Page 66 of Secrets in the Dark
“We need to find him. Then we’ll know for sure. Thank you. Thank you for meeting with us,” Mason told her.
“Of course! And yes, yes! If I can think of anything else... I... I am an anthropologist and I’ve dealt with...long gone bodies. But this...”
“Stay in the company of friends. People you know well,” Della advised her.
She nodded. “Until today, I would have thought of Lucas as such a man!”
“That’s our fear. But a press conference is happening as we speak. Hopefully, women will know to be careful of anyone they haven’t known well for some time, and that they won’t be easily lured from a bar or a club. So, thank you. Thank you, again.”
She nodded, looking shell-shocked as they said their goodbyes.
“That was something,” Mason said.
Della shook her head.
“What’s the matter?”
“I’m sorry. It’s good that we’re finding out we are most probably right about this man, that Jesse Miller is switching identities as easily as he switches his appearance. We know where’s he been. We saw him in Brixton...but we can’t find him now. One man!”
“He’s laying low, or he’s being extremely careful. But he will make a mistake, Della.”
“I just don’t want another woman killed!” she said.
“I know. But if he’s following Jack, we do have time.”
“Some time. And a narcissist psycho like Miller might snap and make a move early!”
“He might. But we’ll be there. We have City Police and Metropolitan Police... He’ll do the wrong thing in the wrong place, and we will get him.”
She nodded. “Let’s stop for lunch on our own—see if we can find a pub showing the press conference.”
François Bisset, along with Edmund and Sean, had headed to Scotland Yard for the press conference at the same time Mason and Della had been heading for the dig.
It was right that the English inspectors and the French liaison be the faces on camera; they were in England, and while they were announcing that an international task force was working on finding the man, it was still best that an Englishman be in the spotlight.
“There!” Mason pointed at a place called Ye Olde Scotsman. “I can see the TV at the bar, and it looks as if the BBC is rerunning the press conference right now.”
“I’ll guarantee that they have fish and chips!” Della said.
“And you’re in a fish-and-chips mood?” Mason asked.
“Why not? Best place in the world for fish and chips, I think!”
They hurried in, taking seats at the bar in front of the television and quickly ordered.
Fish and chips. The bartender smiled. Americans ordering a typical British meal. He was friendly, offered them a local pint, and was only a little disappointed when they said they would stick with tea.
When they were able to give their attention to the television, they saw that the mayor was introducing Edmund, and while the sound was low, the bartenders had the TV on with closed captioning so they could also read every word being said.
Edmund said he was relieved to tell the public that one of the murderers responsible for the “vampire” killings in England had been detained.
But another was at large and it was believed he had moved on to being a copycat version of Jack the Ripper. They were actively seeking Jesse Miller, who was most probably going by many other names as well.
He was charming and cordial, a polite and courteous, good Englishman by all appearances. He was also capable of assuming many different accents and many different appearances. While they did not want to create an aura of panic, it was crucial that women be aware and exceptionally careful when meeting men in pubs and restaurants and other social venues. It was imperative that they watch any drinks they intended to imbibe as police believed that the man made his victims pliable by drugging them. Then came a spate of questions from the press gathered before them, but Edmund lifted a hand and explained that they had images to show of what the man’s appearance might be; they would be displayed online as well for anyone to study with greater intensity.
“Damned good!” Mason murmured.
Their food arrived and the bartender noted the TV.
