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Feb-25-2009 03:59


Leopold Parr walked as fast as he possibly could in and around Victoria Station. The young officer had anticipated the arrival of his younger sister with great trepidation. He finally saw her waiting for him in a mauve overcoat and a large purple hat through the window of one of the station’s waiting rooms.

When Miss Violet Parr got up and walked out of the waiting room, Leopold’s walk turned into a sprint as he finally reached Violet and hugged her tightly in a collision of joy.

Violet pushed hard against his force not to fall on her back. She kissed him on the cheek and whispered. “Really Leopold, this show of affection can do with some self-restraint!”

“Two years in France…” Leopold replied, “…haven’t changed you a bit!”

“I know better than to let the French freely mold me to their pleasing!” Violet Parr huffed in a mock of indignation. Then she turned her gaze to a young girl standing next to her looking curiously and cautiously at Leopold. “…but I am afraid I can’t say the same about young Isabella.”

Leopold looked at his young niece in utter astonishment: Isabella was a pretty little thing with curiously mixed features. At such a young age, her skin looked like a yellowish tanned shade of ivory. She had long light brown hair, hazel eyes and a serious look of disapproval on her face.

Mar-7-2009 12:39

“I apologize if I step out of line for saying this, but are you sure officers Bristow and Briggs will be able to handle this Bane?’ Zeo probed with caution.

“They’re only watch dogs, and will inform us of any activities out of the ordinary.” Leopold said while they for the Headquarter at the Victoria Embankment. “Besides, Bane did slip about the meat hook… he can’t be too crafty if he didn’t notice it.” True.

Zeo knew the authorities had withheld some information from the press, but he was surprised that the bait was taken this quickly and easily. A bit too easily.

Bane seemed like muscle. His built, his lack of patience, his ‘shaving accident’… Could he be one of Bergen’s executioners? If he was, however, Bergen wouldn’t let him out of his sight, and would definitely have trained his tongue better. Zeo knew how Bergen ran his business; he liked to be in control. No, Zeo concluded that Bane was not directly related to Bergen. This Bane was an enigma in the entire equation.

As Zeo had expected, their trip to the dock bought them no closer to Bergen’s operation. The sun was about to set-- the magic hour when people tend to relax a bit and let loose their tongues.

“Inspector Parr, this afternoon has been quite informative on the criminal presence in the area. With Bergen, I find that I may need to venture further. May I suggest that Gregory and I visit some of our American leads and we meet back at the Comedy Store after dark?” Zeo again chose his words carefully. Leopold agreed without being offended.

As a child, Joseph was a free spirit who always spoke his mind. At thirteen, he once commented strongly on the repulsive appearance of the girl next door. The same evening, the poor girl, who was deformed at birth, committed suicide. Upon knowing it, Zeo did not speak another word for months. This strait had attached to Zeo so much that he couldn’t come to break up with Lisette when he knew they weren’t made for each other.

Mar-7-2009 12:42

Then last month Lisette was gunned down by the Brotherhood, but she stayed in his mind ever since.

Gregory and Joseph bid Leopold farewell. Joseph then followed his instinct to some of the posh bars, which Bergen may find tasteful. Gregory chatted with all the right people in each establishment; Joseph truly enjoyed the working relationship and friendship with Gregory, simply because he does all the talking, although some time too much to his liking.

After visiting three bars and as the sun was setting, the two came to a quiet one attached to a hotel in the Fulham district. There was only one customer in the establishment, a sexy lady with full eye makeup. Joseph recognized her as the lady in the photo immediately. He signaled Gregory, and his friend approached the lady as if he was hitting on her. Joseph sat in a secluded corner watching their interaction. The lady was cool and unwilling to open up. Gregory continued to appear friendly.

“Stinger, stop whatever you’re doing, now.” A voice pronounced from the entrance of the bar.

The lady glanced back once and put her glass down defiantly. She stood up and started strolling out. That voice belonged to Bergen, Zeo lowered his hat a bit. Gregory was not very well known even back in New York, so he would be taken just as a tourist trying his luck on girls.

“Edvard, relax! It’s only martini.” Stinger snickered while walking past Bergen.

“You know my rules.” Bergen said, then he lowered his voice, “No drinking before a job.” The two then walked into the hotel lobby.

So, seemed like there would be action tonight.

After Zeo saw the two entered the lift, he turned to Gregory, “Watch them. I’ll inform Leopold at the Comedy Store. With a bit of luck, the joke would be on them tonight.”

Mar-7-2009 15:05

*Bane’s boat - about 22:30hr*

“Hey, handsome! How’bout buyin’ a sweet girl like me a drink?”

The woman’s voice startled Bane from his sleep. He raised his hand up to his forehead and pondered a bit looking around, trying to focus his mind. Realizing it was already dark, he quickly took out his pocket watch and turned it towards the small pier’s lamp to read it. “Damn…I have less than half hour” he mumbled.

“Damn, shuga’…I’m supposed to be the one lookin’ at the watch, ya’ know? Come on, buy me a full bottle and you won’t need to worry ‘bout the time. I’ll keep ya’ up till mornin’!”

Bane looked up to her curiously. She was a thin woman, wearing a flashy red dress, a feather boa and no hat. The thick and bright layer of makeup covering her face couldn’t hide either her age a little past youth, or her mostly vulgar features. ‘Well…’ thought Joey…’I guess a prom queen would worth a little more than just a bottle of booze.’

“Shuga’, I ain’t got all night here. If you’re one of those weirdoes that only wanna watch, that’s fine with me, but it’s still gonna cost ya’!”

Bane didn’t have time for this and also he wasn’t really fond of the idea of sharing the same bed with THIS woman. Just as he opened his mouth to shoo her away, his eyes were attracted by a movement behind a big pile of crates. Taking a closer look, it wasn’t hard to discover the large Bobbie from earlier and his little buddy. Apparently they were hiding…well…trying at least and obviously not being very good at it. Bane realized they were watching him.

“Hmmm…I gotta shake these clowns off my tail” he mumbled. “Kinda hard to lose them in a low speed boat on a one stream river though…”

Looking along the river, Bane noticed a larger ferry coming towards him and aiming in the same direction he was interested into. He smiled, got up and walked up to the woman.

Mar-7-2009 15:06

“Finally” she said. “Kinky stuff’s gonna cost ya’ more. Don’t say I didn’t tell ya’!”

“What’s your name, doll?”

“Ya’ can call me Cherry, shuga’.”

“Ok, Cerry…here’s what I want you to do.” He took a couple of shillings out of his pocket. “Take these for starters.”

“Well…now we’re talkin’, shuga’”

“Alright, now turn around. See those two fine policemen over there?”

“Yeah, shuga’. Don’t mind them…they get their cut from everybody ‘round here. They ain’t gonna bother us.”

“Good. Now…I wanna make them a little gift. I want you to get over there and…entertain them for a while. What do you say?”

“Well, shuga’…your money, their fun…I guess. Nice doin’ business with ya’!”

Bane watched her as she was leaving for a couple of seconds and then jumped back on the ferry, aiming straight for the controls. He started the engine and slowly moved away from the pier. With a swift move he turned the ferry around the larger one he had seen and positioned himself on the other side. The cops couldn’t see him now. Just before losing their sight he took a last look at them: they were busy. The woman was doing her job well. He kept the pace with the larger ferry for a while just to make sure and then relaxed.

…

About 20 minutes later he managed to reach the Cannon Street Railway Bridge and stopped beneath to wait for his…’package’.

Mar-7-2009 23:10

*Central London - about 20:30hr*

Zeo took a look at the red covered map in his hand; he still wasn’t sure if he got off at the right station.

The newcomer decided to take the Underground Railway from the Fulham district, beats walking, he thought. Zeo went down at Parsons Green, went the wrong way a couple of times until he finally reached Charing Cross station. He knew Haymarket House should be somewhere in the Northwest, but when he climbed back up from the underground, the orientation was lost to him. The sky was completely dark by now, the cityscape unfamiliar, and Zeo knew he had to hurry. He regretted not taking the taxicab and wasted precious time.

The street finally opened up and Zeo saw various theatres looming over him, he now only need to find Oxendon Street…

((For your interest, this is the subway map Zeo was reading: http://homepage.ntlworld.com/clive.billson/tubemaps/1932.html))

Mar-8-2009 17:18

While waiting for his ‘employer’ to make his entrance, Bane remembered his thoughts from back at the bar, upon their encounter. He realized he had to be prepared for anything, so he reached in his bag, took out a 1911 with a holster and equipped it. Noticing the gun was showing a bit too obvious through his jacket, he started to look around the cabin in search of thicker coat to wear.

Upon turning a few boxes upside down, he finally stumbled upon a small crate with the name ‘Mike’ written on it. Amongst other stuff, he was pleased to find also a trench coat. He took it out and replaced his jacket with it. Just as he was closing the box, he noticed something looking like a gun handle somewhere in the bottom. He cleared his way to it and took it out. It was an old sawn off shotgun, fully loaded. “This might come in handy”…he mumbled, shoving it under the control panel.

He then got up on the deck and lit himself a cigarette.

…

Mar-8-2009 17:19

*almost an hour later…*

“Whe’e ‘ave yo’ been, American?” The whispered, yet growling voice startled Bane. He turned his eyes towards it to find the character he met earlier at the bar.

“What you mean ‘where have I been’?” answered Joey annoyed. “I’ve been waiting here for you for more than an hour. You did say under the Cannon Street Bridge at 11 hundred hours, now didn’t you? It’s freaking midnight now, pal!”

“Yeah, yeah…don’ sweat it! Now’ don’ jus’ stand ova’ the’e with you’ hands in you’ pockets. Move you’ a’se on the pie’r an’ help those lads! Tha’ package’s kida heavy.”

Bane turned his eyes towards the small pier where two other men were struggling with a tall crate. “Hmmm…” mumbled him “…that crate’s big enough to fit a body in it”.

“Watcha waitin’ fo’? Move it!”…growled the first man again, pushing him from behind.

Bane gave him an ugly eye and then stepped up and helped the two fellows bring the box onto the deck.

“Let’s shove it down below” proposed him.

“Nah…we’e gonna ditch it soon. Jus’ put it up he’e in the cabin” said the man who apparently seemed to be in charge. Well…in charge of these two chumps at least.

…

“Where to now?” asked Bane upon finishing with the crate.

“Jus’ go down the rive’. We got another’ one to pick up.”

“Another package?”

“Yo’ got a problem wit’ t’at, American?”

“No problem, Boss” replied Bane mockingly. He started the engine and took off. All 3 men remained on the boat.

…

Mar-8-2009 17:20

*15 minutes later…*

“Alrigh’…stop he’re” said the ‘boss’ pointing towards a small pier leading to the back of a house that appeared to be deserted. “Wait he’re. T’is gonna take abou’ ten minutes. Jeff he’re’s gonna stay he’e wit’ yo’.”

Upon docking the ferry, he made a short sign to the one he called ‘Jeff’. The man nodded and then the ‘boss’ and the other chump left, entering the abandoned manor’s back door.

After a couple of minutes, Jeff stepped on the pier, looking around as if expecting for somebody to arrive…strangely, not from the house, but from along the riverside.

Seeing himself alone on the boat, Bane figured this could be a good time to take a look into that box. He grabbed a crowbar and opened the lid slowly, whistling loud in an attempt to cover the noise.

“I’ll be damn!” he mumbled upon throwing a peek inside. Indeed there was a body…and not any dead stiff, but just exactly the man from the newspaper picture, the one who the police thought that was killed on the train. “So these guys must be…”

“What the hell do you think you’re doing here, mate!”

Jeff’s voice startled Bane. He attempted to turn around, but the sound of an arming revolver made him stop. With the corner of his eye he took a look at the man’s shadow on the deck under the moon light. Indeed he had a gun pointed at his head. Bane realized he had to make a move now, or he won’t move at all. For good.

“I reckon this is the end of the road for you, mate.” Jeff said preparing to take the shot. “Too bad you couldn’t keep your nose out of our business, American!”

Just as Bane thought this was indeed his end, he heard a noise that never before had sounded so pleasant:

“Grrrrr….”

Apparently Pierre had been there all along, quiet…most likely sleeping like a log.

Mar-8-2009 17:21

Startled by the dog’s growling, the man pointed his eyes towards him, lowering the gun. Noticing his move in the shadow, Bane didn’t think twice. Gathering all his strength, he swiftly forged his elbow straight into the man’s face. His powerful blow made Jeff stagger for a couple of seconds, then fall on his knees, arms just hanging straight along his body. Blood strongly gushed out of his nose and upon another two or three seconds he finally dropped face down on the floor. Bane reached for his neck and took his pulse. He had none. “Damn…” mumbled him “…these English goons are softer than I thought. I didn’t even hit him that hard…”

He then turned his eyes towards the dog. “Nice job, Pierre. Perfect timing! I guess I owe you a full load of bones for this, mate. Now don’t stand here…go below. I don’t want these guys to see you.”

Pierre came forward sniffing Jeff’s body for a second and then headed below the deck, growling slowly somehow in discontent.

Bane quickly grabbed Jeff’s corpse and hid it behind the crate in the cabin. He then stepped out on the deck, just in time to see the ‘boss’ and the other guy coming. The goon was carrying something on his shoulder that looked like…”A child? Could it be…”

Bane’s grumbling was interrupted by the sight of two people, a man and a woman, coming towards the ferry along the river side. A moon ray glancing over their faces presented Bane a middle age man with spectacles and…”The NUN?!?” He almost shouted that out loud, but fortunately he managed to gut it down in the last second.

The group finally made it on the ferry. Bane lifted the collar of his trench coat and drew his hat lower onto his eyes, just in case the woman from the train would remember his face.

Mar-8-2009 17:23

The chump carrying the child laid it down carefully on the deck. It appeared to be a little girl. Apparently she was still awake, her mouth being covered with a gag and her hands tied up in the front. Bane moved a little on a side to see her face in the pier’s lamp. His eyes widened in astonishment as he finally got a glimpse at her face: “What the freaking hell?!? VICTORIA?!?”


Again he had to gut in his voice in order not to say that out loud.

The man with spectacles reached down to her and lifted her chin. He seemed to be agitated about something. With a short and violent move he removed her gag to see her full face.

“Damn it!” he barked, lifting his eyes towards the ‘boss’ and the other chump. “You fools! You picked the wrong one!”

“Wha’ do yo’ mean, boss!?! We took th’ one from th’ bed yo’ said!”

“It’s the wrong one, you stupid English wanker! We want the sister, not this one!”

The now obviously ‘little boss’ started to scratch the back of his head. “So’…w’at d’ we do’ now’?”

“Go back and grab the one we want!”

“NOW’?!?”

“YEAH, NOW!”

At that point the most unexpected thing happened…well…at least for Joey: Victoria turned her eyes towards the old house and spoke. One word came out of her mouth: “Father…”