Chapter One
London, England, 1900.
*
The man looked at the lady.
She smiled at him.
'What do you need, Guv?', she asked him.
'Cigarettes, Eve', the man answered.
'Got a lot of them in the House of Sin', Eve smiled. He looked around. For the last hour, he was drunk; he was near the Thames River. He had been looking forward to tonight; he dreamed of death. It was over a decade since the Jack the Ripper murders; it was as if Scotland Yard were too busy with other crimes at the turn of the century.
He left her alone, and walked away to be with his wife.
*
Scotland Yard Detective Herbert Joseph, and his partner, Detective Roselyn Parker, looked at the dead body. 'It is what I feared, more death by alcohol', he said. He saw the young man, and sighed.
'Angus Douglas. Anne Douglas called to say he was at the Pub. He was cheating on her with prostitutes in Edinburgh, and London, England'.
'Has she filed for divorce?', Detective Parker asked him.
'Aye, she has. It was the last straw. They were married for ten years. Three children: Geordie, seven; Alice, six; and Peter, five', Detective Joseph answered.
'Who murdered him?'.
'I don't know. That's why it is important to catch the killer'.
'Let's get him', Detective Parker said.
'I agree', Detective Joseph stated.
*
Anne Douglas shook her head.
'Angus had a fiery temper. If I'd known he was cheating, I'd never have married him; I made a mistake. Mother and father was concerned for two years. His drinking got him into trouble before', she said.
'That is sad', Detective Parker said.
'So, what now?', Detective Joseph asked her.
'I'm going to Aberdeen, Scotland. There, I am working on my novel. Now, please don't look for me', Anne answered.
She closed the front door.
*
The killer appeared.
He gazed at the hotel.
He carried a surgeon's black bag.
'Do you need help, Sir?', Roland Herring, the hotel doorman, asked him.
'Thank you. I'm Doctor Edward Poole, MD', he answered.
'Ah, yes. The renowned surgeon. Please, let the porter carry your luggage inside The Templeton Hotel. There's a lot of guests at this time of year'.
'I see. I am here in London for a long time'.
'Are you a resident of London?'.
'In fact, I am. I travel to Aberdeen, Scotland during the cold winter months'.
'Scotland is a wonderful country. A lot of castles, and ports. And schools'.
'I was educated in Fife'.
'I was born in Fife in 1871. My parents emigrated to England in 1873. We go to Scotland on holidays. My wife, Anna, is from Dublin, Ireland'.
'I see. Well, I need to pay the hotel'.
'Of course, Sir. Please, follow me'.
The killer nodded, and followed him inside.
*
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