Chapter 12: The Criminologist Club
*Please note that this chapter is written from Willaim's point of view. I've never written from his point of view before, so please bear with me. I am also pulling some inspiration from the A.J. Raffles short story "The Criminologists' Club.*
Our mission wasn't a total sham as Moran, James, and Fred found a lead on a warehouse Raffles owns that is said to hold a motherlode of documents. Now what these documents contained was still shrouded in mystery. But after the commotion with Holmes, I decided it better involve the entire Moriarty household in catching Raffles. Under the guise of a social club, I invited him and his companion to dine with us. For the festivities of the night, we were to be known as the Criminologists' Club. We had used this organization name before as we would discuss crime affairs in the early phases of my plan for a united England back in the day. Now, I hoped and prayed that Raffles would take the bait. I believe he would since he was a man in the beginning that operated much like me.
"As soon as Raffles arrives, we will discuss all the odd sorts of topics: crime, gambling, etc," I explained. "I have no doubt he himself will try and steal anything of value in this household. And if he does…let him."
Everyone in the room looked confused.
"Just let him steal?"
"And once we have him cornered, we will capture him," I said.
"Capture him and then what?"
Before I could answer this question, there was a knock on the door. It seemed our guests had arrived earlier than usual. Bonde went out into the hall to answer the door. The rest of us gathered into the dining room where a banquet of food had been prepared. While sitting there, I noticed my leg shaking nervously. Quickly, I took a deep breath and removed any anxiety or thoughts from my mind. Albert and Louis took their seats next to me and both looked at me with concern.
"William? Are you all right," Albert asked. I just nodded with affirmation at him.
Albert had no idea about the past Raffles and I shared. In fact, only one person sitting at the table knew what went down between us. In nervous anticipation, I heard the door open and a familiar debonair voice spoke.
"Why you are such a handsome fellow," it said.
"We are gathering in the dining room," Bonde replied.
I heard the sounds of footsteps making their way toward us. Two sets of footsteps; one set sounded smaller than the other. In walked none other than the man I had been anxious to meet: Arthur James Raffles. He wore a cloak and top hat and was as exactly as I remembered him. I wanted to greet him warmly but every fiber in my body thought otherwise. Noticing my discomfort, Albert spoke first. As was typical of him in these cases.
"Good afternoon gentleman. Do please sit down," he said. "We have been discussing the latest developments in the case of a recent jewelry theft. I'm sure you've no doubt heard of it from the papers."
A distinguished woman named Lady Melrose had her diamond necklace stolen. Being an upper aristocrat, she and her family had been printing ads all across London hoping for its safe return. Knowing Raffles, he absolutely adored jewelry and I had my suspicions that he was the culprit.
"I wouldn't know," he said, joining us at the table. Bunny followed him and sat down next to him. This man had an innocent face but brimming with confidence. Bunny Manders was Raffles right hand man; though there were rumors regarding their relationship.
"Lady Melrose's necklace was a family heirloom. Whoever took it could've been a servant or maid; as a commoner can't even get into the Melrose residence," Raffles added, taking a sip of wine.
With no hint of suspicion, Raffles truly was a class act. All across London, upper aristocrats loved him. Though he still was an eccentric; the main classes embraced him. Most likely because they all probably saw a bit of themselves in him. Once you gain the public's trust; there's nothing you can't be denied. The rest of the evening was uneventful as we discussed all sorts of topics; most of which wasn't exactly a stimulating conversation. Until we started to discuss if we ourselves orchestrated a crime, everyone at the table perked up. As we all had experience in this.
"The true key to crime is knowing how each little detail plays a role," Raffles explained. "You can never have too many links," he said, wiping his face with a napkin.
"You can actually," I retorted. "While many links may make a chain; that chain can break if there is one loose one."
Raffles face had a look of amusement. He seemed to be enjoying himself. As time wore on and the roast duck was consumed, my patience was wearing thin. Suddenly, Raffles excused himself from the table needing to use the loo. Louis instructed him on where to find it. He nodded and left the table. After a few moments, I excused myself as well and whispered to Albert and Louis.
"On my order, do not follow me," I said.
And with that I headed upstairs toward my study. Grabbing my cane which concealed my sword, I proceeded upstairs. I was going to take care of him once and for all. With each step, my body began to grow with anger and hatred. My blood boiled. My legs were shaking. Outside my study, I heard the sound of a window open. Peering inside I saw Raffles. He was attempting to steal a small clock from the house. For sport…no doubt. I closed the door behind me and locked it. Then, as quietly as I could I drew my sword, but the sound it made caused Raffles to freeze.
Slowly, he turned around to face me. The nice and polite eyes I saw at the dinner table were no longer there. They were now slanted with coldness and ferocity.
"You should know I knew from the start you only wanted me here to capture me…" he said. "What puzzles me though is why you wanted me alone?"
I stood there with my sword still drawn. All it would take is one swift move and this man would be dead.
"You know you have no evidence against me," he said.
I began to move slightly toward him but the next thing he said gave me pause.
"After all, I would just be another murdered body added to your long list of murders you've already committed."
How he knew what happened still alarms me to this day. This man, this evil, vile, despicable man must be stopped. But deep down I knew he was right. I really didn't think this through. Kill him here? Then what? My family and brothers already had enough blood on their hands and I had enough on mine. I don't know what came over me, but I lunged at him anyway. He swerved around and knocked the sword from my hand. With one swift punch to the gut I was down. He then grabbed me by the neck and slammed me into a bookcase.
"Oh William…you will never learn," he said, brushing a strand of hair from my face.
"Oi! Open up in there!" I heard Moran's voice call from outside the door.
After letting me go, Raffles threw the clock he was carrying to the floor and smashed it into pieces. "Just a warning," he said. "That your time is up William. Let me be and I will let you live." With those last haunting words, he climbed down the window and out of my sight. More banging on the door began as I heard my team trying to break the door down. It finally came loose and opened. Moran ran to my side and lifted me off the floor.
"Bunny has left the manor William," Fred said. "I assume Raffles is gone as well?"
"Why didn't you position us better?" Moran said.
"No…why did you go after him alone," Louis said, also rushing to my side.
"I needed to be sure. Needed a better look at him," I said, trying to think of a response. I could tell the others weren't amused. Never have we ever missed our man. Louis told everyone that he would treat my wounds and patch me up; as he had done on other occasions as well. Not many might I add; as I was never really one for fighting. He took me to my room with a washbowl. He took a small cloth with antiseptic and began to rub around my neck. There were bruises where Raffles had held me so tight. His hands were like a vice; cold and gripping. It still felt like his hands were still there.
"You're not thinking clearly brother," Louis finally spoke.
I turned away from him.
"I know what he did to you, but you are acting too emotional; just like Holmes," he added.
He then stood up and grabbed the washbowl.
"This man is a top priority for MI6. I thought your expertise and even Holmes could help us catch this man. But after what I saw today and the dealings of yesterday; you two are out," he said firmly.
"Louis!" I protested.
"You're off this mission William! I'm not going to stand by and let this man kill you!"
Louis was always the one who truly looked after me. We had been through everything together. He was the only one who knew of my history with Raffles…he was there… I thought he would understand but since he began working with MI6, I tried to stay out of the limelight. For so long Louis was the one who obeyed all my orders. But now, maybe he was right. Maybe I should obey him. That's what my mind was thinking…but my heart of hearts thought otherwise.