C8: The greatest betrayal
The following day Susan and Jackson woke up in each other's arms. For the first time in days Susan smiled with genuine happiness. Looking at her Matthew saw something in her that he had never seen before, there was a depth to her smile and the joy in her eyes. Rolling out the bed Jackson hurriedly began pulling on a set of clean clothes.
"I gotta go or Reid will come asking questions," Jackson said reluctantly.
"I wish you could stay with me," Susan said getting out of bed.
At the front door the pair kissed. Gently Susan placed a hand across her stomach and seconds later Jackson placed his across it. For a moment the pair stood united in their love. Reluctantly letting her go Jackson opened the front door and left the house with whistling. From the top step Susan watched her husband walk down the street. In the pale light of the dawn Susan felt her heart soar with hope. _
Arriving at Leman Street, Jackson groaned as the heavens opened sending down an icy cold mix of rain and hailstones. Glancing down to the opposite end of the street he saw Sergeant Drake walking towards him under the railway bridge. On the tracks above, the early morning train to Manchester Piccadilly rushed passed, rattling windows of nearby shops. Catching each other's eye both men exchanged a common groan, there was nothing worse for a shift then bad weather.
Suddenly a rapid blast of gunfire exploded, sending bullets a hundred directions. Through the smoke and rain ran Detective Sergeant Albert Flight. Pursuing him were Sergeant Mason and two of his fellow policemen from Limehouse. Seeing Jackson and Drake, the three policemen began firing at them as well as at Flight. Lost in a misty confusion of smoke, bullets and bad weather the terrified members of the public ran. As guns fired policemen raced out of the police station, including Inspector Reid, Commissioner Monro and Chief Inspector Abberline.
As Flight neared the station Jackson drew his gun, firing rapidly. One shot hitting Sergeant Mason in the leg, sending him to the floor. As he fell Mason fired, his bullet hitting Flight's left shoulder sending him to the ground. At the same time Reid, Abberline and Drake opened fire. The bullet of Abberline hitting Sergeant Mason in the chest, killing him instantly.
As the smoke cleared the devastation appeared through the rain and hail. In addition to Sergeant Mason one other lay dead from a bullet to the head, the second had been killed by three bullets and the third had fallen from two bullets to the head. Standing over them was Inspector Reid. Reid's face was full of white molten anger as he ordered the dead man to be moved to the Laboratory. The general public fearfully coming to their feet, while many were injured no one had died. Bullets were lodged in several walls and had shattered several windows. The Brown Bear had three in its door and the landlord was standing looking at the devastation in shock.
Sergeant Bennet Drake was kneeling down bedside Flight. Drake's face was full of anger, shock, pain and disbelief. His left hand was pressed against his right arms, from under which a stream of blood was flowing. His gun laying besides him on the ground, its bullets spent.
Flight lay on the road gasping for breath. He was pale, covered in bruising to his face and signs of cuts to his arms. His once smart suit was torn and covered in a mixture of mud and ice. Blood was pouring from a wound in his shoulder, his eyes wide with fear and pain.
Jackson's face was full of cold anger. Soaking wet he was unmarked by the gunfire. Slowly Jackson walked to Bennet and Flight. Kneeling down he ran expert eyes over Flight and Drake. Kneeling down relief came flooding through him, never had he been so grateful to be alive, images of Susan and last night flooding his mind.
At the same time Abberline and Monro walked out to where Reid stood. Standing in the rain and hail the policemen stood looking at the devastation a brief few moments had caused. For a moment the only sound was the pattering of rain and the steady hammering of the hail.
"What in God's name caused this?" Monro whispered, staring at the scene.
"I will find out," Reid vowed in a quiet tone full of anger.
"Flight is the key it seems," Abberline growled.
"It would seem so Fred," Reid replied, looking over to where Flight knelt.
Walking into the station practical heads prevailed and police due process was remembered. Ignoring the black looks on the older men's faces, Jackson hauled Flight and Drake into the laboratory. Opening his bag and cabinets he set about patching the pair up. With extreme care Jackson removed a bullet from Drake's arms. Under his breath Drake muttered an oath yet remained perfectly still. Grinning at the sergeant's calmness Jackson gave him a dose of laudanum for the pain and set about sewing and bandaging up the wound.
"Thanks Jackson. You're a lot better than some of the butchers who treat me in the past," Drake said as he felt the pain ease.
"Glad to hear it Sergeant, you're a tough old war dog," Jackson replied, washing his hands.
Turning to Flight, Jackson began cleaning to the young man's face and arms. Turning his attention to the shoulder Jackson cut away Flight's jacket. The bullet was buried deep within in the wound. Flight was frightfully pale and trembling. Eyeing the lad Jackson gestured for Drake to hold him lad still. With a wiry grin Drake handcuffed Flight to the chair and placed both hands on his shoulders. With uttermost care Jackson removed the bullet, Flight yelling out as an intense pain ripped through his shoulder. His body trembling Flight gasped for breathe as the wound was stitched. Looking closely at the lad Jackson gave him some laudanum.
Silence descended on the room, the only sound that bouncing of rain and hail on the windows. The floor of the room was slick with water and all three began to feel the cold as the adrenaline left their bodies. Then the door opened, Reid, Abberline and Monro walking in looking grim.
"My office now," Reid said sternly.
Without a word Drake, Jackson and Flight climbed to their feet, walking into Reid's office in single file. The air was heavy with tension as the six took seats, Monro behind Reid's desk with Reid and Abberline either side. Flight sitting directly in front of the desk with Drake and Jackson on either side.
Flight's absence over recent days had been noted and concerns raised when no trace of him had been found at his lodging house. His landlady unable to provide any information as to his whereabouts when Sergeant Arthertone had gone calling. Reid had been keeping these details to himself, only discussing it late at night with Arthertone when Drake and Jackson had left.
"Three officers' dead, it is only by luck that no civilians died. Three policemen men from Limehouse shooting at you. I want an explanation," Monro said coldly.
"The truth Flight," Abberline snarled gruffly.
"I confess my sins," Flight replied with composure.
"What have you done lad?" Drake asked with a sense of dread.
Taking a deep breath Flight looked at those assembled in the room. Then he drew a leather wallet from his pocket and set it on the table.
"I was a poisoner in Limehouse. Inspector Shine caught me. He saved me on the proviso I join the police. I joined but all the time doing his bidding and covering his corruption. Inspector Shine put me here to spy on you Inspector Reid," Flight said, his voice full of guilt.
The words were like knives through butter. The betrayal of trust, uniform, friendship and honour. No one dared speak yet the betrayal and anger in their eyes spoke volumes.
"Inspector Shine ordered me to kill Silas Duggan. I visited The Drunken Monk earlier that day, persuaded the landlord to have a drink with me then I drugged his drink to make him sleep. Shine had arranged for Duggan to parley with a rival at the Drunken Monk. Shine sent officers to protect Duggan. I poisoned Duggan's drink seconds before the rival arrived. The rival then slit Duggan's throat with a barber's razor."
"What of the three policemen, how did they die?" Monro asked without a trace of emotion.
"After Duggan was killed the barman poured everyone drinks. I slipped poison into the drinks of the policemen as I had been ordered to. I then left," Flight said, hanging his head in shame.
"What was the name of the rival Duggan met? What became of the barman Pete Smith?" Reid asked, his voice full of molten anger.
Slowly Flight opened the wallet. Inside was a vial. One it the symbol of poison and the name Oenanth Crocata. The same poison that killed Duggan and the men from Limehouse. A second piece of paper gave the name Mr Hemlock and address of a chemists in Whitechapel.
"I do not know what became of the barman. The rival was named Mr Richardson. I never saw his face nor that of his men, all arrived wearing masks and hooded cloaks. I returned to Inspector Shine once Duggan and the policemen were dead."
"We can presume Mr Richardson and his men dealt with the barman Pete Smith. Without a description Mr Richardson will be difficult to find," Abberline snarled, pacing the room in frustration.
"It is likely Mr Richardson is an alias, seeing as the name has not appeared in any of the files we have on Silas Duggan," Monro said in calculating manner.
The words caused everyone to pause. The men were all thinking the very same thing, was Mr Richardson in fact Roger Drake? The effort Mr Richardson had taken to disguise himself and the fact Flight had poisoned Duggan prior to his arrival indicated Mr Richardson did not wish his identity to be known.
"Inspector Shine took me to the house of Duggan's mistress Indira. I was kept at Indira's house because Inspector Shine said I needed to keep my head down. The night after the murder she, along with the child she had by Duggan left the house. She did not return. Today Sergeant Mason and the two constables appeared. I was to die so truth could never be known. I fought, jumped through a window and ran here."
Flight hung his head. The silence hung heavily as pens recorded his last words. The five witness stared at one another in utter shock. The mistress of Duggan, Indira, also known as Rajani. In the turmoil they had not though to question her nor wondered as to why she had not come forward with information.
A couple of months previously her brother Singh had been found dead beside two of Duggan's men The Blacksmith and Walter Halfpenny. It was suspect her second brother Vritra had killed the men. This case remained unsolved as the Vritra had vanished. Not once had they thought about her nor the open case. So caught up with the evidence linking the case to Shine and City men they had overlooked her. It seemed forgetting her had been a grievous oversight.
Reid, Abberline and Monro had gone white. Drake's eyes was full of the pain of betrayal. In his seat Jackson was staring murderously at Flight. Without a word Abberline handcuffed Detective Sergeant Flight to the chair.
"I do not blame anyone for failing to speak to Duggan's mistress. The evidence did not indication she was involved. Those responsible covered their tracks well," Monro said, his faced filled with anxiety.
"Captain Jackson, Sergeant Drake and Inspector Reid, you will visit the chemist to question and arrest Mr Hemlock."
"Of course Sir," Reid said, avoiding Flight's eyes.
"Chief Inspector Abberline you and I will remain here and question Detective Sergeant Flight further," Monro said, glaring murderously at Flight.
Standing up Reid, Drake and Jackson left the office, letting Sergeant Arthertone know that Chief Inspector Abberline and Commissioner Monro remained in the station.
Leaving the police station Reid, Drake and Jackson made their through the busy streets of Whitechapel under a downpour of rain and hail. They were already soaked and the further downpour chilled them to bone. Walking through the winding streets they soon arrived at the door of the chemists shop. In dark blue letters above the door was written Mr Yarrow. Walking inside they found all manner of jars filled with herbs, liquids and other products. At the desk stood a young man in his work clothes busily looking over supplies.
"Good afternoon gentlemen, how might I be off assistance?" the young man asked politely.
"We would like to speak to your master Mr Hemlock," Inspector Reid asked casually.
Almost instantly the demeanour of the young man changed, his eyes narrowed and his posture tensed and a wicked glint appeared in his eyes. From the side of the counter he picked up a small bell and rang it twice. A few seconds later a slim man with deep black hair streaked with grey appeared. He was dressed in smart working clothes, his apron streaked with unnamed substances and leather gloves on his hands.
"Good afternoon gentlemen I am Mr Hemlock, please come into the back where we can discuss your request in private."
Following Hemlock both men shared a covert look, Reid fingering his handcuffs, Drake slipping his hand around the knuckle duster in his pocket and Jackson placing his hand on the knife in his jacket. All three making sure their guns were secure. Following Hemlock into a large cellar they entered a laboratory full of jars, each bearing a skull and cross bones with a written label underneath.
"Gentlemen how might I assistance? A slow a painful, death that comes some hours after ingestion or quick acting with excruciating pain?"
"How did you know we seek poison without speaking to us?" Jackson asked in a smooth tone.
"By the fact you called me Hemlock, only those with nefarious purposes know that name. To respectable society I am Mr Yarrow."
"We have been told you supplied the poison that killed Silas Duggan, we'd like that," Jackson replied smiling.
"An excellent choice Sir. That was Oenanthe Crocata, Dead man's fingers being one of its common names. Convulsions and a quick death the choice of professional poisoners, I have the honour of being the man who supplied that poison, Mr Hemlock replied in a loving tone.
"That sounds perfect," Jackson said.
Before anyone knew what was happening Drake punched Hemlock square between the eyes. The blow sending him reeling to the floor. In an instant Reid had him handcuffed. Like mice the men climbed back up the ground floor. The shop was empty. Silently Jackson moved behind the boy at the counter. Raising his gun he pressed it against the boy's head.
"Move you die. Come quietly I'll let you live," Jackson said.
"Please Sir don't kill me," the boy whispered in a terrified voice.
Within a second Drake had the boy in irons. Together Drake, Reid and Jackson escorted Mr Hemlock and the boy Leman Street through the storm.
Arriving at the station the arrested men were flung into cells while Monro and Abberline stood watching. For a moment both men stood looking at the prisoners with eyes full of fury. Turning on his heal Monro walked back up the stairs with the others following in his wake. Once inside the privacy of Reid's office he turned to face the other men. Monro was pale and looked extremely worried. The five men were alone for Flight had vanished. Tension, fear and uncertainty hung in the air. Water dripping onto the floor from wet clothes.
"I have sent Flight to prison. While you were out I sent PC Perkins and Sergeant Arthertone to the house of Duggan's mistress. They are to enquire if any of the neighbours saw Flight being persuade. They have been told to report directly to myself at the Yard once they have completed their investigation," Monro began.
There was something in the strange, almost guilty look at both Monro and Abberlne had that suggest Flight had revealed more while the Leman Street trio were out. Flight had confessed the truth of how Maurice Linklater and Joseph Merrick died. Given the situation Monro was choosing to keep that information a secret least it provoke rash action.
"Chief Inspector Abberline, Inspector Ressler and the three of you will meet at Inspector Ressler's station house at nine o'clock tomorrow morning. There we will arrest Inspector Shine on suspicion of the murder of Silas Duggan. Roger Drake will be questioned thoroughly as to the same murder."
The words chilled the room, the silence defending as those assembled took in their meaning. Reid sat looking resolute with a slight feeling of pleasure that at last a man who he viewed a traitor would face justice. Bennet's face was set in stone giving no hint as to his inner turmoil. Jackson alone of the trio sat without emotion other than satisfaction the case was drawing to a successful conclusion.
"I will lead the questioning. There is a strategy I wish to play out. You must not intervene unless I invites you," Monro said, his voice cold and to the point, broking no argument.
Standing up the trio shook hands with Chief Inspector Abberline and Commissioner Monro as the two senior men left the station. For a moment the trio stood looking at one another, the events almost defied belief. Walking back into Reid's office they flopped down into chairs in exhaustion.
"What do we do now Inspector?" Drake asked, breaking the silence.
"Write up everything we know. Flight's actions run the risk of forewarning Shine or Roger of our suspicions. We have one chance, one slim chance. We hope both men are arrogant enough, believe they are secure enough in their positions that they think themselves untouchable," Reid replied rubbing his tired eyes.
"This is could all go wrong Reid. Sounds awful similar to the evidence we had my father in law on and he walked free. Shine's slithered out of trouble before," Jackson said lighting a cigarette.
"However slim the chance it is one we must take," Reid said, his eyes alight with fire.
