"Are you alright?" I asked the woman as I wrapped my arms fully around her and brought her close to my body. Don't ask me why I did, it was just something I felt I had to know when I saw her begin to stumble. She simply looked into my eyes and, although I couldn't see much of her face because of the mask she was wearing, I find myself not being able to look away from her eyes. It's like I was caught in a beautiful trap, unable to escape and sinking further into the depths of an abyss. Nothing else was said between us as we simply stared into one another's eyes. I remember a moment when (Name) and I were doing the exact same thing.
Flashback
"It's not my fault that you have seen bigger Jacob, you shouldn't have to be ashamed of that. It's just like I said, there are a lot of good-looking guys around here, take your pick." (Name) said to me after Charles Darwin left us alone.
"You know that's not what I meant." I replied in a husky voice as I moved closer to her, our bodies being within centre metres of each other's. I could see that it had a sort of effect on her, and I couldn't help but feel good inside.
"Then why don't you tell me what you meant then. Or, you could even show me if that's what you prefer." Her words caught me off guard, but I quickly composed myself.
"That's a very tempting offer." I finally said after a few moments of silence. Nothing else was said as we looked into one another's eyes and slowly, very slowly, begin to lean in.
End of flashback
Thinking back on that day, I wanted nothing more than to kiss her, but it didn't happen. I shook my head at the thought and focused on the woman in front of me, who raised her hand and placed it on my cheek, slowly caressing it. My eyes widened in confusion, but I made no move to stop her. I simply let her do it, but I don't know why.
"Just...to....Jacob?" She whispered something, but that was all I could hear from her. She had whispered something else, but I couldn't hear her at all.
"Hey, are you alright?" I asked her. I saw that she was trying to answer me, but it looked as if she couldn't. Her hand dropped from my face and fell to the side of her body. Before I could say or so anything else, her eyes closed, and her body went limp. I know I had business to attend to, but I couldn't leave her like this, so I looked around the place, hoping to find somewhere that I can place her and let her rest. I eventually spotted a couch, so I placed her there and let one of the ladies know what's happened. A part of me didn't want to leave the woman alone, but unfortunately, I had to. It wasn't long before I found Roth, who seemed to be admiring his pet crow.
"Jacob! He is beautiful, isn't he?" Roth said as he looked at the bird with fondness. 'I wonder what the story behind the bird is.' I thought. "I've planned the perfect second outing for us!"
"Have you?" I replied.
"There's borrowing to be done. Three of Starrick's henchman are about to disappear."
"Oh, you sly devil."
"Oh? And I'm coming along this time. There is no sense in giving you all the glory. Off to my carriage we go! Lewis!" With that said, we made our way out of the Alhambra. "Jacob! Our carriage awaits! You know how it is. You drive." I hopped aboard and took the reins. "These cowardly fools under Starrick have built their own prisons. It's a dreadful waste."
"They could be building gangs instead?'
"No, no! Why build, when you can ebb and flow like the sea? I would not deign to pin them down."
"Oh, you wouldn't, would you? What about your bird?"
"It's not building anything. It just is, my dear." It wasn't long before we came upon the National Gallery. "I dare say I shall never tire of the National Gallery."
"Why does Starrick interest himself with art?"
"He's hired a fiendishly talented woman, one Hattie Cadwallader, to procure works for him. She has excellent taste."
"We're kidnapping her for the sin of being Starrick's collector?" I ask as I dismounted the carriage. "Bring your carriage around and wait for the cargo. I shan't be very long." I searched around the National Gallery for any clues about Cadwallader's location. "Someone around here must know Miss Cadwallader..." I happen to spot a girl and decided to ask her if she knew anything. "I'm looking for Miss Hattie Cadwallader."
"Ain't seen her...I knows what she's been up to, though." The girl replied.
"And what's that?"
"Prigging art, sir. She pinched a statue not far rom here."
"Now where is that statue..." I muttered out as I looked around. It wasn't long until I found a pedestal missing its statue and approached a boy who was nearby. "Hey, smallie! Know anything about what happened here?"
"I saw who pinched it, sir." The boy replied.
"Miss Cadwallader?"
"She hides sown the sewers, sir."
"Of course it's sewers." I shake my head and found the entrance to the sewers where I found Cadwallader and the hidden statue. Making sure that she doesn't notice me, I walked up behind her and grabbed her from behind.
"Tell Mr. Starrick his next delivery is on its way, and tell him that I'm growing tired of these working conditions." Cadwallader said.
"Wasn't Starrick who sent me." I said.
"Then who?"
"Maxwell Roth sends his regards."
"Oi! Leave off, or you'll be sorry!"
"Shh..."
"Take your hands of me, sir, or you'll be sorry!"
"Hush, madam." I managed to successfully bring her to Roth without alerting anyone.
"Why, Miss Cadwallader! What a pleasant surprise!" Roth said.
"You'll be hearing from Mr. Starrick, Roth!" Cadwallader said.
"Ha! I look forward to it!" Nothing more was said as I shoved her into the carriage and took the reins once again.
"Why the Alhambra?" I asked along the way.
"Every good criminal needs a place to invest his ill-gotten gains. And what's better than distracting the world with a little light entertainment while you do so?" Roth replies.
"Oh, come now. You can't tell me you don't enjoy the triumph of a well-received play? The plaudits and praise? The reviews?"
"I enjoy being entertained, Jacob! If one of the productions pleases me, I am over the moon. The theatre is in my blood. As you so astutely discerned, theatrically is...something of a Roth specialty." It wasn't long before we reached our next destination; St. James' Park. "Ah, the park. The dwelling place of Starrick's head of security, one Benjamin Raffles. Those who cross him tend to disappear without warning."
"Sounds like we'll be fast friends."
"Be careful. His guards are never far away." I dismounted the carriage, infiltrated the park and grabbed Raffles from behind.
"What the meaning o' this?! Did Roth send you? The villain!" Raffles said.
"You have your villains mixed up, Mr. Raffles. The man you work for is the real villain here." I replied.
"Let. Me. Go!"
"Keep your voice down."
"Guards!"
"Quiet, Mr. Raffles." I brought him to the carriage with no trouble.
"My most fragrant Raffles! How very good to see you again!" Roth said.
"Go to hell, Roth!" Raffles said.
"It's into the back with you, then." I shoved Raffles into the back and took the reins yet again.
"Who is this Lewis that works for you?" I asked.
"Ha! A bit of an odd fish, isn't he? Came to me a few years past." Roth replied.
"He's very solemn."
"But always so polite! And he has many other talents."
"Who am I looking for?"
"Chester Swinebourne. A copper by day and snitch by night. Remove him from the pack and you cut Starrick's ties to the police force."
"Must be good at what he does to keep the charade going for so long."
"He is indeed, my boy." We reached Scotland Yard within a few moments.
"All these bobbies give me gooseflesh." I said.
"Welcome to Scotland Yard." Roth said. This one was a bit trickier, but I managed to infiltrate Scotland Yard and grabbed Swinebourne from behind.
"Huh?! What?!" Swinebourne said.
"Now, now, Swinebourne. Let's not make a scene." Jacob said.
"You're not going to get away with this!"
"Oh, but I am."
"Where are you taking me?"
"A friend would like to say a quick how d'ya do."
"Cease and desist."
"Hush." I brought Swinebourne to the carriage.
"Chester!" Roth said.
"Roth? It's been a while." Swinebourne said.
"You really let yourself go. Shame. Now, it's into the back with you!" I shoved Swinebourne into the carriage and drove it to the delivery point at the Thames. There, Starrick's henchman were brought aboard a boat.
"Excellent work. Do come find me at the Alhambra. I have more amusements planned for us!" Roth said. Before he could board and sail away, I couldn't help but speaking up.
"Roth, that woman who was with you..." I don't know if it was my imagination or not, but I thought I saw a hint of a smirk on his face.
"Ah yes, the mysterious woman who was with me the other day. Quite lovely, ain't she?"
"I bet she is. I tried speaking to her before we met up, only it wasn't quite what I expected."
"Oh?"
"Well, I left her on the couch, so she could rest up and..." He interrupted me before I could say anything else.
"Jacob, my dear, you sly dog."
"What? No that's not..." I couldn't say anything else as he simply boarded the boat and sailed away.