Hey yall! Joe Stalin here with Chapter 3 of his nasty gruesome suspense thriller! Can I point out before I begin that I was just a wee bit disappointed when no one reviewed Chapter 2. Reviews are what give me the strength to carry on with my stories, and if I don't get any reviews...I go a wee bit insane!
Plus, I may have to have Jack start killing offother fave characters of my readers unless those reviews start pouring in! I did it to Shadow, who's to say I won't keep doing it?
Shadow: ''Trust me...he will do it!''
Joe: Quite you! Your supposed to be dead!''
Shadow: ''Yes sir''
So sit back, relax and enjoy...'Jack The Ripper'! By the way, I don't own any of these guys!
Jack The Ripper
Chapter 3- Suspicious Circumstances
''I'm sorry Sonic. There was nothing we could do''
The doctor looked on as Sonic took the news in. Amy was dead.
Some late night drinkers had found her in an alleyway as they came out of the 'Whitechapel Inn'. They had rung for an ambulance, but it was too late. She was announced dead on arrival, there had been nothing they could have done to save her.
The doctor looked at the devestated blue hedgehog in front of him. They had phoned Sonic the moment Amy had been brought in, but everyone had known that it was hopeless. Amy had received a deep bullet wound to the back of her head, piercing through her brain and severing major arteries. She had been unconscious for at least three hours before she had been found in an alleyway in 'Whitechapel Way'. That name alone made it obvious who had killed her.
Jack had been out hunting again. And he had found Amy.
''If theres anything else I can do for you...'' the doctor started to say, only to be cut off by a slow shake of the head from Sonic.
'No...no don't bother. You've...done enough already''
The doctor nodded and walked out of the room, leaving Sonic alone.
Sonic sighed, his head shaking from side to side. On the table in front of him was a newspaper. On the front page, almost mocking him, read the headline-
''Ripper Strikes Again. Victim Number 3''
The newspaper was from a week ago, before Shadows murder and before Jacks shadow had fallen over them. First Shadow, now Amy. Who else would be next to fall to The Ripper?
At that moment, the waiting room door opened quietly. Sonic turned round, to be confronted by a devestated Cream. Her face was streaked with tears, and she looked as though she had gotten dressed in a hurry. Her blouse was on back to front and her hair was matted.
Sonic walked uptoher and pulled her into a hug. The young rabbit immediatley burst into tears, as Sonic patted her on the head comfortingly.
''It's okay Cream'' Sonic said soothingly as Cream continued to sob in his arms.
''S-s-she's gone Sonic! Amy's...dead!'' she sobbed. Sonic sighed and stroked her head.
''I know Cream, there was nothing they could do. Did you come on your own?'' Sonic asked solemnly. Cream shook her head.
''No...I phoned the others like you asked me to. They should be here soon'' Cream sniffed as she broke the hug.
Sonic nodded and gestured for her to sit down. Cream sat down, wiping her eyes with a tissue from her pocket. She then turned to Sonic, a frightened look on her face.
''It was Jack wasn't it Sonic? He killed Amy...just like he killed Shadow, didn't he?''
Sonic nodded his head slowly, and Cream buried her face in the tissue.
''I'm so scared Sonic! What if he comes after the rest of us?'' Cream sobbed. Sonic walked over to her and lay a hand on her shoulder.
''Don't worry. I won't let him hurt you''
At that moment, a loud clicking sound outside caught Sonic attention. Cream had noticed too.
''Whats that?'' she asked nervously as the sound grew louder. Sonic frowned slightly.
''I don't know'' the blue hedgehog replied.
Suddenly, the clicking stopped, and the door opened slowly. Sonic stepped back cautiously, but stopped as he realised who it was.
''Tails?''
Sonic was shocked. Tails looked terrible. There were deep bags under his eyes, and his eyes were bloodshot. He also looked extremely pale. But what shocked Sonic the most was what Tails had in his hand. A metal walking stick. As the fox walked further into the room, Sonic noticed that Tails was walking with a very bad limp.
''What happened to you?'' Sonic asked. Tails glared at him.
''I'm glad you asked me that Sonic! First I go out with Knuckles and Eggman for a couple of drinks. Then later in the night Eggman takes off without telling me and leaves me without a way to get home! Then, I find out that Knuckles hasn't got any money to pay for the drinks, and so I have to fork out all the cash!''
Tails paused to get his breath back. His face had taken on a redish tinge and he winced in obvious pain as he steadied himself with his cane.
''After I've forked out all that cash, I decided to go home. But unfortunatley for me since I didn't have a car, I had to walk! Did I forget to mention that it was pissing it down at this point? So anyway, I get home soaked to the skin. I decide to do a bit of work in the workshop before I go to sleep, but unfortunatley I had a little accident with the power saw!''
Tails motioned at his left leg and snarled.
''I cut right through the skin and lost a hell of a lot of blood! I was also in agony the likes I have never felt before and I wasn't really keen of hobbling to the hospital through the rain! So I bandaged it up and decided to go to sleep. But oh no, I can't even do that! Because at 3 o'clock in the morning I get her over there ringing me telling me that Amy's hurt!'' Tails jabbed at Cream, who shrank back in fear.
''So I had to walk all the way to this disease factory in the rain with a damaged leg! But apart from that, I had a really enjoyable night!'' Tails snorted and collapsed into a nearby seat. Sonic glared at him.
''Do you even know whats happened?'' he snarled. Tails looked up.
''Well obviously! Amy went and got herself drunk and hurt herself! But I don't really see why you had to drag me here justbecause the stupid bitch got herself pissed out of her head!''
Cream stifled a gasp. Sonic's face went bright red and his eye was twitching.
''AMYS DEAD!'' Sonic bellowed, knocking Tails off guard. Spnic approached Tails.
''My girlfriend was murdered last night, and you don't even give a shit! I swear Tails if you and me didn't used to be friends, I would kill you right where you sit!''
Tails stared dumbfounded.
''Murdered?'' he stammered. Cream stifled a sob, and Sonic nodded.
''Oh my God! Sonic I am so sorry, I had no idea!'' Tails stood up with difficulty, a stunned look on his face. Sonic sighed.
''It's not your fault Tails. You didn't know'' Sonic said solemnly. Tails shook his head.
''No, thats no excuse! I was bang out of order! I just had such a crappy night that I just wanted to take it out on someone. Can you ever forgive me?''
Sonic looked Tails straight in the eye and nodded.
''Of course I forgive you! Your my best buddy, how can I not?'' Tails smiled and lay his free hand on Sonics shoulder.
''Sonic, for what its worth I'm so sorry for what happened'' Tails said. Sonic smiled slightly.
''Thanks Tails. Much appreciated''
At that moment, the door opened and Eggman walked in. He looked apsolutely beaten down emotionally. Sonic turned to face him, noticing that Eggman too was walking with a slight limp.
''Oh Sonic, I'm so sorry'' Eggman said choking up. Sonic walked upto him slowly.
''Hi Eggman. Did you get here okay?'' Eggman nodded.
''I came as soon as I got the message from Cream. How did she die Sonic?''
Sonic paused as he bit his lip.
''She was murdered Eggman...by Jack''
Eggman gasped, and Tails dropped his cane which clattered to the floor.
''Jack? As in Jack The Ripper? Are you serious?'' Tails blurted out, a bewildered look on his face. Sonic nodded.
''Yep. They found her in 'Whitechapel Way'. A bit of a coincidence if you ask me!'' he muttered bitterly. Eggman shook his head, apparently stunned.
''I thought it was bad enough when he got Shadow, but not Amy!'' Eggman croaked as tears began to fall down his cheeks. Tails began to light up a cigarette.
''I'm getting a bad feeling about this. I think it's too much of a coincidence for it to happen twice! First Shadow and now Amy!'' Everyone stared at the fox.
''What do you mean?'' Cream asked. Tails looked at her.
''Don't you think it's a bit coincidental? I mean for starters, how many people knew where Shadow lived? Not many!''
Sonic stared blankly at Tails.
''Are you trying to tell us that one of us killed Shadow and Amy?'' Sonic asked. Tails nodded.
''To be fair Sonic, not many people knew where Shadow lived. He was too much of a recluse. Onlyus lot knew his address as far as I know!'' Tails stubbed out his cigarette on the table top.
Eggman collapsed into a chair next to Cream, his eyes on Tails.
''I don't beleive you Tails! How could you even think that one of us would be capable of such appaling acts?'' Eggman all but shouted. Tails glared at him.
''Oh yeah? And where were you last night after you took off from the club?'' Tails eyed Eggman suspiciously. Eggman turned away his gaze.
''I went home. I had a lot of work to do. Besides, I didn't fancy having to wait for you and Knuckles to finish off drinking yourselves stupid! You know I don't drink!''
Tails snorted.
''A bit convenient don't you think? It wouldn't have taken you long to reach 'Whitechapel Way' from the club in your car! Fifteen minutes maybe?'' Tails said as he reached for the paper.
''How dare you! I wouldn't lay a finger on Amy!'' Eggman yelled. Tails eyed him.
''It didn't used to be a problem for you!'' Tails snarled. Eggman stood up and jabbed his finger at the fox.
''And what about you? Where did you go after you'd finished wasting yourself? Down to the local pub in 'Whitechapel'? Don't forget Tails, I know all about your little drinking problem! Once you get started you can't stop!''
Tails jumped to his feet, wincing slightly as his foot came into contact with the floor.
''Don't give me that crap! I got over that addiction! Besides I've already told Sonic where I went last night! Its the reason I did my leg in! Tell him Sonic!'' Tails looked at the blue hedgehog, who had sat down during the argument.
''Eggman, Tails went home after he left the club. He kinda did his leg in as well with a power saw when he was working on something''
Eggman snorted.
''Seems a bit convenient Tails!'' Tails leered at him.
''Are you saying I'd cut my own leg open just to have an alliby? God sakes Eggman how patheitc does that sound?'' Tails snarled. Sonic finally stood up and pointed at both of them.
''Listen you two! This has got to stop! I know each of you, and I know that none of you would even think of doing such a thing as this! Now will you two please stop staring daggers at each other?''
Eggman and Tails nodded reluctantly.
''Good. Now, where are Knuckles and Rouge?'' Sonic asked. Cream looked up.
''Rouge isn't coming. She just couldn't bare it'' the young rabbit said. Tails looked up suddenly.
''Was she with Amy last night?'' the fox asked, suspicion evident in his tone.
''Yes she was. And don't get any ideas Tails! Witnesses can vouch that she was at that pub until two in the morning! Not once did she go out!'' Cream scowled at Tails, who looked away. Eggman stood up with difficulty.
Sonic noticed.
''Hey Eggman, whats with the limp?'' Sonic asked. Eggman looked up nervously.
''I have arthritis Sonic. I had a terrible nights sleep, I was in absolute agony! And its not much better now!''
Sonic nodded in recognition. Tails suddenly spoke up.
''Where's Knuckles? Didn't you guys ring him too?''
Sonic looked at Cream, who nodded.
''I phoned everyone. But he didn't pick up so I left a message'' Tails snorted.
''He's probably sleeping off his hangover. And from the amount of drinks I had to fork out for him, I don't think we'll be hearing from him for a while!'' Tails smirked, and lit up another cigarette.
''You do know this is a no smoking room Tails?'' Eggman pointed out and gestured to a sign on the wall. Tails scowled and scrunched the cigarette out.
''God damn hospitals!'' Tails muttered. Sonic walked upto the fox.
''Shouln't you have the doctors check out your leg? From the way you described it, it sounded pretty nasty!'' Sonic asked. Tails pulled his leg back defensively.
''No! I'm fine! Besides, the last thing I need right now is a guy in a white suit poking me and asking me how I feel! I've had enough of that recently!''
Sonic was slightly taken aback by Tails reluctance. He knew that Tails had had a hard time in the last two years, but he was usually more cooperative than this.
Sonic turned round as Cream let out a gasp. She was clutching the paper in her hands, and her face was frozen in horror.
''I can't even read a newpaper without his name showing up! Why did this have to happen?'' Cream sobbed. Sonic walked upto her and removed the paper fom her grip.
''Don't worry Cream, everythings gonna be okay! We're all gonna stay over at my house tonight, so you'll be safe'' Tails and Eggman looked up at this remark.
''Excuse me?'' Tails remarked. Sonic stood up and walked upto him.
''I said we're all staying at my house tonight! You didn't do what I said last night and looked what happened!'' Sonic all but yelled before faltering. Tails sighed.
''I know we didn't. But how could we have known what would happen Sonic?'' Tails replied. Sonic jabbed at hm.
''And thats why tonight we're all gonna stay under one roof! No more drinking, and no more going out alone! Amy died last night because we didn't follow what I said. And I'm gonna ensure that it doesn't happen again!''
''But Sonic. What if Tails is right? What if one of us is Jack?'' Cream asked nervously. Sonic scowled at her.
''None of us is Jack, okay Cream? I don't beleive that for a second! Now, if you will all excuse me, I have to speak to the doctor about Amy's...autopsy''
Sonic sighed and walked out the room. The others couldn't hel noticing that he had walke dout of the room with a suspicious limp.
Ooh! Suspects galore in this chapter! Take your pick! Find out next time who'll be next! And don't forget to R&R!