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Jul-26-2009 15:28

It was another rainy foggy night in London, as I walked through the door of the Owl and Walnut. I stood in the doorway to get the chill out of my bones and eyed the patrons of my favorite pub. I could tell that the news of the latest murder victim had everyone scared. The local papers were calling him the new Ripper, Scottland Yard was lost as usual and the only trend that the killer stuck to was the murders were getting more and more gruesome. I had already started looking into the case even before Miss Brandy Marie showed up at my office last night and told me she wanted me to find the psycho who murdered her sister. Its been the longest 24 hours I have ever lived through. And I am no closer to solving the case. I head over to the bar and order my usual 3 fingers of cognac I then head over to my table which is very close to the back. I sit with my back to the wall and watch the door. You learn a few things in this business when you been doing it as long as me and I aint about to get a bullet in the back cause I got careless. I pull out my pack of Lucky Strikes( I have'em sent over from the States.) And my Zippo lighter. I light up take a huge drag and a sip of my drink and try to forget the horrible images I saw today. Then

Sep-3-2009 00:32

The scent in the morgue was overwhelming, but to Dr. Shamus McAllister it was perfume to his senses. The medical examiner studied his most recent case and declared professionally that the old man died from a natural heart attack. His young assistant quickly scribbled that into the police report.

The middle age doctor took off his glasses and asked "So, how can i help you, detective..."

"Zeo. Joseph Zeo. I need to know your findings on all the corpses the new Ripper left behind." Zeo replied.

"You mean what that so called 'detective' Charlie Cain had left behind." McAllister stated. Apparently it was already all over town that the Yard caught the new Ripper. "It's in some tabloids this morning." The doctor replied. Zeo didn't say anything. He wouldn't draw any conclusion before he was certain. Anyone could be the killer at that point.

McAllister sighed, asking why Zeo wanted to further investigate an already closed case. When Zeo wouldn't budge the doctor asked his assistant to fetch Zeo some blurry photographs of the dead ladies. "Whoever took these had done a poor job." He looked at his assistant accusingly. "I must learn to take pictures myself some day." The medical examiner went on to explain that the killer probably cut open his victims while they were still alive, and the missing organs were removed with the utmost care. The doctor seemed to admire the killer's work. He then jokingly said, "Looks like the killer is trying to piece the inside of a person back together."

"What does that all means?" Zeo muttered to himself.

"Well, you are the detective. You figure it out yourself." McAllister remarked with a glint in his eyes. Zeo thanked the doctor and left.

Sep-3-2009 00:32

===

Hubert Smithe, M.D.
Doctorate in Psychiatry

The sign on the door glowed in the midday sun. Zeo pushed the door open and let himself in. The waiting was spotless and almost empty except for one single white sofa. Not a soul was in sight. "Hello?" Zeo called out.

A man in his mid 30's, about the same age as Zeo, popped his head out of his office, apparently annoyed at the intrusion. "You do not have an appointment!" Zeo went on to explain the purpose of his visit. Doctor Smithe was not busy at the moment, and agreed to meet for ten minutes. "I usually charge by the hour, you know!"

Zeo sighed discreetly. "Tell me about the problems of the late Miss Marie."

"That is doctor-patient confidentiality." Smithe briskly replied .

"From what i know she had nightmares about her own death. Can you tell me more on that?"

"No."

"On the night of the murder, that is the past Friday, did you know why Miss Marie was in the area around Dock Street?"

"I'm her psychiatrist, detective, not her driver," The psychiatry said impatiently, "and I'm sure even her driver wouldn't know the reasons for her visits."

"Her visits? To where?" Zeo asked.

"Detective, your time is up." Zeo was sure that took less then ten minutes, but Dr. Smithe went and opened the front door, stood there waiting for Zeo to leave. "I advise you to buy a map, it would tell you more, I am sure." The detective had no choice but to end his meeting. Perhaps he should come back at night to look at the files...

Sep-3-2009 00:33

===

Zeo returned to his hotel room in the late afternoon to meet Vulkie, as they had previously agreed. Vulkie quickly informed him what Cain had told her at the holding cell.

"I must talk to Charlie myself." Zeo said, "There's so much that we must piece together. Are you coming?"

Vulkie told Zeo that she wasn't comfortable with going into that holding cell, "and um, I sorta of have an appointment at 8 o'clock at the Owl and Walnut." Vulkie stopped with that, without telling Zeo what the appointment was about. Zeo asked if he could meet her at that bar afterwards, and Vulkie nodded enthusiastically. "Come as soon as you can. Don't worry about interrupting us. Just come by and say hi."

Zeo then left to see Charlie Cain at the holding cell.

Sep-3-2009 10:52

Sitting in a cell all by himself Charlie kept going over the events of the last few days in his head. Every few hours a two guards would come in and give Charlie a beating.

" Your lower than pond scum, you no good lying bum. People came to you for help. And you turn out to be the biggest sicko in town." Officer Stanford said while beating Charlie sensless.

After a few beatings already Zeo showed up and saved him from a very painful beating at the hands of one of the biggest guards either man had ever seen. But as Zeo saw Charlie wasnt backing down either

"You! get your hands off him now!" Zeo yelled at the guard. Finally after a few tense minutes between Zeo and the guard the guard leaves mumbling as he walks down the ailse of cells.

" Charlie you look horrible, why are you taunting the guards?" Zeo asked.
" Jee thanks I feel great. If the other inmates think I'm crazy they tend to stay away. Its a form of self preservation." said Charlie. "I'm not too sure its working for you." Zeo remarked jokingly.

Zeo began telling Charlie all he had learned. Mid sentence Charlie cut Zeo off. " Wait what did Smithe mean by visits? Did she go there alot? We need to talk to her driver his name is William Guillory thats the name Miss Marie gave me." Zeo said " Charlie you need to tell me everything you know about your client. You cant hold out information like that."

"No you misunderstand." Charlie said " I didnt tell you because I was a bit interupted and I couldnt tell Vulkie because our meeting was cut short." said Charlie apologetically. Zeo stood there fuming for a short while then sensing that Charlie was telling the truth asked "What do you think I should do first?" asked Zeo . " Please check out the driver and look into that street to. Zeo I know you know what to do so what ever you think is important or solid follow it up. Dont worry about me I got a plan to get out of here."
Charlie whispered.

With a smile.

Sep-4-2009 11:02

(Note : This is just a small part,Zeo must continue. This is about the meeting in the Owl and Walnut)

As Vulkie entered the Owl and Walnut bar,it was 7.50 pm. She saw that "Fred" the constable wasn't there yet. Bernie,a good contact of Vulkie,asked if she wanted her favorite drink. A good old "Glenfiddich 12 years old" whiskey.

"Nah,not today Bernie. I just want a small "brandy",to flow this cold away. It's like freezing here..." Vulkie said.

"Yes,well,we still have some problems after a "last" visit of a client. As you can see,there are still 2 barstools in the window frame and poor Mr. Pennyworth hasn't recovered yet from the shock" Bernie said and pointed to an old man. Afterwards,he got Vulkie a brandy,as she was waiting for Fred.

"Good evening miss" the constable said. "Bernie" as Fred nodded towards the bartender. Bernie nodded back.

"So,what will you have? A pint or a whiskey?" Fred asked. "A small orange juice please" Vulkie said,with a smile. Fred ordered and so they sat for 15 minutes,with Fred talking about Charlie and I talked about my "history" with the prince of Shangri-La and how I got my outfit.

"Wow" Fred said,"You look smashing. I noticed it this afternoon,but jeez." Fred said and he gave a small kiss on Vulkie's cheek.

Just when Fred wanted to kiss Vulkie,Joseph came walking in.

"Oi! That's my wife your about to kiss. Come here you bag of old bones!" Joseph said and dragged Vulkie outside,leaving Fred with his pint of beer.

"We need to get away here Joseph,at least 2 blocks" Vulkie said,and so they walked for 2 blocks.

"Alright,tell me what you know" Vulkie said and Joseph began to explain..

Sep-5-2009 11:48

Joseph told Vulkie about what Charlie informed him. "First thing tomorrow morning we will go see this William Guillory, who resides with the Maries 10 miles out from the city." Zeo said, "but at this moment we must do something that the cloak of night would allow us to do..."

"You want to 'visit' the psychiatrist again?" Vulkie mused.

"Precisely." Zeo smiled.

***

Vulkie was the perfect partner for breaking and entering, with all the skills she picked up before she became detective. Within minutes, the two were standing in front of the office filing cabinet, reading Doctor Smithe's patients records.

"Look!" Vulkie found Andrea Marie's file and exclaimed a bit too loud to Zeo's liking.

"Shhh!"

"Don't worry, the doc is not at home upstairs." Vulkie remarked confidently. Zeo gave her a questioning frown and Vulkie continued, "I'm sure you also noticed the second floor light was out."

"Yes, but he could be sleeping and your voice might wake him up." Zeo whispered.

"If he is, the doors would have been bolted. From the expensive locks he chose, I am sure he's the type who values privacy greatly, and would have bolted the doors before he goes to bed." Vulkie explained. Zeo remembered the unbolted doors and agreed with Vulkie.

"Where the hell did he go in the middle of the night?" Zeo thought aloud.

"Maybe he's with another patient." Vulkie shrugged while examining the file with a flashlight in detail, "See here on Andrea Marie's record, the doc noted the patient's address and the days and hours he had visited her. He seem to do quite a bit of evening visits. I wonder why..."

"Because this psychiatrist specializes with nightmares and insomnia." Zeo replied while he skimmed through the rest of the patient's record. Zeo's face slowly turned intense. "This can't be right..."

"What is it?"

"Cynthia Allen, Sonia Corning, Samantha Sanders, Laura Simmons..." Zeo named the patients one after another, "They are all new Ripper victims!!"

Sep-5-2009 11:54

"Smithe must be the killer then!" Vulkie concluded quickly.

"Not so fast. There are too many questions still." Zeo said, badly wanting a cigarette at the moment. "What was the Marie doing on dock street, and the 'visits'? We haven't yet establish alibis and motives either... This could merely be a coincident."

"You really think so?" Vulkie asked dubiously.

Zeo shrugged. "Let's put everything back. Maybe the driver can answer some of the questions tomorrow." Zeo really wish Cain could have been with them for the investigations. He might be able to shed some light.

Sep-6-2009 02:09

Mean while back at the jail. Charlie Cain is making arrangements to check out early.

After making it look like he was asleep in bed Charlie took the pick he'd fashioned out of matress spring and picked the lock. Sneaking down the walkway " Your a idiot, if you survive you'll be lucky." Charlie told himself.

When Charlie reached the door at the end of the hallway he tossed a metal water cup down the hall and hid behind the laundry bin. The guard came running in completely forgetting the door yelling

"HEY! what is goin on in here you bums?" the guard yelled. Charlie snuck right out. He made his way to the exit barrowed a coat from a coat rack. Then nonchalantly walked out onto the street.

Charlie went to a contact of his in town hoping she'd help. He walked into the fortune tellers house un noticed like always.

"Charlie I knew you'd be here." said the Fortune Teller.

" Look I need serious help, will you please help me?" Charlie pleaded.

" I cant do much but you know I can always do alittle what do you need?" She asked.

" Can you please just deliver a note to my two friends at the hotel a Mr. J. Zeo and Miss Vulkie?" Charlie asked while handing her the letter.

" Charlie I'll make sure they get it." She replied accepting the letter.

" Thank you" Charlie said while slipping out the back going to the meeting place on the note.

Sep-6-2009 06:31

Ah that annoying unceasing ring of the telephone!!

"Hello?" Zeo picked up the receiver and answered groggily.

"Joseph, it's Leopold from the Yards." The voice replied anxiously.

With the curtain drawn the room was pitch dark. For a second Zeo couldn't remember which city he was in. "What? What time is it?"

"Sorry to wake you at 4am in the morning, Joseph. Bad news. Charlie Cain broke out of prison few hours ago, and immediately he killed again."

"What?" Joseph sat right up on his bed. His head immediately flush cleared, but he couldn't believe his ears. "Another victim? I'm sure it's just a coincident, Leopold. Cain can't be the new Ripper!"

"Do you have any proof?" Leopold challenged. "Cain got out of prison, and immediately a girl died." Zeo was silent. "I just want to let you know, Joseph, the holding cell had the record of a Ms.Vulkie and yourself visiting Cain yesterday, so the both of you will be tightly monitored. I just don't want to see you caught with the psychotic killer."

"Charlie is not the killer!"

"Joseph, I trust your judgement, but unless Cain come up with some proof, he will be hunted down and this time it's not just a simple holding cell that awaits him." Leopold warned, "You know how capable the Yard is at finding people."

"Yes, but obviously solving cases is an entirely different matter." Joseph bickered, and immediately regretted saying it. He apologized to Leopold and asked him about the latest victim. It was another young girl by the name of Ursula Beatrice Cole, found dead behind the museum parking lot, with part of her lung removed.

Ursula Cole. Zeo may have seen her name from Smithe's file, but he wasn't sure. Zeo thanked Leopold for the heads up, and immediately walked to the next room down the hall, still in his pajamas. (cont'd)

Sep-6-2009 06:48

"Vulkie," Zeo knocked. Moments later Vulkie opened the door. She was wearing a nice yellow night gown and had rollers in her hair.

"This better be important!" Vulkie yarned. Zeo then noticed an envelop on the floor behind the door. Vulkie picked it up and opened it. "It's a note from Charlie. He got out, and will meet us at the little 24 hour bookshop behind the library."

Zeo told Vulkie about the new victim and how incriminating this all appeared for Charlie. Vulkie's heart wrenched at the thought, and she noted, "Smithe wasn't home last night, it must be him! He must be the new Ripper!"

"I will go to his office now and check that out. If he really is the new Ripper I am sure i will find something. In the mean time, Vulkie, you go and meet with Charlie, but make sure you are not being followed." Zeo looked out the window and noticed two officers patrolling by the main entrance of the hotel. "Leave by the back door after I go. I will diverge the attention of the cops. You can drive him to the Maries and question the driver. It's safer for Charlie to be away from the city."

With that, Zeo return to his room to get changed. He picked out the brightest blazer he could find amongst his mainly dark attires, to make sure the police would see him. Charlie's life depend on it.