I answered reviews this week with a bit of news. I've decided to shorten the chapters and try to post on a quicker basis. If this proves difficult we'll just go back to the longer chapter posted a little farther apart. So surprise and enjoy!
I own nothing Twilight but thankful I'm aloud to play with them a little.
Chapter 10 – New Years Eve
JPOV
The dream was so…wonderful. Edward's warmth was penetrating the deep slumber that always came after we had been intimate. His arms and limbs draped lazily over my own exhausted body. Long slender fingers danced a pattern over my tautly drawn stomach muscles. Didn't he know what that did to me? That simple touch alone could do a multitude of things. It could bring peace and a sense of contentment. It might bring a playful ticklish romp. It definitely would bring roaring desire when those same fingers ventured to the southern hemisphere of my body. But for this moment in time, it brought awareness; I was not dreaming nor was I alone.
Flickers of yesterday flashed across my mind as a streak of sky from the open drapes across the room, brought more awareness to my mind. Peter, his story and the ledger safely locked up downstairs, drinking maybe a little too much and…my eyes flew open, Edward in my bed!
My eyes now wide open gazed upon his tussled locks all askew on my chest. Would it be alright to run my fingers through the silken strands? I raised a tentative arm slowly and gently did just that, so soft the tendrils were. He cooed softly, snuggled closer and my heart most assuredly missed a beat or two.
"Are you really awake this time," he asked. His warm breathe tickled skin where he lay.
"Have I tried to wake before," I returned with a soft query. Not wanting to spoil this most precious moment, Edward here and in my arms again.
"A number of times," he chuckled against my chest as he stretched those long limbs removing them from my body. I immediately missed this warmth…missed him.
I was terrified that he would pull away now that wakefulness had come to both of us. He'd remember why he left and not give me opportunity to explain why I had kept the truth from him.
"We have much to discuss, Jasper, but first we must find you a suitable woman to court and as quickly as possible," he said most seriously. His words totally blindsided me. I pushed myself up abruptly in the bed causing Edward to fall over onto his back fully. His green eyes so open to me in that moment were laughing at me.
"What the hell are you talking about? A woman for me," I was totally at a loss as to why he was bringing this up. He began to speak and all I could do was sit and listen in awe of him.
"Well, yes, you idiot! Tart was in the alley outside Marshalls yesterday. Don't say a word," he placed slim fingers on my lips when I tried to speak. "Hear me out Jasper."
"Yes, I was there too, quite by accident. I saw you walking down the street from the cab I was in. You turned down the alley towards Marshalls so I stopped the cab and followed you. I didn't see Tart until it was too late to stop him. He saw you and Peter and he jumped to the conclusion that you were there looking for services rendered. He called you a 'Nancy boy'! I very nearly hit him at that moment, I did! I thought better of it, of course, didn't want to have to be bailed out of jail for hitting a constable. But really, the man is an imbecile, Jasper. I don't care that he saw you with Peter in your arms. How dare he disrespect you that way? Anyway, I convinced him you were there on your investigation and that you would never be interested in such a liaison. So last night when I got back here, I thought about it and you need to find a woman so you can appear respectable to Tart. Such an idiot imbecile that man is. I was thinking maybe one of Alice's friends that we met at the Head Masters Sunday luncheon, possibly Angela. She was quite nice but that Lauren woman, she is just so…but then maybe she would be better because we both know that she's just awful and you wouldn't touch a female like her. What the bloody hell are you laughing at Jasper? This is serious business," he shouted at me just before he used his fist to punch me.
Once I'd caught my breath from the laughing more than the punch, I looked at him. There he sat in my bed, shirtless. His arms crossed over that gorgeous smooth chest frowning at me profusely. The giggles broke out a new. I just couldn't help it. He had no idea just how adorable he was. I don't think I've ever heard him speak so vehemently about something or for so long. He was protecting me; trying to save my respectability.
"I thought you were angry with me," I stated after I finally calmed myself.
"I should be for laughing at me like that," he huffed out scooting farther away from me in the bed.
"No, I mean about hiding who I was from you," I admitted.
"Oh well, you see Emmett said you might have done that because you were afraid," he looked over at me shyly.
"I was afraid," I answered honestly and added, "afraid I would lose you."
"Do you still think, after knowing me all this time, that I could be a killer," he was direct in his questioning. Another amazing feat, for the Edward who had been so shy and withdrawn.
"Who are you and what have you done with Dr. Mason?" I smiled and asked.
"Don't tease me Jasper, all of this is very serious business," he answered breathing deeply.
I inched my way across the bed to where he was so I could grasp his hand in mine. Our fingers immediately intertwined and the feelings of peace and rightness settled on me.
"Edward. I thought you would never give me the opportunity to explain and I am so grateful to you for being so brave as to come here when I know my hiding the truth from you, hurt you deeply," I said bringing his hand to my lips so I could leave a kiss on his knuckles. "Please forgive me." I would have begged if that's what it took to gain his forgiveness.
"There's nothing to forgive. You were doing your job," he answered but didn't look at me. I could still hear the hurt and I flinched at the pain I knew it caused him.
"Edward," I said lifting his chin so I could see his beautiful face. "It's true I came to St. Paul's to discover more about several suspects, one of which was you. But the moment I met you, I knew you were not the man we were looking for."
"That file; it contained information about me. You already knew my inclinations. You knew about my past and yet you let me believe that we were getting to know one another," he asked softly. My brave Edward was suddenly unsure of where he stood.
"I had never met anyone whom I wanted to know more than I wanted to know you. I didn't care about what happened to your parents. I didn't care that there had been others before me. Nothing that had happened in the past mattered to me at all. The only thing that mattered was you and how you made me feel," I told him truthfully.
"I know without a doubt that you are not the person who committed these crimes. That's why it's so important to me to find the killer so I can prove you totally blameless," I said as I pulled him into my arms. It was amazing that he didn't pull away. That he allowed me to hold him close to me.
"Jasper," he whispered as his lips came close to mine.
I pulled him even closer and deepened the kiss. Tongues passed between lips and sought to dance together in a tango of desire. Hands slid over bare skin and fondled nipples to attention. Things were progressing at a leisurely pace until a knock at the door interrupted us.
"What," I answered not very nicely, earning me a pout for my behavior from the man in my arms.
"Sir," Mrs. Coy said from the other side of the door. "I would not bother you but that Mr. Tart is downstairs demanding to see you immediately. He's a rather stubborn man if you know what I mean."
I looked at Edward, really not wanting to leave this place at this time but he kissed me quickly and said I should go and meet with him. He reminded me that the investigation must come first.
"Tell him if he'd like to wait, I've only just awoken, so I need to shower and dress and I'll be down shortly," I said as Edward and I both made our way out of the comfortable bed.
"Yes, sir, I'll inform the gentleman," she answered not sounding like she believed he was a gentleman.
"I'll go back to my room and freshen up and meet you downstairs shortly," Edward said as he grabbed his robe and headed for the door.
"Wait," I said and stopped him before he could leave. "I want to tell you everything. I need to. Can we please talk later after I finish with Tart?"
He only hesitated a moment before he answered me with a huge smile on his face, "I'd love to talk with you later." He kissed me on the cheek and slipped out the door.
EPOV
Jasper was not going to take me seriously. He did not see the danger in the situation and he was the constabulary. The punishment for the behavior we were involved in was a grueling one; two years of hard labor. But for Jasper it could be much worse of that I am certain. He was an officer of the law and for him to be brought up publically on charges would not only be disgraceful for him but for Rose, too. As soon as we return to the university, I am determined to speak with Alice and procure him sometime type of female companionship.
A shower and fresh clothes and thinking of Jasper's last kiss before I left him, took enough time that I was sure Jasper and Tart would not take notice of my entry into the study. I was correct. I could hear Tart's voice coming from Jasper's study as I a lighted the stairs.
"What were you thinking? Going there? Anyone could have seen you with your arms wrapped around another man like that," Tart yelled his voice and face flushed with anger.
"Someone like you," Jasper accused screaming just as loudly as Tart.
"Someone like the bloody monster who's doing these killings that's who," Tart's voice did contain concern. He was worried for Jasper.
"You were worried for him," the words slipped out before I could contain them.
Both men turned to look at me as I stood in the doorway. Jasper turned back to face Tart with the realization that my accusation might have been correct. Tart faced away from the both of us, apparently trying to compose his normally rough demeanor. It was quiet for a moment then the man Tart faced us and spoke words that shattered the silence.
"I did not want to see you lose your life Jasper. Like Charlie," he answered dropping his head into his hands.
Jasper looked as if his mind was turning over information at a quick pace then recollection flashed across his eyes.
"Who's Charlie," I asked watching Jasper stare at Tart.
"One of the boys who was murdered," Jasper informed me.
"My son," Tart said shocking us both for the second time.
"I don't understand," I stated as I took a seat beside Jasper.
"Why didn't you tell me," Jasper asked the clearly broken man standing in front of us.
"How could I," he answered suddenly becoming angry. "How would you have reacted? How would the rest of the chaps at the Yard? I know how they all feel about those boys who were murdered. Got what they deserved each and every one of you would have said; perverts. The very lowest form of life, those men who would lay with their own kind."
My own anger flared then and I shouted at Tart, "But he was your son!"
His eyes glassed over and he seemed to be remembering something from long ago.
"Aye, he was. And he was my only son. He was barely fifteen when I stumbled upon him and his friend, Sully. They were rather involved and didn't hear my approach. To find my son, in such a situation with another boy left me dazed. I'd never raised a hand to Charlie in all his life 'till that night. I knocked Charlie out and then hauled Sully away; pressed charges against him, too. He was sent away to prison even though he was a mere sixteen. There were many inmates much older than the boy and not long after we received word of an accident. He died after he fell or jumped or was pushed from a ridge overlooking a rocky pit. Charlie blamed me. I suppose he had a right too. He screamed at me that he loved Sully and he always would. He left home the very day and I hadn't seen him until the night we were called to what turned out to be the scene of his murder. It had been nearly four years," he wiped at the corner of his eyes but never let a tear fall. "He had become a man and now he's gone. He died still hating me, I'm sure," Tart ran his hands over his face then looked at Jasper with determination.
"I know you have no da to leave but how would your sister cope with the disgrace that would be left to her," Tart clearly having thought this through stated firmly.
"She, sir, would cope just fine," Rosalie's strong voice joined in the conversation. "For we differ in one vital way Inspector; I love my brother no matter what." From the look on her face, there wasn't a man in the room who would doubt or nay say her on the subject.
"Your voices carry gentlemen and unless you wish the entire household to know the constabularies business, I suggest you keep the door closed and lower your voices," with a nod to her brother, she left as silently as she had come.
After the quick whirlwind that was Rosalie departed, I couldn't help coming to Jasper's defense again.
"No matter the awful thing that happened to your son, Jasper was there in regards to an investigation," I addressed Tart directly. "He was not there looking for male affection."
"How can you say that," Tart snapped back. "You and I both saw him with his arms around Marshall!"
"How the hell did you know it was Marshall," Jasper questioned quickly.
"I've seen him on a number of occasions and recently I got one of the young men we had questioned to describe him," Tart answered gaining back his inspector's character and most likely leaving the memory of his poor son far behind.
"Well there are a number of things that you don't know. The first being that I knew Mr. Marshall, Peter, in my youth and the second, the reason I was comforting him was because he was extremely afraid that his young bride who happens to be carrying their first child, will discover his past and his unfortunate present," Jasper talked as he made his way to his desk where he sat down.
"Bloody hell!" was Tart's only reaction.
JPOV
The man was amazing. He had decided my reputation needed saving and nothing was going to deter him from doing just that, not even me. As the three of us sat in my study gathered around my desk and I retold Peter's tale, Edward sat quietly. His eyes widened when he noted that I had left out his name from the details. I would protect him also; to my dying breath.
The discussion on Sr. Giacobbe 'el Nero was quite revealing to both men. I could see it is Edward's face when he forgave Peter. As well as I could see Tart had a new target to lash his anger on from the look on his face. Whoever the man was, Sr. Giacobbe played a vital part in what was going on at Marshalls on that we all agreed.
Things grew tense when Tart began to question my past relationship with Peter. Edward suggested this would be a good time for tea. He left the room returning with tea and some sweeties to take the edge off the tension. It worked for a time.
Tart was an intelligent man. He knew I was leaving something out so for the moment he let it go. But I had a sneaking suspicion that the looks between Edward and me were not escaping him at all.
Finally, I unlocked the desk drawer where I had hidden the ledger the night before, placing it on the desk. Both men looked between me and the book.
"Gentlemen, we have exactly four hours left before my promise to return this ledger is up. The ledger that contains every transaction that has transpired at Marshall's over the last two years," I stopped and smiled at the curse from Tart and Edwards look of pride.
"I knew you had a reason to be there," he said quietly not caring that Tart saw the look he was giving me. The mouthed 'thank you' missed Tart completely though as he was already eyeing the ledger.
Several hours later with little time to spare, we had all came to the same conclusion. After matching each of the victims and the dates they were killed with names and dates in the ledger, it became perfectly clear. Michael Newton was indeed our murderer. The only two victims who did not match were William Longworth whose body was found close to St. Paul's brutally mutilated and the man named Felix, who was a total unknown except for Brother Jacob's identification.
Tart was ready to arrest Newton immediately but the evidence in the book which was proof enough for us, would not hold up in court and Tart knew it, as did I. Defense would argue that anyone, especially Mr. Marshall, could have created a dummy ledger to take the blame off himself and place it on a respectable citizen like Mr. Newton. Without a confession, which I'm sure would never be forth coming or catching him in the act, this evidence could be thrown out as circumstantial. Not to mention that the use of the ledger in a public hearing would put Peter in grave danger.
"I need to get this ledger back to Peter," I stood and looked over at Tart. "How about this time you accompany me," I watched Tart avert his eyes and I knew what he was thinking.
"We've come too far and too close to take the law into our own hands, now," I said as I cuffed his arm gently. His eyes were full of pain and I know avenging his son's death would feel good for a moment but guilt would ride him afterward. He knew it too.
"All right, I'll follow behind. We wouldn't want to scare off Mr. Marshall or anyone else now would we," he offered back.
"I want to go along too," Edward spoke up as we gathered hats, gloves and coats.
"No. It's too dangerous at this point. Stay here with Rose and Emmett. I'll be back as soon as I can," I countered knowing it would hurt him but it was for the best.
"I'll go call a cab," Tart offered then added, "Good working with you Dr. Masen. You'd make a good constable." Tart tipped his hat and left the study.
Edward came close and put his arms around me. His lips were warm and sweet as they pressed urgently against mine. A blush crept up his neck slowly as he pulled back and smiled at me.
"If I didn't know better, I would think Inspector Tart was giving us a moment," he chuckled then became forlorn.
"Please be careful," he whispered before he took my lips again possessively.
Whatever had caused this change, I don't suppose I would ever know; but I did know I was more caught in his web than ever.
"I promise. We'll bring in the New year together with Rose and Emmett," I answered. Then bent him over my desk and plundered his mouth.
Only the desperate need for air forced me to relinquish my hold on him. We righted our disheveled look and met Tart at the front door.
It was late and the streets were full of people celebrating the coming New Year. A good majority of them were already well liquidated and quite cheerful. Though the streets outside were full of loud boisterous people the inside of the cab had been silent for a good part of the ride. I wasn't surprised that Tart was still thinking over a good many of the things that had been discussed earlier in the evening. I wouldn't deny it if he asked me straight out but I would in no way jeopardize Edward or his position at the university.
"I don't care, not anymore," he said quietly from his side of the cab.
"What exactly are you talking about," I asked even though I was dreading the answer.
"As long as a person can do their job, that's all I care about. And I'll not say another thing about it," he stated his opinion and said nothing more until the cab stopped. We had given the cabbie an address one block south of the alley where Marshalls was located.
"I'll wait ten minutes then I'll follow along behind. Call out if anything looks out of place and I'll be right on it," Tart said as he a lighted from the cab then he added. "Be careful Inspector," and tipped his hat as he slid unnoticed into the passing crowd.
The next block down I tapped on the roof of the cab to get the cabbie to stop. As soon as I paid the fare and turned onto the street, I realized the crowd was even more pressing here. It became extremely difficult to maneuver into the numberless amount of people that were standing about. As soon as I turned the corner and stepped into the alley, I felt it. Someone was watching me and it wasn't Tart. There were more people in the alley, though not as crowded as the street. Here mostly it was men doing business with other men and boys. I was about half way down the alley, when out of the darkness rough hands covered my mouth and pulled me into a dark doorway.
"I'll take that if you please," a man's voice came standing in front of me in the darkness. The ledger was ripped from my arms and I felt a knee being wedged into the small of my back. Falling to the ground in a great deal of pain from the gouge to one of my kidneys, I realized there were at least two if not three men there in the dark besides me.
"I've been trying to get my hands on this for quite some time now, Inspector Whitlock and I do thank you for your help," the overly polite voice called to me. I knew it but at the moment having the wind knocked out of me again by one of the other men present was making my concentration a bit wane.
"I don't believe you'll be able to make much of a case against me without this. Pretty much a battle of your word against mine," the voice was smug. That's when clarity hit and so did another blow to my ribs.
"That's enough boys, I don't think he's going to be going anywhere any time soon," Newton laughed as his thugs dropped me to the ground.
I didn't think anything was broken and it could have been a lot worse but laying there in the mud and slush was not exactly how I had pictured this as going. It was only a few minutes until I heard Tart's voice calling out for me. I managed to pull myself up and hug the doorway to lean out and wave at him.
"God's man, what happened," he asked putting an arm under my shoulder and taking some of my weight.
"Newton and his goons were waiting on me," I answered with what breath I had.
"Damn, he got the ledger," Tart railed as we made our way to the door of Marshalls.
After knocking and waiting, Peter himself answered the door and let us in. With a large glass of whiskey and a comfortable chair, I related to both the men what had been said; really what little had been said but it was definitely Michael Newton. Peter was pacing the floor now with what looked like panic on his face.
"Jasper, he took the ledger. What am I going to do if Giacobbe comes looking for it," he asked clearly afraid of the consequences of the missing ledger.
"It's alright Peter. That wasn't the real ledger," I said.
Both men shouted, "What!"
"I suspected something like this might happen so I duplicated the ledger last evening. The original one is still safely locked up in my desk at my home," I answered trying to stand by myself.
"Brilliant," Tart replied.
"So when can I get the original," Peter asked looking a little less nervous than before.
"When do you expect him again," I asked stretching my legs.
"I would say shortly after the New Year, if not sooner," he confirmed.
"Come by Hale Manor tomorrow at noon and I'll have it ready for you. That will give me time to make another duplicate for us to keep for the investigation. Will that suffice," I hoped that would relieve his fears.
"Yes. I'm going home now and I won't come back here until after I've been to see you tomorrow," he answered and seemed satisfied with the arrangement.
"All right then, let's get you home, Inspector Whitlock," Tart stated and walked out of Peter's office.
"May be difficult getting a cab at this time," Peter said as we followed along after Tart.
But it wasn't. Tart rode along with me and saw me safely to the door. Wished me a good night and then took the cab to his own residence. Peter had gone off in the other direction. I opened the door to find Edward pacing in the entrance way.
"Good God what happened Jasper," he asked helping me to remove my torn and muddied coat.
"Ran into Newton and his friends, probably the same ones who ran into you and Emmett," I answered with a grimace. The pain in my lower back was a little worse than I had thought. I must have stiffened up during the cab ride.
"I think I'd like a nice hot bath and maybe a hot toddy or two," I told Edward as we headed for the stairs. "Don't think I'm going to be up to much celebrating this evening."
Rosalie and Emmett came out of the drawing room at that moment and Rose fairly wept all over me. I tried to reassure her that I was fine, nothing broken just bruised. Edward related that I needed a hot bath and bed causing Rose and him to blush at his words. Emmett, of course, laughed at the two of them and said he completely concurred with the idea. Emmett then helped Edward to get me up the stairs and to my room.
Edward left me to sit on the bed and rest while he got the bath started then he came back to help me remove my clothes. He blanched when he removed my shirt and saw the beginnings of two rather large bruises just below my kidney on the left and under my ribs on the right side of my body. I insisted that I could remove the rest of my clothing but he helped anyway. When he finally came to removing my undergarments, the color rose in his cheeks and he kept his eyes averted from mine. Finally standing before him totally naked, I could not resist the urge to pull him into my body and kiss him thoroughly. Flustered only for a moment he relaxed and whimpered while the kiss lingered and my cock began to harden. As soon as he felt it, he pulled away from me shaking his head.
"They'll be none of that tonight, Jasper; or maybe even for a few days. You are going to be incredibly sore from this beating," he motioned me toward the bathroom.
I could see that the water was steaming and as soon as my body sunk down into the tub I felt every muscle relax. I heard a knock at the bedroom door and it was Rose with my toddy. Edward assured her that he would not leave me tonight and would be sure that I would rest peacefully. She thanked him and wished us both a Happy New Year.
I was wrapped in my favorite robe snuggled down into the bed with Edward's arms wrapped tightly around me when we heard the bells in the square chiming the stroke of midnight.
"Happy New Year, Jasper," he whispered against my brow where he had been leaving sweet kisses.
"Happy New Year, Edward," I answered before I pulled him down on top of me, where I immediately kissed him deeply and thoroughly.
As we drifted off to sleep together, arms and legs wrapped tightly. I thought how wonderful the New Year was going to be with Edward back in my life, at least when this bloody mess was all over and Newton was hung for his crimes.
Across London down at Cambridge, Head Master Carlisle Cullen was praying that the New Year would be a better one than the last. Funny he thought the bells are not chiming at midnight. I really will have to have someone look at that in the morning.
Well are you happy that the killer is Mike or were you suspecting someone else? And what did you think of the shorter chapter? So what's up with those dang bells at St. Paul's anyway? Next chapter is already underway. I might be tempted to send you a little peek if you review. Thanks for reading.