*** I had to do some research for this chapter, which was troublesome, but fun ^_^ And I did all that research just to determine the title, sigh... ***

Chapter IV : Romeo & Juliet

The party will start at 7 PM. As predicted, it's a formal party where gowns and fancy jewelries are needed.

'Today is 21st of December.' Rin looked at the sky. Still wearing her uniform, she followed Len, around.

They've been walking around Whitechapel for 3 hours straight without taking any breaks. Rin didn't mind, she just wanted to know where exactly are they doing.

It's already noon, around 6 PM or so. The party is about to start. Last night Rin already slept soundly in the inn they're staying. Even though they stayed at an inn, Len kept on bringing his suitcase where ever they went so far.

"Let's rest for now." Len stopped at a bar. "Are you tired?" He asked.

"No." Rin answered shortly.

"Then, let's go inside."

The bar was empty accept for a man tending the bar. No one else was there except for them.

They sat near the bartender, who's most likely to be the bar owner.

"Slow business I see, I guess people are usually in here at night?" Len browse through the menu.

"I doubt so. Most people are going to some party. But it isn't so bad. The lady is a good girl." The bartender said.

"You've seen her around? I thought she lived somewhere else." Len asked.

"She sometimes comes here. Her 'soul mate' lives in Whitechapel. That's probably why they bought that mansion in the first place. Unfortunately Jack the Ripper terrorized the whole City." He said.

"Ah, I see... I remembered hearing about it..." Len tried to remember.

He was still in jail when Jack the Ripper was out. As far as he knows, Jack the Ripper Is a murderer who has killed 4-5 victims so far. They're all women, and he cut his victims perfectly. Until now, no one's captured him, or even knows his identity.

'If I'm not mistaken Jack the Ripper's case happened in 1888. It's already been a year...' Len thought.

"Too bad the police haven't captured the Ripper, huh? Or else she would be very happy with her 'soul mate'" Len said.

"I doubt so. She has an overprotective Father. There's no way Elizabeth's marrying someone poorer than her. The man, Adam, already proposed to her. Unfortunately Paul, was it? Didn't agree at all. Oh well, young love."

"Wow. That seemed to be a realistic rumor there." Len commented.

"It isn't rumor. It's true. Adam came here and told me about everything. There's not much I could do, though."

"Let me guess, he said it while he was drunk?" Len guessed.

"Yep. So, what can I get you?" The bartender just remembered that Len hadn't order anything.

"I don't think I'll be drinking today. Do you want anything?" Len asked Rin.

"No." Rin answered shortly.

"I enjoyed the talk, though." Len put some money on the bar and left the bar.

"What's this for?" The bartender asked. Pleased to get 30 pounds, but puzzled why he gave it to him.

"Didn't I say to you before? I enjoyed the talk with you."

Rin understood that the reason why they took her to the bar is to interrogate the bartender. It seemed like a normal conversation between two men, but it's more than that.

"We've found our first suspect." Len said, as they walk towards nowhere again.

"Adam?" Rin guessed.

"Most probably. Adam seemed to hate his father. And his daughter, Elizabeth, is also a suspect." Len said.

"Why?" Rin didn't think Elizabeth was a suspect at all.

"Well, Paul didn't give permission for Adam to marry Elizabeth. She must hate him. Just like Romeo & Juliet's love." Len thought.

"Romeo & Juliet?" Rin wasn't familiar with them.

"He's a writer in 1600 or so. He wrote a book called Romeo & Juliet, it's about forbidden love. Their families are too different. The same case with Adam and Elizabeth. Their families are too different. One is a princess, and the other is a pauper." Len explained, he just remembered that Rin had lost her memories. He wondered why Rin still remembers how to talk and how to walk. Maybe he would investigate who Rin really is, but for now, he needs to collect suspects.

"Anyway, I should tell you where we're going, just so you know. Paul owns a bread company, and his company is quite famous and has opened many branches around Central London. Sometimes he also gives bread to charity, so I doubt the citizens have any problem with Paul. We're going to one of the shop branches. We might get some information there."

The smell of fresh baked bread spread throughout the shop. It was a plain shop, and some people were lining to buy some bread prepared by the baker. Both Len & Rin stood on the line and waited for their turn.

'Interrogating is going to be hard if there are too many people.' Len thought to himself.

Once it was finally his turn, he let Rin chose her bread first.

Rin chose plain bread, which didn't have any taste at all. Len picked the same since he couldn't care less about his stomach.

They didn't leave the bakery instead Len leaned towards a wall and began eating his bread.

"You can eat your bread now." Len reminded Rin who was just looking at the bread with soulless eyes.

"Is there anything that I could help you with?" The baker asked, wondering why 2 people were just standing eating bread.

"We've been walking for hours, and the scent of bread lured us here. Tired from our travels, we thought we could relax here. Surrounded by aromas of bread." Len made an excuse.

"There is a park near here. It's a great place to relax." The baker said.

"Oh, are we on your way?" Len asked, trying his best to act normally.

"No, but I thought you're not comfortable just leaning by the wall."

"There are other people who are more uncomfortable than me." Len looked out to the window, visualizing people in poverty.

"Besides, it looks like it's going to rain." Len said.

"Is that so? I've been so busy in the kitchen I didn't realize." The baker also looked out from the window.

"You must love your job very much." Len stopped eating his bread.

"Of course. We're allowed to donate 10 breads each day. I really have a nice boss. That way I could help people while baking, it's really fun. Do you have interest in baking?"

"Not exactly. I prefer eating it," Len smiled. "What's his name again? Paul, If I'm not mistaken, her daughter is having a party, or so I heard."

"Ah, yes. I was told to work late because of the party, and you came to Whitechapel for that?"

"I'm planning to go to her party, with my lovely assistant over here. I hope to have a wonderful time. I heard Paul is a nice man to talk to."

"Yes, he's a wonderful man. A good father and a good husband. He's getting old though, it might be the time to think about retiring." The baker thought.

"And who would be the heir to the throne?" Len asked.

"His eldest son of course, Matthew. But Paul hadn't given him any chance. He's not retiring just yet. He'll probably retire when his life is on the edge."

'I've found the third suspect...' Len said, and started to eat again.

"And, who are you? Are you a friend of Paul?" The baker asked.

"An acquaintance, but we're doing some... Business, you might say?" Len said.

"Wow, he even lets acquaintances come to his daughter's birthday. Such a generous man. I guess I'll be busy baking tonight." He commented and went back to his workstation.

Len saw Rin was finished with her bread. Len finished his bread and dust off all the crust from his coat.

"We've found the third suspect. Let's keep going."

Before Len could lead the way, he heard a sound of a bell. The bell rang for 7 times. Meaning it's already 7 PM.

"Never mind. Let's go back to the inn and change our clothes. We're going to the party."

Mini Facts :

Jack the Ripper was a murderer that terrorized Whitechapel, Central London. So far, no one knows the real identity of Jack the Ripper. Although, I read a book that said the true identity of Jack the Ripper is John Williams, a doctor that worked in Whitechapel. I'm not entirely sure.

The first murder case caused by Jack the Ripper was in 1888. The Riddler's story takes place in 1889, so he won't have an encounter with Jack the Ripper.

Or will he?