Team of Seven Heroes Shorts Tales 3; Chapter 16

16.

The Ripper placed the two kidneys at the end. He then looked up from his crouched position. There was no one in sight for the rodents who was in wait for the Ripper to leave,

“Yes. My loves. Its feeding time for all of you. You are my test that I still have it.”

The Ripper then stood up and pulled at the gloves used and discarded them into the small bag. It will be discarded later into the garbage dump. The Ripper then straighten the overcoat and took the walk to the street where the carriage pulled up from the dark corner. The Ripper rubbed the sole of his shoes on the ground before he rode into the carriage and was soon gone from the kill scene. And hour later, the lady was discovered and the cries of help went off.

It was as planned but that scene was observed by one other.

“My love, I am telling you I met the Ripper. No, it was …… not that I met the Ripper but I saw the Ripper.” Victor broke down into the arms of his love. “I could have ….”

“No, Victor. You did not ….”

“Tell me of the Ripper. The real one…”

“The Ripper…. No one knew the Ripper. He was a ….” Lady Illinois replied. “I only knew what the papers reported. I was overseas then.”

“Then tell me what you knew.” Victor was insistent.

“Between the month August and November 1888, the area around Whitechapel, London was the attention of the murders attributed to the Ripper. Five victims; all prostitutes and were mutilated. There were suspects based on the methodology of the cuts; the wounds were consistent with the works of a surgeon with the removal of the human anatomy. The suspects varied from the commoner to the royals including the Duke of Clarence, the grandson of the Queen.”

“Women were not a privileged group then and even now. We were the subject of ridicule and most times regarded a category above the servants. Even for us at the so named Elites. We were brutalized at most instances. For the lower level, the prostitutes were worse off. No cared if they died most times. Then the Ripper murders created a sensation unfelt before. The women were to be protected. Just when it was beginning to take on seriously by all, the killing stopped.”

“Until I started it once more by myself.”

“No, you may not have. The murders may have been the works of extremists. There was talks of that at one of the crime scene area; the words ‘The Juwes are the men to be blamed for nothing’. It was scrawled on the wall with chalk. It was not reported for the authorities feared backlash by the community.

“I am not of London. I am a stranger here. I may be mistaken for one. I may be caught and lynched.” Victor sighed. “Like my namesake. Perhaps we are destined to be called monster.”

“No, Victor. You are not a monster. I am not one too. Neither is Igor.” Illinois defended herself. “The Ripper is the monster. We can lead the others to the Ripper. He will be ….”

“How do you know it was a him? I did not say so.” Victor asked.

“I assumed it was. Most killers are men. You… I did not mean it that way. I was just speculating on that. Please don’t get paranoia on it.”

“No, I must act. If I do not, the Ripper will strike again and again.” Victor pulled away. Illinois was upset but her concern was elevated by the arrival of her son.

“Igor, what ails you now?”

“The lady is of no help. She lay there without life.” Igor dressed in the shirt and dark pants leaned down to put on his shoes.

“Did you kill her?” The mother asked.

“No, she is alive. She is not…. keen with me.”

Alas, the mother sighed. She was with issues that day, and knew not what to do. She looked at the locked doorway and the crazy notion to hold a lady imprisoned as a child bearing creature was becoming then a burden. She could have the lady killed but that will mean more issues. She was unsure if Victor will even consent to kill anymore. He was on his own path of righteous task then.

“Igor, talk to her. She may be willing if you talk to her.” The mother pleaded with the son. “We are running out of time.”

So was Lestrade who was being told to solve the Ripper case or be demoted to Sergeant and posted to the far county. He was distraught by the order but he was adamant that he will solve the task and also find the heiress. The Bromfield household were wagging their tongues on their Mistress then to him. He was soon with a number of leads and one led to a Mr. Sidney Masters.

“I can assure you, Inspector. You are barking up the wrong tree here.” Mrs. Masters was harder than a nail to the wood Lestrade was hammering at. He had cornered the suspect in the good office of Lord Millard where Mr. Masters was the Accountant. He had the Accountant dragged to the nearby alley and interviewed in a rough manner.

“Lord Millard will be told of your action as a thug on me.” Mr. Masters arranged his bow tie and then pulled at the lapels of his coat. “Lord Millard is a …”

“Lord Millard may be gentleman compared to you but I have some other person to see you on Ms Innes.” Lestrade signalled the duo standing in wait at the distance. “Mr. Innes here have a loving concern on his sister, Helen. And you will reply to him.”

“Heaven forbids it! How could you? You are an officer of the law.” Mr. Masters looked with concern towards Lestrade.

“Consider it the blind side of the law, guvnor.” Lestrade replied before he released the Accountant to the duo. The treatment by the butcher and mason master was short but brutal. The tools of their trade were put to work and the mallet with the short handle did most of the damage. Soon the Accountant was spilling the numbers out.

“We got the news. This is the address of the next party tonight. Mr. Masters will be swimming by then in the Thames.” Lestrade ignored the last words and averted his sight when the duo dragged the Accountant away. He looked at his shoes where splatters of blood had tainted it. He sighed and left the alley. That was one good pair joining the Accountant in the river Thames at a different time of the tides.

Timing was also what Mycroft was planning. He was back with the Madame X and that time he was not a satisfied customer. He was refused an attendance and had to start off with his fist into the Nubian look alike in the face and then marched to look for the Madame. He heard the footsteps of the reinforcement. He found himself facing two burly looking scoundrels who were there to throw out the garbage.

“Gentleman, I am here to see the Madame. Please …” One of the scoundrels threw a punch at Mycroft. He evaded that and responded with his own right fist into the extended arm at the elbow joint. His fist broke the joint there while his left fist went in on the scoundrel face.

“A gentleman speaks of his intention first. Here is mine.” Mycroft turned his body and kicked at the second scoundrel at the groin before he laid the upper cut on the jaw with the right fist. Both scoundrels went down but Mycroft was then jumped on the back. He grabbed the pair of hands on his neck and tossed the one on his back in the Oriental fighting move. The lady who jumped on his back landed on her’ with a yowl of pain. Mycroft then saw another lady coming at him with the fire poker piece. It was a heavy iron piece but held in the lady’s both hands, it did resemble the devil’s foot long tool with the heated red head end. He stepped back and then chopped at the lady’s hands with his left hand, and did the unthinkable right fist into the red lips of the attacking poker lady. She went down with her mouth bloodied and Mycroft offering some apologies.

“Enough!” Mycroft heard the call. 

“We will speak inside.” And it was inside the same chamber that Mycroft had earlier had the talk on his sex life. The lady known as Madame X sat opposite him with the legs crossed.

“You came to ask on the Bromfield. Yes, she was one of the invited to the parties. She used to bring Helen as a companion. She was with some exceptional needs.” Madame X wets at her lips. “She wanted to teach Helen on the ways but I guess the other was not a participant and soon did not turn up. I heard that she was one of the Ripper’s victims.”

“Tell me of the ones who are at the party who may have some wild ideas.” Mycroft laid forth his question. “I was there before and seen some acts but I am asking of the extreme.”

“A great choice of words. I know what you mean. The ones that may like to inflict pain or be inflicted, or the ones that are rough in the act. Yes, there are a few names. Are you sure you want to hear them?” Madame X looked at Mycroft. “They may be one day your master too.”

Mycroft got a few names and only one stood out like a morning erection.

Oliver Millard, the nephew of Lord Millard. The only son of Illinois Millard.

Team of Seven Heroes Shorts Tales 3; Chapter 15

15.

The silence at the library may be unnerving for many but for the Doctor, it was his busy mind working on the solution while the Colonel busy cleaning the cane which act as his concealed gun. The tea pot left by Wong the Butler was not served into the cups. The scones untouched looked delicious but the mood to eat was not there.

“How did you do it?” The Colonel broke the silence. “We were…”

“Entranced by the man. Yes, I could see that but not me. I was working on a complicated mathematical problem. I have to admit there were moments I was almost induced but then I had my mind shifted back. Mathematical problem occupies my mind. It’s a jealous emotion in my mind.”

“What did happen there?”

“I believed hypnotism was the inducement. I had seen it in practise by doctors of science and by out of whacks conjurers. Once I was in Austria, I met some gypsies who did it to me on my curiosity. It was embarrassing and since then I have learned to ignore it. It’s all in the mind and the gateways are the eyes and ears. I do believe our esteemed leader have an inherent skill to do it fast and willingly spirit your will away.”

“Uh…” Colonel Sebastian was baffled. “I seen the ones in India who could go into a trance but…”

“A state of the mind, Colonel. Just like when he induced in you to do the killing. How many was there?”

“Four including Inspector Weston, the Engineer Jones and….”

“All for a reason. They were my informants. The man was displaying to me that he could get at me. Which he almost did at the gathering but I evaded the dead penalty but agreeing to him.”

“Tell me what do you think of him? He is…”

“The Kings lineage as told him. King John, and its link was so far behind and possibility remote by now given that he held no title. He is a young man but of some wealth which baffled me. Who is his benefactor?”

“Lord Millard.” Colonel Sebastian voiced out.

“No, it can’t be. He controls Lord Millard and more to it, Lord Millard have…. half the estate. I learned of it yesterday talking to an old associate. He mentioned Lord Millard have a sister who was a researcher into the human anatomy. She went abroad but before then she worked with some great doctors. She is back in London, but living a recluse.

“Her name once more, Doctor?”

“Millard, Illinois Millard.” Doctor Moriarty was then writing down the data for his mind; doctor of medicine, anatomy and then recluse.

“Let me check on her for you.” Colonel Sebastian told Doctor Moriarty. There are times certain things unchecked may remain hidden forever. Once revealed it may yield some unusual findings. It was what stirred up Mycroft’s mind.

“You are up early, my dear?” Mycroft heard the lady asked him from the bed. He was usually an early morning riser with his tasks requiring vigilance and at times, the early start. He had not dressed up and was wearing the ex-husband’s dressing gown. He stepped to the brazier and stroked the coals there. He felt the arms went around him his waist which then tugged at the cord. He held the hands there and then voiced out.

“I got an early start, love.” Mycroft stepped away and walked towards the wash basin. He freshened himself there and then turned to see Mrs. Hudson had dressed up. She was a neat and fast dresser. She sat down at the dresser to straighten her hair.

“You were married?”

“And that was why I am called Mrs Hudson.” The lady replied and then turned over to look at the man with the puppy expression. “Why do you ask? Was it the guilt or I am too old and parts of me sagged?”

“No…. Please don’t say that. It was just that I met someone yesterday and the issue of being married came up. I was not married …. I meant not yet and may one day…. I meant…”

“And you shall but whom it may be does not matter now. Tell me your puppy loving concern.” Mrs Hudson looked at him.

“It’s to do with the Ripper. What drives a man… or woman to kill with such ….”

“Crude manners? Unlike you who will just kill the other with a shot or a stab in the heart. You are a killer but the Ripper is …. A murderer of sort with…. Perhaps anger or displeasure. The Ripper does not kill, the Ripper rips the body organs off. And then placed it at the side like a trophy display. The new Ripper takes the organs away. So, we have two Rippers.” Mrs Hudson explained the subject matter.

“How do you know so much?” Mycroft was puzzled.

“Well for one the Butcher’s wife told me. She heard from the florist who heard from the Surgeon’s sister in law. You will be surprised that on the street, there are a myriad network of people who knows what others may not tell you.” Mrs Hudson replied. “Like you were at the brothel which the front looked like a gentleman club.”

“How did….”

“The matchbox I picked from the floor. Fell off you coat. The doorman puts it there so that you could remember the place if you want to come back. Your question on my marriage…. It could be an admission of guilt but I am not a naïve girl clamouring onto you just because you taken my virginity. Which you did not, and our sessions are purely sex with the convenience of your brother away from upstairs.” Mrs Hudson looked at Mycroft. “Do I need to go on?”

Mycroft was lost for words then.

“Then check out one victim by the name of Helen Innes. She was the servant at the missing heiress once before she was removed for dubious reasons. And check out the parties that Lord Millard holds at different location.” Mrs Hudson looked at Mycroft standing with the mouth gaping open. “No, I did not learn that from Sherlock nor did I seduce the milkman who knew almost anything on the street. I got that info from…… never mind from who…. Just look at those leads.”

“And take a peed. Your bladder showing the signs. And it ain’t sex.”

Sex was not on most people’ mind who read the morning newspaper. The headlines damper them urges.

‘Ripper struck again.’

‘It’s the season again. Rip it!’

The difference was the last night victim have the organs displayed like the derby trophies. The reactions varied from person to person.

“Who told the papers of the Ripper murder?” The Chief Commissioner was upset.

“We have a different killer.” The Surgeon remarked in the report. “Or the original Ripper is back.”

“The Elites are the killers.” All it took was a shout of accusation and the call rippled to mob’s mentality. All expect one.

“Illinois, I swear I have nothing to do with it. With the lady there, I have not killed anyone.” Victor told the doctor. “I have been out but that was to …. Walk. I did not kill anyone.”

“So, are you telling me Igor did it?” Doctor Illinois rebuked back. “Could my son be doing it? He had seen you done it.”

“I don’t …. know. Maybe but I do not follow him. But why do you accuse your son of it?”

“Because he is my son. He does not see any results from the lady there. He may be harvesting the organs. He may be doing it to …” Doctor Illinois replied in anger and then broke down in cries.

“I see no organs. If he did, he would….” Victor consoled her.

“Then the real Ripper is back. Oh, God. We brought back the Ripper.”

Team of Seven Heroes Shorts Tales 3; Chapter 14

14.

Mycroft took to walk past the doorway into the lounge and was greeted by the trio of scantily ladies. He smiled and offered his overcoat. The place was well lighted and furnishings luxurious if one were considered four divans and two sets of high back seater cramped into the area luxurious. The drapes there were thick but the shades reminded him of the erupting volcano. Or the pox infected buttocks.

“Is that all you are offering for me to remove?” The lady dressed in the thinly wrapped gown leaned towards Mycroft.

“Yes, I have a meeting with Madame X. Can you please tell her that I will await her arrival?” Mycroft stated his intentions. The lady seated there at the divan pulled at the servant’s bell. A burly man dressed like a Nubian slave appeared and then motioned for the gentleman to follow him.

“Mr. Holmes. I am delighted to be acquainted with you.” The lady greeted him was by the miniature garden with the fake palm tree. She was seated on the wooden garden chair and having a pot of black tea.

“Are you acquainted with the other Holmes; the detective?”

“No… Yes, but distant relative.” Mycroft decided a white lie will suffice then before he blurted out his intention of seeing her.

“Yes, I am aware of your reason to see me. There is no rush on a lady like me although we are accustomed to it.” Lady X replied. “Your unusual request came from a rather unusual source.”

It was Lord Fleming who initiated the meeting for Mycroft.

“We do participate at such parties. The ladies are well compensated although there are some who are …. Truly monsters. They do compensate more later. Their names are in the list but do not ever reveal that I gave it to you. I was thinking that to seal our pact, I might suggest a more direct approach. Perhaps if I seduce you, I may seal your trust not to reveal to anyone. I may be past my prime but I can show you a few tricks that even Cleopatra will not know.”

“I am … I meant I am married. Yes, I am married and taken the vow of one and only one.” Mycroft blurted out.

“Spare me your tinniest Holmes. I was thinking of doing you.’ The lady winked at Mycroft. At that moment, he felt his rear end crimped in tighter.

“Pardon me….” That was all Holmes could muster for words. He was then escorted by the Nubian lookalike slave to the exit while Madame X laughed at his hasty departure.

It was all that too for the heiress who was kept imprisonment for over two weeks then, and her only hope of leaving alive was to bore the kidnapper a child. It was his demand and he had not forced her into it. He did withhold the food and drinks if she was to disagree. She was given the comforts of a comfortable chamber and with three days of deprived nutrition, she had relented. He was a brute when it came to the act not for his hump back but the mode which he does it. He was selfish and beyond that, left on his completion. She suffered him a few times and when he was not around, she paced the chamber she was in. She knew she was in a dungeon but there were no avenues of escape. She heard voices but with the thick walls, she was not able to hear much.

“Mother, I am done.” Igor had approached the mother who was seated there. She was staring at the body covered on the table. She was thinking of her works there; the endless months of research and then the testing. The harvesting of the organs after her lover killed the lady. She was careful in her incision and then the removal. The rush back to preserve the freshness of the organs and the replication of the tests.

It was all futile.

“Are you well, my dear?” The man in the shadows crept up to the lady seated on the wheelchair. “Is Igor…”

“Yes, he has. It’s his seventh visit. She had not screamed or fight. I wondered why he asked for her.”

“It’s his choice as Shelly was. We all have our choices.” The man also known as Victor replied.

“Victor, am I a monster to …. Imprison the lady there? She does not deserve this.”

“Neither are you with legs and me with my ailment, and Igor with his back. We are all destined by fate. She may be too.” Victor replied. “Look on the good side. I don’t have to kill anymore. I am a repent now.”

“Yes, tell me of outside. I heard the parties have stopped and the commoners have drawn a battle line with the Elites.” Lady Illinois asked. “Matthew won’t tell me. He has not come over since. Are they still calling us the Ripper?

Lady Illinois heard of the name when she stumbled on the paper. She had since then ignored the papers.

Ignorance was beyond the understanding of the newly minted Inspector named Lestrade. He was ignored by his other peers and cited of being the ‘Chief Inspector’s pet’. Lestrade wanted to defend his promotion but the tasks head of him were overwhelming. He was castigated daily for not locating the heiress. He had no clue there and decided to work in the Ripper. As an Inspector, he had accessed to more reports than as a Sergeant. He took it to the streets and hauled up his usual suspects or informers.

“Tell me of the victims.”

There was nothing new from what he learned against what was recorded. They were whores and poor and died with their organs removed. He drew on parity with the two sets of murders; the organs were one but soon he found out that not all of the victims in the second spree were whore. Two of them were late night workers and turning tricks was a casual event. He then found out that one of them had worked for the missing heiress before.

Helen Innes; victim reference third, a blonde, in her thirties, was walking back from her work area. She could have worked the extra shift to earn a few more coins. She used to work as a cleaning maid for one named Madame Dorothy Bromfield who was the missing heiress. She came to the wealth on the death of her brother at Africa. She was divorced and have no children of her own.

“Helen was a fine woman. She worked days and nights since she lost the job at the house. She has three young ones and her no good lover was a washout. He cleans the chimneys when he was sober.” Lestrade was told by the neighbours and in one particular Mrs. Brown who had two weenies holding at her legs.

“I don’t know why she left the house but I heard talks.” Most of the neighbours talks. “She was said to be upset with the mistress who was coming onto her.”

“Pardon me.” Lestrade was puzzled then.

“The mistress was harassing her. I once told her take it like your lover do to you. Lie back and spread them legs. It ain’t going to hurt more than a few bite marks. You might enjoy it compared to the brute who passed you his lice and more mouths to your milk.”

Lestrade was raised a good Catholic and issues mentioned then was disturbing to him. He tried to clean the images from his head and ended up dunking into the bucket of cold water. He then took to questioning the household of Ms Bromfield. He had the garbage thrown to him by the cook but he managed to talk to the new house maid.

“Maggie Swans, I know your past works at the tavern. You were once …. held a reputation before you move to this job.” Lestrade had taken a hearing of his own from some sources forwarded to him by the informers. One was a playwright who ply the other trade line in the discreet manner. The threat of the truncheon moved the other to reveal more.

“I know of you, Maggie. Trevor told me. Or you may know him as Thierry.” It all came on then in a confession and Lestrade had to avert his eyes on the ladies he saw talking or walking on the street with his mind swarming then of lucid images. He controlled his emotions and then focussed on the investigation.

It led him to one Madame X. He had a hard time talking to her and was threatened with discipline if she reported him. He was relentless and in the end Madame X gave him some pointers.

“I can assure you, Inspector. There is no glamour in our work; only motivation of the wealth shed our inhibitions. We partake in the parties where there is nothing that we do are deemed unusual. Ms Bromfield was in one of it. She does bring her companion there. She considered it a training ground, although we have no lack of participators.”

Things were warming up for the Inspector but not in front side of his pants and more to his rear.

Team of Seven Heroes Shorts Tales 3; Chapter 12 & 13

12.

Mycroft read the telegram that was replied to him by his handler. There was not records of one named Ryan Loggins. The list of Lord Millard’s family and staff names will be sent to him by courier. He then turned to the papers. It was the news on the death of Inspector Weston; a fine officer from the London’s best. The papers reported that the murder could had been due to his investigation into the smuggling activities at London. There was also another report on the Ripper.

‘Three nights of peace? Is the Ripper going into hibernation once more?’

The last Ripper spree of killings were five and the recent one then was unconfirmed four and five confirmed. And with many more unaccounted. Another paper took that hint.

‘Five and now five or nine or we lost count?’

At three days, the Ripper was yesterday’s news. The new one was missing heiress.

‘Lady Mariam Denise Connors missing since for two days. City wide search on and no suspects yet.’

‘Are we plagued? Ripper to Missing?’  

“Bad news, Mycroft?” The man turned to his hostess, Mrs Hudson.

“I am afraid it’s. Any idea when Sherlock will be back? I do need to see him.”

“Not for a few more days. He sent over a telegram to feed his parrot in the room. And also, that spider he keeps as a pet.” Mrs Hudson replied. Then she leaned over and asked Mycroft.

“Do you have peculiar pets, my love?”

“None whatsoever but only sex crazed ideas.” Mycroft replied with his eyes averted to the revealing cleavage. He then excused himself. “Work calls and …”

“Sherlock is away, Sure you won’t stay on to nibble at the scones? They are freshly baked.” Mycroft reluctantly pulled himself away from the house. He was when his brother will come back. The latest case was one Sherlock will take on without any hesitation.

“Mycroft Holmes? This is from Universal Exports.” Mycroft saw the package offered to him by the Scottish man. “A Miss Monnie Pence asked me to sign here as endorsement.”

“And a fiver for my services, Sir.” Universal Exports was obviously not doing well.

Mycroft took the package and was soon reading the contents in the café nearby. It was an interesting read, and he learned more than he did while in London.

Lord Matthew Millard, co-heir to the Millard Estate with a sister Illinois Millard, Medical researcher. The Lord was educated in the best and became a banker before he managed the estate. He was not married and have no relationship with any one dead or alive. He was however a popular figure with the effluent and socialise with them. He was suspected to be heading the criminal circle named the Council which does work for the effluent and royalty. He was suspected of his involvement with organizing wild parties but none was proven.

Lady Illinois Millard; other than her education and profession, there was no information on her. She was a recluse at the estate and not seen in public for over twenty years.

Mycroft then saw the other reports.

Lord Thomas Henry; retired statesman, widower and no children. The sole owner of the Henry’s estate which he built with his own funds. Suspected privateer and smuggler in his earlier days but had retired. Suspected to be a member of the Council. Hardly seen in public but was known to keep to himself at the estate with selected friends, and Lord Millard was not one of them.

General Ian Barry Smith; decorated Army officer retired due to battle wound on his left thigh. A fine gentleman and officer but suspected to be in the Council. He was the aide of the Prince of Wales at Africa and India.

Commander Tyrone Smith; Naval Commander. Was suspected of in the Council. Deceased.

Major Patrick O’ Neil Dennison; Airship Commander. Suspected member of the Council. Deceased.

Mycroft laid the folders on the table and thought of what he had just learned then. There were two points that intrigued him’ Doctor Illinois Millard and the Council. He was not trying to link to the Ripper which was his task but those two may have some links to why he was there. He wished Sherlock was with him then.

“Mycroft Holmes?” The man looked up and saw shadowing him from the sun was one he wished had not met.

“Mary Watson. I am. And how are you and John? Is he here?” Mycroft knew the answer but he was being polite.

“No, he is away. With Sherlock I presume. Don’t you know?” That was a countermove he was trying to avoid.

“No, I am not. I was… just back from Glasgow. How is John?”

“Alive, I hope. He does scram off on the call of your brother. I do wonder if he was in love with Sherlock than me.”

“Watson …. I meant John. He is straight as a …. candy man…I meant dandy. Whatever. He could be with Sherlock to …. protect him. Nice chap.”

“Well, if you see him before I do. Tell him I am married to him.” Mary Watson looked to the street. “And if I am missing, don’t bother to find me.”

Mycroft did watch the lovely lady took her stroll down the street, and then it dawned on him another afterthought; missing. The Ripper have not been sighted but the latest was the missing heiress.

“Coincidence perhaps….”

It could be coincidence then that the Commissioner thought with the Ripper in hibernation, life could had improved but the missing heiress had him fuming. Naturally the effect rippled down the rank and with two Inspector short, Sergeant   Lestrade was promoted to the new rank and given the new task.

“Find the heiress.”

The first task the newly minted Inspector did was speak to his informers. He had a ring of them; Lestrade Fellows, a myriad selection from the dock yard retiree to the paper boy on Strand Street.

“You got to be balmy to ask us on the heiress. Killing and murders may be the works of us with a bit of snatching some poor brats but we never managed with a lady and an heiress, that’s a hefty one. Not our league.” That was a fair comment from the retiree.

“Missing? Are you sure, Inspector?” The pronunciation of the rank was stretched to the limit by the paper boy. “The heiress could be on holiday or eloped on one. Narry a crime to do so when you are rich. Or with a poor sod like me. It will do good for the papers print. I could earn some more coppers from it”

“Spare your time to find the Ripper. That one may be at rest and its time for you to track it. You don’t want another season of killing.” That advise came from the retiree and it came with a warning. “We ain’t forgetful of it.”

So were the Elites.

“I say, old chap. I heard talks they say the Ripper is one of us.” It was a casual statement but it had its rippling effect when mentioned to a few more ears. The statement then became ‘the Ripper is said to be us’. The reaction of the Elites was from disgust to anger. When one’s emotions were compromised, logical judgement was ignored.

“Yea, recall the last time they locked us in.” Words that fanned the commoners soon flared at the Elites.

“We will show them we ain’t no softies.” The words went out and the Elites hardly fight their own war called on the undesirable after all money buys power. The group of paid thugs soon caused problems at the streets and Whitechapel was once more in the papers.

“Fighting on the streets.”

“There is no more Ripper but the Rippers are back.”

“Whitechapel strikes back. We are not your bloody slaves.”

“London under siege.”

13.

Moriarty tapped his pencil on the notepad where he was trying to solve the mathematical model presented there. It was an intriguing one but he found his thoughts shifting to the head of the Council ranting on the renewed fighting in London. It was into the third day and even the missing heiress was not reported on. He heard his name called.

“Moriarty, are you hearing me?” Doctor Moriarty looked up. He disliked being called by his name and more so by a mad man then.

“I do. And I can concur. We need to stop it.” Doctor Moriarty put on the stern face. He wanted to laugh for it was him who fanned the hate and the rioting. It was his doing to do damage on the Council. The Colonel was helping in another manner; he was killing the people on the list given to him.

“Can you move your criminals on the task?” Lord Millard asked.

“I can but many of them are already out of my influence now.”

“What shall we do then? Call in the Army?” Lord Millard looked at the General. “If its to be, I have to consult the Head.”

“Yes, our Head. Who is it?” It was a surprise move by the General but welcomed by the Doctor. He had met the General a day before and given the complexity of their relationship, he went in with simple mathematical moves to start the conversation and before then both men were drinking and sharing information. The General was a grouch due to his battle wound but he was a strategic leader too. He was adept at the mass formations and movements but compared to Doctor Moriarty, the later was adept at the stealth moves with precision. The Doctor sliced his way into the General’s mindset and set the question of the real leader.

“General, you are a great leader but do the Council knows. You can resolve the riot in hours. Unfortunately, we are the Council and yet we cannot do the decision there.” Lord Millard sighed. “We are powerful yet we are without the power. It’s for the ….”

“Ultimate leader which you are not. You are like the Parliament and yet the Queen held the final say in the decision.” The voice came from the side and everyone turned to look. There stood a man holding the watch. “I believed I am late.”

“Good day, Lord Millard. You have spoken well. Do not despair for I am not here to take your influence or maybe part of it.” The man approached the table. He smiled at the seated and then greeted them.

“Ryan Loggins. I am the elusive leader who held the power behind the Council.” The man greeted the seated. “General Smith, Doctor Moriarty, Colonel Sebastian. I am Ryan Loggins.”

“I am your leader. The one who formed the Council.”

“Preposterous! You can’t be the leader. You are …” General Smith snapped back. “I will not have you …”

“Age does not matter if one held the power to command. I can command you if I need to be. As Napoleon Bonaparte did at the age of 24 when he was made General. Two years later he led the campaign against the Austrian and their allies, the Italians. He had risen ever since then.” Ryan glared at the General.

“All of you are here on my approval. You are all deserving of the position here. General Ian Smith, you are master strategist but your wound cut short you career. Doctor Moriarty; a genius in the subject of mathematics and yet you lead a network of criminals whose loyalty was to you alone. And to you, Colonel Sebastian. As I recalled you were brought in by Doctor Moriarty but you held a quality needed now. The killer among the planners is needed to do the task needed. Thank you for eliminating the persons on the list. They have served their purpose or will be.”

Everyone looked baffled at the younger man.

“Before you asked of me, you may want to know why the Council was formed? I will tell you.”

“The Council was the idea of the Lords and Princes, with the scandals that had corroded into their realm. They were once revelled as the Royalty and untouchables. The sad events of history eroded that perception. When King John in 1215 accepted the Magna Carta at Runnymede, it also protected the aristocracy but not the common people. It did uphold one important principle; the King could not rule arbitrarily. The introduction of law was introduced to protect the people. It worked fine until King Henry renegaded on the charter and he then lost the war at Lewes. It was from there the English Parliament was formed.”

“It was in the later 16^th century that power of the monarchy recovered. It was the beginning of the conflict between the monarchy and the Lords, thus resulting in a civil war and soon after the beheading of the traitor at Whitehall. The Convention Parliament soon declared that the Government of England should be King, Lords and Commons. But it was short lived when King James II fled to France when William of Orange from the Dutch land invaded England. It left the country to the control of the Parliament. It was in then the title of the Prime Minister was introduced when Lord Horace Walpole became the First Lord of the Admiralty and Chancellor of Exchequer. He was also known as the Prime Minister.”

“The Parliament eroded in the last decades, and the demands for reform was called upon. With the Great Reform Bill passed, the common people took back control. The secret ballot was introduced and more reforms came into notice. The women suffrage was one that was debated widely.”

“The Lord and the others with links to the monarchy felt threatened by the reforms. The call was made and the Council formed. Lord Millard is the third in the succession of leaders, and with time we garner members and widen our support. We act to protect the ones which are our members. I am without a title but behold I am from the line of monarchy long before your father was born. My lineage traced back to King John in 1215 but my link had been severed and thus I am a commoner but not by birth right.”

Doctor Moriarty clapped his hands together breaking the silence in the chamber. He then stood up and bowed to the younger man.

“A remarkable tale on the history of England rulers and Lords. Now may I leave?” Doctor Moriarty picked up his cane and hat.

“No, you may not. Doctor Moriarty, the appointment to the Council is bounded by the oath of loyalty and death will be its unbinding consideration.” Ryan looked at the Doctor. “Colonel Sebastian will perform the deed for me should you take another step.”

Doctor Moriarty turned and saw the Colonel was looking at him. It was obvious then that the Doctor had no choice in the matter. He then sat down and looked at the younger man.

“Assuming we are …. the Council and its now revealed leader, tell us what do you want of us.” Doctor Moriarty replaced the cane on the side of his chair.

“The Council was assigned a task to stop the Ripper which have gone into …… hibernation. The Ripper return have created mayhem which we cannot tolerate. The common people have already demonstrated their anger at us, and the large killer taunts us. When will it return?”

“And the killer may be one of us by that I meant the Elites or the Lords and …. Monarchy as you may termed it.” Doctor Moriarty snapped back. “He …. or she may be from there. After all, the mathematical probability is an absolute possibility.”

“True words, Doctor. I respect you for covering the followers of yours and yes, I believe so that we cannot ignore the …. Elites. They are beyond reproach but there could be a few rotten apples.” Ryan replied. “Pray tell me if you suspect any.”

“You for one, young man. You are capable of doing it for power to you can be …. intimidating perhaps. Or over whelming.” Doctor Moriarty smiled. “But given your character, I doubt you are a killer. There are killers and …. planners.”

“Who may that be then, Doctor Moriarty?” The tone of Ryan Loggins took on a tone of irritability. “The Ripper?”

“I am unsure but I am investigating and protecting.” Doctor Moriarty smiled. “That what the Council was to do.”

“Then find the Ripper. The killer may come back for one more kill or more.” Ryan told Doctor Moriarty. “Don’t let him be our nightmare forever.”