Chief Constable Richards and his cohort arrived promptly, only to be greeted by a grim tableau: Mr. Steven Crane’s life could not be salvaged.
A young officer, visibly apprehensive, reported,
“It is a ghastly scene, sir. Like Carnock, Mr. Crane has met a violent end, with an open safe, and we don’t know what was stolen. A substantial amount of money and jewellery were left behind.”
He was on the verge of saluting his superior. The Chief Constable, calmly refilling his pipe, responded,
“That marks two fatalities in a single night. There’s something else going on. Why would Carnock and Crane’s wealth be ignored?
“We must presume that the remaining partners, Francis Tumblety and Bob Rodgers, are potential targets of this ruthless murderer.”
Glancing at his pocket watch, he continued,
“It’s nearly 10 pm. Officer Adeline, send an urgent telegram to the radio stations to announce Mr. Carnock’s demise before the 12 o’clock news tonight. Perhaps the surviving partners will catch wind of it and make contact.”
However, an urgent interruption came as another officer rushed to the Chief Constable with disconcerting news, leading him to brace for the revelation of either Mr. Rogers or Mr. Tumblety’s name.
To his astonishment, it was neither of them.
“The victim was Aaron Kosinski, his head brutally bludgeoned with a blunt instrument.”
Chief Constable Richards was familiar with Aaron, a dubious character at best, and a sadistic figure at worst. This criminal always managed to elude long-term imprisonment.
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The young officer continued,
“The witness, Mr. John Druitt, claimed…”
The already tense Constable became instantly agitated and inquired,
“Go on, what did he say? Who killed that malefactor?”
The young officer stiffened his posture and replied,
“He said that their assailant was The Bonville-Shadow.”
Silence enveloped many of the policemen. Some chuckled nervously, while a few directed their gaze at the Chief, who was equally taken aback. Whispers and murmurs circulated, grappling with the possibility that the urban legend might truly exist.
Chief Constable William Richards regained control over his men, asserting,
“Gentlemen, three individuals of varying moral standing have met gruesome ends this night.
“Regardless of the identity of the culprits, we, as officers and loyal Britons, are bound by duty and honour to bring these murderers to justice.
“Now, go and locate the other business partners without delay!”
As his men resumed their duties, Chief Constable Richards contemplated the reason why the Bonville-Shadow was on the streets tonight.
Meanwhile, alone and driving through a desolate stretch, Bonville found a secure spot to pause. After ensuring the area’s safety, he experienced severe coughing, spitting out blood.
Finally, he settled back in the car. Removing his facial coverings and the device responsible for his inhuman voice, he took a brief respite. Then, he shed his overcoat and unbuttoned his shirt, revealing a steel vest still riddled with Aaron’s bullets.
Retrieving pliers from the glovebox, he began the arduous task of extracting each lodged bullet. His grimacing and clenched teeth betrayed the pain, with many bullets leaving dents in the metal and unsightly bruises beneath. A couple drew blood, and his makeshift remedy involved a bracing soak in brandy as the best available disinfectant.
From the glovebox, he secured a small quantity of morphine to alleviate the pain.
With the task completed, The Bonville-Shadow took a moment to recover. But as he put his uniform back on, his mind could only think about what he had done to Aaron.
He had scared off many and even sent a few to the hospital. But he hadn’t taken a human life since the Great War.
What was done in the heat of the moment could never be undone.
He was now a murderer.
He couldn’t justify himself, like he did when killing for his country. He knew nothing could change the facts, so he buried them. He was just another criminal who hurt innocents. Men like him didn’t deserve to live.
Retrieving the contract he had taken from Aaron’s lifeless body, he meticulously reviewed every sentence, documented each legal connection, and eliminated any potential loopholes.
If visible beneath his bandages, a small grin crept across Bonville’s face as he drove off into the night.