Jack was dressed in a smart new suit as he approached his sister’s house. She had achieved much more than he, and she lived a wealthy life. Although, he had no qualms, as she had earned her fortune. He lived in a much humbler way, and often felt ridiculous dressing up just to attend supper. He had longed to see his two nieces, and carried a box of chocolates for each under his arm. The door was answered by his brother-in-law, Sidney. A shy man, who did not follow the male chauvinistic views of his demographic. He was a nice man, who Jack approved of, even if he struggled to ever hold any meaningful conversation with him. Sidney smiled warmly at Jack and stepped aside to allow him to enter. He was a fine cook, and enjoyed treating everyone with his culinary inventions and experimentation.
“Hi, Jack. May I take your coat?”
Jack slipped off his coat, whilst juggling around the beautifully wrapped chocolate boxes in his hands.
“Have you ever tried curry, Jack?” asked Sidney.
“I really don’t drink I’m afraid. You know that!”
Sidney beamed at Jack with a childlike sense of excitement.
“No, curry. It is food. The British Army love the stuff. It’s Indian. You know, the British Raj? It is spicy, but very exotic.”
“I’m not so sure about that, Sidney, old chap.”
“Oh. Well I’ve cooked it now. But I could go out and buy something else for you.”
“Not at all. Let’s try something new, eh?” said Jack, patting Sidney on the shoulder.
He was an odd fellow, but Jack did like his honesty and integrity. Although as far as Kate was concerned, Sidney could behave in no other way. She wouldn’t allow it. The two girls hugged their uncle and quickly swiped away their gifts from his arms. He loved to see them, and they were possibly the closest he would ever get to having children of his own. They both had their father’s good intentions and decency. And they also both had their mother’s determination and spirit. Best of all, they neither resembled, nor understood the mean and cruel generations of Georges that had proceeded them. They were truly the lucky ones in life. After a few games in the garden, Jack and his two nieces were called in for their supper. They sat around a large table, lit with candles, and the finest silver and china to eat off. Kate always dined like this. It was far too fussy for Jack, but he knew that such splendour and ornateness had always been a dream for Kate, and now she could live it every day. Jack’s commonness was accepted, although he was still expected to make a little effort.
The curry was too exotic for Jack. He didn’t quite understand why physical pain should be part of dinner. But the array of side dishes certainly met his taste. Poppadums, Samosas and naan bread were the best. He had never seen anything of the sort before. After his meal, he sat back and showed his two nieces his magic trick routine, which involved making coins disappear and then reappear. He had learnt this from his fellow officers, who used it to help them interact with youngsters who became intimidated by large burly men in uniform.
Jack had something that he wanted to discuss with Kate. He waited patiently, and didn’t allow it to bother him, as he wouldn’t want to talk in front of the two girls. He would approach the matter after they had been sent to bed. He would stay for a tea and then they could talk openly.
Before long, the two girls said their goodnights, and left for bed. Sidney, Kate and Jack retired to the porch. They sat for a while, discussing trivial matters when Jack decided it was time.
“Kate,” he said. “I’m going back to England for a bit. But I need your help.”
Kate spat her whiskey over the rail. “Why are you going back to England? Are you mad?”
“The night that I ended up in the medical school,” he said, earnestly. “I remember what happened to me. I had completely forgotten. My memories were wiped clean. But the newspaper you got. He was in it.”
“Who was in it?”
“Demontig.”
“What is a Demontig?” asked Sidney, baffled.
“Quiet, Sidney,” barked Kate.
“Dr Demontig entrapped me after injecting me with something. A liquid that he had in a syringe. He was talking to this dead man on a table, telling him how he made him appear dead. But he wasn’t actually dead. I know, because he did the same to me. My thoughts were alive, but my body seemed dead. Although I could hear and feel everything that happened to me. That man was left to be eaten by rats. Whilst still alive. And Demontig is still killing people. The mayor was found dead in the mansion gardens.”
“So?”
“So, the gardens belong to Demontig. Coincidence?”
“Well tell the police in Upminster. Why do you have to go back there?”
“I have told the police there. That was the first thing that I did. I wrote to the most senior officer I could get a name of. He wrote back to me yesterday. He doesn’t believe me. Dr Demontig has given a lot to charity over there. He is seen as a generous man who could only ever help people. They just won’t entertain the fact that he could be a cold blooded killer.”
“You are a long way from him now. You are safe here. Just leave it alone.”
“I can’t. I need to stop him. And I need to look him straight in the eyes. Now that I remember what happened, I can no longer forget. I cannot ignore this, or I will never be able to move on with my life.”
“So what do you want me to do?” asked Kate, realising that he was serious.
“Write a letter to Demontig.”
“What?”
“Dr Demontig is a chemist. In the article, and in my letter from the police, I have found out that he makes most of his wealth from a fabric dye, which he has created. You own a dress shop, and so it is reasonable for you to write to him pretending to be interested in using him as a supplier for your dyes. You can offer him a window into the upmarket world of fabric dyeing here in America. And best of all, you can send your brother to visit him, in order to discuss the deal.”
“You want to go and stay with him? After all he has done, and with how dangerous you say that he is? That is not wise, Jack.”
“It is not wise at all. But it is the perfect plan. When I am there, I will have access into his home. I can get close to him. If the offer of business is a good one then I am sure that he will not harm me. You can enclose in your letter that I will be in charge of securing the deal, and that you will only work with him if I return, happy with what I have seen. He won’t hurt me with so much money weighing on it.”
“What if he realises who you are? He would have a lot more to lose by letting you live.”
“How will he ever know? I was just a boy whom he met briefly, seventeen years ago.”
“You remember him.”
Jack lifted his shirt to display the long straight scar that stretched along his whole upper body. “I didn’t do this to him though.”
Suddenly, a glass smashed onto the deck. Kate and Jack looked round to see Sidney, his hand now empty, and his mouth open, staring at the scar. Sidney had never been privy to Kate and Jack’s past before.
“Will you help me?” continued Jack.
“Yes,” said Kate. “But you must promise to come back to me.”
Jack took hold of his sister’s hand. The plan was now on.
Kate and Jack tried to write the letter to Dr Demontig, but were never quite happy with how it came out. It wasn’t until Sidney produced a letter, that he had written, that they were satisfied. It was perfect. He was emotionally distant enough to draft a letter that had a suitably honest feel to it. He was very pleased that he could play a part in the downfall of a murderer. Although, he unfortunately had to refuse to join Jack on his trip back to England. Jack had only been joking with Sidney when he had asked for his company. He got a twisted sense of enjoyment from watching him squirm. Sidney quickly claimed that he would happily watch his brother-in-law’s back, just so long as he could manage to overcome his crippling fear of sea travel. Sadly, Jack would have to go alone, as there was no other way than by ship.
The letter was sent and
three weeks later a reply was received. Dr Demontig was interested. Jack would go to England and stay at his mansion in order to organise a deal.
Jack purchased his ticket, and then Sidney wrote another letter to Demontig, telling him of the arrival date. Jack would sail to Liverpool and then travel to London by rail. He would be met at Paddington Station by Dr Demontig. He would then be in the realm of his nemesis. He still did not know what he was going to do when he got there. That was something that he would have to figure out. At least he was staying at the mansion, which would give him more freedom to snoop around. But for now, Jack must wait.
7.
Paddington Station, London, November 1900