Chapter 4 – Surprise Packages
Mary Reilly leaves her manor on a mission, for the past few years ever since her former master, Doctor Henry Jekyll, left.
She ran out of the lecture hall that night, thinking him dead, until she found a constable strolling by. She told him the story on the mysterious Hyde and how he had killed Jekyll. It wasn't much of a lie, she had thought in a way he did.
But by the time she, and all police involved in the case of the prostitute murder named Hyde, there was nothing left but bloody footprints leading across the courtyard in to the manor.
Inside were a few missing items like cloths and valuables token out of a empty safe with a note left in it. The note was Jekyll confession and that he was leaving and not coming back to London. Everything that he had left was to be given to her.
She had never heard from him again. There were stories about murders matching the same details as those committed by Hyde. But the description of the monster didn't match the Hyde she knew.
While stories went around she took her mind off the past. She read his books and had even become a student to the lectures that still took place next door. She very quickly moved up to be a nurse to many of his friends. She wanted to be more but the medical, to the public, world was a man's territory to the public.
Her knowledge and determination found another outlet in assisting the police in solving crimes. But even after identifying the guilty from the innocent at least a dozen times the government still kept her a secret.
Reaching the stone steps of the post office, she stops and takes a moment for her mind to come back to the present. Venturing inside, the building her eyes are welcome by tall walls of mailboxes reached up to the ceiling, she felt very lucky to have gotten one just a inch over her height.
Fumbling inside her handbag for the key her shoulder bumps into a male passerby. She takes notice to his unique fashion and muscular frame as he nods apology before walking away.
"What hurtful brown eyes," she mentions straightens herself.
Champion Bond was a man who could bear the cold. He stood on top of the parliament building in the below freezing temperature breeze smoking his hand rolled cigarettes. The good amount of weight he gained over the years was great asset to this atmosphere.
The door to the roof opens causing a strong gust to go inside and circulate back out with a black fedora.
"Hey my hat!" Skinner yells and runs out first to give chase.
One member after another steps out into the brutal cold: Tom and Mina, as if the temperature has no effect on them, continue on towards the heavyset man as Henry and Nemo stay close the door.
Champion without a strain in muscle catches the hat in hand and hands it back to it's owner.
"Aye thanks mate." Skinner places the hat back on. But keeps his hand on it to keep it from blowing off again.
"And you would be?" Champion was able to tell the other members apart but the man in front of him threw him off.
"Rodney Skinner, you must be Bond!" Skinner nods his head ignoring the hand Champion offers.
"Yes Bond. Champion Bond." He exhales his last breath of smoke into the air and tosses the butt off the buildings edge.
"Mrs. Harker," Champion nods his head at her with a slight fearful gulp as he knew very well about her.
In response Mina shifts her eyes down to the ground and back him partly because of his actions and other because of her coat and collar prevents easy movements.
"You must be Agent Sawyer," Champion says with a little excitement he keeps as hidden as he can. He takes the step forward and offers his hand at the same time that Tom does and shakes it with a hard grip. "We acquired your file and I find you very admirable."
"With full permission from the US government?" Tom's grasp starts to over power Champions, causing the man to respond quickly.
"Yes. It took us a few months… and lots of paper work… along with background checks… on everyone in the building… but yes they did release it to us," Champion smiles as he takes his hand back and unconsciously rubs it. "Shall we?" He directs them to follow him to the opposite of the roof then they had entered from.
They stop in front of the clock tower. As Champion touches a blank stone Skinner takes his chance at being a wise ass, "Well it's a pretty clock but how the bloody hell is it going to help us-"
Cutting him off was a chime and the stonewall opening to a lift. Mina arches her eyebrow as she steps in with Champion and Tom who carries no surprise on his face. Skinner's jaw drops as Nemo nodding his head in approval of the device and Henry's eyes shifting to look at every detail of it as they pass him.
The lift opens to a long dark wood table surrounded by mechanics of the clock. The sound of the large hand moving echos being and is followed by a thud of a gear shifting.
Champion takes the first step out and casually walks to his spot at the end of the table. The rest of the lifts passengers slowly step out with their eyes gazing around.
"It's more relaxing than taking stairs but I think you could use some music in that thing," Skinner breaks the silence with his personal view on the elevator.
"Welcome The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen," A unknown man's voice echos.