Chapter 17: It's time to go

Note: here we go, as the characters get ready to deal with the raid. First we will deal with Robert telling Lovett of the coming raid, and the others getting ready to leave and Sweeney dealing with his emotions, as well as Lovetts plan.

(Robert's POV.) I was on my way to the pie emporium to tell Nellie of the raid to arrest Barker. We knew that if we scouted out we would eventually find them all. We would finally bring the barber back to face justice. I jogged at a quick pace wanting to get to Nellie soon. The emporium was in view now, and I practically dashed toward the door.

(Lovett's POV.) I was working away on a cake I wanted to bake today for Robert's birtday tomorrow. He told me when it was about a month ago, and I thought it would be nice if I made a cake for him. Being mainly a pie baker I had not made a cake in quite a while. But despite my rustiness in cake baking it was coming along very well. Just then I jumped as my front door was flung open.

I turned to see Robert panting like he was running for miles. "You gave me a fright you did" I laughed. "Sorry, I have big news" He said, still panting. I directed him to the table so he could sit down and catch his breath. "What big news has you so excited? "Benjamin is in the woods, along with his accomplice.

We are going to search the forest tonight, find him and bring that bastard to justice. "That's, that's wonderful Robert, how did you do it?" "It wasn't us, the judge saw his accomplice at the asylum and chased him down, then saw him escape into the woods. Anthony must have been trying to keep some kind of cover for some reason, probably to earn money since Todd wouldn't be working anymore. Me and a bunch of other officers will be on our way tonight to bring them to justice. It won't be long Todd, Toby's blood is on your hands, and vengeance for his death will be realized soon.

Granted I was hoping to kill you with one of your razors, but watching you be hung would make the same goal realized. "This is wonderful news Robert, soon he will be a threat to no one." "So what were you doing before I came in?" "Baking you a cake for your birthday tomorrow. He smiled at me. "It will be a nice celebration cake for Barker's arrest as well."

Just in case he managed to escape them though, I needed a plan. If he manages to escape he will more than likely come here to get his razors and kill me, I'll be waiting for him. If he comes, only one of us will be leaving here alive tonight. "He is an aggressive, dangerous, violent man, please be careful tonight Robert. "Don't worry Eleanor, I will come back to you just fine. This will be your last night as a free man Mr Todd.

(Sweeney's POV.) We didn't have time to waste, we needed to start packing now. I was hastily grabbing Lucy's clothes and throwing them into a suitcase. "The judge is coming to take her back, hang the man that set her free" Lucy chanted in a sad but sing-song voice. The stress was making her insanity act up, and it made me feel concerned for her. He drove her over the edge and drove her to her botched suicide.

"Your clothes are almost packed Lucy" I told her. The sun was already starting to drop, I had no idea how much time we had left, but we needed to escape. I lifted the suitcase to Lucy who snagged it from me. "Thank you Mr Todd" she said. I nodded toward her and smiled. Sometimes I could almost feel happy seeing her.

Only fantasizing about killing the judge could make me feel almost happy. I would not lose Lucy and Johanna again. I left to check on Anthony and Johanna in the living room. "I can't believe I am leaving London." "I think we will have to leave England, Johanna, they will find us for sure if we don't." Anthony of course was right, we had to leave the country.

I began to pace as they both talked. "Oh Anthony, do you think everything will be ok?" "I don't know, but I do know some fellow sailors at the docks that could smuggle you and Lucy into a ship with me and your father." Anthony eventually looked over and saw me. "Mr Todd, the sun is setting, they could be on the way to us at any minute we need to get our luggage onto the carriage and go." "I'll grab my family photo and we will get things together and go to the docks."

I retrieved my photo and we began to move luggage out to the carriage. After we got into the carriage, Me with the horse's reins and Lucy next to me, and Anthony and Johanna in the back. Once we had the luggage secured on our laps I made the horses pull the carriage. We decided to take a different path to avoid potentially running into the search party. Me and Anthony wore our hats to hide our hair in case others out in London saw us. We place a hat on Johanna as well to keep her hidden too.

"When we get to London, I am going to separate from the group once we get near Fleet Street. Head to the docks, there is something I need to get and I will meet you at the docks when I am done." If I can't kill the judge now, I will at least kill Lovett. "Are you sure that's wise father?" "I will be alright Johanna, trust me, I know what I am doing." Alright Mr Todd, that's what we will do" Anthony said.

I gripped the reins tightly. "YA!" I yelled, making the horses move faster. (Turpins POV.) We were on our way to search the forest when an idea came to me. "Daniel, Bamford, what if they are already gone?" "What do you mean my lord?" Bamford asked.

"Think about it, they probably already know we suspect they are in the woods, they could know we are going to look for them." "We can't take risks your honor. We must make sure they are still there, us looking elsewhere could give them an advantage. Besides I don't think the lad knows we saw him escape into the woods." I sighed, realizing he did not trust my instincts over his own. "If the judge wishes I could accompany him to where he thinks they might be," an officer added.

"What's your name?" I asked him. "Robert sir." "Very well, accompany the judge and Beadle to where they think Barker might be. Robert grabbed some of the horses for us to ride. "We need to go to the docks gentlemen. Todd's companion is a sailor, that is where they will be."

Note: OK folks, in the next chapter there will be some action headed. Sweeney and Turpin are going to meet at the docks. Not to mention we'll have Robert and Beadle get separated from the judge for a reason I will not reveal here. That's right folks, let's see if Sweeney gets arrested or not.