Entry #562309, added on 02-17-08 @ 2:48 pm EST
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| Chapter Twenty Eight | Entry #562309 |
Chief Inspector Stubbs was up early, and after a rushed breakfast he was again on the phone to the station for any updates on the investigations. Superintendent Jennings had just arrived and was eager to speak with Stubbs. The conversation was quite uneventful though, much as Stubbs had feared it would be. Apparently PC Collins had been to the address Stubbs had provided him with and unsurprisingly found nothing. The Whitechapel property was boarded up and clearly hadn’t been occupied for some time. If someone had been there recently they had been careful to cover their tracks. Facing yet another dead end Stubbs had decided to visit FairView Asylum again. He was sure that there was more about it than he was being led to believe. All of the mysterious circumstances surrounding the place must surely indicate some sinister activities. For a start he was still trying to get his head around the concept of the Asylum being on foreign soil. Apparently though, he was informed by the local Police Chief that it was fairly common practice for countries integral to foreign trading to have a consulate abroad, and that in the interests of political relations, these areas for all intent and purpose are classified as belonging to that particular country. Therefore all political and cultural power remain intact. This basically verified that Stubbs had no jurisdiction.
On the return coach journey to the asylum Stubbs had reread his notes so far and had decided he should talk to more of the staff at FairView, even if he got nothing but suspicions and hear say. In his experience sometimes the deepest truths lay in rumours. But as the coach slowed towards the large main gates of the asylum, his hopes began to diminish. Where yesterday a single guard had stood, now were three burly soldiers. The driver stopped the coach and once he had climbed down he approached the men. After a brief discussion the men looked towards Stubbs and then back to the driver. Stubbs watched as one of the men began to shake his head and pointed back down the long driveway they had just travelled. Not waiting for the driver to return, Stubbs climbed from his carriage and marched over to the gatemen. As he approached all three men grabbed what appeared to be rifles. Stubbs’ pace quickly slowed. Once he reached them they immediately bunched together in a defensive manner.
“Gentlemen, may I please enquire what is wrong?”
“I’m afraid sir as I have just explained to your driver, access to FairView is currently strictly prohibited.”
“But I was here only yesterday and I spoke with the chief consultant; Dr. Hill. He was keen for me to visit again to follow up my investigations.”
“And what investigations would they be sir?”
“Er…I’m afraid I’m not at liberty to discuss that, however I would ask again that you inform Dr. Hill of my arrival and that I wish to speak with him.”
“I can’t do that sir.”
Stubbs was beginning to lose his patience. Military or not he was not going to allow them to hamper his investigation.
“You do realise that I am an officer of the law?”
“That is beside the point sir, I’m afraid it is completely impossible for you to see Dr. Hill.”
“And why would that be?”
“Because he is dead sir.”
It was noon and Stubbs sat in his hotel restaurant tentatively picking at his lunch. He had already spoken with Superintendent Jennings and confirmed what his contacts in the local constabulary had told him. Apparently in the early hours of the morning, whilst on his rounds, Dr. Hill had been fatally attacked by one of the patients. The matter had been passed on to foreign police and consequently a locally based branch of military had cordoned off the asylum. Being on foreign soil, all investigations were being conducted internally. Stubbs was not going to be able to get near the place and as far as his superiors were concerned it was now a political issue, so he was faced with yet another obstacle. Despite his protests Stubbs was ordered back to London. Jennings had been adamant about this.
“The Prime Minister himself has been made aware of the current developments and has expressed a great desire for matters to be smoothed over. I don’t know whose feathers you’ve ruffled but someone definitely doesn’t appreciate you snooping around.”
“All the more reason for me to persist in my investigations!”
“I agree John, but what I’m telling you to do is to put that current line of enquiry on hold, at least until the Princess has gone home. Concentrate on your other leads and go back to the asylum at a more politically conducive time. Know this that if it wasn’t for me you would have been pulled from the case completely.”
“Wait, I don’t quite see what this has got to do with the Princess?”
“Listen carefully John, because I’m sure it was not intended for you to know this, not yet anyway.”
“I’m listening.”
“My contacts at the yard have filled me in on FairView Asylum, some information of which is not public knowledge, again for the sake of political relations. Your Dr. Hill at FairView was very correct, Mr. Jefferson, an apparently rather controversial Geneticist was involved in founding the asylum, and it appears he was indeed the front man for someone else. Jefferson never put a penny into the place. He set it all up, did the paperwork and hired the staff, but he did it on behalf of someone else.”
“I know all of this, but what has it got to do with the Princess?”
“Well you see this is where your presence has really upset the apple cart. From what you’ve told me, you are now very much under the impression that quite sinister things are occurring at FairView, possibly things of a rather scandalous nature?”
“Quite possibly.”
“And this will be reflected in your report I assume?”
“Of course.”
“So consequently whoever the silent financier of FairView is, would be likely to be exposed and potentially be facing some serious accusations?”
“Depending upon what is revealed to actually be happening there, yes.”
Jennings paused and could almost hear the cogs turn in Stubbs’ brain.
“You know who owns FairView don’t you?”
“John you just get back to London and I shall explain everything.”
Sir Maxton Silas stood at the far end of Mason’s laboratory. He watched as Franz and the Baron were led from the recesses of the store room, across the laboratory and then to the machine. The captives were positioned into the two chambers that sat in the centre of the room, and then tightly strapped down.
The Barons gelatinous form was causing a few frustrated remarks but eventually the pulsating fleshy limbs were securely fastened.
“Ok Mason, dare I enquire who our guest is?” Silas asked from the shadows.
“This is Franz; an old acquaintance.” Mason replied.
“And I presume your past friendship is the reason he still lives?”
“We need a living subject. Franz turned up at the right time.” Mason replied cautiously.
“I see. And how exactly did he happen to turn up? I thought this was a ‘secret lair’?”
“I…er. I’m not sure. He just appeared.” A slight quiver was noticeable in Mason’s voice.
“His presence here indicates a massive dilemma, to both myself and you. Because if he found his way here others will eventually follow.”
“What does that mean Silas?” Mason asked quite nervously anticipating Silas’s response.
Silas emerged from the dark and walked over to Mason.
“It means good doctor that whatever you have planned for those two poor souls, you had better get a fucking move on!”
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