Page 59 of Secrets in the Dark
“Through dark alleys after midnight. Sure!” she said.
They started out. Della was glad to see that those who had been out late were walking in groups or as couples, heading into apartments or to their cars.
She and Mason walked the distance to Whitechapel Road.
They skirted into dark alleys—prepared for whatever they might find.
But the night was quiet and eventually they headed back.
Edmund was waiting for them in the parlor. He was alone.
“The others?” Mason asked.
“Gone up to try to get some sleep,” Edmund said.
“You didn’t need to wait for us,” Della said. “We’re extremely careful with the locks and the alarm. And it’s our turn on first watch.”
“I did need to wait up for you,” Edmund said.
“Why? Did something happen?” Della asked.
“You tell me,” Edmund replied.
“Oh?”
“When were you going to introduce me to your ghost?” Edmund asked.
“Pardon?” Della murmured.
Edmund grinned. “I’ve wondered. But I’ve been careful, as you’ve been careful. I’m assuming that in the United States as well as England and around the world, those of us who see them and talk with them are taught not to let others see you—you might just wind up locked away in an asylum. But since I saw the woman and the two of you clear as day, I’m assuming that you’re both ghosties.”
“Ghosties?” Mason said.
Edmund shrugged. “Seers, whatever one chooses to call those with this very strange gift or curse.”
Della glanced at Mason and then shrugged, sitting in the chair across from Edmund’s perch on the sofa.
“Okay. We’re ghosties.”
“You need to introduce me to the woman you’ve met.”
“Abigail Scott,” Della said. “She was here during the day. And she’s hoping she may be able to help with this go-around with the Ripper.”
Edmund nodded. “And she’s the one who told you that she saw him tonight, on Whitechapel?”
Mason nodded, taking a seat as well. “She was also the one who said that she saw a man resembling our sketches of Jesse Miller at the cemetery. After tonight, we believe that he’s studied everything possible about Jack the Ripper, drawn a few of his own conclusions, and that he did take a tour and that he has gone to the cemetery. Cemeteries, I should say.”
“But,” Edmund said, frowning, “it was at the cemetery that you came across Gary Hudson. Do you think that he and Jesse Miller are still in contact with each other?”
Mason shook his head. “No. Hudson believes that he was far superior to our Ripper, if it is, indeed, Jesse Miller. I’m sure that Jesse Miller also believes that he’s far superior to Gary Hudson. There’s too much competition between the two for them to be working together or even in contact with each other.”
“Have you had any help from anyone?” Della asked.
Edmund smiled. “You mean anyone dead?” he asked.
“Of course. Because I’m assuming if you’d had help from the living, you’d have told everyone.”
Edmund grinned. “Yes. There’s a Royal Air Force ghost killed during World War II who believes he might have seen the murderer on the night of the murder.”
