Funny Meeting You Here

Chapter 2

"So...you're posing as a singer at that place?" Detective Fitzroy asked Eliza as she stood before him at his small desk in Scotland Yard. His lip turned up on one side providing fodder for Eliza's next question.

"Yes. Is there a problem, Detective?"

He looked up at her with big sheepish eyes and said quickly, "No!"

Eliza sighed heavily.

"No, I know. You think I wouldn't be doing this if Inspector Wellington were still here."

"Not at all. I just want you to be careful."

Eliza looked up and thought how much William was thwarting her efforts and he was not even in the country.

"Did you find any fingerprints on the bracelet or findings on the name?"

"I haven't talked to Potts yet. I think sometimes he doesn't want me around as much as you," Oliver said with a chuckle.

"So, we can work this case together? What about Phelps? He finds out you'll be sacked for sure," Eliza reasoned.

"Well, not exactly. You remember who my father is. Phelps will just make my life that much harder."

"He wouldn't be Chief if it weren't for you, I'm sure," Eliza responded. She had taken a seat on the corner of Fitzroy's small desk. She suddenly rose as she heard the thunderous cockney tone of Chief Inspector Phelp's voice.

"I'm leaving now. If you find out anything you know where to find me."

Eliza carried her large bag containing her costume plus her small purse which doubled as a utility bag containing her tools of the trade. She took a slightly different route to the club than she had yesterday for two reasons:

She wanted to get a good look and see where or how the victim could have died.

She wanted to be sure no one would follow her in the event they were suspicious of her.

She arrived at her destination with no issue. Eliza looked up at the dilapidated sign lit with carelessly hanging bulbs acting as a marquis to gather attention.

"Well, here goes nothing," she sighed and entered into the establishment.

She proceeded to her "dressing room" when she felt a pinch on her bum. She immediately was insulted and turned around to swiftly see what derelict had the audacity to treat a lady like that.

"Ow, Charlie, you can't be doin' that to all the females that work 'ere," a very tall dark-skinned woman yelled at the disheveled man who interviewed Eliza for her current cover occupation.

So rather than get insulted at the treatment to her bum, she answered back to her co-worker.

"Thanks, luv. I appreciate the assistance. Never know wha's gonna happen to you in a place like this."

"We have to stick together, luv," said the tall woman.

The tall dark-skinned woman walked up to Eliza and put her hand out.

"Name's Ruby, luv. I'm glad I could help. You the new girl taking Octavia's place?"

"Scarlet Rose," Eliza answered. "I'm the new girl, but I didn't know I was taking anybody's place. What happened to Octavia?"

Ruby raised her dark shoulders in a shrug.

"Dunno. Except one minnit she was here and next she wasn't."

"Oh well. Thanks again," Eliza said as she entered through to the very small, musty smelling room. The one large mirror with makeup table was cracked. Eliza ran her gloved finger down the dark stained table. Her forefinger had residue on it.

Eliza consulted her little pocket watch hidden under her cheap voluminous and ostentatious purple coat. She was due to perform in about 10 minutes. That gave her a little time to snoop.

So, Octavia was a dancing singing girl who worked here. Who was the man who apparently held her name bracelet? What relation was he to her, if any, and how was he connected to this place?

Eliza examined the residue on her glove and then looked a little closer at the stain. It was dark brown and depending upon how long it was there it could be dried blood. She rooted around to see what other evidence could be found. According to the last information from Oliver Fitzroy the police had not even looked here as the body was found at some distance from this place - a possible place of murder.

Eliza jumped at the loud knock on her dressing room door and a loud "On in 5 Scarlet Rose!"

"Thank you" Eliza called back.

Well, I guess I'd better get in my costume…"

Meanwhile, in a rented carriage, William "Duke" Wellington arrived at Eliza Scarlet's door. He arrived back three months early from the one-year period from whence he started for the temporary work opportunity in New York. The boat crossing back to England took a lot of intestinal fortitude as William had succumbed to seasickness. The waters were particularly choppy in the Atlantic this time of year, so for the majority of the trip William spent the voyage in his cabin with a cold compress on his neck and his eyes closed to everything in his sight.

When he was able during the voyage, he wrote a letter to Eliza; however, it took him so long to finish it that he figured that he would probably arrive before the mail, so he carried it with him to deliver it personally to her.

His trip to New York did serve two purposes. One it gave him detective and police experience in a different country where Scotland Yard did not exist. However, the main purpose of his trip which was to give he and Eliza time to realize what they really wanted in their relationship really helped William pinpoint his fervent desires. It was this desire that he had written into this final letter to her.

He only wished that her return writings had provided a glimpse of her feelings. She had told him that she missed him, but she only hinted that she returned his love. William was sure that confronted face to face she would surely tell him that she loved him, too.

There had been clues before he left that Eliza reciprocated his feelings. There was the distance she had put between them while he was "enjoying" a relationship with Arabella. She said she was busy but they both knew that was only a ploy.

Before that was when he was poised to leave London in acceptance of the position as Chief Inspector of Ireland's division of Scotland Yard. Eliza had wanted to tell him something of great importance and was so flustered that she had only saw him at the last minute before he was slated to leave. However, Potts and Ivy had waylaid that opportunity at the last minute preventing them from having a heart-to-heart conversation.

Thinking back, perhaps, it had been William himself who had thwarted the opportunity as Eliza had said since he was staying in London there was no need for her to tell him. William only hoped that since becoming a one-woman business again that she had had the time to consider their future. He had been forewarned by Arabella that Eliza's ambition would outweigh any feeling Eliza felt for him thereby maintaining this impasse that had led to the long separation.

He stood on the doorstep and knocked.

"Inspector Wellington?" Ivy questioned as she carefully opened the door. It was still early evening and the street lamps were only just being lit bringing the street out of temporary darkness.

"Yes, Ivy," William said smiling.

"Oh, I'm so glad you're back. Come in," she invited. Ivy could not help herself and proceeded to give William a welcoming hug.

William hugged her back fairly lifting her off the ground.

"I'm glad to be back, Ivy."

Putting Ivy back on her feet he looked around for the woman he really wanted to see and was a bit disappointed that she had not been here to greet him. He knew that she did not know he was coming so he could not fault her for that.

"Eliza isn't here. She's out on a case."

"Can't say I'm surprised. It's getting dark." William tried not to show his consternation. It seemed that old habits die hard. Eliza had been without him for over six months and had survived, so he had to reason that she had her wits about her.

"Well, take off your coat," Ivy coaxed as she helped him remove his long warm coat. She hung it on the hook near the door and then took his arm turning him toward the kitchen downstairs.

"Would you like something to eat? I have some cake I made for dessert not been touched. I also have some ham or pork that I can cook up for you if you've the desire," Ivy continued to offer as they proceeded to the kitchen.

"No thank you, Ivy. A whiskey would be nice, though," William said taking a seat at the table. He noticed some biscuits laying on a plate. He patted his flat stomach in reminiscence of his recuperation time over a year ago. Ivy had taken very care of him, so had Eliza in her own way.

In his momentary frustration at not finding his love at home, he bent his head and wiped a hand across his face.

"Don't worry. I expect she'll be back in about an hour," Ivy said.

He removed the envelope from his inner jacket pocket and placed it on the table.

"If Eliza is not back by the time, I leave please see she gets this. This is very important," William said placing the envelope with "Eliza" written on it on the table between he and Ivy.

"Of course, Inspector."

"William, Ivy, when we're here. We've known each other a long time."

"Maybe someday, inspector, but for now I will remain calling you "Inspector"," Ivy responded.

"So be it then."

Ivy handed him his tea and Ivy sat down across from him. William was not gregarious but he pleasantly answered the questions that Ivy inquired of him regarding his trip and his experiences in America.

After a second cup of tea an hour had gone by with no appearance from Eliza.

William rose from his seat and said, "I'd best be off home since I came straight here from the boat. Just give Eliza my letter. Thank you for the cake and tea, Ivy."

As Ivy rose to accompany William to the door, William raised his hand and then lowering himself placed a kiss on Ivy's cheek.

"I know the way out. Goodnight Ivy."

"Goodnight, Inspector."