Chapter 15: Bad Timing

Note: First chapter starts with some exposition from Daniel. Then the judge will accompany Daniel to Fogg's asylum, which is soon to be renamed after the new owner Kyle Briggs. Things will go down starting then, it's time to kick it up a notch.

"Do you have anything you could tell me about Barker?" I asked him. "There is a lot to tell your honor, but I think we should investigate the asylum today." "Of course, of course, but could you tell me something that might help?" "Well, one thing that could help is that he hates you, as you obviously know." "Of course, he knows I had him arrested for his crime" I lied. I had kept it hidden from Daniel that I had Bamford frame Barker for the break in off my home.

"Yes my lord but there are things you should know about that your honor." (Daniel's POV, flashback.) "I'm innocent, innocent," he cried. "He just wants my wife, he wants Lucy, I don't know why he would have been willing to go this far, please believe me." "I have a daughter, she's barely a year old please." So this was the man that the judge sent me the letter that declared I would watch over.

The punishment of his caliber of crime may have been harsh to some, but his petty crime could have expanded to worse. Good idea to remove him from society before it's too late. Of course like almost everyone here he claimed innocence, but of course none of us will fall for it. "Shut up" said the guard taking him off the barge now, shoving him down to the ground. He was always a good guard. "You've been whining about who I assume was your wife and daughter the whole time, keep it up and I'll whip you harder."

"Stand up Barker" I commanded him. He did so, his legs wobbling as he stood. "If you are wondering why you were removed last and not with the others, I will inform you that the honorable Judge Turpin has assigned you to a special holding room, watched over by me. At this he snapped to my attention. "He framed me, he did, I would never break into someone's home, he just wants my Lucy, he is no honorable man." I grabbed him by the shirt collar and pulled him to my face.

"You bloody lying scum, we know he is a good honorable lord, your lies fall on deaf ears you piece of shit." I let go of the man and he whimpered in fear. "Now come with me, and I'll show you to your room." He followed me across the grounds. "Here we will work you, until you break shit stain, you will only sleep and eat when we let you. If you talk back, you will be worked harder, if you do not obey us you will be whipped, if you refuse to eat, start a fight, or don't fall silent when told you will be whipped and will be shown no sympathy.

However we will not allow you to die, though being worked or whipped to death is a hazard here." He trailed behind me, but kept pace. After a while of silence we passed past the kitchen and work fields, into his holding cell. "This will be your new home Benjamin, enter and put on your uniform which is already sitting on the floor for you, where you will have to sleep. He entered as told and I turned as he changed his clothes. I had him toss his old clothes to me.

"This will be your only clothes you will have Barker, so don't get your uniform damaged shit stain. "The only mercy you will have is one day of rest, starting tomorrow shit stain, you will begin to pay for your crimes." "Yes sir" he said. "Turpin says you were an impressively skilled barber?" "I have had people tell me sir, though I would have no way of knowing if my reputation was true." I would not buy fake humbleness from a criminal.

"While you will do hard labor, we will use your skills for the guards, and inmates if their hair growth interferes with their productivity." "Alright sir" he said, his voice lowering. "Now Barker, enjoy your new home, the people of London can rest easy now you're gone." "Except my world is in the hands of the judge, my wife and daughter." "More excuses shitstain." Just then the barber lunged forward, as I slammed the door shut on him.

"You didn't know the way he looked at her, he was attracted to her beauty, but unlike me there is no real love and respect purely lust, but I will return to her side, she will rebuke his attention and will wait for me, you'll see sir, you'll see." I chuckled at his bullshit. "Whatever you believe idiotic scum, whatever you believe. "Lucy, Johanna, my life, my world, my light, be safe, and I know you'll be true." He continued to whine, but he wouldn't be moaning about his family for long. (Turpin's POV, present.)

So the barber always suspected the truth, but he didn't realize what I was willing to do to get what I wanted. "Thank you for telling me this my friend." "l will tell you more soon, but for now, I want to check the asylum. "Why sir?" Bamford asked. "Because my dear man, the person who helped the barber might be still working there to keep cover. (Anthony's POV.)

It gets harder each day to leave Johanna to go work, but we needed the money and I needed to keep cover. I tried to take care of the patients correctly, but they were rightfully fearful of those in the orderly uniform. The horses pulled the carriage quickly as I reentered London. It was a change leaving Johanna's warmth and entering the asylum's coldness. Mr Todd seemed to be struggling to deal with our relationship, but I wouldn't let even him come between my and his daughter. Soon I arrived at the asylum.

I put on the uniform as soon as I entered the orderly changing room. I had to be careful, we had come so far. Saving Johanna, Todd having his wife with him, things were looking good, it couldn't go wrong now, could it? Still I couldn't shake the feeling that something bad was about to happen. But I was probably just being paranoid. It was time for me to get to work.

(Turpin's POV.) We headed toward the asylum as Daniel wanted to question the new owner Kyle Briggs. It was imperative to know if he was told anything by orderlies that could help us find Barker. I needed to get him before he found a way to get me. We were allowed in as we explained what we were here for. Me, Daniel, and Bamford were all here.

We passed through asylum and passed more mental patients until we reached Briggs office. "What a pleasure to see you, your honor?" he asked as he let us into his room. "We are here with a friend of mine, Daniel Hyde. We need to know if you have been told anything about the breakout that happened here?" "One of the people who sprung the girl Johanna is an escaped convict from the Australian prison colonies, and is extremely dangerous" Daniel said. "All I have been told is that she was accompanied by two men dressed as orderlies."

"We need to ask the others questions then" Daniel stated. "Of course, you three sirs, be careful though." We bid him good day and began to talk to the orderlies. We talked to a man in a hat that looked familiar but I couldn't put my finger on it. "All we know is it was too men dressed as orderlies, but know description beyond that" Bamford complained. "I didn't say this investigation would be easy, my friend," Daniel explained.

"Still a lead would have been nice sir." I groaned and turned only for everything to change. The man accidentally knocked his hat off, and his eyes widened as he met mine. He turned and bolted down the stairs to the front exit. "The sailor" I cried, making Daniel and Bamford spin around to me. "He's escaping, Benjamin's accomplice."

We all bolted down the stairs after him. Once we got down we heard the sound of a horse drawn carriage and turned to see it tearing away from us. "Quick, to Daniel's horses," Bamford said. We had used the carriage Daniel had bought on his arrival in London to come to the asylum, and now it would give chase to the sailor. We leapt in and Daniel took off. Daniel was driving with me beside him, and Bamford in the back.

The sailor had a head start at us, but he could only head down the street. (Anthony's POV.) He recognised me, this is bad, they might be following me, I don't know. I felt bad for how hard I was driving the horses, but I knew I had to escape. How could I be so stupid, if they figure out where we are, we were doomed. I believe the feeling that Johanna had for me was the only reason I still drew breath.

But once I told Mr Todd my mistake. I could already see Mr Todd, with me pinned to a tree, holding his razor to my throat, making sure I knew this was my last day on earth. My heart thudded in my chest as I thought this. I just hoped I could get him to see he could use any help he could get right now. I could see the trees right outside the outskirts of London. With one last push, my carriage entered the forest.

(Turpin's POV.) Just in time we saw the sailor enter the woods. "He's in the forest," I yelled. "We can't just rush in, it could give them an advantage when they are prepared for us right now" Daniel said. "What do you propose?" Bamford asked. "We need to bring some officers with us, armed if necessary, to help us apprehend the Barber and his accomplice.

As well as to save Johanna from them." "I agree with Daniel Bamford, we need to be prepared." "You are always the wise man your lordship." I grinned at Bamford at this. "Don't worry your honor, soon we will have this shitstain apprehended and you will be safe. "Yes Daniel, soon all will be well."

Note: More exposition next chapter, as well as Anthony warning the others about the raid, and Daniel preparing said raid. Something will happen with Lucy, and A certain officer will be part of the raid as well.