Maelstrom by Jordan L. Hawk

Author:Jordan L. Hawk [Hawk, Jordan L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: horror, Fantasy, Historical, victorian, mm, lovecraft, whybourne, widdershins
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 31

Griffin

Whyborne and I followed Detective Tilton through the police station to the jail.

It was my second trip to the police station in one day. I’d come around that morning to find out if anyone had identified the corpse pulled from the ocean last night. No one had, although tattoos on his body suggested he might have been a sailor. If so, we’d be lucky to ever discover his name. Widdershins was a port town, and ships crewed by men from all over the world put in at our docks. Unless the fellow had a particular friend aboard who might remain behind to search for him, his captain would probably assume he’d passed out drunk somewhere, hire a replacement, and sail off again.

On the slim chance someone might have pertinent information, I visited a few of my old contacts in the more questionable parts of town. I’d come away with no answers, although two of them hinted that an unusual number of strangers had come into Widdershins as of late. The disreputable boarding houses and hotels near the docks were crowded with men who seemed intent on staying for longer than the usual few days.

What it meant, I didn’t know, but the implications worried me. When I arrived home, I found even more reason to fear: a note from Tilton, asking me to come to the station to interview the suspect involved in the attempted murder at the Ladysmith.

He’d given no more details. If something terrible had happened, why hadn’t Ival contacted me himself? Had he been shot? Tilton surely would have said, but...

I didn’t clearly recall steering the motor car from our house to the museum, although the lack of dints suggested I’d done so successfully. The work day had ended, and I spotted Ival coming down the stairs almost as soon as I pulled up to the curb. If not for the presence of so many of his colleagues, I’d have flung my arms around him in relief.

“I’m sorry,” he said, once we were underway and I had the opportunity to express my displeasure at not hearing from him sooner. “The director cornered me. I’m in a bit of trouble.”

He explained Durfree’s odd behavior and the theft of the codex as I drove. “I don’t think it was a coincidence,” he finished as I stopped in front of the police station.

“No,” I agreed. “Neither do I.”

Mr. Durfree sat in the same cell Lambert had died in. He cradled his head in his hands, body slumped, the very picture of despair. As with Lambert, no trace of anything magical lingered about him.

“Mr. Durfree?” Whyborne asked tentatively.

Durfree’s head snapped up. “Dr. Whyborne?” He rose to his feet. “Have you come to tell them I didn’t do it?”

“Er.” Whyborne looked desperately uncomfortable. “Not precisely.”

“Dr. Whyborne witnessed your rampage,” Tilton said.

Durfree sagged back. “But I...how? I don’t understand.” His eyes sought Whyborne’s desperately. “You’re here to make a statement against me?”

“They’re here to interview you,” Tilton said. “I suggest you answer all their questions as honestly as possible.

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