Part 8

William left Eliza's house with the case files for Clara Wilson to return to Scotland Yard and with his mind racing. He didn't know whether to be mad or relieved they might actually have a name to look into. He had to admit he was worried about the person who'd hired her to look into Clara's disappearance.

They'd agreed to meet the man at Eliza's office tomorrow morning. William could only be grateful that Eliza, for once, had the good sense to ask him to be there. Still he couldn't help but be worried.

This case of the murdered women was concerning him, especially Eliza's involvement. He knew he'd asked her to be involved, but he was now starting to think that he shouldn't have involved her at all.

"Scotland Yard Arthur," he said to his driver, as he got to the bottom of the house steps to his waiting carriage, but then he stopped and waited a moment.

"Actually, I need to make a stop first." Sometimes, you just have to ask yourself, what would Eliza do….?

William kept in the dark shadows, watching the doorman escorting drunks out of the tavern. He could hear Moses familiar Jamaican twang clearly. He didn't like him, and he wasn't sure this was his best course of action, but right now he had no choice.

He watched as Moses swiped a patron's wallet as he was leaving, making William like him even less. Moses wasn't to be trusted, and this could backfire on him badly, but he was doing this to keep Eliza safe… At least that's what he told himself.

"Keeping yourself busy I see." William announced from the shadows, when he saw a quiet moment for Moses. He could tell from his facial expression that Moses knew exactly who he was, just from his Scottish accent, even if he couldn't see him in the shadows.

"Inspector, don't normally see the likes of you round these parts."

Moses wore a smile, but it was only for show. He liked messing with The Inspector, liked the way Eliza seemed to be able to as well. He knew Eliza had a way with The Inspector, which gave Moses confidence against his intimidation.

"We need to talk," William said seriously, stepping forward slightly into the light before removing his hands from his pockets, folding his arms across his body and leaning up against the wall.

"Not like you to come and find me."

"It's about Eliza," William confirmed.

Moses face twitched, as if he wasn't sure he wanted to know, but at the same time curious as to why the Inspector would want to talk about her. He noted the Inspector didn't seem too concerned, so Miss Scarlet couldn't be in immediate danger.

"I believe she asked you to find some information for her, about a man. Barnaby Sherwood," William confirmed.

"So what if she did?" Moses shrugged as if he had no care.

"I need that information."

"So why don't you ask her yourself." William cracked a small smile to Moses comment. It wasn't that simple with Eliza, and he knew it.

"I don't have the luxury of time, waiting for Eliza to decide when she wants to share her information with me. I need it before her."

Moses moved closer and eyed William cautiously. He wasn't sure he wanted to get in the middle of whatever was going on between these two. William stood up tall, it didn't matter that Moses wasn't the least bit frighten of him.

"I don't think she'd like me giving my information to you," Moses told him slowly, in his relaxed Jamaican drawl.

"Well that's for me to deal with. Right now I need that information."

"Well I don't have anything to give you,"

"Well when you do you get it to me… One more thing, I need to keep Eliza away from Scotland Yard when you do get that information to me."

"Why?"

"Trust me, it's for her own safety."

"What's in it for me?"

"The knowledge that you're keeping her safe."

"Safe from what?"

It was a fast back and forth between them, as they almost squared up to each other. Moses eyed William cautiously, and then took a step backwards. He knew the Inspector wouldn't be here unless it was necessary.

"There is a man out there, killing women, 6, that we know of," William finally told him. "The man I'm sure Eliza has asked you to look into is key to that investigation. I need to stop him, and I need to keep her safe."

"You think she's in trouble?" Moses wondered if he should be concerned. He liked Eliza, and she paid him, so he really didn't want something happening to her.

"You know Eliza, I don't think she knows how to stay away from trouble."

Moses almost laughed, he was certain that wherever Miss Scarlet was, trouble was never going to be too far behind. He took a moment, to respond. He didn't like the idea of helping the Inspector, and was certain that Eliza wouldn't like him giving his information to him instead of her. Yet, the idea that something might happen to her did enough to sway him.

"How am I supposed to keep her away from Scotland Yard?" Moses finally asked.

"That's for you to figure out. Just keep away while I do what I need to do."

"She's not going to like this."

"That's for me to deal with."

As far as Moses was concerned, William could deal with that all he wanted.

The next morning William met Eliza at her office, and awaited the arrival of Mr Wilson, whoever he was.

William was sat on the corner of her desk, while Eliza paced slightly nervously. She liked to be in control, and this was very much outside of it. She wasn't sure what sort of a man Mr Wilson really was, and she knew from previous experience with Joseph Sims that this could go badly.

They heard the footsteps coming up the stairs, and caught each other's eyes, then came the knock at the door. Eliza took a breath and steadied herself before opening the door with a perfect smile.

"Mr Wilson, please do come in," she said politely.

He was once again smartly dressed, in a dark expensive suit and hat, but this time with a walking cane, though Eliza suspected, like her friend Rupert Parker, this was for show, rather then his actual need of one.

"Thank you." Mr Wilson greeted her with a warm smile, which faded as soon as he walked in and noticed William, perched on the corner of her desk.

"Mr Wilson, this is a colleague of mine, Detective Inspector Wellington."

"Oh dear, I take it you do not have good news." Mr Wilson removed his hat, and held it close to his chest for a moment.

Eliza noted the worrying tone in the man's voice, and the concerned look on his face. Both seemed very genuine.

"Please do have a seat," Eliza said politely, motioning to the seat opposite her desk, but Mr Wilson instead stumbled to the nearest leather chair by the fire, as if he wouldn't make it the few more steps to the desk.

Eliza and William shared a confused look. This wasn't entirely the way they thought this would go. Whilst William stayed where he was, Eliza moved to sit in the other leather chair by the fire opposite him.

"Mr Wilson, I've been looking more closely into Clara's disappearance…"

"Do you believe she is dead?" He asked, not looking at her, as if afraid of the answer to his question.

"Why would you think that?" Eliza queried.

"You have an Inspector with you, even I can tell that must mean something untoward has happened." He closed his eyes tight, clearly not wanting to face what was in front of him.

"Mr Wilson…" Eliza began, before she stopped, and decided to come clean, she spoke calmly and quietly. "Mr Wilson, I know you're not Clara's Uncle, she doesn't have any uncles…"

Mr Wilson slowly opened his eyes in shock, he thought he had done so well, but it was clear she knew.

"No, I am not her Uncle," he reluctantly confirmed.

"So who are you? Why lie?" William asked firmly, clearly not interested in using Eliza's soft approach.

"I am only a concerned friend. I thought unless I told you I was a family member, you wouldn't want to look into her disappearance."

"What's your name?" William pressed. Mr Wilson didn't answer at first, and didn't look like he wanted to answer, but after a few moments he finally admitted who he was.

"My name is Colin Trewsbury." William instantly did a double take after hearing his true name.

"Of the Park Lane…"

"Yes." He answered quickly, and powerfully before William could finish. For once William couldn't hide his surprise.

The Trewsbury family was one of the richest families in London and everyone knew their name. They had properties all along Park Lane and the surrounding Mayfair area. That explained why his accent was so posh compared to Clara's family upbringing.

"So how did you know Clara?" Eliza asked, confused as to how he and Clara could have known each other.

"We were … close friends."

"How close?" William continued, keeping his firm tone. Colin shook his head unhappy with the question, but reluctantly answered.

"We were romantically involved, if that is your question Inspector." He answered, frustrated. He'd come here for answers, not to be interrogated himself.

"I see. Her friends and family that I spoke with, never mentioned her being involved with anyone," Eliza confirmed.

"They wouldn't, Clara and I were very discreet. We never told anyone."

"Why not?" Eliza asked confused.

"Miss Scarlet, I am a forty five year old widower, far from an appropriate suitor for a twenty two year old young lady, despite my worth."

Eliza exchanged glances with William, as they both relaxed their stances. At least they now knew that this man posed them no threat.

"So how did you both meet?" Eliza asked, hoping to pry a little more information about Clara from him, since he clearly knew her far better then he had previously let on.

Colin closed his eyes and smiled, reminiscing.

"We met in St James Park, I was walking my dog and she'd walked over the Thames from her home in Southwark. It was a pure meeting by chance on a beautiful sunny day. My dog took an instant liking to Clara, and she to him. We found ourselves arranging to meet and taking a stroll together most days, and well…. We knew it not appropriate, but matters of the heart seldom are. Clara was such a breath of fresh air after my wife's death. She was always so happy, so positive. It was like she smiled, and the world smiled with her."

Eliza recognized the look on this mans face. It was similar to the way Detective Phillips had spoken about his Emily. Eliza could see the love written all over this mans face, and there was no denying it was genuine.

"I knew when she didn't turn up for our scheduled walk that something was wrong, but as you say, Clara never told a sole about me, so I wasn't told of her disappearance. After a few days of her not showing up, I wanted to find out what had happened, I assumed she was perhaps ill. I knew where she lived, so I went to her house one day, saw her sister, and she told me that Clara was missing, presumed run away, but I knew that not to be the case."

"Why not?" William asked.

"Because if Clara had of run away, she would have run to me, we would have gone together. I knew something…" Colin paused, upset, but took a moment to compose himself. "I knew something bad must have happened, which is why I came to you Miss Scarlet. I couldn't tell anyone the truth, as to who I was, I couldn't risk it getting back to her family, and I assumed you would not ask too many questions of me. I guess I rather mistook you Miss Scarlet."

He looked up at her, apologetic, and Eliza nodded her acceptance of that. He wasn't the first person to underestimate her, and he was unlikely to be the last.

"But please if something has happened to her, I must know," Colin pleaded with them.

Eliza stared over at William. She knew in theory they couldn't tell him what had happened. They shouldn't say anything, not before telling her own family, but the man sat in front of her was broken. He'd already lost his wife, and now his second chance at love. She wanted to tell him, but William spoke first.

"Mr Trewsbury, we do believe that we may have found Clara's body." William soften his tone, not wanting to cause this man further heartache.

Eliza's own heart broke as she watch him take in William's words. His eyes shut tight and his fist push against his lips as he fought to keep his composure with them.

"Did she suffer? Was it an accident?" He asked sadly.

"We don't have the full information as of yet," William offered, hoping to spare him the pain of all the details.

"My poor Clara."

"We will be having a full investigation into her death, once we've spoken with her family," William told him gently.

"I know you do not have to offer me any consolation, but if you wouldn't mind, could you keep me informed? I can pay you any money, give you anything you need, to find out what happened to her. I wont be able to mourn her as I wish, or even attend a funeral, so I should like to help give her family something of comfort."

"I'm sure Miss Scarlet here will be able to keep you updated." William knew it was totally against the rules, after all Mr Trewsbury was not in anyway family, but even William could see his heartbreak.

"Thank you. Thank you for finding her Miss Scarlet. If not bringing her home."

Eliza leaned against her office door as she closed it behind Mr Trewsbury. She felt so low, and all she wanted to do was cry, for him, for Clara, for her family. This case wasn't turning out at all how she thought it would.

"That poor man," she said, breaking the silence between her and William that was dwarfing the room.

"I've got to admit, I think he almost broke me," William said, with a sigh. He was beyond grateful that at least Mr Trewbury had turned out to be someone who was not untoward.

"It's just awful." Eliza pushed away from her door and moved to sit against her desk next to William.

"You okay?" he asked, catching her arm with his knuckles. He could see the sadness in her eyes, yet he knew how strong she was. She didn't need his concern.

"I don't know," Eliza admitted sadly, shrugging her shoulders honestly.

"That was not at all how I expected this to go," Eliza told him. "I mean that man is devastated, and he can't even so much as offer his condolences to her family. He doesn't exist."

If anything, now Eliza was even more determined then ever to find out what had happened, to Clara, and those other women.

"We need to find who ever is doing this," she told William firmly.

To be Continued….