Princess Alice's Tonic
The Princess Alice was a bit run down in nature, her clientele the same. It was no secret what they all were doing there. In fact, it was assumed that was your design upon entering.
There were mutterings in the pub that night about the "Leather Apron" and just where he was. Most of the men there knew that the ladies tended to err on the side of he's-a-maniac-murderer…the men on he's-a-nutter-with-a-knife. Either way, the talk was primarily about this Apron chap that evening (no one really cared about his real name, few even knew for certain what it was), and there was a decided air of unease about Alice.
"Jus don't know, do we?" the tender was asking Miss Marsh.
"Nah. But 'e is a gruesome thing, ain't 'e now?"
"Miss Kelly over yonder, she saw 'im just de other day. In a right state, 'e was."
"Ya mean Mary Kelly?"
"Der, 'er just der," and the tender pointed out the lady.
Miss Marsh looked over and saw her talking to a man, genteel in appearance. "'o's that she's talkin' to?"
The keep looked at the man in question. "Dunno," he studied him more closely. "'ang on then. I think…that's that fellow 'o works at dat book shop…"
"Not in Spitalfields Market?"
"Yeah," and tender turned back to Miss Marsh. "I think so."
"Jane, hang on. We need to think this over," Loki took her arm. "We cannot simply walk in. It'll be suspicious if we do. One should go in, the other follow a few minutes later," he pulled her toward an alley, falling into darkness.
Jane sighed. "Oh all right. I'll wait…"
"I'll wait," he said with her simultaneously. He looked at her and rolled his eyes. "Think for a moment here. It isn't safe for you to be hanging about looking like you do, out on the street."
"Like I do?" she put her hands on her hips.
Loki crossed his arms and cocked a brow. "Well, if I were you, I'd take that as a compliment. Isn't your purpose here to appear like a prostitute?"
"Oh," she blushed. "Right. Sorry."
He nodded. "What's more, we really ought to have a plan…some boundaries set…that sort of thing, before I solicit you for sexual favors."
Jane giggled. "All right. I ought to be more grateful to you, Loki. You are quite the partner."
He swallowed. "Very well now, let's not get sentimental. I'd rather you not get your throat slashed," he paused. "Now. You go in the pub, go to the far end of the bar and order yourself an ale or some such thing. I'll follow behind a few minutes later, and situate myself at the close end. We can both be on the lookout that way, covertly listening from all angles. I imagine we are also attempting to gage any suspicious actors in the pub, so there's that. Anyone bothers you, tip me off by coughing three times. Anyone suspicious whom you wish to investigate, walk by me and hand me your handkerchief," he paused. "Have you such an item?"
Jane nodded, a bit of an awestruck look about her.
"What?" noticing her gaze.
"Well, you have this all figured, don't you?"
He chuckled. "We cannot simply go into the Princess Alice pub and ask if anyone has murdered any prostitutes lately, can we?"
"No," and she laughed heartily.
"Just so. After you hand me your kerchief, I'll follow you to the closest empty table, or whatever other place you decide is safe for us to speak. In the event that nothing occurs, I think that three quarters of an hour should suffice. After such a time has passed, I'll join you at the end the bar, and…erm…" he suddenly appeared to be anxious, shoved his hands in his pockets. "How should I…go about soliciting…" he laughed a touch. "…you?"
Jane laughed a bit, too. "Why don't we just play it by ear? You can approach me, perhaps get behind me a bit, whisper in my ear that we should leave, or whatever else you think prudent."
Whatever else I think prudent…"Very well," he paused. "So…you'll go in, I'll follow monetarily."
Jane nodded, adjusted her bosom (Loki swallowed and looked at the ground hurriedly), pinched her cheeks, and walked over to the Princess Alice.
Jane opened the door and was immediately struck by the close air pressing against her. The place was morbidly full…she hadn't been expecting that. Of course, there was a lot that hadn't been expecting, apparently. Thank the Lord God for Loki. He really had thought of every possibility. She smiled to herself at this thought, then went over to the far end of the bar as they discussed. She ordered a pint, then sat at a high-ish chair. It was much more difficult to really hear anything being said then she had thought, it was so loud; and she thought that she might need to walk around a bit.
"Jane?"
She froze. She and Loki hadn't discussed aliases, and it wouldn't do to simply go by their proper names. She should play it off, pretend like she doesn't know who this "Jane" is.
The tender brought her drink, and she sipped, then turned.
And she choked.
"Fandral!"
And said clerk was there, and he was with a very lovely young lady.
"Jane…what on earth…?"
Jane took his arm, hushed him, then pulled him over to a table. "I'm…investigating…"
"Oh!" he exclaimed. He then looked around…"Is Loki…"
"Sh! Keep your voice down! We are incognito…"
And he looked at her, then began to chuckle. "Oh…where is he…I need to see this…" he looked about…
"Fandral, please. This is serious," and she smiled at his companion.
"Oh. Apologies, Jane…this is Mary Kelly. I've known her for over a year now," he turned to the young Miss Kelly. "This is Jane…" he stopped. "Well, Jane, at any rate."
"Pleasure," said Mary with a thick welsh accent.
Jane nodded, smiling, then… "Say…Fandral. Perhaps you might help us. Have you heard anything about John Pizer? Or Mary Nichols?"
"Can't say as I have. You, Mary?"
"Aye, I 'ave. Leather Apron was over yonder, jus a week ago now. Sportin' 'is knife," she pointed to the back of the pub. "Sayin' 'e'd cut me up if I took too near 'im."
Jane sighed. "Thank'ee Mary," then she saw Loki enter. "Look, Fandral. You and your…" she eyed Mary a bit suspiciously, "…friend...ought to get going. Loki is here now, and we have a plan of action…"
"Is that so?" he laughed and turned to look at the entrance…it took him a moment of scanning the place; but he found him, at the far end of the bar, near the door. "Well, Mary. Perhaps we should be on our way," he smiled. "Jane," and he nodded.
Jane smiled then went back to the bar. She wouldn't hazard a glance toward Loki…too risky. And the ale was just awful. She could barely stomach it…she was used to a much better brew. Don't be such a snob, Jane, she scolded herself.
She heard Mary's thick accent from her end of the bar, glanced up, and saw her talking to Loki. She witnessed Mary's hand on his chest…and something welled a bit in her throat. Her eyes snapped away. She swallowed…
What was that.
She shook her head, then heard Mary's voice receding…they must have left.
Jane took a steadying breath. Concentrate, Jane.
Voices of many types and cadence then filled her ears.
"Everyone's in a right state."
"No one feels safe."
"Too many foreigners."
"They say he's mad, whoever he is."
"Old Leather Apron is mad."
"Lotsa Jews and Poles about."
She sat there, sipping, listening as hard as she could…
"Well now, ain't you a pretty thing?" a man with thick burnsides, ginger in color, short and a bit stout, sat next to her. She hadn't even noticed that there was an empty seat to her left.
She looked at him. "I ain't interested," she said in her best cockney.
"Now, don't you be a snob, Mary."
"My name isn't Mary."
"You talk pretty genteel…I like that," he added, touching her leg.
Blast. Jane took out her handkerchief, and went to stand. But the man prevented her movement, and she was kept at the chair. "Unhand me this instant," she spat.
The short ginger man turned to face her, then pulled Jane close, wrapping her legs around his torso. He bent his face toward her ear…"Now listen 'ere, Miss Mary, if ye don't stop yer fuss, ye won't be seein' toppens fer me trouble…"
"Your trouble," she breathed…his hideous breath was like liquid falling down her back. She squirmed as he began to lick her neck, then kneed him in the crotch.
He shouted, then slapped her face.
She saw lights popping everywhere, and she felt as though her eye would explode.
And before Jane knew what was happening, he was gone, there was a loud crash, and she was being dragged from her chair.
…and out into the night as loud yelling and screams followed them in their wake…
Loki was pulling her into the alley where they had concocted their plan. He was breathing hard.
She thought that he was going to stop, but he didn't…they were walking toward the Market. And he wasn't speaking. "Loki…"
"Sh!" he hissed.
She clamped her mouth shut. She supposed she had made a right mess of things. She had endangered herself and Loki, all the while, was trying to help those women. And her. Her skirts were slowing her down a bit, but she didn't bother to mention it.
She would need a better plan.
As she regained her senses, she realized that they were at "Foster's Apothecary and Finery."
"Where is the key?" Loki asked calmly.
Jane looked up, and saw that he was scanning the surrounding area, probably looking to see if they had been followed. She swallowed, then reached into her small bag tied to her belt, and retrieved the key in question, handing it to Loki. "I'm sorry…" she began.
"Hush now," he opened the door and followed her inside, closing the door and locking it. "Sit down."
Without looking at her, he went to the cabinet, and procured some salve for her face. He went out back to the barrel for some water, then took note of his shaking hands. He grabbed onto the lip of the barrel to steady himself, and in the moonlight, noticed that his knuckles were bruised. Loki quickly rubbed them on the side of his pants, dismissing it. How could he have lost his temper! He nearly ruined everything…Odin was right. He was careless, hardly able to care for anything besides a failing bookshop in a grim neighborhood.
But he thought that Jane should have coughed. That was her signal. It is unfortunate that she should forget at such a moment. There. He felt a bit exonerated.
He squeezed the rag, then went inside, his hands decidedly more steady.
He found Jane sitting in the darkness, head down, as though shamed. Loki lit a small candle so that they weren't in complete darkness, and took the rag and the salve to Jane. He pulled the other chair over to her. "Here…allow me," he sponged her cheek, already purpling with bruise. "You should have coughed," he chided, but smiled softly.
Jane looked up at him, eyes wet with tears. "Oh, Loki. I'm so sorry! I've ruined everything…everything. And now…now he gets away. He does it again! And we could have…no. Should have been able to stop him, if I wasn't such a ninny…"
He placed a finger to her lips. "Cease your prattle, Jane Foster." and he took his finger away.
She nodded, swallowed. "I am sorry, though. And I thank you for stopping that man."
"What happened?" he took the rag away, and opening the salve, began applying it to her cheek where said man had struck her.
"It happened very quickly. He propositioned me, I refused…and then…" she recalled the scene slowly. "What did you do to him?"
He smirked, and pulled his fingers away from her injury. "I pulled him from his seat, punched him in the face, and threw him to the floor," and he closed the lid, set it beside him, exhaled long through his nose, and looked at Jane.
"My goodness, Loki," she breathed. "You are a brute," but she was smiling. "Am I quite safe around you?"
"Only if you do not cross me, Miss Foster."
She laughed, then took notice of his hand. "Is that from hitting that knave?"
He shrugged. "It's nothing. Not really," he tried to take his hand away.
"Oh shut up and let me see…" and she took his hand forcefully.
"I'm not accustomed to pub brawls, Jane. I am a refined man, with a refined nature. If you insist on getting yourself into trouble, I might need to insist that I carry on alone," he smiled.
Her gaze snapped to his as she picked up the discarded rag. "Carry on? You mean…you…"
"Yes?"
"You…wish to continue?"
"Why shouldn't I?" he was watching her intently. She was a lovely woman…he swallowed…he would need to check himself. Idle attraction notwithstanding, she was his friend only. He would not jeopardize this friendship.
Unless she allowed it…and a shadow of a grin passed his visage.
"Well…your partner is obviously lacking in some very important traits," and Jane took the salve and opened it, gingerly placing some on his knuckles.
He cringed, for it hurt. But he also felt himself tense, for she was so close to him now. "I suppose I could overlook her many failings if she agreed to talk about this at greater length with a proper plan in place."
Jane looked up at him, smiled, then closed the salve and taking his hand in hers, lifted it to her lips; she blew softly on the injured part. "There. That'll do," she got up and put the things away. "Well, now that I've mucked it all up, what do you propose we do to begin again?"
"Did you hear anything tonight, Jane?" he snapped himself out of the trance set by her ministrations…
"Well…just that people are afraid. That there are plenty of foreigners about…" she leaned on the wooden counter.
He looked at her and rose from the chair. "Mary Kelly…that lady with Fandral…"
And she stood a bit erect, recalling how Mary Kelly had touched Loki's chest…"Mmhm. Yes. We were introduced."
"Quite," he walked over and leaned on the other side of the counter. "She was a bit preoccupied with John Pizer…but she mentioned something else in passing…"
"What?" Jane walked a bit toward him, the soft light of the single candle flickering in the pitch, illuminating Loki's features in an eerie way.
"She said that there was talk of an American scientist in London about two months ago…he was talking about an experiment which required recently removed organs…"
Jane swallowed.
"From what I could gather with the little Mary was able to convey, this scientist was willing to pay a very great deal of money. And that a few people from Whitechapel had heard of this…"
"Are you saying…?"
"I'm not certain. There hasn't been any indication that organs have been removed, but Mary Nichols…Fandral said, was not quite dead when she was discovered…"
"Good lord," Jane whispered.
"…the villain could have been scared off."
Jane felt faint. She wasn't certain which was worse…a lunatic running amok with a vendetta against prostitutes, or this. A madman in search of human organs…
…this. This was worse. For her father was at risk…Jane was at risk…Loki was at risk…she looked at him. "Heaven help us," she muttered, and going to him, wrapped her arms around his waist.
Loki was taken aback, but placed his right hand on the back of her head, his left around her waist. "Now, Jane. Take care. We don't know if this is the motive…"
She felt the way his chest rumbled as he spoke, and she felt suddenly quite safe. She smiled, and pulled away. "No…but what if that is? It would be awful," she stepped back, suddenly keenly aware of how close she was. "How does Mary know this?"
He swallowed and took a very deep breath. "Well, talk. She listens…and enjoys a healthy business. She is very pretty," he added matter-of-factly.
Her back was up once more. "She is pretty enough."
"Come Jane, she is lovely."
"Humph," and she put the chairs away. "If you are so inclined, I'm certain that she could offer you her services at a reduced rate, being Fandral's employer."
He smiled, though she did not see it. "And why would I do that…?"
"Well…since she is so lovely…"
It was then that they heard the voices outside of the shop. Jane's eyes snapped to Loki's, he placed a finger to his lips and extinguished the candle with his fingers. The pair stepped softly to the door, and placed their ears to it; Jane was nervous, her heart beating fast with fear; Loki was nervous, his heart beating fast do to Jane being pressed up next to him.
"And 'o be ye lookin' fer, govna?"
"I told you, her name is Mary Kelly…" the man had a foreign accent…though it was difficult to place, they sounded far away.
Jane's intake of breath was sharp…Loki placed his hand over her mouth, pulling her close.
"I don' be knowin' no Kelly. What's more, der is abou' five tousan' girls 'ere. Mary is a name ye'll 'ear."
"Well, if you hear of her, do tell me…"
"An why would I be doin' dat?"
Coins could be heard…
"Ah…right ye are, govna. I'll be sure ta let ye know."
And their voices faded, and Loki let her go. They both relaxed…Jane turned toward Loki, and though the shop was nearly pitch, he could discern the whites of her eyes, blown wide.
"Mary," she whispered.