Read Online Jack the Ripper Victims Series: The Double Event by Alan M. Clark - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Alan M. Clark
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room one afternoon in April, reading the first letter she had ever received from him.
Dear Daughter Elizabeth,
I’m sad to write to tell you that your dear mother has passed away. She had been having chest pains for several months but was unwilling to see the doctor. Her thoughts were with you and your sister with the hope that you are doing well. I too hope you are prospering in the city.
Caspar and Svein have ambitions beyond Hisingen.
Now that my dear Beata is gone, I will finish the year and then try to sell the farm.
Please send me news.
Regards from my heart,
Herr Gustav Ericsson
Soon, there would be no place and no family to run to.
Caspar and Svein are smart to dream of something greater, Liza said.
Elizabeth had no desire to write to her father. She was furious with her mother. How dare she withhold her illness. I might have seen you one last time! She pounded the mattress in frustration, upsetting the most recent litter of mice within.
Listening to their tiny cries, Elizabeth fell forward and wept. She knew that feeling sorry for herself wouldn’t help anything, but she couldn’t resist the idea that she meant little to her family and nothing at all to anyone else in the world.
You hold within, one who will love you dearly someday, Bess said.
After a time, Elizabeth rolled over and considered the slight swell of her belly. No, having had a hard time merely providing for herself, she didn’t want to become a mother. Still, she had hidden her pregnancy from Klaudio for fear that he would harm the child and herself trying to force a miscarriage.
A knocking came from her door, the insistent rhythm the police used when they wanted to inspect her room. Elizabeth got up and answered the door. Police Constable Lindquist stood in the threshold. He pushed his way inside as Elizabeth backed away to make room.
She liked him. He was young, somewhat handsome, and he’d treated her with some small respect. Both Elizabeth’s inner voices had thought he might be a valuable ally in helping her get away from Klaudio, Liza suggesting she use the lure of sex and Bess proposing that Elizabeth should make him fall in love with her.
The Police Constable looked her up and down. He seemed different somehow, and then she realized that the difference was how he looked at her.
“Herr Lydersson has sent me for my share,” he said awkwardly.
“Money?” Elizabeth asked.
“No,” he said, taking a deep breath. He had a timid look as he reached for her.
Now’s your chance, Liza said.
Elizabeth allowed him to guide her gently back onto the bed. He slowly undressed her. Although she had long since lost her discomfort when naked around men, she became embarrassed as he looked at her. He had such a little-boy-gawking expression.
Elizabeth backed up onto the mattress as he undressed, never taking his eyes off her.
Don’t be afraid, Bess said. He looks at you with love in his eye.
Finally, he climbed onto the bed with a massive erection. “Please, spread your legs,” he said.
As she complied, he hungrily looked toward her crotch.
A sour expression twisted his features and he withdrew, stood, and reached for his clothing. “Dress yourself, Fru Gustavsdotter. I must take you to Kurhuset.”
Elizabeth’s heart beat rapidly in her chest. “What have I done?” she asked, fear of the unknown rising.
He’s arresting you, Liza said.
“Nothing,” he said, a sorrow in his voice. “You’ve done nothing, but you have a chancre.”
Chapter 9: Kurhus
On her way out with Police Constable Lindquist, Elizabeth saw Ada going to her room, and told her she was going to Kurhuset. Ada gave her a sad smile that did nothing to ease Elizabeth’s fears.
All the sick prostitutes went for treatment at Kurhuset. Four stories tall, the facility stood in Eastern Haga, a half mile away from Elizabeth’s room. As she walked with the constable, she suffered the worst her imagination had to offer. She’d seen a woman afflicted with
Dear Daughter Elizabeth,
I’m sad to write to tell you that your dear mother has passed away. She had been having chest pains for several months but was unwilling to see the doctor. Her thoughts were with you and your sister with the hope that you are doing well. I too hope you are prospering in the city.
Caspar and Svein have ambitions beyond Hisingen.
Now that my dear Beata is gone, I will finish the year and then try to sell the farm.
Please send me news.
Regards from my heart,
Herr Gustav Ericsson
Soon, there would be no place and no family to run to.
Caspar and Svein are smart to dream of something greater, Liza said.
Elizabeth had no desire to write to her father. She was furious with her mother. How dare she withhold her illness. I might have seen you one last time! She pounded the mattress in frustration, upsetting the most recent litter of mice within.
Listening to their tiny cries, Elizabeth fell forward and wept. She knew that feeling sorry for herself wouldn’t help anything, but she couldn’t resist the idea that she meant little to her family and nothing at all to anyone else in the world.
You hold within, one who will love you dearly someday, Bess said.
After a time, Elizabeth rolled over and considered the slight swell of her belly. No, having had a hard time merely providing for herself, she didn’t want to become a mother. Still, she had hidden her pregnancy from Klaudio for fear that he would harm the child and herself trying to force a miscarriage.
A knocking came from her door, the insistent rhythm the police used when they wanted to inspect her room. Elizabeth got up and answered the door. Police Constable Lindquist stood in the threshold. He pushed his way inside as Elizabeth backed away to make room.
She liked him. He was young, somewhat handsome, and he’d treated her with some small respect. Both Elizabeth’s inner voices had thought he might be a valuable ally in helping her get away from Klaudio, Liza suggesting she use the lure of sex and Bess proposing that Elizabeth should make him fall in love with her.
The Police Constable looked her up and down. He seemed different somehow, and then she realized that the difference was how he looked at her.
“Herr Lydersson has sent me for my share,” he said awkwardly.
“Money?” Elizabeth asked.
“No,” he said, taking a deep breath. He had a timid look as he reached for her.
Now’s your chance, Liza said.
Elizabeth allowed him to guide her gently back onto the bed. He slowly undressed her. Although she had long since lost her discomfort when naked around men, she became embarrassed as he looked at her. He had such a little-boy-gawking expression.
Elizabeth backed up onto the mattress as he undressed, never taking his eyes off her.
Don’t be afraid, Bess said. He looks at you with love in his eye.
Finally, he climbed onto the bed with a massive erection. “Please, spread your legs,” he said.
As she complied, he hungrily looked toward her crotch.
A sour expression twisted his features and he withdrew, stood, and reached for his clothing. “Dress yourself, Fru Gustavsdotter. I must take you to Kurhuset.”
Elizabeth’s heart beat rapidly in her chest. “What have I done?” she asked, fear of the unknown rising.
He’s arresting you, Liza said.
“Nothing,” he said, a sorrow in his voice. “You’ve done nothing, but you have a chancre.”
Chapter 9: Kurhus
On her way out with Police Constable Lindquist, Elizabeth saw Ada going to her room, and told her she was going to Kurhuset. Ada gave her a sad smile that did nothing to ease Elizabeth’s fears.
All the sick prostitutes went for treatment at Kurhuset. Four stories tall, the facility stood in Eastern Haga, a half mile away from Elizabeth’s room. As she walked with the constable, she suffered the worst her imagination had to offer. She’d seen a woman afflicted with
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