So Still The Night by Kim Lenox

Author:Kim Lenox
Language: vie
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Penguin Group
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

After leaving the ecclesiastical court, where he put in the necessary paperwork for the special license, Mark instructed the hansom driver to cross the Thames and take him to the Battersea Mortuary.

He had left Leeson at the house, waiting to meet with the present owner. In fact, he’d given Leeson authority to negotiate the purchase of all the houses on the street. Their collective worth—at least on the mortal market—could never approach the value of the gazing pool. Once Mark defeated his state of Transcension and regained his status amongst the Shadow Guard, he’d return to London with Mina and oversee their renovation—taking the necessary breaks for Reclamation assignments, of course. He vowed that within two years the address would be the most exclusive in the district, one from which he would earn a tidy profit.

What were these thoughts inside his head? Optimistic thoughts of a future with Mina? The city passed by his window, and he smiled to himself. He did not know how long such a future could last, but he vowed to make it good.

After a half hour’s travel, he arrived at the mortuary. He paid the driver and passed beneath the central archway. There, shadowed in dim light, he transformed into shadow. From there he followed the scent of death until he arrived at the mortuary room.

Dr. Kempster held court with two dark-suited gentlemen. Mark brushed against them, drawing forth their names: Detective Inspectors Regan and Tunbridge. Moving farther inside, he bumped directly into Selene’s shadow. Sensing the sharp edge of her fury, he took a position on the opposite side of the room.

“Thank you for coming, gentlemen,” said Dr. Kempster, a distinguished-looking gentleman with a mustache. “I suppose we should get on with our terrible business.”

He moved to the center of the room, where a series of shallow metal tubs occupied a lengthy table.

“Prepare yourselves,” he warned. “We’ve kept the recovered parts in spirits to slow their decay.”

The room didn’t smell all that delightful in the first place, but both detectives produced pocket handkerchiefs with which to cover their noses and mouths. When everyone had braced themselves, the police surgeon lifted the cover from the first container. The strong stench of spirits, underscored by decomposition, cut through the room.

Detective Tunbridge coughed.

Dr. Kempster didn’t appear affected at all. Mark knew it wasn’t the first time he’d viewed such vicious handiwork. “Come closer so you can see.”

The detectives edged closer and peered into the murky liquid. Mark was already there. His sister jostled him for position. Given that the torso killer—the killer he knew to be called the Dark Bride—was Selene’s assignment, he ceded the space and again relocated to the other side of the table.

“What is that?” asked one of the detectives.

The doctor pointed with his finger. “The thigh discovered at Battersea. This is the upper section and this the lower. Do you see here? There are four bruises that appear to have been made by fingers clenched into the skin. I believe this would have occurred while the victim was still alive.

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