???
Malvina pulled the thread through her embroidery piece and glanced up at Caroline periodically. She could tell her granddaughter was not reading the book she had in her lap. She was miles away. There were circles under her eyes and her hair looked dull and unwash
ed.
“Caroline, dear,” she said.
“Yes Gran.” She said looking up.
“This Inspector. Inspector Pierce,” she began.
“Yes?” Caroline asked.
“I’ve spoken to several of my friends. Do you know who he is?” She asked.
“Yes, Gran. He’s an Inspector with the Metropolitan Police. He’s overseeing the death.” She said the last word softly.
“No dear. Not that. Do you know who his family is?”
“I don’t know anything about him Gran. Except that he’s an inspector.” She said tiredly.
Malvina nodded. “He’s the second son of the Earl of Banham.”
“The Earl of Banham?” Caroline frowned.
“Hmm. There’s no money or title for the second son so I’m assuming that’s why he went into the police service.”
“Very likely.”
“His older brother has a reputation. In the gambling halls and with the ladies,” she told her. “Apparently the brothers are quite different.”
“I’ve never met his brother, Gran,” Caroline said sighing.
“I was surprised when I was told about his family name. I knew his father briefly when I was younger,” Malvina recalled.
“Yes?” Caroline asked but was not that concerned.
She didn’t want to make idle conversation with her grandmother in the front parlor. She didn’t want to be anywhere except in her bedroom with the silence and the moonlight. Her grandmother was talking about the Pierce family but she didn’t care at all. When she grew silent, Caroline excused herself kissing her grandmother’s powdered cheek.
“I’m sure no matter who his family is or where he comes from, he’ll do his job properly. I’m going to retire Gran. Good night.”
???
Aida was walking in front of him. Her long dark hair spilled out behind her and he smiled. He would hold onto her forever this time and never let her go. That had been the problem before. He had not been watching. He had not been aware. There had been too much that he had let slip through his fingers. This time would be different. He would take care to safeguard her.
When she turned around to smile at him, her face shifted and it was Caroline Derry. His heart skipped a beat as he saw her light eyes set in a perfect oval face. Her light hair moved about her and she reached out to him.
“Caroline,” he pulled her to him and crushed her against his chest. “Don’t leave! It’s not safe,” he whispered into her ear. “It’s not safe.”
She shook her head pulling away from him. Val watched her disappear into the fog even as he tried to reach her.
“Caroline!” He called out her name and the all too familiar pattern repeated itself, only this time it was Caroline who was missing.
He began searching and searching for her but he knew how it would end. He willed himself to stop the cycle. He didn’t want to find her dead. He didn’t want her to be killed. He wanted her alive and warm in his arms. He wanted her alive. In his arms. When he awoke that morning, thoughts of Caroline filled his head.
???
Felix was working at his desk when Val walked into the office. He placed his hat on the rack and addressed his sergeant.