Johanna could still not be pacified. She began to become more anxious as time went by, still seeing these vapours everywhere that were invisible to my own eye. After a short time, it was apparent she was best to stay in the barber shop. With my razors safely locked away, she was allowed into the room.
"They can seep through the floorboards," she said, theatrically dropping to the floor and knocking the wood.
"Don't say such nonsense, Johanna."
She shushed me, knocking thrice more.
"Hello?"
"Johanna, there is no one there."
She ignored me, repeating her actions once more.
I slowly moved towards her, picking her back up to her feet. She gladly did it, smiling cheerfully. An extraordinary change compared to the serious frown she had held only a moment ago.
"Mr Todd, you haven't combed your hair."
Again, I could not help but be taken aback by the sheer abruptness of her comment.
"I don't suppose so."
She giggled, sitting on the edge of the small bed, wriggling in delight. I could see no amusement in the fact. I sighed, and took hold of the comb I had sitting on the desk. I beckoned Johanna to me.
"Come, now. You haven't had yours brushed through either for a good while."
To my surprise, Johanna shook her head fervently.
"No, Mr Todd, I don't think so."
"Don't be silly, now. Come here."
She shook her head again, more anxious.
"No, no, I don't want you to."
I exhaled resignedly. Placing the comb back down, I shook my head, turning from my daughter. I caught a glimpse of Lucy in the picture frame, the urge to pick it up and stare almost too much to bear. I gave into the temptation, and so I took hold of the photograph and looked at for a moment. For a moment, I even forgot that Johanna was there.
"Who is she?" Johanna said all of a sudden. I turned my head to see her peering over my shoulder.
"She is…your mother," I said finally, hoping that this message should eventually get through. There was a pause, and then Johanna giggled.
"She has very pretty hair."
"Very much so."
There was another pause.
"It's not as pretty as Mrs Lovett's," she said blankly.
"I could have been certain you did not like Mrs Lovett, Johanna."
"Just because she has done wrong does not mean that her hair should suffer the consequences."
I didn't even bother to think about what that sentence meant. I put the picture back onto the desk, placing my hand on Johanna's shoulder.
"Do you wish for a book at all?" I asked out of the blue, wishing to keep her entertained for the day.
She only shook her head.
"I'm sure Mrs Lovett could find you something to do then."
Her eyes widened and she shook her head.
"I'll read a book," she said, as if such were a punishment. I do not know whether it bothered me, but I ignored all of this for the time being.
I had few books in my possession. There was an old battered book of tales that I remember Lucy reading to Johanna when she was much younger. For a moment, I remembered. I had never found the use of those types of books.
"It'll do her no good," I said with a chuckle, pulling Lucy onto my lap. "She can't understand a word that you're saying."
"She did not inherit all of your quirks," she said with a giggle, holding the book firmly as I tried to snatch it from her.
"If she can understand it then I'm sure she is screaming out for you to stop. Who wishes to hear about these tales?"
"Of love and romance?"
"Of imprisonment and old hags."
Lucy smiled, playing with my hair childishly.
"You mustn't think so wickedly, Benjamin. What would your daughter say?"
"I daresay she would be complaining to you. 'Mother dearest! Why speak to me of such horrid things! I should much rather hear that voice of yours put to good use through song!'"
Lucy laughed again.
"You know very well my voice was not meant for song."
"Then Johanna and I are deaf, for we would love to hear it again."
With a smile, Lucy shook her head. She rested it on my breast, the both of us looking at our little girl fidgeting in her crib.
"Mr Todd," called Johanna, breaking my memories. "Mr Todd, this book does not make any sense."
I looked towards her, slightly amused. She now sat cross-legged on the bed, holding the book in different angles, attempting in vain to read. Even though I was amused, I could not help but realise that not only was my daughter mad, but she was now illiterate.
"I could never make sense of it either," I said softly.
"The pictures are gone," she said. I barely could believe her.
"Excuse me?"
"There were pictures here, but there aren't any pictures."
"How do you know there were pictures?" I asked curiously.
She pointed at a faint mark on the page she was looking at.
"There are some colours left, but there isn't any shape. There were pictures, but now there aren't."
My once thriving heart dropped in my chest. For a moment- a split second- I thought she might have remembered.
All of a sudden, there came a knocking at the door. I called for the person to enter, and there came Mrs Lovett. Johanna jumped slightly, making the bedsprings creak, but did not move from her place. Mrs Lovett looked nervously towards Johanna, but then turned back to face me.
"Some men are 'ere to see us, Mr T," she said, her voice hoarse.
"I'll be down in a moment."
"No, they want to see us now, they said." I sighed resignedly. I glanced at Johanna, but followed Mrs Lovett out, locking the door behind me firmly.
"Who is it?"
"Just…some men. They-" She let out a shaky sob before she could finish her sentence.
"Mrs Lovett, who are they?"
"I-" Again, a chocking sob.
"Mrs Lovett," I said firmly, taking hold of her by the upper arms. "Who- are- they?"
She looked into my eyes, her own filled with glistening tears.
"They know Toby," she said in a whisper. My hands left her immediately, my face became livid.
"But you cleared out the remains?"
"Yes."
"And I've cleaned out the blood already. Not a trace left."
"But Mr T, do yeh think yeh can keep yehr patience?"
"I have a reason to now," I said, passing by her and walking into the pie shop.
Sure as she had said, there were two men sitting in one of the booths, their faces serious. In between them sat a young little boy, a scrawny little thing with short, scruffy hair.
Tobias Ragg.
I placed my false smile onto my lips- the smile that was used before a man sat down in my barber chair.
"Good day, gentlemen," I said in a friendly manner- or so the façade shall have meant. "What may I do for you to today?"
"That's him," Toby muttered under his breath to the officer to his left, who then turned to me.
"This boy seems to be under the thought that you have something to hide here, Mr Todd."
"You may look around the pie shop if you wish, sirs."
"He said it may have occurred in your barber shop."
"Then you may look up there as well."
Mrs Lovett sidled beside me, her eyes still watering. I saw that Toby was staring at her as well, his eyes a mixture of anger, confusion, and sadness.
"Come with me, gentlemen," I said, breaking the moment's silence, beckoning the gentlemen over to me. One of them moved to take Toby's hand, but he snatched it back.
"I want to stay down here," he said quietly yet firmly. Mrs Lovett's gasp was inaudible to anyone but me, and so I was the only one who could tell how glad she was. I paid no attention to them after that, and guided the men upstairs. I only prayed that Johanna would be in a calm state of mind.
"I must warn you," I said as we walked up the steps. "My daughter is up here. She has lately recovered from a bout of influenza, and is prone to a delirious nature after such illnesses."
"I'm sure we'll be fine enough," said one of the officers impatiently. "If we can just go and look now."
I nodded, opening the door. The moment the door creaked open, Johanna's delighted face came into sight. She smiled towards me.
"I can read it!" she chuckled. "I finally read the first tale, Mr Todd."
Attempting to ignore her fore the time being, I turned to the officers.
"You may look around as you wish," I said. As the man looked around, Johanna moved timidly towards me.
"Who are they?" she asked in a hushed whisper into my ear.
"Simply some men. They…" I trailed away, not knowing what to say. How may I tell my mad daughter that a boy could sentence us to jail if a trace of blood were found. It was an impossible thing to describe to the sanest of people.
I myself looked around the room with my eyes. I saw nothing. But my eyes were blinder than they once had been. I saw soul now, never physical.
"Would you pardon me and my daughter for a moment," I asked aloud. "She has not had much fresh air since the influenza."
The two nodded, carrying on with their searching. At a quick pace, I turned Johanna out of the door and led her towards the pie shop.
"Mr Todd, did I really have influenza?" Johanna asked excitedly as we rushed down the staircase.
"Yes, yes, you may have," I said, far too deep in my plans
"You didn't hear me before, Mr Todd!" she said suddenly, pulling me back. "You didn't hear me say I could read that story."
I stopped in my tracks, looking at her. For a split second, I genuinely smiled.
"Tell me about it later, Johanna."
I grabbed her wrist again, guiding her into the pie shop. She shuddered as we entered, but we were both too stunned to notice when we saw what faced us.
Mrs Lovett knelt on the floor, her arms wrapped fiercely around Toby, tears pouring down her cheeks. I could see her form shaking from the sobs. Strangest of all, Toby was shaking as well, and not just because Mrs Lovett was. He held her tightly as well, crying.
"Oh, Mr T!" she cried out the moment she saw us. With one arm still around Toby firmly, she wiped away her tears with the other. "Where are those other two?"
"They're still up in the barber shop," I said. I quickly took Mrs Lovett's arm with my spare hand. "We still have time."
"Time? What yeh talking about, love?"
"We're leaving. We have to go now."
"Mr T, yeh're not making any sense!"
"I've never made more sense in my life," I said, hoisting her to her feet. "We're leaving. I don't care where any more, I don't care if it's that blasted seaside you were talking about. I don't even care if that boy of yours wants to come," I added, spitting out the words.
Toby looked surprised.
"I-I-I-"
"Toby," Mrs Lovett exclaimed delightedly. "Yes, yeh 'ave to come. Me weary bones ain't gonna be able to cope by meself."
"You have Mr Todd!" he said.
"And 'e 'as Johanna. Please, love, for me."
A pained look flashed across his face before he nodded.
"For you." She smiled brightly, dragging Toby as I dragged her.
Where we were set course to, I do not know.