

“Twenty paces, gentlemen. One shot each.” Colonel Moran Sebastian never missed. The honour restored and the Spaniards were paid some amount to the dead officers’ family.

As for Lord Millard, the task was done with satisfaction.

“Thank you, Doctor. I think we owe you a great favour. Sadly, Major Smith had to die.” Lord Millard shook his head. “Now who may replace him?”

“I have the candidate. His name is Colonel Moran Sebastian. Fine gentleman there.” Doctor Moriarty placed forth his nominee. “He may be our solution to removing the Ripper.”