Good Evening! I hope you all are well. Here is another update. Enjoy! - Sevy14
D.I. Shine POV:
Once I had dispatched my fiance, the day had gone by quickly. It had not be any trouble for me to locate a Justice willing to do a wedding at such short notice. One just had to know when, where and how to apply pressure. Upon that task being completed I sent word to both Emmylyn and her Father, Joseph. I had run errands in between this matter. It was always good, for those who owed me money for protection or other services, to see my face once in awhile, lest they get any ideas about screwing me out of what was mine. My mind wandered to Emmylyn in between stops and what she was getting into at my home. I did not keep much, but what I kept was precious, much of it from the time I spent in the Orient. My meetings with my colleagues about a local case had gone less than smoothly. They were complete idiots, of this I was sure. I contemplated dragging Flight back from whatever black hole he had crawled into. While a nuisance, at least he had some smarts, not that I would ever tell the Irish cur that. In truth, I was not eager to marry, my heart, had belonged to another, now long gone, dead I am sure. But Emmylyn would be good for my persona, especially if the papers caught wind of how I saved her from a most hideous and monstrous fate. I smirked at this, how without creating the situation I would be benefiting. On this occasion, my prominence in the world of pimps and thieves, had paid off. I refocused my attention to my Desk Sergeant as he reviewed those in our custody and their crimes, my mind though wandering. This job, while fulfilling some of my base needs, left me wanting.
Emmylyn:
I had been quite cross with Detective Inspector Shine and how he had all but thrown me out of the coppers station. Of course, my ire was more directed at the fact that he suggested, and my Father agreed, to move the wedding up to today-To this afternoon! All of this was out of my control and I had zero say. I had glared at him through the carriage window as it pulled away, rolling my eyes when he dipped his head out of politeness. We both knew that gesture was for the on-lookers... Jedediah Shine was a terrific actor, of that, I was sure. I had been shocked, I admitted begrudgingly so, to myself, upon pulling up to his dwelling. I had thought that he lived in a dingy apartment, one that may have been spacious in comparison to most, but the truth was, he had a house. I shivered looking at it, realizing that it must have been some other form of incoming finances that allowed him to live in a home such as this. I glowered at the carriage driver as he escorted me to the front door of the home and pulled out a key, letting me in.
"Miss?" The deep voice grated across my ears. I was not sure he was truly a carriage driver, his hands, body posture and in truth, gruffness of his voiced reminded me of someone who had a much more dangerous purpose in life.
"Yes?" I responded, doing what I can to keep my tone light and not let on that I was on edge by his presence or our conversation.
His hand reached out, "For you." In it, a key to the house.
I looked at him and back to his hand and then back to his face once more, mouth slightly ajar from the surprise. "I-Thank you." I stammered, taking the key from him. At this he nodded and stepped back, the space between us growing and my breath returned.
"I will be out here Miss." He gestured to a chair on the side of the small porch. I narrowed my eyes slightly, in question as to why. "Bosses orders. I go where you go." He says after seeing my facial reaction.
"Bosses orders?" I repeat. He nods. "And there is no way that you will disobey them?" I counter.
He shakes his head with a small smile. "He told me to accompany you, every where."
I nod at this, feeling uncomfortable. So he was not really a carriage driver. I knew it. "Well I am in no need of a body guard, I am afraid. You will be bored as long as you remain."
Chuckling, he shakes his head and sits. "Miss, Bosses orders are Bosses orders. I go, where you go. Got it?" That last bit had a touch of steel in it and I nodded, acutely aware that this was not something I would be able to get out of.
I turned away from the man and unlocked the door, pushing it open. I was surprised by the cleanliness of the place. Pausing in the door way I looked about. I turned a quarter and made eye contact with the man behind me, "Does Detective Inspector have this place cleaned or is he..." My voice carried away at the look on the man's face.
"The Boss is," he paused, a smirk still displayed across his face, "He is particular."
I nodded, "Right. So that means...?" I ask.
"He likes his ship tight and runs it that way, Miss." He grunted, the raspy voice hard on my ears. This was all the response I got.
I nodded. "Oh!" I mouthed, "Thanks." I said, although I'm not sure if I was thankful or more perplexed. He nodded and looked away, scanning the street.
I entered the home fully and shut the door, breathing a sigh of relief once I was out of sight of my body guard. His presence was unnerving. I don't know why I expected Detective Inspector Shine to be a mess of a man, if appearances were true, he cared for his appearance and that would keep in tune with his home. Walking as softly and quietly as possible, I made my way through the home. I walked through the foyer, there were sliding doors on either side, each open. To my left a sitting room with comfortable couches and chairs, and books, lots and lots and lots of books. I turned around, Shine had shelves covering three of the four walls, the fourth a fire place took it up, but the books, they were floor to ceiling. I walked the room scanning the titles. Some were in English, others in German and Latin, Spanish and French, while others must be from his time in the Orient. On one of the end tables a book rested, it was one of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's. I ran my hand across it, smiling softly. I adored his work. Turning, I made my way back across the hall, this room was laid out for what I could only assume was to entertain. There was a chess board set up, a game unfinished garnishing it, about the room there were other games, I assumed they were, but I did not recognize them. Again, I thought, from his time in the Orient. A group of chairs one end lined the wall with a small table in the center. I shook my head, a bit odd, but what did I know, I grew up in a whore house, perhaps this was normal.
Instead of staying on the ground floor I went up the stairs, the second floor held three rooms and a loo. The first room was empty save the trunks lined against the wall. Storage, clearly. The second, had a single bed against the wall with a small bookshelf, desk and chair. The last left me without air. Clearly, this was his bedroom. There was a large bed to one side with a chair in the corner, his nightshirt draped over it. Crossing the floor, my arms prickled with uncertainty and with me being uncomfortable in this space. I pulled the curtains back slightly to look out the room. The street was not busy, this was much different than what I was accustomed to. I wonder if it is always still like this. I think the lack of noise, the lack of proof of life, would drive me mad. I turn and notice the fireplace with two chairs in front of it. Perhaps he had company from time to time. At this thought, my face crinkled up. Gross. He had a large wardrobe too, I pulled it open, his shirts, cleaned and pants press hung, as did some coats. Reaching out, I ran my hand across the fabric. It. Was. Nice. The man spared no expense when it came to his clothing. I shut the wardrobe doors and made my way out of the room. I had not noticed the art on the walls as I had come through the hall at first, but there were wall hangings, from the orient. The floors too were all covered in nice rugs.
"How much money does he have?" I muttered to myself. What he had was much more than any copper or detective could afford. My mind thought back to all the rumors about him and how much of them had to be true in order for him to be able to afford all of this. I shook my head, perhaps he came from some money or got lucky in cards... A lot, I mused. My gut told me that this was not true. Making my way back downstairs, I turned and explored the rest of the place. A dining room and nice decently sized kitchen on one side. Again, the walls nicely decorated with Oriental wall hangings, the dining room floor had the most beautiful rug I had ever seen. I went to open the other door but it was locked. I rattled the handle but it wouldn't budge. I grunted. This was obviously his office. After looking around my surroundings I sighed. I was destined to be stuck here day in and day out apparently. It did not appear that he was even here that much, it was just so nice. The man was... He... The man was just plain decadent, was all I could think. Like a peacock. Yeah, Detective Inspector Shine, a peacock. I chuckled. All of his posturing and prancing around, that and his fine clothes all matched that assessment. I walked to the front door and pulled it open, my stomach tightened at seeing the man still there. I had hoped he left or at least wandered down the street or something.
"Something wrong Miss?" He asked.
I shook my head, "No." He nodded at me, but did not say anything. We looked at each other for a few minutes before I step through the door, turning I shut and lock it. "Can we leave?"
That smirk resurfaced across his face, "Boss said no leaving, Miss." He did not seem apologetic in the least.
"Oh... I see." I say. "And if I leave anyway?" I ask.
He sniffs and looks at his hands before looking back at me. "Miss, I was instructed to ensure that you remain here, at the house until the Boss comes."
"Well I am hungry, I would like to go get something to eat." I state, looking at him. "And there is no food inside."
"Miss, the Boss-" I interrupt.
"Yes! Yes! I know, you were told to keep me here. But are you going to put your hands on me, hm? Or can you please accompany me to get something to eat and then come back?" I was a bit hot, my cheeks flushed with annoyance at him, or rather, this situation. It wasn't his fault, but still... The look he gave me was cold and without any emotion. I did not let my body step back as it wanted to, but the intimidation was there. He stood, raising his arms above his head stretching, I watched him warily.
"Now Miss-" He starts, but again I interrupt.
"Emmylyn. Could you please call me Emmylyn?" He eyes me before nodding quickly. "What's your name?" I ask.
His eyes look at me more sharply and I return what I hoped was an innocent look, "Jude." He says, his tone somewhat biting.
I nod, "Well it is nice to make your acquaintance Jude." He doesn't respond, just looks at me. A noise draws our attention away from each other, another carriage is pulling up. My heart falls hard into my stomach and then tumbles. It stops at the gate and the door opens up.
Detective Inspector Shine's head pops out, "Emmylyn, time to go." My mouth drops slightly open and I lose my breath. Slowly I move forward, across the deck and down the stairs. I was aware of Jude behind me, his largeness seemed to overtake the open air about us. Upon reaching the carriage, Jude's arm shoots past my head startling me, he grabs the door and holds it open. I look up and over at him.
"Emmylyn?" Swiveling again, Detective Inspector Shine's hand is before me. I take a breath and grab it, stepping up onto the step as I do so. Effortlessly he pulls me into the carriage. I slid across the seat to sit on the opposite side and look out the window. With a click, Jude shuts the door of the carriage and Detective Shine knocks on the roof of the carriage with his cane and we lurch forward into our future. I do not look at him as we go through the city streets, my stomach so tense, I might be ill. This was it, my life as I had known it was officially over and I was now just a business transaction away from being the reason why my Father was saved. I made a face at the thought of my Father, the thought of my Mother. I will never forgive them for this. Never.
Thank you for reading, I hope you enjoyed. Have a good night! - Sevy14
