Chapter 5: Planning Plans

Note: Ok so Sweeney and Anthony start plotting how to free Johanna after a time skip. The chapter will start from Turpin's view and explain what he is plotting. I'll also explain what living out in the woods has been like.

I couldn't believe it, Benjamin Barker had escaped Australia but how. How did he find out about Johanna as well? He also apparently wants to kill me and Bamford as well. I was pacing in my study when I heard a knock on its door. "Come in." As I expected it was Bamford.

"How are you today my lord?" "How am I?" I asked sarcastically. "The man I sent out on a false charge, who's daughter I took after his wives botched suicide has returned, and he wants both of us dead. How do you think I am?" Bamford lowered his head glumly. "He will be no danger my lord. He will be found, and no one would dare try to attack you."

"His family was everything to him, Bamford." I sighed and turned to face him. "He wasn't a killer back then, but I know he would protect them from anyone. I had realized that myself from my own experience. "What happened my lord?" "She was such a beautiful woman my friend," I said grinning.

"One day I was out when I saw her seemingly alone. She looked like an angel from heaven, and I wanted her to be mine. Unfortunately I had found recently that she was engaged to Barker. But I could resist, as I needed to make her understand that I would be better then some barber. So I greeted her at the market. We were speaking when she brought up her engagement, and I knew it was my time.

But she wouldn't see things my way. I decided I needed to force her to see reason, so I grabbed her wrist so I could take her to my home to woo her. She had told me she had to be somewhere, but I insisted. I figured if I gave her a quick kiss she might stop resisting. It was heaven Bamford, I had only gotten a taste of how much she could pleasure a man. But that blasted barber appeared and broke my enjoyment with her marching over to me and shoving me off of her.

He had told me that if I ever laid my hands on her again, he would break my hand." "Oh how crude" Bamford stated. "Now that he is free and lacks the qualms to murder I must be prepared." "He won't get to you." "I can't be sure, he survived a Labor camp fifteen years just to have vengeance. I need answers Bamford, I need to know how he survived and escaped, and what he became capable of now."

(Back at the Cabin.) It had been months since we escaped London. It wasn't hard for me as it wasn't as bad as Australia, but the poor sailor had issues. He was kind of a ponce for a sailor, I had to say. It took him forever to cut the wood and hall the logs to the cabin. Thankfully he was getting better at it, though he was still a ponce.

As for accomplishing my goals, we still had some work to do. As Anthony was not being looked for, he could head into London and work jobs to make money for food. He wouldn't tell me what he was doing know matter how hard I tried to coax him to tell me. Death threats wouldn't work as he knew I needed him alive for now. Whenever I had to wait for him to return with food, I had to hunt myself. I found myself getting quite adept at killing small animals with my Razors.

It wasn't as satisfying as ridding the world of vermin, but It kept me fed and allowed me to feed my friends as well. I was developing an inch to kill a person however. Man, woman, child it made no matter to me. Evil people still needed to be culled, and people who needed relief still had to endure the cruelty of the world. I grew tired of this, I need my daughter now. It will be my first step, next would be saving Lucy.

I would confront the sailor tonight. If he really loved my daughter it was time to show it. I had gotten more wood in the fire when the door opened. "I'm back Mr Todd." I spun around to him and glared at him. He backed into the wall as I marched to him and pulled him to my face by his shirt.

He gulped as he struggled to meet my glare. "I'm tired of games Hope" I spat. "You have not helped me with Johanna at all. I am tired of this waste of time." I pulled my friend to his throat. "You will stop this bullshit and aid me, or I will bring you as close to death as is possible without killing you."

"I am sir" he stammered. "Please let me go and I'll explain." I let go of him but stayed in his face. "Then enlighten me." "I felt the best way to save her was to learn the layout of the asylum, so after having to fake credentials Fogg hired me as an assistant orderly. I know how to find the cell Johanna is in and how to get inside so we can save her."

I had to admit, it was a good idea. I guess he wasn't a complete imbecile. "Midnight is when the security is laxest. I agreed I would take care of the laundry at midnight. It will go in behind the asylum. You will hide in the laundry and I will take us to the laundry room.

You'll put on an extra uniform and pass you as an orderly to the guards as Fogg should be sleeping. I will take you to where Johanna is being held and we'll get her out of the cell through the key I will have. We'll tell the guards Fogg told us to bring her to him before he goes to sleep. We'll take her to the laundry room claiming she needs to be changed. We'll hide her in the laundry that is leaving the asylum, and we'll escape. "Then I will bring her to the cabin and I'll explain everything." I finished.

"This is a pretty decent plan, Hope." He smiled and bowed. "So tell me," I asked. "What is my daughter like?" "She is amazing Mr Todd" he told me excitedly. "She is smart as a whip, kind as can be.

She recognized me right away. We will have her complete cooperation. She also is the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. She is an angel from heaven I swear." I raised my hand to silence him. "Oh right, your daughter, sorry" he said blushing.

I still was debating if I'd let Anthony take her yet, or if I would kill him. But if she had the same feelings I couldn't do that to her. "Once we free her Anthony you'd better treat her right. Because If I find you have harmed or mistreated her in any way, I promise I will kill you." He nodded to me. Tomorrow will be the day I get my daughter back, and Lucy will soon follow.

Note: Next weekend is the first big one. Let's see how everything goes. And what will happen when Turpin finds out.