Team of Seven Heroes Shorts Tales 3; Chapter 17

17.

Doctor Moriarty was indulging himself in the crossword in the morning papers when the Colonel arrived. The Army officer took his usual seat while Wong the Butler poured him a cuppa of tea. He glanced over at the Doctor who had folded the papers and then the conversation began then.

“It’s not the same Ripper.” The Colonel started off. “The scene was alike the one in 1888.”

“A difference in the equation? I am aware. I have copies of the Police Surgeon report here.” Doctor Moriarty took the piece of report from the folded pages of the paper. “So, the data mounts up and we are nowhere near to the solution.”

“The common folks are up in arms once more. I was told the Lords have requested for the Army’s assistance.” The Colonel added on. “There were some scuffles and Whitechapel Stations are on the alert by the authorities. It does not help much with two ships from the Spanish armada at the docks nearby.”

“So, the isolated Spanish case may be revived for personal pride perhaps. I thought you had the culprit removed.”

“I did but the ships are here on a diplomatic call. The Admiral is here in London and there will be a banquet tonight.” Colonel Sebastian smiled. “I was not invited. I am going to a party courtesy of our leader, Mr. Loggins.”

“Mr. Loggins? Ain’t we good friends? I guess not. His last approach with unsuccessful and may attempt more. Or even by you with a knack of removing others with your skill.” Doctor Moriarty smiled. “Don’t get your sight wronged. I know you won’t kill me even if God asked you to. Perhaps the Devil might do so but that will be like cheating at the cards.”

“No, Doctor. I won’t.” Colonel Sebastian declared his loyalty.

“I read your report on the Millard’s. Its interesting what the Elites will do to hide their undesirable news. You done well there. I was more surprised that a Ms. Shelly Winters was in the report. She was supposedly to be the fiancé of the son…. What his name?... Oliver Millard. Charming chap I was told, with his childhood afflicted with bouts of anger and violence. He was a deformed figure and probably used that to exert attention or retaliate for the action.”

“Yes, Oliver Millard was a wild lad and was restrained by the family in the estate or the exclusive mental retreat where I extracted the report. It was his aging nanny who told me. He was somehow engaged to Ms. Winter but the couple went missing for some years.”

“And which then the mother returned to London.” The Doctor intervened there. “She was a person of science I read. He studied under some great mentors. She was a recluse too. Poor legs issues?”

“Yes, she was inflicted with an ailment that affected her movements. She never showed up since.”

“Yes, many new data to work on. It’s a rather intriguing problem. Well, take a good rest for your party.” Doctor Moriarty smiled. “I afraid given my age and health consideration, I doubt I will enjoyed it.”

“Moral values perhaps, Doctor. I have none.” Colonel Sebastian replied and then got up.

“Colonel, I just remembered a detail which evaded my earlier questions. Who is Victor?”

“I am at a loss there. It was a name mentioned by the staff who used to work there. She claimed a gentleman had come to the estate at dusk most times to see the Lady Illinois but I have no record of such person in London.”

“Victor…. It’s most unusual and not a Londoner for sure. I wouldn’t expect anyone born in London to be named Victor. Then again so was Moriarty. We are after all named by our father’s and branded for life.”  

The name Frankenstein was a bane to the young Victor soon after his birth. He was raised by his unwed mother but she had the father’s name on him. The father was old when he consummated with the gypsy lady then. He never come back to her but he sent his support through money and then the trust that managed for the family. Victor Frankenstein was not to know but the staff of the trust soon disclosed his identity to the public. Ever since then he was hunted and taunted till the trust had his education by private tutors. The damage was done then and Victor was to be on his own journey of life. His skin infliction prevented him from travelling at day which suited him fine. He met Illinois in the Black Forest where she was on vacation and somewhere in them, they could relate to each other. She promised him a cure when she returned to London but the issue with Shelly changed the course of the intention. The distraught lady soon brought him to London and she told him of her grand plan to cure Shelly.

“I love you. I will do anything for you.” Victor Frankenstein was not a stranger to killing for he had done it on strangers who had hunted him. He found no pleasure in doing it but an essential part of his life.

Victor however valued innocent lives. He offered a prayer to the ones he killed for Illinois or the ones that had to die to preserve his life. He was always asking for forgiveness. He told God many times, ‘I did it out of desperation. I did not kill them for the pleasure of it. Life is scarce to me.’

Just like when he stood in the shadows looking at the Millard’s home. He had not told Illinois that he saw one other thing that night the Ripper killed the victim. It was the crest of the Millard’s on the carriage. That carriage was at the main door that night. He then saw the Lord Millard stepping into it. He watched the carriage took off and was to leave when he saw another similar carriage pulled up. He had not known of number of carriages the Millard have but that carriage was identical to the earlier one. He saw then Lord of the estate boarding it followed by one other. He only knew of the other by name.

Ryan Loggins. He was the Lord’s aide and was hardly seen except in the Library.

It could had been nothing but the glimpse of the overcoat worn by the younger man rubbed the shoes onto the ground before he boarded the carriage.

It was the Ripper.

Victor Frankenstein found the Ripper.

The real killer.

He rushed to the carriage but it had taken off. He then saw Igor stepping out of the doorway.

“Igor, my son. Are you… going somewhere?”

“Yes, I am going to a party. Why don’t you join me? Uncle Matthew and Mr. Loggins will be there too.” Igor reached for the door handle on the carriage with his right hand. His knuckles were bloodied.  

Victor could not find the words to speak on but he nodded.

Victor Frankenstein was going to trail the Ripper.

The real killer.

Colonel Sebastian was then advised by close aides of another killer.

“Colonel, the Admiral of the Spanish Armada is on official visit albeit on a rather short notice though. He claimed to be just visiting and not real agenda but we learned that he did not come without some …. Associates of other fields. A Senor Grande is with him and that gentleman is a marksman like you and also like you, a mercenary for hire. He is hunting you apparently. One of the Spanish Naval officers of the previous incident was his nephew. So, telling you to be on guard.”

The Colonel did not relay the warning to the Doctor and took his usual precautions. He decided that the appearance of another killer may augur well for him. All he needed to do was link the Spaniard to the Ripper then he will have one task done with two birds killed. He was adamant that the Ripper was somehow linked to the Millard and decided to stay close to them, especially the younger version, Oliver Millard. He had been a soldier for many years and in those years, he had seen all types of killers. The lad had the qualities of one; the vicious type. He had seen the lad in action despite his deformed back.