A NIGHT IN THE CLINK

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Jackson was more than curious about the watch. "Lilith came to me before she ordered it. She asked for my guidance because she knew we were friends. Your wife wanted to get something unique as she sometimes felt it was hard to impress you."

"Jackson, my beloved wife, did impress me with the gift. The message in the watch conveyed her love for me. I wish I had been a more suitable husband to her. The night she perished, I tried to turn her words back on her so she could see how painful it was when people spoke down to others. Ultimately, I learned that two wrongs don't infer a right. I miss her. The walls of this mansion will too. Her backchat and tyrannical personality may have been annoying, but she brought life into this empty place." Jackson noticed Christopher's mood change and that he looked exhausted. He was worried about the outing they had planned for the night and if Lord Thorn would be up for it.

"May I see what she had made for you?" Christopher showed Jackson the watch and the endearment inside. "Are you sure you are ready for tonight, Milord? You look like you need a good night's rest." Jackson had an uneasy look on his face as he asked.

"No, I"m fine, and this can't be postponed. I don't know what night creature is lurking out there, and I have no intention of letting anyone fall prey to the monster."

Jackson and Christopher ate a hearty meal. Once they finished, Christopher donned a suit of light armor and placed his claymore on his back. The two men headed to the stables for their steeds and rode out for the cemetery. They were on their way to back to the graveyard.

***

Late Night 1894, December 26 - Whitechapel's Commercial Street Police Station:

Several hours passed, and The Lord heard his name called out from across the cell. It brought him out of his thoughts about the recent death of his wife.

"Christopher Thorn!" He looked to see Sir Edmund Reid with a cigar clamped in his teeth. The man was very distinguished-looking with a beard and mustache. Hair combed back neat. He wore a suit and necktie with a carnation on the lapel. Reid was a true gentleman. He had one side of his mouth turned up in an unnatural smile. "My desk Sargent said you were here. I didn't believe him at first, but I was glad I came to take a look for myself. Come this way, Christopher. We can talk in the interrogation room."

Christopher pushed past the other men in the cell and stepped into the corridor. He walked with Sir Reid to a small room with nothing but a little table and two wooden chairs.

"Have a seat, please, Lord Thorn." Edmund removed the iron cuffs from Christopher's bloodied arms. Sir Reid noticed that the man looked like he had been in a hell of a fight to be covered in that much blood.

"What on earth, Christopher? I just came from the alley. Did you kill all those people?" Asked Sir Reid.

"Yeah, I had nothing better to do this evening than kill three innocent souls, Edmund." Christopher deadpanned to the detective.

"No! I didn't butcher the people in the alley! What were you thinking asking me a question like that? It isn't very respectful! You, of all people, should know better than to think I would do something like this. I would want to believe you thought better of my character after all I did to help you six years ago." As he spoke to the detective standing in front of him, frustration could be heard in Christopher's voice, and a fire burned in his eyes.

Christopher helped Sir Edmund discreetly capture and exterminate The Ripper six years earlier. The Ripper turned out to be a physician. Sir Joshua Williams and the doctor held a place of high prominence in service to the royal court. The Ripper had come to a dinner party hosted by Lord Thorn. Christopher had heard a tale from one of the female guests who was very startled by a conversation with the doctor. The man offered to show her what her insides looked like and described the lewd acts he wanted to perform on her after killing her. The doctor even cited the 'Hell Letter' word for word and told her how he ate the Lady's kidney and offered to send the dirty knife he used to Gregory Lusk, an investigator on the case.

Christopher and Edmund talked the young woman into being a decoy to catch The Ripper. The trap went off without a snag, and they seized the man right before he slashed the young woman into pieces. Christopher had beheaded him, and they buried the body in an undisclosed location. Afterward, the men involved decided not to tell the public. They all considered it better to let the citizens believe The Ripper was still on the loose. Not to mention they did not want shame to fall on the crown for having a murderer in its midst. The secretiveness created an urban myth. It helped to keep crime down in the east end for several years.

"I'm sorry, Lord Thorn, I was jesting. I know it wasn't you, but whose blood is all over you?" Inquired detective Reid.

"It's mine." we had an intruder in the manor tonight, and I was stabbed in the thigh. I chased them here into the city. That's how I came to be in your jail. Christopher showed his right thigh wound to Sir Reid.

Edmund furrowed his brows and scrunched his face at the sight of Christopher's wound. "You should get that looked after before it becomes infected," the man articulated to Christopher.

"I already would have if not for officer Tommy York. The fool who arrested me this evening. The person you're looking for is probably the same one who stabbed me tonight, but I'm sure they are long gone by now." The Lord said curtly. "That is why I was in the alley. I was tracking them."

A loud banging came from the interrogation room door. Lord Thorn's personal Barrister was standing at the entrance. Sir Reid opened it to find Jackson Taylor, Esquire.

"Come in, Jackson." Sir Reid grinned and shook the young attorney's hand as he entered the room.

"Are you alright, Lord Thorn?" Asked Jackson as he was indifferent to the detective standing before him.

Christopher nodded his head." It looks worse than it actually is. I want to get back to the estate and clean up.

"Is there anything additional you need from my client, Sir Edmund? Is The Lord free to go? His injury needs to be tended." He looked down at the older man in the chair.

"He's free to go, and no charges will be filed on him. He is a victim and not implicated, as my investigation revealed. Don't worry about Officer York. A few weeks of jail work will fix his investigative talents." Edmund winked at Christopher and gave him a reassuring smile.

"Thank you. Sir Reid," Christopher nodded and left the station with Jackson.

Standing outside in the freezing rain, Christopher looked at Jackson Taylor, outfitted in a suit and tie with dress shoes, a top hat, and an overcoat. He seemed so foreign from what Christopher was used to seeing. "Tell me again why you aren't doing business as a counselor with your own practice?" Asked Christopher.

"You already know. Why do you think the answer would change, Christopher?" He replied with exasperation in his voice to his long-time friend.

"I know, but you are a real force in action. Did you see how rattled the entire station was by you?" Lord Thorn had always thought it was a mistake to let Jackson work in the stables, but Jackson Taylor despised practicing law. It was all due to a lost case, and an innocent man was sent to the gallows to hang. It tore Jackson's heart apart to be unable to protect the man. He withdrew into the stables and tended to the horses after it was over. It was a safe place, and he didn't have to fret again about anyone's life hanging in the balance.

"The coach pulled to the curb's edge, and Christopher saw Duncan at the reigns. Thank you for coming to the station. I was nervous I would spend the night in that disgusting cage." Christopher grinned and stepped into the carriage. Jackson followed and sat on the seat across from The Lord.

"What did you see in the alley?" asked Jackson.

"There were three bodies, two men, one of which had his throat torn out. Then a naked girl. I surmise our vampire friend had consumed her fill of blood tonight and changed into the girl's clothes to hide from us. She is dangerous, and the fact that she could slaughter three people quietly in a short period means we need to find and eradicate her quickly." Christopher's face was filled with apprehension for the innocent souls of London that were at risk from this bloodthirsty monster.

"I have hearsay that Dragonwood estate has become occupied again. The servants are readying the place. Do you think the Count is coming for a stay?" Jackson saw the look on Christopher's face, and it wasn't good.

"Jackson, I need a scotch, a good bath, fix my leg, and sleep. I will worry about Dante tomorrow. As long as he doesn't add to the current bedlam in London, he's safe. But I will handle it if he steps even one toe out of line." Christopher leaned his head back on the seat and closed his eyes. "Fuck! Another demon's joining the party. What else could go awry?" Christopher swore and mumbled sarcastically. He was too exhausted to think, and the pain in his thigh was killing him. "Wake me when we are home."