Disclaimer: Do I really have to say this again. Oh pooh, I own nothing. Except for the dreams of being Cassandra who is me really but man I'm confusing myself just read.

~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~

I turned around to the doorway so fast I nearly sent myself toppling over. I'm afraid my mouth dropped slightly and a gasp escaped my lips as I watched Abberline walk from the door over to us.

"Ah! Frederick, 'bout time you showed up. We have a hell of a day ahead us.....oh shit.....I mean, I'm sorry mam, I forgot myself. Ummm, this is Inspector Abberline."

Abberline approached me, his dark honey brown eyes scrutinizing me with every detective reasoning in his being. Standing face to face, he bent at the waist giving me a small curteous bow. "It is a pleasure, Miss......?"

"Harlington." I answered, giving a small nod of recognition of his stature, "And the pleasure is all mine, Inspector Abberline."

"Is it now?" He asked, his voice slightly husky, from the smoke I though sadly. I noticed the drugged way his eye brows rose in a sarcastic expression of my statement. "Miss Harlington, was it?" He asked suspiciously.

"Yes," I said cocking my head, my annoyance growing as I stared at him. He was beautiful, no doubt about it, but his manner was off putting and it was making me feel near discomfort of him, "it was."

"Well, Miss Harlington," He asked, sneering at my name, "what is a fine upstanding lady such as yourself doing in the slums of the city."

My blood ran with ice as I glared at him. I was starting to realize I was going to help someone I really didn't like.

"I believe that, Inspector," I sneered back at him, "is none of your damned business." Abberline's eyes widened a fraction at my daring and I hear d the Sergent gasp behind me. "I'm sorry, Sergent. I forgot I'm a fine upstanding lady, aren't I?" I responded.

Abberline's eyelids drooped slowly, "Forgive me, I spoke without thinking."

"That you did, Inspector." I replied coldly. Turning back to Godley I calmly said, "I think it best I leave now, Sergent. Please contact me when and if you get the information I need. Thank you once again for all of your help. I won't forget it."

"Think nothing of it, Miss Harlington." He answered coming forward and taking my hand in his own, "And don't leave just yet please, just wait outside one moment. I need to have a little chat with Abberline first."

I nodded, "Of course." I smiled softly and turned my features becoming neutral as I began to walk to the door.

"Good day, Miss Harlington." Abberlines voice cut out in such a way as to suggest it would never be a good day with me around.

I stopped dead still staring straight ahead, tense. Slowly I turned my head so that our eyes locked in a silent battle of wills. "And the same to you, Inspector." I coolly replied seeing the dislike in his eyes for me. I pulled my gaze away and continued walking, retreating from the war of thoughts between us but not surrendering. With all the poise in my being I exited stage left.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I sat in front of the fearful man's desk, waiting just as Godley asked of me while he roared at Abberline from behind the closed door.

"What the bleeding hell is wrong with you?!.......Fuck that, my friend, do you have any idea.....bugger your suspicions man, she's a damned client....We'll finish this later Frederick, I have a few more things to say to you..." I covered my mouth to stifle my laughter, mind you it really wasn't funny but in some odd way it was.

The door knob turned and the Sergent emerged, looking quite red in the face. I couldn't' help it, the sight was quite comical and a string of giggles escaped me turning into a full fledged laugh.

He looked at me as though I were the oddest thing he had ever seen.

"I'm.....so sorry Sergent," I paused trying to collect myself, " I (burst of laughter) I know it's nothing to laugh about but (squeal of laughter) I've never really had someone stand up from me. It's quite a novelty actually." I wiped away the tears that came with the laughter, "Whoo, I'm alright now."

Still looking at me like I had escaped from the mad house he coughed and said, "Yes, uh.....good to hear it. Well Miss Harlington, here is the information you desired...." and saying this he took my hand and in the center of it he layed a small piece of paper.

I looked up questioningly and opened the slip of parchment. My eyes scanned over what was written:

The Jade Dragon

8' o clock

When I looked up again he nodded, "So there it is, Miss Harlington, I'll meet you there."

I shook my head, "No, not at this time. Abberline is no fool, Godley. He doesn't trust me, not in the slightest, as any idiot could hear from your conversation. And if he thinks you're helping me as you surely are, he will not trust you either. We will be there two hours early."

"Two hours! Why that long?!"

"I'm afraid any later and it might be TOO late. You know he doesn't like people to interrupt him....."

"You know it's downright scary to have you know all that I do, all that Abberline does?"

"I know, but I've heard weirder things, trust me. Can't think of any now, but I'm sure there are some."

"Abberline might not trust you but I'm beginning to. Very well then, I'll escort you there, at six."

"I thought you trusted me?"

"I do. It's the people out in that part of the city I don't trust."

"I see..." I said sighing as he walked me out of the building.

"You do?" He asked, smiling as he called my carriage forward with a wave of his hand. Turning to him I caught the double meaning in his words as the carriage pulled around. The driver hopped down opening the door for me.

"Yes, I do!" I replied laughing as I pulled myself into the carriage.

"Six then?" He asked me.

"Yes. Oh!" I almost slapped my hand to my forehead remembering so suddenly, "I don't supposed you know where my house is, do you?"

"No, Miss Harlington, I don't, but I don't expect it will be very hard to find, now will it?" He asked.

"Not at all. Just look for the largest one on the fanciest block, I'm sure it around there......somewhere." I waved a hand dissmisively as if it didn't make any difference.

"You're not sure where you live?" He exclaimed incredulous.

"My dear Godley, I am not sure of a great number of things." I sighed, rapping my cane against the side and the carriage sped off.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

With a frustrated sigh, I slammed the book shut. It was the third time I had done that this evening. Discarding it on the table next to the chair I was sitting in, I got to my feet and began to pace.

Why was I so restless?! Could it be because the most insanely sensual and sexy detective ever was so near to me at one point today I could have jumped him? Or was it the thought of knowing that he was going to be that near to me again that I was going mad? Either way, I was still pacing. I felt like pulling at my hair in agitation but I quelled the urge, balling my hands to fists.

I jumped in tense release as the beautifully crafted clock in the corner chimed out the hour. Five. Time to prepare. I called for Ellie. It didn't change even over the distance of time, it takes at least an hour for me to get ready.

Ellie dressed me in a deep inky black gown as before. I was still in mourning. She twisted and turned my hair, putting it up in a complicated do. Making for the door I grabbed the cane and asked for the butler to get me a thick cloth and a vial of Chloroform.

"Miss? Might I ask why?" He did indeed ask, hand me the bottle.

"Segent Godley asked for some. Something to do with cleaning the headquarters..."

"Oh yes...of course.....cleaning the headquarters...." He walked away shaking his head.

"Where are you going, Miss, and will you be back soon?" Ellie asked, draping a cape over my shoulders. I had been perfecting this story all afternoon.

"I left my smelling salts at the Police Headquarters, and the Sergent offered his services as an escort, since it is so very unsafe out at this time of night."

"That was kind of him." She said following me out.

Godley was waiting our by the carriage, hands in the pockets of his brown tweed jacket, whistling into the cold night air.

"And we shall be back in two hours if not sooner."

I walked down the stairs trying desperately not to trip over my own feet.

"Miss Harlington." He said tipping his hat.

"Godley." I replied succinctly stepping in with his guiding hand at my elbow. He climbed in as well, and as the door slammed shut the carriage took off.

"Ready to chase the Dragon, Miss Harlington?" Godley asked good naturedly.

"I'm after a different quarry tonight, my dear Sergent." I replied giving a tricky smile. "Here." I said handing him the cloth and the bottle of chloroform.

"What's all this for?" He questioned looking at the label on the glass vial.

I shook my head, "He won't come quietly." Was my only explanation. "Now here is the plan. We are going to split up," he looked about to object but I raised a hand to still him, "because he may be at any number of Opium Dens to throw us off, and I need you to check them just to be sure he isn't at any of them. If you see him, use those." I said pointing at the bottle and cloth in his hand. "If not, come back to the Jade Dragon."

"And what if he is there?" He asked, "How do you plan to keep him there without these?" He said raising the items.

"I have this." I replied, indicating the cane.

"That'll do the trick alright! What are you planning to do with it, hit him?!" He asked shocked.

"No, I plan on making him do the Limbo," I snapped sassily, "of course I'm going to hit him with it!"

"What in the seven hells is 'Limbo'?"

Uh oh, wrong century.

"Uh...." I stuttered, "It's a game that involves a stick....uh....I...uh....learned it abroad!"

He shook his head, clearly thinking me beyond the aid of anyone sane.