Sunday; September 30th, 1888:
The cold autumn rain drenched the streets of London in a damp chill that cut to the bone. Two of London's finest officers awaited patiently in the alley of the Whitechapel District for the arrival of the famous Sherlock Holmes and his colleague Dr. John Watson. Beneath a blood stained sheet lay the latest victim in a long, enigmatic series of gruesome murders that had plagued and frightened the busy streets of London.
"Another victim of our unknown assailant?" Sherlock Holmes walked into the alley, pipe aglow between his teeth. Dr. Watson followed close behind leaning heavily on his cane as he walked.
"Yes sir. Another young miss has been slain." The officer stepped aside as Sherlock approached the body. "Nothing has been touched, just as you asked."
"Very good." Sherlock stopped down and lifted the sheet away from the victim. His steel eyes skillfully scanned the body for clues before replacing the fabric over her face and standing up. "Same as our previous two victims: Young female with a reputed 'late night' habit. Throat has been slit with a blade angled from left to right; indicative of a right-handed individual. After the initial attack the barbaric villain proceeded to mutilate the abdomen, removing several internal organs in the process."
With this confirmed connection and revelation Watson then stooped down, though not as gracefully as Sherlock, and he too, lifted the sheet to examine the victim. "The cuts that appeared on the former victims to be the work of a surgeon, or at the very least a student of medicine. It's not probable that a man of lesser education would be capable of such precise incisions or organ removal." Watson stood back up with the assistance of his cane. "Holmes, this brute had also been known to mutilate the victims' reproductive regions and yet there is no sign of mutilation on this woman's body."
Sherlock took the pipe from his mouth. "I noticed Watson. It is most likely that an unexpected arrival of a potential witness forced our murderer to flee before his work was finished. However, It is becoming increasingly clear that this madman is like none that we have encountered before. I fear this string of vicious attacks is not yet over."
From out of the darkness a third police officer arrived on the scene in a huff. Rain water from the forming puddles splashed and echoed through the alleyway with each of the officer's hurried footsteps. "Mister Holmes! Doctor Watson!" He came to an abrupt halt just behind the duo. "There's been another murder! There's another victim!"
"What?" Watson couldn't believe that there had already been a second attack on the same night. "Where? Where is the victim? Speak up!"
"Mitre Square!" The officer answered between panting breaths.
Sherlock took the small golden watch from his pocket and noted the time. "It appears that both victims met there end within the same hour. Most unusual."
A short carriage ride to the second scene followed by a quick examination confirmed the same pattern of attack and mutilation. The rain washed away some of the blood that had been dying the street a sickly crimson hue that reflected ominously in the fiery glow of the street lamps above. Watson rose away from the body and reported his anatomical analysis to Sherlock. "Her left kidney has been removed entirely as well as a portion of her uterus."
Sherlock bowed his head as he mentally attempted to put the odd pieces of the mysterious puzzle together. "There was a witness, correct?" He looked up and to the officer who had taken control of the crime scene.
"Yes, apparently a Mister Joseph Lawende had passed through the square with two acquaintances just prior to the attack. He gave a description of a man he swears he had seen in the company of this young woman before her demise: He was fair-haired man of rather shabby appearance."
"What do his companions have to say?" Sherlock relit his pipe as he awaited the answer.
"Well, unfortunately neither of his friends can confirm this man, or this woman for that matter."
"What you are saying is that we a have a witness who is unsure of what he may or may not have witnessed?" Sherlock sighed with heavy frustration. "I see. Where, might I ask, in which direction did this shabby looking fellow wander?"
"I believe he was heading for Goulston Street."
"Very well." Sherlock turned on his heel and began to stride toward the aforementioned street. Watson noticed his colleague and deftly joined him at his side.
The duo carefully walked toward the street, their eyes darting about in every direction in an attempt to identify any potential evidence that the killer, or perhaps killers, may have left behind in their haste to escape. With the late September rain rinsing away blood or washing away physical objects it was absolutely crucial that the investigation remained ongoing.
"Watson, look there!" Sherlock motioned toward the entrance to a tenement down the street. As they approached the item in question, it was easily identified as a bloodied apron. "Property of our most recent victim, without a doubt."
"How can you so sure, Holmes?" Watson was still keen on asking Holmes about his methods of deduction.
"Despite the rain the blood on this tattered garment is still abundant and fresh. As we strode down the street I noted small droplets of blood that managed to elude the rain stained the street and lead us precisely from our victim to this location."
"Fortunate that the rain didn't completely dissolve the trail." Watson look at his colleague and noticed that Sherlock was now fixated on the wall above the dropped apron. "Holmes, what is it?"
"See for yourself."
Watson's eyes focused on the wall. In white chalk was the crudely written sentence: 'The Juws are not the men To be blamed for nothing'
"A message left by the killer?"
"Perhaps. However, do consider that a message of anti-Semitism would not be uncommon with the sudden influx of immigrants that have entered the country as of late."
This time Watson sighed heavily. "The message could be unrelated to the crime; a hateful red herring in an attempt to confuse the police. What is our next move?"
"We wait Watson. Sooner than later, the killer will reveal himself."
...to be continued...