Disclaimer: None of these characters belong to me

Chapter 9

Marguerite is not pleased. The Inspector has not given up.

Roxton held Greta, while he ate in the diningroom. Challenger was finishing up a plate of eggs when Jessi walked in, setting down a cup of coffee in her place. She was about to sit down, when she cast Roxton a sharp glance.

'What did I just see you do?'

Roxton took a napkin and wiped Greta's mouth.

'Jessi, the child does not want that slop that she's been given. She would prefer some of Daddy's food.'

'No, she wouldn't. Give her over.'

'Jessi!'

'Give her to me. I am going to feed her myself in the kitchen.'

Challenger raised a brow.

'I thought there was a nursemaid around here?' he asked, looking around.

Roxton stood up and reluctantly handed Greta to Jessi.

'There is. I think Marguerite called her Grace.'

Challenger leaned back in his chair.

'Well she must need the work very badly. No one else came back.'

Roxton sat back down and watched Jessi disappear with the baby.

'True. Alright, do you have any ideas as to how to trap this creature?'

Challenger leaned forward. 'John, I'm afraid we're going to have to use some 'bait'.'

Roxton leaned forward as well. 'What do you mean?'

'Not what, but whom? Think about it: every person that's been killed has been someone that has a relationship with one of us. This thing allowed Finn to live but killed Jack. This thing killed Gladys and her companion. Gladys has a relationship to Malone.'

Roxton looked doubtful. 'Yes, George, but we don't know that Finn didn't just get away. Maybe the creature intended on killing her too.'

'That's a possibility, yes, but this is all we have for now.'

'George, I don't know what it is you're proposing. How do we draw this thing out?'

Challenger pursed his lips, then looked down the hallway that Jessi had disappeared through.

'Give it someone. Some passing acquaintance of ours.'

Roxton said nothing, but mulled over Challenger's words, and it's implications. Put some stranger's life in danger? Granted, the person would be known to one of them, but still...

'I don't know George...'

'I don't like it either. And of course, we would kill the thing before it actually harmed this person. But I really feel as if this is the pattern we've been looking for.'

Roxton sighed. 'Alright, you're judgment is usually on the mark. Who do you suggest?'

Challenger leaned back in his chair again.

'How about that woman that was here when we first arrived? I didn't get a chance to look at her long, because Finn was so ill.'

'Ah yes, Mrs. Thomas. I don't know, I mean with Farrell's murder being common knowledge, how would we get her over here? She probably wants nothing to do with us!'

'We could get Marguerite to invite her over?'

Roxton stood up. 'No. I don't like it...at least I don't like the part about Mrs. Johnson. We've already disrupted what Marguerite has built here. A woman like Mrs. Johnson almost getting attacked by an ape...Marguerite would have to flee this country, along with the rest of us!'

Challenger stood up as well.

'I don't like it any better than you do, John. But what choice do we have? This ape creature is toying with us. Slaying people that are known to us, when he could just as easily really kill one of us. If you can think of someone better, please tell me!'

'Why don't you both just surrender now?'

Roxton and Challenger looked at one another, then looked towards the entrance of the dining-room. Inspector Wills was standing there, pointing a gun in their direction. He nodded to Grace, the nursemaid. Tears were streaming down her face, as she turned and walked away. The sound of the front door slamming could be heard moments later.

'I told the poor dear not to worry about references. After all, if she applied for another position and said that Marguerite Von Bubrik had been her former employer, well, that wouldn't serve her well, now would it?' The Inspector sneered.

Roxton and Challenger raised their hands. Challenger prayed Jessi stayed in the kitchen with Greta.

'Professor George Challenger. Lord John Roxton. My, my, my. I almost love the thrill of being right, than actually finding the two of you. I knew if I leaned on one of the servants that worked here, hard enough, eventually I'd find someone who would sell you all out.'

'Why don't you put down the weapon there,' Roxton said, as he started to lower his hands. 'We're not going to run.'

'I know you won't, Lord Roxton. That is what the gun is for.'

Challenger began to get angry.

'There are women and children in this house! Please put down the gun.'

The Inspector walked in to the room, walked towards them, then stopped midway. He was within perfect firing range.

'Then they had better show themselves as well. Oh, and don't worry, Lord Roxton. We will find a nice orphanage for your daughter. Unless Ms. Von Bubrik can con another wealthy family into taking her in.'

Roxton kept cool, for the sake of everyone in the house. They had no idea when Marguerite and the others would be returning. Hopefully, the Inspector's vehicle was in full view. Maybe they could still get away.

Challenger cleared his throat, lowered his hands and eased into a chair. The Inspector's eyes, and gun, followed his every move. 'You seem to take your work to heart, Inspector.' he commented.

Inspector Wills eyed Challenger.

'Do you know how much trouble people like you cause?'

'People like me?' Challenger asked, his tone humble, as if he were seeking information. Roxton slowly lowered his hands as well, but continued to stand.

'Nigel Summerlee, before him that damned William Hargrove...both 'men of science' who thought they could do whatever they wanted, public safety be damned! And now you! Unleashing a killer ape on civilized society, then running off! When you left, the killing stopped, which means only one thing: either yourself or Roxton turns into this creature and kills. Jack Farrell's death the other evening proves that!'

'It proves nothing!' Challenger yelled, outraged. The Inspector cocked the gun at him. Roxton laid a hand on Challenger's shoulder.

'Come on now, George. We might as well confess.'

Challenger looked up at him from his chair. What the hell was Roxton up to?!

'Confess?' he asked, somewhat calmer.

'Yes,' Roxton nodded. 'The Inspector is right, almost.'

The Inspector moved the gun slightly towards Roxton.

'And why would I be 'almost' right, Lord Roxton?'

Roxton gave Challenger a sly, sidewise glance.

'Because neither one of us are the ape killer, Inspector. But, he is an experiment. Something Challenger here was working on.'

Wills shook his head.

'I knew it! How did you transport the creature here without total chaos?'

'It wasn't easy,' Roxton answered in a glib tone. 'And it has been even harder to hide it.'

'Hide it? So, it got loose the other night and killed Farrell? Good God! Whatever I think of that Von Bubrik woman, one would think she at least cared for the welfare of her own child! To house a beast such as that in the same vicinity of her baby?! Where is the thing now?'

'We keep it drugged in a secret room.' Roxton answered, deliberately not looking at Challenger. Challenger's eyes lit up with understanding. He slowly stood up, raising his hands again.

'Yes, that's right. I was trying to find out if an ape could be civilized in a...'

Wills almost exploded! 'Are you out of your bloody mind?!! Of course it can't! I sincerely hope you discovered that answer after it murdered three people! Why didn't you kill the damned thing once you realized your 'experiment', had failed?'

'I didn't have heart, Inspector. In many ways, apes have human qualities that we just don't recognize.'

Inspector Wills wanted to shoot George Challenger right there on the spot! But he kept a cool head. The capture of Professor Challenger and Lord John Roxton would make up for all of his past humiliations: that Krux woman, Hargrove, Summerlee...yes, these two would do nicely, for starters. He would look in to a way to bring down Krux later.

'Where is the thing? I'm going to shoot it, then, we're all going in to the local police station. From there, you'll be extradited back to London.'

Roxton and Challenger nodded humbly. Wills motioned for the two men to move in front of him.

'Take me to the creature.' he demanded in a low tone, waving the gun. Roxton, then Challenger, walked out of the diningroom, through the hallway, then into the drawing room. Roxton nodded to Challenger, who began to climb the ladder. Wills cocked the gun towards him again.

'What are you doing?'

Roxton gave Wills a patient smile.

'This is where we house the creature. He's sedated, most of the day.'

The Inspector's eyes widened.

'Good God! I sat on that ladder the other night! Are you telling me the ape creature was on the other side of that wall?'

Roxton looked up at Challenger, who had climbed the ladder and was eye level with 'Pride And Prejudice'.

'I'm afraid so, Inspector. Removing one of the books opens the room. Get ready.' Roxton warned.

The Inspector tightened his grip on his gun, then moved towards the bookcase. Roxton stood in front of him, his back towards the bookcase. Challenger reached out and removed the book. The bookcase began to slide back.

Suddenly, Roxton leaped at the Inspector! The two began grappling for the gun. Their tussling led them to the space between the the two rooms. Roxton shouted out to Challenger.

'Close the bookcase!'

Challenger reluctantly put the book back on the shelf. He was still on the ladder as the bookcase began to close. If Roxton and the Inspector didn't get out of the way in a few seconds, both would be crushed by the weight of the wall!

Challenger hurried down the ladder to speed up the tussling. But when he reached the ground, he witnessed Roxton break from the Inspector, knocking his gun away. It slid across the floor and under a couch. Then, Roxton quickly punched the Inspector twice in the face, grabbed his collar, then shoved him into the room before the case closed for good!

Challenger was out of breath just watching the debacle. Roxton breathed heavily, before looking at Challenger. They both breathed sighs of relief.

****

When Marguerite, Veronica and Finn returned to the estate, they were shocked to see the police car in the drive.

'It's probably that damned Wills!' Marguerite seethed, putting the automobile in park.

'If he's in the house, then Jessi is probably dealing with him alone.' Veronica said. She practically jumped out of the car. Finn followed. Marguerite glared after the two young women. Veronica should run, Marguerite thought.

How in the hell that girl could invite someone to dinner, that could possibly turn into an animal, with Greta still on the premises, was beyond Marguerite's comprehension! After they got rid of that annoying Inspector, she planned to chew Veronica out good and proper! And Finn? God, had none of her lessons on etiquette and lady-like manners rubbed off on the girl? She became quite excited at the prospect of being able to use her cross-bow again! And Marguerite had thought Finn had gotten rid of that thing!

Marguerite hurried into the house last, and was surprised to see everyone else, except for the Inspector, Jessi, Grace and Greta. She walked into the drawing room.

'What's going on here? Why is there a police car out there in the drive? Is Inspector Wills here?'

'Now why would you think that?' Roxton asked in a coy tone of voice.

Marguerite eyed him. 'Because he's the only one that didn't believe us last night and...what's going on here? You all look quite odd. Where is Greta?'

Roxton walked over to her.

'Jessi is feeding her in the kitchen. Oh, by the way, Grace won't be coming back.'

'Grace? Why?'

Challenger spoke up.

'It seems the Inspector scared her into betraying us. She let him into the house.'

Marguerite glanced at Veronica and Finn. She then returned her attention to Roxton and Challenger.

'He found you?' she asked.

Roxton could hear the fear in her voice, although Marguerite was trying to appear calm. He touched her hand, picking it up in his own and rubbing it.

'Yes, but it's alright, for now.'

Marguerite looked at the hand he was rubbing, then looked up at him again.

'Where is the Inspector? Did the ape make a sudden appearance and take him off of our hands?'

'No such luck. We locked him in your secret room.'

Marguerite didn't think she'd heard him correctly. But when she looked at everyone else's face, she knew Roxton was speaking the truth. She looked at him again.

'I won't ask if you're insane. I will ask you how long you think we can really get away with keeping him in there? I mean we're going to have to open that bookcase at gunpoint, just to keep him from escaping!'

'Actually,' Veronica began, 'we can let him out just as the creature appears.'

Marguerite rolled her eyes. Finn blew out a breath. Roxton and Challenger looked at one another.

'Well, yes, that sounds good in theory. But we need to draw the creature out. Actually, John and I were discussing as to how we might do just that.' Challenger said.

Finn raised a brow. 'What Vee means is, that she's pretty sure she invited the creature to dinner tonight.'

Challenger and Roxton turned towards Veronica.

'What is this all about?' Roxton asked. Challenger stroked his beard.

Veronica sat down. 'I ran into Renata Hargrove today. Right outside of the store that we were shopping at. I don't think my meeting her was a coincidence.'

Roxton searched his mind for a memory of the young girl, unaware that Marguerite was watching him closely. She had been a young, innocent. A victim of her demented father's crimes. He had insisted that Renata come to live with them at the treehouse after her father's death. She had declined, claiming she needed time to be on her own, and gain the independence she had never had under her father's rule.

'I'm glad she got off of the plateau.' he answered, looking over at Challenger. He looked suspicious.

'What did she say to you?' Challenger asked Veronica.

Veronica leaned back on the couch. Finn sat down next to her.

'She said that she was worried about Roxton and you. She wanted to know if I knew where the two of you were. She then made it clear that she would be very interested in helping you, Roxton, get over Emma's death.'

Marguerite snorted. Roxton looked uncomfortable.

'Well, I don't understand how your meeting her on the street, suddenly makes her the ape creature?' Roxton asked.

Veronica rolled her eyes and stood up. She looked at Challenger.

'You do, don't you?' she asked him.

Challenger scratched his head. It was possible. William Hargrove's experiments had had him on the run for years. And it had been revealed that Renata's real mother had been an ape. Was it possible that Hargrove had done more to Renata than just sire her? Maybe something he had given her to ingest, or worse yet, something he had injected her with, had turned her into a sometime monstrosity? Maybe she had seemed fine at the time, but, now, years later, was it possible that some residual effects, from whatever experiment Hargrove had performed on her, were just now kicking in?

Roxton watched Challenger closely.

'Oh come on, George! That girl wouldn't hurt a fly!'

Marguerite put a hand up.

'I draw the line at this.'

Veronica walked over to her.

'Marguerite, take Greta somewhere before she arrives here. We won't involve you in this. Besides...'

'Besides what?' Marguerite asked snappishly.

'Well, she does seem to have a thing for Roxton. And she said enough to lead me to believe, that she thinks that the rumors of your having a child with Roxton, are just that, rumors. If she came here for dinner and found out that they were true...'

'She's liable to change during soup?' Finn offered, shaking her head. 'Why don't you go and see that nosy lady that lives behind us? Take Greta and make like your trying to soothe the neighbors fears about the ape creature.'

Marguerite folded her arms. 'Great! While you have dinner with some ape tramp, I have to leave because she has a thing for my fiancee?'

Roxton smiled at her when she said that. Plus, he found her jealousy precious! To him, Renata was like a little sister. He saw her much in the same way he would look at Veronica and Finn.

Finn smiled as well. 'If she even grunts during dinner, I'll shoot her with my cross bow.'

Challenger cleared his throat. 'Roxton and I were discussing a theory I had earlier. I believe that this killer, for whatever reason, is drawn to our acquaintances, rather than us. I thought it would be a good idea if we dined or had someone over to draw the creature out. We couldn't really agree on anyone.'

Marguerite mulled the theory over.

'I have an idea. Finn, do you remember the farm you were kept on, when Greta and you were kidnapped?'

Finn gave her a funny look. 'Yes, I guess I could find my way back there. Why?'

'Good. Challenger, you drive her over there. Beatrice will be our dinner guest.'

'Marguerite!' Roxton said warningly. This whole situation was making her witchier than usual. They definitely needed time alone together.

Finn squinted at Marguerite. 'You don't even know if she's still in town! She probably took the money and ran!'

Marguerite dismissed the idea with a wave of her hand.

'Beatrice was always a sentimental idiot! She'll want to bury Barnaby and have some sort of ceremony for the poor slob, instead of leaving him to rot! She's still here. Tell her I want to give her more money to make up for my bad treatment of her husband. That will get her over here!'

'But we already have Renata,' Veronica countered. 'Do we really need an extra person?'

Challenger gave her a grim look. 'I think I see where Marguerite is going with this. If by some chance you're mistaken about Renata, another person will be an even stronger draw for this creature.'

Roxton nodded, then looked over at the bookcase.

'This thing has to show up tonight. Otherwise there's no telling how long the Inspector will be a houseguest.'

****

At six that evening, Renata Hargrove smoothed down her dress. She could feel Lord Roxton nearby. She knew Veronica had been covering for him this morning. Veronica just didn't know if she could trust her with the secret. That being, that Lord Roxton and Uncle George were hiding on this estate.

But she would prove to Veronica, and to the others, that she could be trusted. She would especially prove her worth to John. She closed her eyes and reveled in a memory she had of him, looking debonair in his hat and leather vest. She sniffed the air. It was almost as if she could smell him.

She opened her eyes suddenly, then reached out to knock on the door. Renata knew that Marguerite Von Bubrik owned the estate. Renata thought it was nice of her to hide Uncle George and John. It was a shame that the papers said such mean things about her and John. She was obviously just helping a friend, is all.

The door opened. Veronica answered it, dressed in a white evening gown. She reached out her hands to Renata. Renata put her own hands in hers. Veronica pulled her in.

'Come in. Guess who's here?'

Renata scarcely noticed Veronica reaching around and closing the door. Her eyes were on the man standing in the drawing room, sipping a brandy. He was dressed in a tuxedo. Lord John Roxton set his drink down and walked over to her. He reached out and took her hand, kissing it.

'Renata, how good it is to see you again. Veronica told me that you sounded as if you were willing to help.'

Renata smiled widely. 'Oh yes! Anything! Anything at all!'

Renata then threw herself in to Roxton's arms. Finn looked at Veronica. She wondered if she had ever looked that desperate with Malone. Challenger looked away and glanced at Beatrice, who was now over by the bar. She was on her third drink. The woman had agreed to come, almost eagerly. She had begun asking about Marguerite's whereabouts. Jessi had accompanied Marguerite on her series of visits. Challenger had been glad. There was no need to scare his poor wife anymore than necessary. Malone was running late, though he had been appraised by phone about the situation.

Roxton gently disengaged himself and turned her towards Challenger.

'Look who else is here, Renata.'

Renata tore her eyes away from Roxton, then looked at Challenger. She smiled and hurried over to him. He hugged her as well.

Veronica walked over to them and pulled Renata aside.

'Let me show you some of the house, okay?'

Renata reluctantly nodded, her eyes going back to Roxton's. She gave him a small wave, before being pulled away by Veronica. Finn turned her attention to watching Beatrice. Challenger walked over to Roxton.

'What do you think so far?' he asked.

Roxton suddenly made a face and began spitting! Challenger slapped his back.

'Are you alright? he asked.

Roxton wiped his mouth. 'Oh, it's going to be a very 'hairy' night, George.'

'Why do you say that?'

'Because I'm spitting up the hair that was on Renata's knuckle when I kissed her hand.'

'Oh dear.' Challenger said.