The Inspection of a Curator
DISCLAIMER: All rights belong to Deborah Harkness. Just borrowing the characters for an alternate universe fan fiction story.
SUMMARY: A 1940's Police Inspector gets caught up in the world of rare books when a valuable manuscript is stolen and a murder occurs. Together, with a book curator, this Detective will face obstacles as they traverse the secret world of asylum's, wealth and mystery as well as their blossoming romance.
CREDIT: A huge thank you to Shawna! I wouldn't be the author I am without your editing help, suggestions and ideas!
AUTHOR'S NOTE: The next few months are going to be busy for me as I'm packing up to move house. While I'd like to try to keep my schedule, I can't guarantee that that I'll have as much time as I'd like for writing.
Thanks for sticking with me and in the meantime, please leave a comment/review and let me know what you think of the story so far!
Chapter TEN: "Back to The Prologue"
By: Goode Girl
~TIOAC~
Thundering footsteps could be heard bounding up the stairs as Matthew took off his hat and pulled frantically at his hair. His actions, a desperate reaction to finding Diana missing; nothing but a piece of white cloth and a turned over chair as evidence of the crime. It was clear she didn't leave willingly.
When the footsteps halted, Matthew turned to see Philippe and Miriam as they entered the library. Matthew turned back to peer into the dark of the open door; the secret passage into the library and the tunnels below.
"Matthew?" Philippe questioned as he cautiously approached.
"She's gone. Someone took her." He murmured in disbelief. "Why would they take her?" He added forlornly.
"Probably to make you worry." Miriam interjected. "And clearly it's working." She added sympathetically, taking the cloth from his hand. She brought it closer to her face to investigate more clearly. "Trichloromethane." She supplied.
"Chloroform." Matthew murmured in reply.
"Precisely." Miriam confirmed as she and Philippe ventured closer to the door to inspect what may lay beyond.
"What do we do?" Philippe queried, his gaze moving from Miriam to Matthew to gauge what their next steps should be.
~TIOAC~
Gallowglass had just finished collecting the lunch trays from the third floor of the asylum and had returned the cart to the kitchen before retrieving the empty one for the fourth floor. He hadn't seen Kit in over an hour and he was supposed to be helping him deliver the trays and then collect them. His mind starting going through the possibilities of where Kit could be and what he was doing. It was clear from his questions that the new hire wanted to be Knox's little pet. Gallowglass was distracted from his thoughts at a sudden noise.
He heard a commotion near the Maintenance door just down the hall, and halted his movements to listen more clearly.
"Get her in the wheelchair!" He heard a woman's voice call in a harsh whisper.
"I'm trying!" A male voice replied, clear irritation resonating in the tone. "Leave the stretcher here." He added.
"I'll move it two rooms down to the supply room." The woman stated through clenched teeth. "It makes more sense that an extra gurney would be with the others!" She relayed condescendingly.
Gallowglass peered down the hall, making sure to conceal his body from view behind another cart. He could see Kit and another nurse, Louisa, trying to get a woman situated in a wheelchair. 'Damn idiot.' Gallowglass thought to himself. "What does Knox have you doing?" He murmured to himself.
"She's got a cut on her head." Kit announced.
"That's what happens when you drop someone half way down a ladder!" She sniped.
"You try carrying a comatose body!" He retaliated.
"Go inform Dr. Knox, I'll bring her up." Louisa informed, locking the leg rests of the chair in place.
Kit moved the gurney to the room Louisa had indicated then jogged to the end of the hall and took the stairs up, as Louisa rolled the chair to the elevator. She turned the chair around so that she could pull it in after her.
Gallowglass' eyes widened in shock. "Diana!" He murmured to himself in disbelief.
~TIOAC~
Gallowglass hurriedly finished his tray collection on the fourth floor and when he returned the full cart back to the kitchens, it was time for a coffee break. He ventured into the Maintenance room knowing that had to be the access point Kit and Louisa had used.
He smiled at his discovery because clearly, they were not careful about concealing their actions. There was a metal shelf holding various supplies and it was not flush against the wall. Carefully, he pulled the shelf out and it opened like a door showing a walkway that led to some stairs going down. He ventured in and pulled the shelf closed behind him, studying it for any latches to allow him access back into the asylum. There was a small handle, a doorknob, but it didn't appear to lock; much to Gallowglass' relief.
Gallowglass found himself assessing his position as he could go in two possible directions. Based on the location of the asylum to his objective, he found himself a moment later sprinting through the tunnel, knowing his only destination was the manor house. Surprisingly, the tunnel was lit overhead. About every thirty feet there was a light fixture protected with a wire grid allowing a soft glow of light to illuminate the way.
When he reached the end, he could see various ladders, made of wood and light was seeping down from one on the far left. He wandered over and looked up, ready to climb when he heard voices.
"You can't just charge into the asylum, Matthew." He heard a female voice try to reason.
"MATTHEW!" Gallowglass called. He watched as three heads peered down at him from a narrow walkway.
~TIOAC~
Peter Knox was delighted at Kit's news and they met Louisa near the elevators.
"Excellent work." He praised.
Knox ordered Louisa to administer midazolam to Diana before changing her into a hospital gown. Once she was changed and drugged, Kit was instructed to take her to the fourth floor and place her in an isolation room.
"What's mida…" Kit trailed off.
"Midazolam is a sedative with some rather useful side effects." Knox informed, smiling rather menacingly.
Kit looked to Louisa and she shook her head at him in a 'don't ask' gesture. Remembering William's advice, he kept his mouth shut.
Louisa undressed Diana and secured a hospital gown around her while also cleaning the small cut on her head near her temple. Only a small mark was visible that was beginning to scab over. Once he and Louisa completed their designated tasks and Diana was securely in her room, Kit found William and joined him in helping to dole out the dinner trays.
"Where you been at, lad?" Gallowglass queried, as they rode the elevator down to the basement. He knew now that Kit had been off doing Knox's bidding.
"Running an errand for Dr. Knox. Sorry to leave you with all the chores." He explained.
"Not a problem, I was doing it alone before you started." He smiled.
"Can I ask you something?" Kit whispered.
"Of course." He nodded as they arrived in the basement.
"Do you know why they use a drug called 'midazolam'?"
"Ahhh, yeah also known as versed, mate. It's a sedative and used often, especially if a patient is agitated." Gallowglass relayed. He also suspected Kit witnessed this drug being administered to Diana, which brought about his question in the first place.
If she was given versed, then she was likely going to have memory issues, and for Gallowglass, that was his biggest concern. 'How do you save someone who can't remember where they are and why?', he thought to himself.
~TIOAC~
Diana was in disbelief. The last thing she remembered was studying a manuscript. She had no memory of this place or any details of the man currently in the window. A pain radiated from her head and she moved a hand to rub at her temple again, in an attempt to ease the ache. It was as though she'd been hit with something.
"Why am I locked in here?" She posed; her eyes focused on the man's face.
"You had an episode. It's customary to isolate when that happens so you have time to calm down." He stated. "Do you know who I am?" He added.
Diana racked her brain, trying to remember before she shook her head dejectedly.
"You will remain here until tomorrow morning, and I will evaluate you then. Your dinner will be delivered shortly. Good evening, Ms. Bishop." He stated with finality before turning and walking away.
"Wait! Please, what is this place?" She called after him, only to hear his retreating footsteps in response.
With nothing left to do but wait out the evening, she sat once more on the cot in the room. Twenty minutes passed before she could hear noise in the corridor once more, and determined that dinner was being delivered. She moved closer to the door when they could be heard approaching. A slat opened and a tray offered up. Placing it on the floor, she peered through, her hands resting on the ledge of the opening.
"Hello?" She offered politely.
"Miss," A new male voice replied.
"Can you tell me where I am?" She whispered, as bright blue eyes met hers.
"You won't remember much right now, they drugged you." He explained softly.
"Who are you?"
"William, miss." He offered with a smile. "Don't worry Diana, we'll get you out of here." He reassured.
"You know who I am?" She questioned in surprise.
"Of course, I do, and once the drugs are out of your system," He started, before looking around and down the corridor. "You'll remember too." He added, when he deemed it safe to continue. "If they give you more meds, tongue them and spit them out later." He advised. "If you're compliant, they won't drug you intravenously." He added, and she nodded in understanding.
"I will, but where am I?" She asked, a frightened tone in her voice.
"La Pierre Asylum. But, don't worry." He comforted; his large hand moved over one of hers in reassurance. "Just go along with things for now, tell them what they want to hear." He added, pulling his hand back.
She nodded once more as she rubbed at her sore head again.
"Matthew knows you're here, and we're working to get you out." William stated.
"Matthew?" She replied in confusion.
William smiled ruefully at her for a moment, "Like I said, the drugs will wear off, and it will come back. Trust me." He reaffirmed, with a wink.
"Thank you." Diana responded quietly.
"Diana," He whispered, and she looked back at his bright eyes.
"Just…" he trailed off. "Think. Stay alive." He encouraged before his head disappeared from her view.
William left after closing the latch on the door and Diana listened as the wheels on his cart squeaked all the way down the hallway.
~TIOAC~
Miriam and her team had finished collecting evidence where the body had been found in the passage under the stairs and were now investigating the library scene where Diana had been abducted from. If they could get just one print of someone linked to the asylum, they would have enough evidence to procure a search warrant.
"Come, Matthew." Philippe intoned. "You can't do anything until there is some evidence linking the perpetrator to the asylum." He added.
"I just feel so useless." He commented dejectedly running his hands over his face. His hat discarded on a hall table.
"It's not your fault, Matthew. How were we to know they'd have enough balls to abduct her in the middle of the day!" Philippe reasoned as he led Matthew to a secondary private office.
"Wait, you have two studies?" Matthew queried.
"Well, yes. But this is my inner sanctum, as it were." Philippe smiled. "The safe is in this office." He confirmed.
Matthew took in his surroundings as he gazed around the office at the various trinkets and decorations. Although, one particular photo on a shelf across the room caught his attention. He strode over and picked up the photo.
"Why do you have a photo of Blanca?" He questioned in irritation.
"Excuse me?" Philippe questioned in surprise.
Ysabeau entered the office a moment later, "Marthe would like to know if you'd like tea or coffee?" She inquired with a smile when she noticed the vexed look on Matthew's face and the photo frame he held in his hands.
Realization dawned on her visage as she approached Matthew.
"You're the policeman, aren't you?" She questioned rhetorically. "The one who married her."
Philippe looked on in confusion as Matthew's own brow creased in bewilderment.
"Blanca." Ysabeau began. "Blanca was our daughter."
~TIOAC~
After the dinner trays had finally been collected, Gallowglass and Kit went for their own dinner breaks. Kit finished early and went to use the washroom before beginning his evening rounds.
Gallowglass was at his personal locker, making notes on what he'd witnessed earlier, when Knox appeared in the doorway.
"Dr. Knox." He greeted, stuffing his pad back into his locker and closing the door. "What can I do for you, sir?" He offered with a smile.
Knox let out a breath of frustration. "I need you to please bring the patient in room 410 to the ECT room, in approximately," He paused, looking at his pocket watch, ", Thirty minutes, please." He nodded. "Yes, that should give Dr. D'Aurillac the time needed to get here." He announced, more to himself than Gallowglass.
Gallowglass knew that room 410 had been empty since he started working at the asylum and deduced that Diana was being held there. Weighing his options, he was undecided if he should free Diana and take her back through the tunnel before electroconvulsive therapy or after. He didn't want to put her through what he'd witnessed with Gillian Chamberlain, but if Knox and Gerbert believed he'd returned her to her room afterwards, it would be morning before they knew what had happened.
With a plan in mind and taking a gurney with him, Gallowglass ascended to the fourth floor via the elevator. He approached room 410 and using the minimal ring of keys he was given, unlocked the door. Diana stood from the bed, startled.
"William, was it?" She questioned nervously.
"Yes, Diana. I'm sorry and I know this doesn't make sense to you right now but that man that was here earlier…" He trailed off.
"Knox," She murmured.
"Yes," He whispered in reply. "I've been ordered to bring you down to the ECT room." He informed. "I don't want to Diana, but if I don't, -" Diana interrupted him.
"It's okay, William." She reassured with a small smile. "It's okay." She repeated taking a step closer to him. "Although, I don't think your name is William, but I can't explain why." She added.
"Your memory will return soon, as long as they don't drug you again." He stated. "Please don't give them a reason to." He intoned.
She bit at her lip contemplatively. "Is that for me?" She asked, noticing the gurney in the hall.
Gallowglass nodded. "I promise to get you out of here, Diana. But you'll have to go through, -" Diana cut him off.
"The ECT." She finished for him. He nodded gloomily.
Gallowglass lifted Diana onto the gurney and used the restraints to hold her feet and hands in place. He also made sure that she was covered by tucking her gown around her. The least he could do was give her a sense of modesty.
"Ready?" He posed. Diana nodded her head as he pushed the gurney back to the elevator bank.
~TIOAC~
"What do you mean?" Matthew questioned, looking from Philippe and back to Ysabeau.
"I'm confused, what are you talking about, Ysabeau?" Philippe interjected.
"I think Matthew here, was the police officer that Blanca wrote to us about." She informed, walking over to join her husband.
"You're the one who married Blanca?" Philippe announced in surprise.
"She never mentioned you by name, said you'd had a falling out." Matthew replied. "Didn't like to talk about it either." He added. The shock and surprise still evident in his stupefied demeanour as he carefully placed the photo back on its perch.
"Let's sit down, and we'll talk." Ysabeau offered.
They moved to the small sofa and chairs at the back of the office and Philippe and Ysabeau relayed their story.
Matthew listened attentively as they explained the strained relationship they'd had with their daughter. It began to get difficult when Blanca turned nineteen and she 'fell in love'. They clearly disagreed with the match as it was clear to them that Blanca's suitor was only interested in her inheritance. She in turn left home, and took herself all the way to Canada. She was granted an allowance that helped her to live month to month in a simple one-bedroom apartment. In turn, Philippe and Ysabeau would receive communication from her in the form a letter, detailing what she had been doing for a few months at a time. Three months after she had first left they were informed of how she and her beau had parted ways but she had found some good friends and was studying to become a nurse. The next letters would detail where she was working and who'd she'd met.
"One of the final letters we received detailed her move back home but because of the war, she felt she was needed at the hospital. So, she worked there full time." Ysabeau explained.
"Then she told us about you. Only she didn't give us your name." Philippe added.
"I wonder why." Matthew replied.
"Probably because she knew her father." Ysabeau smiled. "Philippe would have had you investigated had he known your name." She explained.
"She's right, I would have." He laughed lightly.
"Didn't matter that I was a police officer?" Matthew smiled as well.
"Detective Inspector now. Which is saying something." Philippe stated.
"I was in the war as well and while we met and fell in love fast, I feel like it was a lie in some ways, only I didn't know it then." Matthew rushed out. "I don't mean to say I didn't love Blanca, I did, I just…" He trailed off.
"It's okay, Matthew." Ysabeau comforted. "We heard about the hospital bombing over the wireless." She added. "It was the return address on her letters so we knew...we knew." She finalized.
"Two weeks later we received the last letter we would ever get from her." Philippe offered; melancholy evident in his tone. "And we never got to see her again." He added, trying to stifle a sob that was threatening to escape. Ysabeau reached out a hand and rubbed his knee in a gesture of comfort.
Matthew told them his story in turn and the guilt he had felt over 'falling out of love' with her. Ysabeau simply looked at him with love and understanding while Philippe seemed to be weighing something on his mind.
"Let me show you something." Philippe suddenly announced, rising from his seat.
He retrieved Blanca's final letter from a file cabinet and handed it to Matthew to read. "Particularly this part here." He stated, pointing to section about two thirds down the page.
Matthew suddenly felt like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders as he read Blanca's words. The same words he'd said to Gallowglass as they sat at his kitchen table. He'd been right. Blanca had felt the same about him as he had. While they loved one another, they were not in love with each other.
"Don't hold yourself accountable, son." Philippe intoned. "While you might not have been able to tell her yourself, you both felt the same." He added.
Matthew nodded in reply, as swiped a hand over his face to brush away the tears that had escaped. While these were not tears of sadness, they were definitely tears of relief. For years he thought he'd lied to Blanca about his true feelings. But to know that she felt the same way made him feel vindicated.
"Thank you, for showing me this." He replied, handing the letter back to Philippe.
"Now, would it be alright for me to give my son-in-law a hug?" Ysabeau smiled encouragingly.
Matthew smiled, a small laugh escaping as he stood from his seat. He embraced her warmly and with affection.
"You know, this makes us family now." Philippe interjected, pulling Matthew into a hug as well before they parted with a vigorous handshake.
"In other words, we'll expect you for Sunday dinner." Ysabeau teased.
"That would be nice." Matthew smiled in return.
A few hours later, Miriam's team had departed with the evidence they'd collected, while Marthe, Philippe, Ysabeau and Matthew sat down to have a dinner.
"Now that Miriam's team have finished, I think I'd like to go explore that passage in the library." Matthew stated, using his napkin to wipe the remnants of his last bite from dinner from his face.
"I will join you. Let me grab some torches first." Philippe insisted, rising from the table and thanking Marthe for a wonderful dinner.
~TIOAC~
Matthew and Philippe walked onto the narrow platform on the other side of the passage way and looked down. Matthew moved to the ladder.
"Be careful, there's one rung missing." Matthew stated as he descended first.
"I wonder if it was done intentionally." Philippe replied.
"What do you mean?" Matthew questioned. He jumped down from the last few rungs before pulling the torch from his pocket and turning it on. There were some overhead lights but they were not very bright.
Philippe jumped down next to him a few moments later and looked back at the ladder. "Yes, see here?" Philippe pointed to some broken wood. "This was pried off; this isn't from wearing down. Likely a signal for them to know which ladder led where." He offered.
"Clever," Matthew noted.
They looked around them and then moved along the wall of the house where they could see other ladders that dropped from other access points.
They had been investigating quietly when a small sound caught Matthew's attention.
"Did you hear that?" He posed, looking over at Philippe who was a few feet in front of him.
"Hear what?" He replied as they both stopped to listen to the dark.
A sudden rattle like noise could be heard causing them to jog back to the main tunnel that led away from the house. Shining their torches down the corridor, they watched with bated breath as a figure came into view, being pushed by another.
"Gallowglass?" Matthew called as he started running towards them. "Diana!" He added when he realized what was happening.
Gallowglass had rescued Diana from the asylum and was transporting her to the manor house on a stretcher. He came to a sudden stop and looked down to Diana. "They gave her ECT." He relayed dejectedly. "I'm sorry, I can't stay, or they'll know something is up." He stated breathlessly. "She's was drugged and her memory is not all there, but it will come back." He relayed.
"Thank you," Matthew stated, lifting her into his arms. She was still out of it from the ECT.
He nodded with a smile of his own and started back from whence he came, pushing the gurney ahead of him.
Matthew placed Diana over his shoulder in a fireman's hold, before climbing the ladder after Philippe.
Once safely inside the house, Marthe insisted on helping to clean her up and change Diana's clothes before getting her into a guestroom so she could rest. Ysabeau found something for her to wear while Marthe prepped the bed. Philippe led Matthew to the sitting room where they'd had coffee earlier and poured them each a few fingers of bourbon.
Marthe tutted in with some tea and crumpets before informing them that Diana was resting in bed.
"It could have been worse and while she probably doesn't remember a lot right now, it's likely because of the drugs they gave her." She stated.
"Yeah, they wanted to control her and the less she could remember, the better for them." Philippe replied.
"Once out of her system, she'll be back to normal." She smiled, leaving them to their drinks.
Matthew and Philippe sat in silence for a few moments.
"So, you know the gentleman who clearly works at the asylum?" Philippe prodded.
"Yes and no. I know who he is, but he's undercover for MI-6." Matthew clarified.
"Understood, I won't speak about it." Philippe assured, sipping from his bourbon. "Now what?" Philippe added.
"Now, we wait for Miriam's team to process the fingerprints they collected." Matthew replied.
"Poor Hubbard. Forgot about him earlier." Philippe relayed.
"It wasn't Andrew Hubbard." Matthew clarified.
"How do you know?" He questioned.
"Because, since the night of the theft and murder, I've seen him. At Gerbert D'Aurillac's private practice."
"Well, shit." Philippe pondered to himself for a moment. "Then who the fuck was killed in my house." He announced suddenly.
Matthew smiled ruefully at the comment. He knew it was no laughing matter, there was a dead person, currently unidentified. But there was some levity in how Philippe just spoke. "Well to narrow it down, a complete guest list would help, if you still have it." Matthew relayed. "As well as the list of people hired to serve at the party." He added.
"Of course." He stated.
Matthew downed his bourbon in two quick chugs. "I'm going to sit with her." He announced, standing from his seat.
Matthew met Marthe in the entryway as Ysabeau descended the stairs. "Third door on the right, second floor." She informed with a smile, kissing his cheek as he passed.
Matthew nodded his thanks and once he crept into the dimly lit room, he sat at the end of the bed near her feet.
He reached out and took her hand between his, just needing to touch her in some way. "I doubt you can hear me right now," He began, rubbing small circles over the back of her hand with his thumbs. "I don't know what this is. What's happening between us, Diana." He paused. "But the thought of almost loosing you…" He trailed off, and gently lay her hand back on the bed and moved his hands over his face and through his hair before resting his elbows on his knees. Letting out a deep breath, he focused his eyes on her once more.
"We barely know each other." He continued. "But I know I want you. To be with you."
