Chapter Twelve – Research
Christine watched Erik drive off until she couldn't see him, then she headed towards the pavement and waved for a taxi. "The Bennet Music Library at sixty-fifth and third please." She told the taxi driver through the window. She got in, laid her bag aside and relaxed back in her seat. She was heading to see Meg because she knew that she would be working today. When taxi pulled up outside the huge building Christine got out, walked straight inside and headed towards the lower section of the library where Meg worked. She found her sat at her desk reading a thick book. When she spotted Christine she placed a book mark in the book and set it down on the desk. "Morning Chris, how are you this morning?" Christine smiled "I'm very well thank you" she replied.
Meg stepped out from behind her desk "So what can I do for you this morning?" Meg asked. Christine took a few steps closer "Meg, what was the name of the book that you found the information about Erik Destler?" Meg removed her glasses and thought hard "Let me think… er it…..it was called. Oh Yes! It was called "Composers of the Nineteenth Century" Why do you want to know?" She asked. "Because last night I was looking at the sheet we found and I just became curious abouthim, and so I want to see if there's any more info about him." Christine of course had not looked at the music the night before. But she wanted something to do that would kill time so she would be back with Erik sooner. Meg folded her arms across her chest "That's all very well Chris, but I don't think there will be much to find. Because I said myself I had to go through a dozen books before I could that one book with the footnote I showed you."
Christine scratched the back of her head. "Have you still got the book Meg?" she asked. "Yes, I've got it somewhere" said Meg and she put her glasses back on and began searching through all books that were piled on her desk. "I really must put all these back soon or Mr Krueger will be mad with me" Christine nodded. She had quite often seen the library Manager "Frank Krueger" when he was angry. And it was something no one would want to see. "Nothing is worse than Mr Krueger's temper" she said cheekily and they both giggled. "Ah, here we are" said Meg holding out the thick brown book. Christine took it in her hands and looked at the gold title "Composers of the Nineteenth Century". She opened the book where the bookmark was. And there she saw the same paragraph that she had read the other night
Destler. Erik
Known primarily for his unfinished opera "Don Juan Triumphant". Destler's musical reputation is overshadowed by his infamy. He was said to be obsessed with a young opera singer who disappeared without a trace the night of Destler's death. Authorities believe that they were never able to prove that the composer was a psychopathic killer, responsible for the brutal murders of at least a dozen London residents.
An idea came into her head "Can you show me where you got this book?" she asked. "Hmm, I think I ca…" But Meg was interrupted suddenly by the back door which banged open making both girls jump. A tall man walked in holding a piece of paper. "Excuse me, Miss Gordon. Frank says that the delivery of new books have arrived out at the back. And he wants you to unload them and sort them." He handed her the piece of paper. "Yes Max I'll attend to it right away. Could you please help Christine find where in the library this book comes from?" she asked handing the book to him. "Of course Miss Gordon." He said. Meg walked past both of them and stopped by the back door where max had walked in. "Once I've finished sorting the books I'll come and see how you're doing Christine" she said. "Alright, see you later Meg" she said.
The moment the door closed Christine turned to face Max. "Right if you follow me up to the front desk we'll find which shelf in the library this book came from." Christine nodded "I'm right behind you" She followed him back up the stairs and through to the main reception. Christine waited behind the desk while max scanned the book. After a minute he said "Ah, here we are then miss. We need to go up to the second floor into the history section." He led Christine up some more stairs and soon they reached the second floor. They passed endless shelf upon shelf of books until they stopped by a long row shelves with a sign above them that said "Nineteenth Century." He handed the book back to Christine "Well here we are then, is there anything here you need me to help you research?" Christine shook her head "No thanks, I'm sure you've got more important things to do." He looked surprised but nodded "I do indeed actually. Hope you find what you're looking for, goodbye." "Bye" Christine said over her shoulder as he walked away.
Much, much later Christine was sat comfortably on an arm chair. On the coffee table beside her was a small pile of books she had taken off the shelf. She had not found Erik's name in any of the books in the pile, but the thick volume she was now reading. "Famous Victorian Killers and their Crimes" She had found a whole chapter about him. The chapter itself was only three pages long.
Erik Destler
Erik Destler used to be a normal man like any other man you would find. He loved to compose music, operas especially. He dreamed of becoming a great composer and to be loved by the world for his music. One fateful night he made a deal with the devil, he sold his soul and the devil made it so his dream would become reality. But the devil had a price, he burned and deformed Destler's face so terribly and hideously that the no one would ever love him for himself ever again by anyone.
With a cursed face Destler could not step out into public without scaring a poor soul. Destler tried to reason and explain to the world about why he looked the way he did. But all who saw him ran away screaming in fear before he could even speak a word to them. He was driven mad with being despised and feared by the world, so mad that he became a deadly killer. Anyone who angered or insulted him had signed their death certificate in blood. After Destler brutally murdered the insulter he skinned them completely. Then Destler would use the skin of his murdered victims and sew it over his face to hide his hideousness. This enabled him to walk out into the public eye which only made it harder for the authorities to find him.
He then fell madly in love with a young opera singer and it was then that he began committing murder in her name. He skinned a scene shifter for accidently dropping a sand bag on her head during a opera rehearsal, he murdered the Gasette critic when he criticized her debut performance. On the evening of the masked ball at the London Opera House he beheaded one of their singers and put her head in a pot of soup. During all the mayhem this caused he kidnapped the opera singer he loved and they both disappeared.
According to the one witness of that night inspector Hopkins of Scotland Yard. Destler's lair was right under the opera house and it was there that he held the young girl prisoner. He broke in and along with the young girl's fiancée Richard and they tried to save her. But Richard was no match for Erik Destler, he got stabbed and engulfed in flames from a candle. Hopkins was only wounded with a busted shoulder after Destler pushed him down some stairs.
Destler then must have knocked a candle on some wood because the lair was starting to catch fire. Through all the pain in his shoulder Hopkins managed to reach for his gun and shoot Destler three times. What happened next was a mystery because everything was hidden by the flames that were burning throughout the lair. But though it all Hopkins heard the girl's screams and then the crashing of broken glass. When her screams faded away along with the shattering glass he then heard Destler cry out the girl's name in terror.
In the time it took for Hopkins to get to his feet Destler's cries had also faded away. He then had to evacuate from the lair as it was burning quickly. He stepped out and waited for the flames to die down. When they eventually did he stepped back in he saw that every single thing in the lair had been burned, there was no chance that anyone could have survived that. He began to look for the bodies but he found no trace of the girl or Destler. He searched throughout the whole lair but found nothing except Richard's burned body. Detectives were called to investigate but from what they saw and from the evidence Hopkins provided, they estimated that both Destler and the girl had been burned to ash. And the screams Hopkins had heard were when they both had been burned by the flames. The verdict had been declared true because ever since that night Destler and the girl were never seen again.
Christine was surprised that she had found a book with so much detail about that night. She decided that she would take the book out and show to Erik when she got home. He may be surprised that he ended up in a history book, unless he hadn't read it already. Christine then heard the sound of approaching footsteps, she looked up to see Meg walking towards her carrying two mugs. "Here" she said quietly "I made you a coffee" Christine smiled and took one of the mugs "Thanks" she replied just as quietly. As she took a sip from her cup Meg sat on the arm chair next to her "So did you find anything out about our friend?" she asked. Christine handed her the book. "Only the one chapter here in this book. Take a look." Meg read the chapter through with wide eyes. When she'd finished she stared at Christine. "My god, Chris I can't believe it. I mean I was shocked when I found out he was a serial killer but this. I mean it's like he was Jack the Ripper." Christine nodded "I know"
For a while they sat in silence and sipped their coffee. Meg finished her cup and placed it down next to the pile of books. "I've got my lunch hour now Chris, so do you want to go and eat somewhere?" Christine swallowed her last mouthful of coffee "Yes, I'd love that Meg. I'll just put these back first" she said gesturing to the pile of books "Then I'm gonna check this book out and I'll be with you." She got to her feet and picked up the books. "Why are you taking the book out Chris?" Meg asked as Christine placed the books back on their shelf. " Just for something to read Meg. I find Destler's story very intriguing." Meg stared at her "You're kidding, I found it quite scary and gruesome." Christine slid the last book on the shelf "Well some people like it and some people don't." Meg nodded but didn't answer.
They both walked side by side as they headed to the front desk for Christine to take the book out. After having both the book and her library card scanned, Christine put the book in her bag and then both she and Meg walked outside. "So where would you like us to go then?" Christine asked. Meg thought for moment then replied "Do you fancy sushi?" Christine nodded "Mmm, sushi sounds good." Then they walked down the road heading towards the sushi bar.
Author's Notes
Wow! A very long Chapter to write.
Hope you like the Mr Krueger Joke. It's for all of you that are ROBERT ENGLUND FANS! Like Me :D
Let me know what you think in your reviews.
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