Cruel and Unusual - serialised novel EXCLUSIVE to Steemit Part 15

Cruel and Unusual - serialised novel EXCLUSIVE to Steemit Part 15

Exclusive for Steemit - serialisation of Cruel and Unusual – my second novel

Episodes:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14

As he continued his stroll, he was aware of a woman watching him. He altered the direction of his path and went towards her. She straightened up immediately he changed direction and adjusted her bonnet. Her smile seemed forced to Jack but he continued towards her. She had been leaning on a fence and she brushed the dirt from her sleeve.

“Hello,” Jack said, tipping his hat. He saw the disdain in her eyes then and some part inside his mind took a dislike to the woman. “Are you alone?”

“Yes, I am and I have a little time, if you would like to stay and talk for a few minutes.”

Her voice grated on Jack’s nerves, it had a nasal whine about it and sounded as though she was perhaps just recovering from a cold – or was about to come down with one.

He didn’t like her eyes either; they were shifty and had a sly cast to them. She would look over Jack’s shoulder as she spoke to him, rather than looking at his face. Jack liked to talk with people that looked him in the eye as they spoke, he could often tell if they were being truthful with him – with unerring accuracy. He could tell that she did not want to be there, talking to a stranger, but perhaps that was because she was being forced into this life of prostitution.

Then Jack heard a sound off to his left and behind him. Suddenly he had the impression that he really was not safe in that place. He had outstayed his welcome and he decided to beat a hasty retreat.

He tipped his hat, betraying his manners and said, “I beg your pardon, madam; I appear to have mistaken you for an acquaintance of mine. I must apologise, I shall leave you to your assignation. Good night.”

Then, before he could be accosted by her companion or pimp, he made his departure.

He heard a whispered argument begin and he ducked into the shadows surrounding her chosen area of work and he listened.

“What did you say to him to make him leave?” A gruff voice snarled at the woman.

“I didn’t say nuffin! Why would I warn him?” The voice which had been grating on Jack’s nerves, grated even more as she became angry and defensive. “You made a noise as you made your move.”

“You must ‘ave given him a signal, I didn’t make no noise to warn him.”

“Well it weren’t me neither!” She stuck her fists to her hips and thrust out her chin.

He lifted his stout and rough-hewn walking stick as though to strike her and she ducked her head. “Don’t you hit me, you bastard! I’ve told you before, I’ll go along with you as long as you never hit me and the takings are split equal like.”

“Yeah and I told you, we’re partners as long as it suits me. I’ve had enough of you, Annie, you’re a greedy trollop and you’re not getting no younger, neither. You don’t draw ‘em in like you used to. I shan’t hit you but you just stay away from me now, you ‘ear?”

Jack heard the footsteps walking away from him. He waited for a few moments, to give the pimp time to vacate the area and he was about to move away but he heard her wheedling voice once more.

“Hello sir, are you looking for a companion like?”

The hairs on the nape of Jack’s neck bristled and he watched as Annie spoke to another man. Annie’s previous partner must have passed him as he left for he had not passed Jack but what was the cause of the eerie feeling that had begun to make its way down his back and up across his scalp?

The illumination from the street light was diffused and pale, it gave everything a washed-out appearance but Jack could see their breath as they spoke, though he could not hear what they said.

He watched, fascinated as they talked and he gave out a gasp of surprise as Annie doubled over because the man had punched her low in the abdomen. He punched her again and again and Jack’s instinct was to turn to her aid but something held him back. The hairs on the back of his neck were still raised and it was something about the phenomena that gave him pause for thought. The man bending over Annie’s prone form was suddenly aware of Jack’s presence because, perhaps, of Jack’s gasp in surprise and shock. He straightened up and stared into the shadows and as Jack made a move forwards, the attacker looked over Jack’s shoulder, just as Annie had done, and he fled.

Jack went to Annie’s prone form and lifted her skirts to assess the injuries. There were a few stab wounds to her legs and lower abdomen and Jack was worried. His instincts as Doctor came to the fore and he did what he could for her before leaving. Fortunately she was wearing her hefty winter clothing and that had prevented her from being more seriously injured. Jack did not want to attract attention however; it would not be good for his reputation as a respected surgeon if he were to be seen with an injured woman here, it would be difficult to explain why he was in the area.

As he left her, she was coming round from her faint and he was certain that she would be able to get herself the short distance to the Workhouse Infirmary without his help.

What distressed and disturbed him most were the noises of interest in the surrounding area. His hearing seemed to be more acute than usual. He could hear someone close by, sniffing the air as though the scent of blood was appealing to them.

When Jack passed close to the place where he thought the sniffing person was hidden, he looked into the gloom and saw a flash of amber light - twin orbs – at head-height. Realising what he had seen, and that he had had a very fortunate escape, Jack tipped his head forward and fled.

Pictures from Google Images and Pixabay