As Marion and Reginald stood separate from the Inspector and
police constables that were scouring the area around the body of Jarvis.
After discussing the situation, Marion addressed Dr Spencer
who was also inspecting the body from a safe distance, advising that this area
was clearly the epicentre of the outbreak, since both the cabman and previous
deceased persons were within the area. Marion insisted that Dr Spencer request
Inspector Jones order his men to search the area, not a small request given the
size of the Albert Docks.
Reginald and Marion both watched Spencer engage Jones, after a few minutes of discussion, Jones shot a strange look at Marion before ordering his men to split into a grid search. Volunteering to join the search, Marion and Reginald followed the constables with Jones’s permission in searching the alleys and side streets that littered the area.
After 30 to 40 minutes of searching, Reginald spotted an
alley with no access, a side street concealed behind stacked crates, timber,
and all manner of material to block the road, stacked six feet tall. Pulling
the crates aside, Reginald called to Marion and the surrounding constables as
he revealed an unmanned Hansom Cab, the horse standing steady in the mud.
As the constables rushed towards the shouts coming from
Reginald, both Reginald and Marion were clearing the debris from the alley’s
access point. Moving past the cab and horse, Reginald could see a similar
barricade at the far end, clearing the entrance for the police to access the
site from the other end.
Marion moved cautiously towards the cab, looking for any
signs of movement, Reginald moving back to the horse, stroking its head, and
loosening its buckles to free it from the cab.
Two constables aided in lowering the cab’s restraints from
the horse, allowing Reginald to walk the slightly distressed horse from the
alley. Marion looked closely at the mud, doing his best to sight any sort of
evidence as all around him constables filled the space, churning the ground
under their feet.
Reginald returned to the Alley after handing the reins of
the horse to the closest constable he could find once out of the alley,
returning promptly to Marion’s side, following his lead, and inspecting the
possible tracks in the mud. His gaze shifting to the walls of the alley,
Reginald immediately called to Marion as he sighted a discarded hypodermic
syringe half buried in mud. Marion carefully extracted the syringe, wrapping it
in a handkerchief he pulled from the pocket of the closest constable,
inspecting it briefly, Marion could see the familiar fungal formations within
the empty syringe, however they seemed to be decaying rather than thriving.
Marion’s mind raced, he began to suspect that this syringe was the primary delivery
system for the people who were dying, and this discovery needed to get back to
the morgue, placing it securely in his medical bag. Inspector Jones barked
orders as he entered the alley, doing his best to clear the scene to not
disturb the now destroyed crime scene.
Marion re-engaged Reginald once the syringe was secure,
Reginald was pondering how to best track Dr Granger, thinking of the carriage
company, the Geographical society, anywhere that may have a forwarding address.
Marion could see Dr Spencer arrive in the alley, walking quickly towards him,
Marion explained the discovery of the needle, handing it carefully to Spencer
before returning to the muttering Reginald. Departing the alley, Marion and
Reginald decided to hail a Hansom Cab, deciding to move on the University,
following the trail of Granger, his letters addressed to the Vice Chancellor being
their primary concern.
*
Entering the reception area of the Vice Chancellor of the University, Marion made the request of the clerk for an immediate appointment with the chancellor. After a short time, a large man with wholesome mutton chop sideburns and thick moustache emerged, believing that the men in front of him could explain the sudden departure of the respected faculty member who recently resigned.
After a brief back and forth between Reginald and the Vice
Chancellor, it was clear Reginald was out of his depth, slinging accusations
regarding Dr Granger across the room, Marion’s head dropping as his attempts to
engage the Vice Chancellor calmly were dashed by the abrupt taunts of Reginald.
As the Vice Chancellor excused himself, asking the two men
to leave, Marion and Reginald made their way back to the grounds of the
University. Marion turned to Reginald who was very pleased with himself. Marion
began arguing with Reginald based on his methods of questioning and how
frustrating he was.
Climbing into the Hansom Cab, Reginald ordered the driver to
take them to the London Carriage Company. Marion remained silent as Reginald
continued to smile and laugh at his address of the Vice Chancellor.
As the two walked through the gates of the London Carriage
Company, the groups of cab drivers huddled together drinking tea, Reginald
called across the groups of men for anyone who had met with Jarvis the previous
evening. A short man raised his hand a short distance from where Reginald
stood, asking the man to accompany him away from the crowd, Reginald began
asking questions of Jarvis and his behaviour the previous night, after speaking
with the cab driver for a short while, Reginald was informed that Jarvis was in
good health when he left him after dinner at approximately 10pm. As Reginald
continued to probe for information, he asked if Jarvis had made any mention
regarding previous customers, the cab driver knowing little of the topic.
Thanking the man for his time, Reginald offered the man a
modest sum before signalling Marion to join him in the office. Reginald asked
the clerk at the desk for the address of Jarvis and his family situation. The
clerk spoke sadly on the topic, informing Reginald and Marion and Reginald that
Jarvis was married with several children, sliding a piece of paper across the
desk with an address written on it.
Leaving the cab company, Marion and Reginald took a brief
lunch at the pub where Jarvis was a regular before taking a cab to the Norris
Hotel across town, both men agreeing that finding Susan Windebank was the key
to finding out further information.
Arriving at the hotel, the same employee who had addressed
them and turned them away previously stood at the main desk. Again, the man
reused them access to the hotel, Reginald waving his cane about in a vain
effort to intimidate the employee.
After several attempts to convince the man to let them
through by both Reginald and Marion, after arguments, bribe offers and threats,
Reginald stormed out of the Norris hotel, followed by Marion who again felt the
frustration of Reginald’s arrogance when speaking to anyone who could
potentially help them in their investigation. Remembering from their
conversation with Jenny when they were last looking into the Norris hotel, she
had advised them that the back door was rarely locked. Moving to the back of
the hotel via the side streets, Marion was first to test the door, to their relief,
it was unlocked. Silently moving up the stairs, the two of them came to a stop
at the door to room 104, where the Windebanks had been staying. The door to the
room was locked, both men looking at each other sharing the hope that the other
knew how to get through a locked door silently.
After what felt like hours of procrastination within
seconds, both men leaned with all of their strength on the door, rather than
causing noise by ramming the door, to their relieve, the barely audible thud of
the lock breaking free of the hinge allowing them to stumble into the room.
Wasting no time, the two men scoured the room, evidence that
the room had been ransacked, going through suitcases, bookshelves, anywhere and
everywhere that had been invaded previously, to their disappointment, nothing
could be found. Marion searched the room for any signs of the blue fungus that
had been prominent at every crime scene.
As both men came up empty in their search, Marion and
Reginald departed the Norris Hotel, convinced that if there was ever anything
to be found, it had been removed prior to their arrival.
Entering a Hansom Cab, the two men took their time in
traversing the city, Marion able to look past Reginald’s abrupt nature while
they went over their thoughts.
Running over the facts that Dr Granger for the cause without
doubt, a man who has since fled the city after experimenting on the two
homeless men, infected Jarvis and Mr Windebank, tracking him down would be the
only way to end the investigation.
After the lengthy conversation, Reginald departed the Hansom
Cab, strolling with purpose towards the address of Jarvis Creedy that he had
obtained from the London Carriage Company. As he knocked on the door, the
sounds of crying and distress were ever present.
Reginald handed Mrs Creedy a large sum of money as he spoke
to her of his fondness for Jarvis, providing the costs of a funeral and an
additional sum to keep them comfortable for some time.
Marion exited the Hansom Cab at the city Morgue, Dr Spencer
had retired for the day, allowing Marion to look over his notes, read his
findings and inspect all bodies in the drawers that had suffered from the
fungal infection.
Sending a telegram to Seamus from the Morgue office, Marion
requested any information regarding the whereabouts of Susan Windebank and Dr
Granger. Within an hour, Seamus arrived at the side alley of the Morgue, taking
from Marion a detailed description of both Granger and Susan before watching
Seamus disappear in the distance.
Refusing to go home, Marion walked to the London Library,
doing his best to research any references to “Blue Stone”, “Sumatran Blue
Death” and former expeditions to Sumatra.
Losing hours in the Library, Marion finally decided to head home as the clock struck 11pm, collapsing into bed, still fully dressed, exhausted from the day’s discoveries. Standing in a large, cavernous room, lit dimly by torches, a familiar, large, rat featured figure standing at the far end of the room. The creature was covered in thick black fur, however across the fur, slimy tentacles seemed to sway like arms as its three-eyed, glowing gaze moved towards where Marion was standing.
Waking from this nightmare, his clothes drenched with sweat
as he was glad to not have lost control of his bodily functions.
*
Sitting at his breakfast table, Reginald welcomed the smell
of his breakfast that was being brought out from the kitchen. Reading through
the morning newspaper, Reginald was relieved to find no mention of any new
cases pertaining to the blue death.
Finishing the paper along with his hearty breakfast,
Reginald took to the park across the way from his home, stretching his legs and
pacing briskly to clear his head, at point thinking that walking the way he was
would make his filled stomach ache.
Marion made his way to the Morgue early, having been woken
from his tormented sleep before the sun had begun to show its slightest light.
Sitting in his office, reading the morning newspaper in a strained attempt to
look calm as he waited for any response from Seamus.
Finishing the newspaper and turning his attention back to
the reports of Dr Spencer who was busying himself with paperwork regarding the
case of Jarvis Creedy, one of the attendants advised Marion that he had a
visitor.
Entering the side alley with Seamus, Marion was shocked to
see another man standing against the wall, a scruffy looking man covered in
grime. Seamus introduced the man as Burt, holding his hat in his hands, Burt
explained that he had seen a woman wandering in the docks, she was aided into
the woman’s charity building, the Mortar of the Lord, a women’s hospice.
Marion immediately returned to Dr Spencer, advising that he
may have the location of Susan Windebank. Dr Spencer seemed perplexed at the
sudden information, Spencer sent Marion on his way in search of Susan, not
wanting to lose time in case the lead was false.
Before departing the morgue, Marion used the phone, the call
reaching Singh at Reginald’s home. Reginald, who was busy with the children in
the park, Singh advised, Marion would meet him at the ‘Mortar of the Lord’
women’s refuge located in the Albert Docks.
*
Marion was standing on a lonely corner in the Albert Docks, taking shelter from the pouring rain in an alcove of an abandoned shop front. Reginald exited his Hansom Cab, Marion running across the street to join him at the steps of the ‘Mortar of the Lord’. Marion explained how he had come across the information, Reginald seemed somewhat relieved to finally be able to draw some conclusions regarding Susan Windebank.
Knocking on the large wooden doors of the Hospice, a short,
aged woman cracked the door, peering at the two men. Marion gave his
credentials of being a doctor and the urgency or entry regarding the possible
contagious nature of the case that brought them to their current location. The woman’s
eyes were slowly widening as Marion continued with his detailed description of Susan.
After considering what was being said, she slowly opened the door, watching the
street behind the men as she explained that the streets were not safe in the
area.
Marion and Reginald were both not impressed with the
entryway of the Hospice, the smell of smoke in the air, mould, and mildew
prominent. Marion followed the woman, clearly not a nun, yet a matron of sorts,
guiding him to a small waiting area, offering tea. She explained that a woman
matching the description given arrived recently, possibly who they were looking
for.
Reginald and Marion sat quietly to not draw attention to
themselves, no other man seemed to be within the walls of the hospice. The
matron soon returned followed by a young woman who looked familiar to both
Marion and Reginald. Sitting in a chair across from Reginald, the young woman
seemed distant and vague in her actions and facial expressions. Reginald leaned
towards her, explaining that the two of them were present at the behest of her
husband. Susan repeated her name over and over, as if she had never heard it
before, something had happened to cause such memory impairment, Marion looking
on with deep concern.
Reginald continued his gentle questioning as not to
overwhelm Susan’s obvious fragile state, Marion interjecting from time to time
regarding her substantial loss of memory. After what seemed like an eternity,
Susan projected loudly that she needed to see her husband, small snippets of
the recent days returning to her. Reginald continued to do his best to reassure
her that everything was going to be fine and that she would see her husband
soon, choosing not to mention his passing on the floor of the Hyde Park police
station and the condition he was in.
Susan’s memory continued to slowly return with the prompting
of Marion and Reginald, she began to remember the wrong doings that had
befallen her over the course of the expedition she and her husband were a part
of. Her words wandered to her pursuit of her husband from the Norris Hotel to
the university where she also remembered the face of the assailant who had
caused her and her husband so much harm.
She recalled the foggy morning she followed Dr Granger from
the entrance to his University building all the way to the Albert docks,
keeping her distance as she watched him enter a building near the water.
Everything became a blur as she recalled watching Granger disappear before
being beaten and robbed by two familiar, dark skinned assailants she recalled
from the expedition.
Doing their best to encourage her to continue her chain of
thought, Reginald and Marion reassured her that she was safe. Susan continued
to remember, the only words she recounted being “The Java Coffee Co”. Losing
her focus, Susan’s mind wandered to memories of her husband and how she needed to
attend to him and return to him. Standing abruptly and stating that she had to
get ready for her visit to Alfred, Susan ran down the hallway to her room.
Reginald and Marion took their leave, exiting the building,
Marion spotted a constable on the corner, calling him over to them. Reginald
instructed the constable to contact his local station house, the constable
taking out his notepad and writing down all of the information Reginald gave,
the location of Susan Windebank and that Inspector Jones needed to be informed.
The Constable took off down the main road, allowing Reginald and Marion to freely continue their search of the surrounding area. Looking around at the groups of faces huddled together to stay out of the rain, Marion called out to the familiar sight of the man Seamus had introduced him to outside the Morgue. Marion ran over to Burt who was more than happy to answer, Reginald soon joined Marion near Burt, demanding to know the details of Burt’s credentials. Silenced by Marion, Reginald scoffed at the pair, Marion continuing to ask Burt if he knew the location of the Java Coffee Company. Burt made mention of a coffee place around the corner from where they were standing, leading them down a side street.
As the three men entered the dingey establishment, Marion
ordered a coffee for Burt from one of the three young ladies who were working
behind the simple bar. Asking if any of them knew the location of the Java
Coffee Company, two of them shook their heads while the third mentioned a
warehouse down by the docks that used to be of that name but had long since
been abandoned. Marion paid for Burt’s coffee and gave the informative bar worker
a generous tip before taking their leave. Marion and Reginald, now with Singh
in tow, made their way through the easing rain towards the water in the
direction given to them by the bar worker.
After a short time of walking through the unfamiliar and at
moments, unfriendly streets, a large warehouse came into view, cutting through
the fog, a faded “Java Coffee Co” banner visible against the dark brick.
Windows broke, wooden beams flaking and showing signs of
rot, the warehouse had not been used in many months. The only sign of activity,
a large access door used for deliveries, fresh tracks from deliveries revealed
themselves as only hours old.
Marion, Reginald, and Singh all took different positions at
different windows to do their best to peer inside, each man finding nothing
visible other than dark shadows and the smell of rot and mould.
Reginald handed Marion his coat, Marion recoiling at the
sight of Reginald who had his military issue Webley revolver slung at his side.
Singh and Reginald heaved the front door of the building open, once open,
Reginald took his coat back from Marion, giving him a nod as he noticed Marion
motion to his revolver.
Singh entered the building first, taking a knee momentarily
to take hold of a length of pipe that now brandished like a sword in his lead
hand.
The three men spread out across the ground floor of the
facility, its large, open interior taking some time to cover completely.
A staircase leading up and a separate staircase leaving down
came into view at the far end of the facility. Reginald and Marion both moved
towards the staircase leading up, leaving Singh on the first floor to watch
their backs. As the two entered the second floor, a series of small offices
opened up before them, the smell of animal droppings and the continual smell of
wood rot filling their nostrils, Marion seeing nothing that showed any signs of
movement, however taking hold of a lantern that lay next to the stairs, he was
delighted to hear the sloshing of fluid inside..
Satisfied there was little to discover upstairs, the two
returned to Singh, motioning that they needed to descend into the darkness of
the second staircase.
Moving downward, there was no light to be found, Marion striking a match and igniting the lantern he had discovered upstairs. Pushing open a door at the base of the stairs, the three men recoiled slightly as the intense smell that they all felt took over them. Moving forward, a second door came into view, a dull orange glow emanating from beneath the door. Singh opened the door hesitantly, a damp heat came across them, freestanding gas heating lamps standing against the walls of the small room. Reginald unholstered his Webley as he was the last man to enter the room. Aside from the heaters giving off the glow of light, six large cages similar to the cages found in prisons were visible to Marion and Reginald. Each cage contained a bed, leather restraints and a bucket for waste. As the three looked at the cages with a mixture of horror and disgust, four of the cages were currently occupied, two of the beds contained fully restrained men, both heads shaved bald, being drip fed a pulsing blue liquid intravenously. The two other occupants seemed unconscious in their restraints. Reginald looked at Marion, signalling that he only had six bullets in his weapon.
Marion checked what looked to be a wardrobe, jumping back as
three large rats emerged as soon as he opened the door. With nothing inside
aside from a key hung on a hook, Marion shoved the key in his pocket before
closing the wooden door with urgency. Reginald and Singh were watching the
occupants of the cages closely, both men keenly observing the eyes of the two
prisoners who were receiving intravenous fluids, looks of fear and awe deeply
expressed across their faces.
Marion cleared his throat to get the attention of his
compatriots as three doors remained unchecked at the far end of the room.
Reginald moved past the wardrobe Marion had searched to the door that ran along
the south wall, slowly pushing it open with the barrel of his pistol. Inside
another gas lamp lit the space, the glinting of steel flickered in the dull gloom.
A Steel surgical table accompanied by all manner of instruments littered the
walls. The far wall contained two large refrigerators and a desk littered with
notes, Marion entered once Reginald nodded that the room was empty, striding to
the desk, Marion recognised the handwriting from Dr Granger’s office, not sure
if he should admire or loathe the room they had found. The elaborate array of
reflective mirrors and lights allowing a bright focal point from such a weak
light source, Reginald looked troubled at the size of the refrigerators, contemplating
how long it would take to fill such a space with everything before him.
Marion moved to the operating table where a naked corpse
lay, Marion observing that the man had several organs missing and the embalming
process only being half completed. The side wall of the room was lined with
shelves, each containing a mass of glass vials and jars filled with an
assortment of body parts ranging from feet to pieces of brain. In the centre of
the shelving, a jar of blue ooze commanded attention, its pulsing and glowing
form shifting constantly.
Exiting the room, Marion moved past Reginald who was waiting
at the door, coming to a stop at the last door where Singh was waiting. Marion
took a deep breath to clear his mind from the savagery he had seen in the
operating room. Pulling the door open, a flurry of rats ran between his legs,
speeding away from whatever was inside the space. The floor through the doorway
appeared to move, an army of rats storming towards the door. Reginald and Singh
watched several rats speed into the operating room, climbing towards the corpse
on the table. Marion stood on a crate within reach, watching the rats that
pushed through the door before he closed it scramble into the cages, clawing
and biting at the men within, none of whom seemed to notice their bodies being
devoured.
As the storm or rats moved beyond them, the way to the third door seemed to be clear for them to pass. Based on the direction, this door would take them back under the main work area of the facility upstairs. Marion pulled the door open gently once he felt Reginald and Singh close behind him, a loud crack filled the air as Marion fell backwards, a smoking bullet hole visible in his jacket sleeve, his left shoulder searing with pain.
Glancing inside the room before pulling Marion out of the
doorway, the sight of faint torches giving almost no light in the large space.
Singh ran across the room towards the gas heater giving off
the main light source behind them as to lessen the visibility for the unknown
shooter. Reginald aided Marion to his feet before ducking through the doorway,
blindly firing a shot into the darkness. A second shot rang out from the
darkness, the bright flash revealed to Reginald Granger’s face for an instant,
his peripheral vision catching another sign of movement against the far wall. Granger’s
voice echoed in the open space, demanding that the intruders leave and that he needed
to be left in peace to finish his work, Reginald’s booming voice responded with
his usual military depth, calling Granger all manner of insults he could think
of. Reginald had found cover against one of six pylons that ran from basement
to second floor of the building, thinking to himself that he had five shots
left, Granger would only have four before needing to reload.
Singh dove through the doorway, a bullet slamming into the
wooden door frame as he moved. Making his way to where he heard Reginald’s
voice, Singh was intercepted by an unknown attacker, whose blade caught Singh
across the arm, letting out a scowl of pain as he swung his steel bar
furiously.
Marion tossed the lamp he was carrying into the room to give
Reginald or Singh a better visual of their attackers. The lamp rolled to the
floor, extinguishing itself within moments.
Reginald recoiled as he heard footsteps right next to his
position and the sound of a blade slicing the air before slamming into the
concrete pylon where Reginald’s head had just moved from. Swiping back with his
cane at the shape in front of him, Reginald could make out the shape of
sharpened teeth coming towards him.
Dodging a wild swing from his attacker once more, Reginald
swung down with his brass-ended cane, his weight smashing into the skull of the
being, Reginald feeling not only the impact but the breakthrough from skull to
mush. The lifeless body slumped to the floor motionless as another gunshot
filled the air, the sparks of the bullet breaking up on concrete close to where
Singh was locked in hand to hand combat was unfolding.
Reginald kicked the large blade of the corpse at his feet
towards the doorway Marion was currently standing behind, calling for his
assistance. Stealing his nerves and doing the best to block out the pain of his
shoulder, Marion ran into the room, picking up the blade with his right hand
before slamming his body into the closest of the 6 pylons for cover.
Singh had managed to connect with one of his powerful strikes,
the parry of his adversary not strong enough to stop the steel bar from
slamming into flesh. Singh grabbed the dark-skinned man round the throat, using
his steel bar to slap the blade from his hand and begin pummelling the torso as
the now disarmed man snapped wildly with sharpened teeth. Three mighty thuds
against the ribs had rendered Singh’s attacker lifeless, the broken and shattered
bones within its chest piercing its organs.
Reginald called to Marion who was frozen in place behind the
pylon, unable to free Marion from whatever had caused his sudden shock,
Reginald turned the corner, searching with his keen senses for Granger as he
fired again in the direction he last saw him.
Granger returned fire, Reginald shocked at how close the two
men were from one another, only one pylon separating them, Reginald heard the
snap of the ricochet from Granger’s shot next to his face as he charged at
Granger, firing again, this time hearing the thud of 455 calibre lead hit meat.
Granger screamed in pain as he was also closing on Reginald,
his pistol falling to the floor as his forearm began to gush with blood from
the hole that was now present. The scream of Granger seemed to shake Marion
free from his trance, his eyes opening, looking to his left, he could faintly
see Reginald running towards what looked like Granger. As Marion watched, his
brain was showing him everything in what felt like slow motion, Marion turning
his head to shield his eyes from where he had seen the creature of his nightmares
and charged towards where he saw Granger.
Reginald having seen the pistol fall to the ground, swung
hard with his cane, slamming it into Granger’s side, sending him to his knees.
Marion closed the distance between himself and where he
watched Reginald knock Granger down, gripping the blade tightly as he rose it
above his head to strike. Marion’s foot caught itself on the body of the man
Reginald had broken the skull of, causing him to stumble forward, his eyes wide
as felt himself falling directly towards Granger.
Reginald brought his cane strongly across Granger’s face,
several teeth, his right eye and a fountain of blood all flying from his head
with the mighty strike. Granger however did not move or fall, remaining on his
knees to Reginald’s surprise. Looking down, Reginald noticed that as he had
broken Granger’s face, he had in fact knocked him directly onto the oncoming
blade of Marion who was lying next to Granger, his blade angled up, entering Granger
from the hip and emerging from under his opposite arm. Reginald grabbed Marion
by the collar and reefed him to his feet. Marion refused to look up, shielding
his eyes from the far end of the room. Marion was babbling, demanding Reginald kill
whatever was at the end of the room. Reginald turned his gaze towards what
Marion was pointing towards, to his surprise, all Reginald could see was a
small podium, a strange shaped object sitting atop it.
Singh approached the two men cautiously, Reginald promptly
handed Marion to Singh who in turn ushered him towards the door where they had
entered the room from. Turning his attention to whatever Marion had been
pointing towards, Reginald approached the podium cautiously stopping only to
pick up the pistol Granger had dropped on the ground, his revolver
outstretched. Looking down at the podium that stood approximately three feet
tall, a stone carving of what could only be described as a rat stood silently.
The floor around where the statue stood was littered with small, light blue
stones amongst a sea or circular writings and texts.
Reginald hunched, picking up one of the blue rocks, placing
it in his pocket, returning to his feet, Reginald sneered at the statue before
kicking it over and marching back towards Marion and Singh.
The three men stumbled out of the warehouse into the misty
rain of the Albert docks, Reginald turned to Singh, commanding him to find the
police. Singh cocked his head, advising against that as a course of action,
having just murdered a professor. Marion, who had somewhat returned to his
senses, also made mention of the four prisoners and corpse on the operating
table below.
Reginald fell suddenly silent, unable to continue with his
notion of police involvement as it was clear it would not be in his best
interest.
Marion continued to ask Reginald questions regarding the
events of the battle, shocked as Reginald told him of the statue and blue
stones. Reginald handed Marion the blue stone he had placed in his pocket along
with Granger’s revolver, advising him to keep it in case he needed it in
future.
The curious trio slowly turned their backs on the Java
Coffee Company building, deciding to tend their wounds before returning and
deciding what to do regarding the prisoners and the corpse. As the three of
them disappeared into the fog, the sound of police whistles filled the air of
the Albert docks. As Reginald sat comfortably in the Hansom Cab, he could not
shake the feeling that something was off. Turning to Singh, he was about to ask
when it dawned on him. As Reginald approached the pedestal where he found the
statue, the wooden floorboards underneath were wrong. The floor was concave, as
if something heavy, something large had been sitting in the spot where Marion
had been pointing. Not sure what to make of the notion in his mind, Reginald
pulled his pipe from his inside pocket and began checking his pockets for his
tobacco pouch.
