The Hunting Of The Snark
Jenny debated whether to tell Vastra about this grand plan of theirs, she could predict a few of the snide remarks Vastra might make about it, but as it would require one of her dresses and an amount of Jenny's time, she and Matthew agreed it was probably best to bring her into the loop. They returned to the hotel room after lunch, having spent the morning detailing the plan a little better so as not to come over as rash.
"You sure they won't miss you at the rail works?" Jenny asked, as they climbed the stairs.
"I'm a navvy, they c'n always find a replacement for me." Matthew shrugged.
Jenny knocked four times on the door. "S'me. I got Matthew with me." She called out. Since Matthew had burst in on them and particularly since Vastra had been spotted gadding about Swindon, Jenny had insisted on the door being locked at all times.
A key scraped in the lock and the door swung open. Jenny tugged Matthew, who seemed a little unwilling to enter, through and the door was pushed closed by Vastra, who had been standing, hidden, behind it.
"Bought you lunch." Jenny waved a package at her before plonking it down on the table on the newspaper that told of Vastra's night time escapades.
Vastra's eyes glittered but she glanced at Matthew and did not move towards it.
"You c'n eat it later. We got things to talk about first."
"Oh?"
"Regardin' your wanderin's. We got a plan as to how we c'n draw the police an' everyone not only off the scent but to lay the thing to rest altogether."
Vastra tilted her head to one side, flicking her attention between Jenny and Matthew as Jenny outlined their idea, accompanied by many encouraging nods from Matthew.
"Is that entirely necessary?" she sighed wearily, as soon as Jenny had finished. "As long as I keep to this room, there should be no further problems."
"An' do you think, Madam, that you would be entirely capable of doing that for the duration of the rest of this case however long that might be?" Jenny said, a touch acerbically, her arms folded, her eyebrows raised. Vastra stared at her loftily but made no reply. "An' even if you could, what's to stop someone comin' in through the door?"
"If someone forgot to lock it again you mean." Vastra sat upright.
Matthew, sensing that some rather loud and attention grabbing yelling was about to begin, felt he should interrupt. "But…but say Madame Vastra, I mean, it'd be foolin' the police too wouldn't it? I mean, thas..." he trailed off.
"That is hardly a challenge." Vastra snorted, slumping once more into her seat.
"I mean, it's payback ain't it? For 'em not helpin' us? An'…" Matthew grasped at straws. "Maybe if they see that Jenny is useful like, able to help 'em sort out somethin', maybe they'd be more inclined to help us back, see."
Jenny couldn't see precisely how their plan would affect such a change in the local constabulary but didn't contest the point. "At least it'd be somethin' to do." She shrugged at Vastra.
"Something for you to do." The Silurian muttered balefully but she eventually acceded to the plan.
11th March 1888
Matthew and Jenny spent a long day planning the entire thing in minute detail. They decided to do it at night, as that was when Vastra had been spotted. The spot was determined as near the railway station, close to where Vastra had been roaming and where Matthew worked and had quarters, and therefore knew his way around reasonably well, certainly enough to find hiding places if necessary. Jenny found a Harry Williams of Fleet Street to alter one of Vastra's dresses but Vastra put her foot down at this, saying it made the plan too elaborate and that an ill-fitting dress would arouse less suspicion. Jenny bought a second-hand veil for Matthew to wear as well, as Vastra was not about to give up her perception filter for a prank. Matthew also drew the line at heeled boots; not only was his feet far too large but as he argued, how on earth was he meant to run in them when the police chased him?
13th of March (A Tuesday)
Finally, on the evening of the thirteenth of March, Jenny left Matthew waiting in position and duly rushed up to the police station, breathlessly proclaiming she had sighted the "monster", down near the railway, as she'd been walking back to her hotel. With only a brief look of resignation after a rather longer glance of disbelief, Superintendent George North summoned the men on duty and followed her down to the railway station without too much muttering. Much as the police force of Swindon had grown weary of Jenny's badgering with regards to Joe Fields, the past few days had brought what felt like half the population of Swindon to their door, anxiously enquiring as to what they were doing about the "monster" and they were happy enough to be seen in pursuit of anything.
Matthew and Jenny had agreed that when she had brought the police to near his hiding place she would give an exclamation along the lines of "well it was around here somewhere". Jenny, as they neared the place, suddenly realised all the things that could go wrong with this plan, but it was a little late for cold feet, particularly if she wished to retain any credulity with the Swindon police force. She stopped and looking around the place, gave a rather shaky "I woulda sworn I saw somethin' movin' in amongst the buildings" and waited.
Matthew, who had been crouched behind a large stack of timber, was straining his ears and nearly missed the signal but upon hearing the louder and somewhat derisive replies of the police, darted out from his position, heavy boots thudding along as he lifted his skirts and ran.
"Hoi! There is something! There 'e goes!" Inspector Porter cried out.
"After him, Worthy!" Superintendent North roared, gesturing for them all to follow.
"Come on, men." Sergeant Rebbick hollered and they took up the chase, Matthew being careful not to draw too far ahead, which in truth was easy enough for him to do as he was not accustomed to running in skirts.
Jenny followed behind a constable, whom she had overheard being called Fred at some point. Now that the scheme had proved semi-successful, the adrenalin meant she had to suppress a grin.
Matthew kept very carefully to the plan, running along the high street, to give the chance for as many spectators as possible. A small crowd was soon giving chase as well and Jenny made sure to tell anyone who could hear that they were chasing the "monster" that had been seen around Swindon recently. The word spread among the pursuing group and they shouted for more people to assist them. Although, Jenny considered when they numbered about 30 men, not including the police, it wasn't exactly as though they would need help. Even if it had been a monster, or even Vastra, 30 men would be enough to overpower most things vaguely human. She got a bit alarmed for Matthew's safety when she spotted a few members carrying knives and guns.
Fortunately, the "hunt" didn't last much further than Regent's Circus, where Matthew tripped, already exhausted from the long run, and fell. The police had to hold the crowd back to stop him being stampeded; they grabbed him and hauled him upright, dragging off his veil, to reveal the horrendous mixture of coal dust, oil and lipstick that he'd painted his face with.
There were cries of disgust from the crowd but Sergeant Thomas Rebbick who approached him frowned. "Tis a man!" he called out. "Not a monster."
Matthew gave a sheepish grin which turned to one of mild alarm as he was cuffed and escorted back to the Eastcott Road police station.
Jenny tagged along at the back of the group, managing to edge her way into the station the crowd to watch as they doused him down and heard his story.
Superintendent North shook his head in disgust. "Bloody navvies!" he swore. "It's always you lot, causing trouble. Right. I think a few nights in the cell will cure you of miserable attempts at April Fools jokes! Scaring the good people of Swindon. Not to mention whichever good lady you stole this fine dress from, you bleedin' reprobate!" He blustered on for a while before sending the crowd home and handing Matthew a pair of trousers and a vaguely clean shirt.
Jenny gave him a sympathetic look but he gave a small shake of his head and she slipped off with the rest of the "good people of Swindon", feeling more than a little guilty at her friend's fate.
When she told Vastra what had happened, Vastra's only remark was one of horror that one of her dresses was now locked up in a police station. Jenny gave a most unimpressed look at her lack of sympathy for Matthew and curled up resolutely on the floor.
14th of March 1888
She woke to find herself in bed and turned over about to give Vastra an earful but the Silurian was curled up in a rather tight ball on the floor, under a blanket and her own cloak. Jenny rolled her eyes that Vastra could so easily worm her way back into Jenny's good graces and got up, throwing the blankets over the top of Vastra as she did so, before going to bathe and get dressed.
Jenny made sure she was cleanest and neatest she'd been in her life. Despite the mostly successful conclusion of the night's events, she still wasn't keen on Vastra wandering about for a while, which meant that she would have to make her way to the police station by herself to ask, in light of her assistance in capturing the "monster", for more support in their own case.
Superintendent North huffed a few times at her request, muttering about things not being as serious as people had made out and having had enough of hysterical over-reactions, but tasked one Constable Frederick Finley to support them in tracking down Joseph Fields as "he isn't much use to us anyway." She recognised him as the constable she'd followed the previous evening and gave him a brief smile.
"'e's right y'know." Constable Finley said miserably as they strode out the police station. "I dunno even what I c'n do to help yer."
"You local to the area?" Jenny asked, thinking that at the very least he might know more people who might've seen something than she did.
"Born 'n bred." He told her as they walked towards the town centre. "Grew up in Stratton. Me ma was born in the workhouse there. She got out." He added hastily. "Me grandma got married. It were me Da that got me the job as constable. Said it'd be a chance fer me to make up for everythin' in me family's past." He shrugged. "But I don't think the police really appreciate me bein' there."
Jenny wasn't listening; the word 'workhouse' had sparked her attention.
"Fred," she turned towards him and grabbed him by the arm to stop him. "if someone was loafin' about the place like, homeless, nowhere to go…where'd they be taken?"
"Well…first they'd be arrested fer bein' a vagrant, we don't encourage such sort in Swindon see, an' then…they'd be taken to the workhouse." Fred shrugged.
"In Stratton?"
"S'about the only one around, aye."
"You 'ad any coves arrested and sent there recently?"
"One or two. Why?"
"Reckon you could take me there?" Jenny grinned at him.
"It's over an hour walk." Fred warned her.
"Got any horses?"
"Well, we got the ones for the hurry up wagon but I'm not sure Superintendent North would let…"
Jenny spun round on the spot and made for the police station.
"Why d'you even want to go to the workhouse anyway?" Fred called, jogging after her.
"Where else do you go when you're down on your luck or wantin' to disappear?" Jenny shot back.
Doubting that Superintendent North would be obliging in letting them have the wagon, Jenny didn't ask him and merely saddled up the two horses and backed them into the shafts of the hurry up wagon. Fred looked half terrified, half admiringly as she steered the horses out the yard and off down the road, taking directions to Stratton from him, when he had found his voice again.
Even without walking the journey still took nearly an hour; the wagon and its horses were not made for speed. When they'd arrived and questioned the man in charge of the workhouse, one Mr Houghton, he told them that there had been three men who had recently been admitted. It irked Jenny that he spoke to Constable Finley more than to her. He brought them all out when Jenny demanded it but as Jenny had no clue what Joseph Fields looked like, she had to insist on taking all three of them back to the police station in Swindon.
The workhouse master flatly refused and Finley was far too much a wet blanket to help her out. Jenny used all of the authoritative demeanour she could muster to quell their arguments, stating that she was representing an important and well known detective from London and that these men could be crucial in solving a case but Mr Houghton was firm, even when Jenny threatened him with Scotland Yard.
Feeling despondent, she let Finley take them back to the police station. Inspector Worthy Porter was not best pleased when they arrived back, the missing hurry up wagon had caused great consternation and Constable Finley was subject to a rather blistering earful.
Jenny slipped into the cell area whilst it was going on and found Matthew, looking not much the worse for wear.
"I think I've found out where Joe is. But I haven't a clue what he looks like." She hissed through the bars, cutting off his welcome.
Matthew's description wasn't very helpful either. "They all had brown hair!" Jenny cried in exasperation. She could hear the clatter of boots and turned to face the beetroot red face of Inspector Porter.
"I was just questionin' him about my case. Might be as 'e was runnin' about at night he saw something." Jenny got in the first word and then stalked out the police station without a backward glance.
She hurried back to the hotel and regaled Vastra of all that had happened.
"And you believe it is one of these three men?" Vastra asked at the end of it.
"Yes! But the bloody man who runs the place won't let me take 'em out so Matthew can point out which one's Joe. And there's no chance of me getting Matthew out there." Jenny slumped onto the bed. "E'en when I threatened Scotland Yard on 'em."
Vastra's eyes glittered and she grinned her teeth showing grin. "Well if Scotland Yard was threatened…"
"What?"
"I shall write to Gregson. If you'd be so good as to post the letter?"
15th of March 1888
Jenny duly posted the letter the next and then spent the day with Vastra in their hotel room.
17th of March 1888
A couple of days later, Jenny strode back down to the police station, waving the very official looking letter from Scotland Yard and George North gave in. The wagon was once again taken out to the workhouse, where the letter was waved again and, in the presence of three policemen and the Sergeant, it was successful in gaining the three men who Jenny Flint had requested. They were duly brought back to the Eastcott Hill station.
"Well?" Super Intendent North sighed at Jenny. "What now?"
"I'll need you to bring out that bloke that got arrested a few nights back for dressing up as a monster."
"What?!" Inspector Porter blustered, now completely confused as to why this case was quite so important to all these people from London.
"We 'ave reason to believe he has information pertaining to this case and may also be able to identify a person." Jenny said grandly.
Inspector Porter looked to Sergeant Rebbick and then to his Super Intendent for support in this bewildering matter but the Sergeant merely shrugged and the Super Intendent waved a hand for him to carry on, whilst holding his head in the other.
Jenny noticed that Matthew still looked fairly hale and hearty, which she was glad for. She watched with an eagle eye the three men they'd brought back to the police station and was not disappointed.
"That's him." She called out, before even Matthew could, pointing at a young-ish brown-haired man who had gone pale at the sight of Matthew.
"Is it?" Super Intendent North looked to Matthew, almost begging him with his eyes to agree and end this whole affair. Matthew nodded and then was dragged off back to the cells. Sergeant Rebbick gestured for Fred to take the other two men back to the workhouse with another constable who'd watched the proceedings with an air of amusement and the four men disappeared back out into the yard.
"Joseph Fields?" Jenny stepped in front of him before Inspector Porter could. The man trembled slightly. "You're not in any trouble. I'm with a detective from London. Yer wife hired us to find you. S'alright."
He looked very short of convinced.
"Well?" Inspector Porter asked.
"I think it best if I take 'im back home. He's clearly bin through a terrible ordeal."
"Ordeal you say?" Inspector Porter said pompously, thinking to himself that whatever this man had gone through it was nothing compared to having Jenny Flint in his station.
"Well look at 'im, 'e's in shock." Jenny gestured at a wilting Mr Fields.
"But…" Inspector Porter protested but Sergeant Rebbick interrupted him with a frantic wave and gestured Jenny and Joseph out the station with visible relief.
Jenny slipped her arm through Joseph's, not only to keep a firm grip on him but also to appear unremarkable. She needn't have worried; Joseph merely stumbled along beside her, making no effort to get away. He hadn't spoken a word since he'd been escorted from the workhouse and he maintained his silence all the way to the Great Western Hotel.
Jenny knocked and led him through, depositing him in the small chair as Vastra locked the door behind them.
He gazed up at Vastra, who was still wearing her veil, and seemed about to speak at last but she held up a gloved hand to forestall him.
"I am Madame Vastra. A detective from London, hired by your wife to track you down. Having succeeded…there is no need to explain what happened," Vastra cut him off again. "I believe we have gained most of the story from your wife, Harriet Fields, and one navvy of the name of Matthew. The only thing of this case that remains a mystery, Mr Fields, is what you are planning on doing next?"
An: Mr Houghton was the name of the Master of the Workhouse at Stratton back in the 1850s. Don't ask me why I know this.
