Jack the Ripper – A Love Story ( Excerpt 41 )

Jack the Ripper – A Love Story ( Excerpt 41 )

  I was holding my clinic at the Infirmary when two of Mary’s cronies turned up, Martha Tabram and Liz Stride. Liz was sporting a lovely black eye and swollen jaw, apparently she had had an altercation with a customer who refused to pay for her services, she got mouthy and he turned nasty, an occupational hazard I would think.

I gave her an examination, although there was little I could do except advise her to be more careful the next time. Just as they were about to leave, Martha Tabram turned to me grinning and said,’ Did you Know? Doc, Mary’s got a new bloke, He’s a diamond, treats her like a princess, so he does.’

Then they both departed, laughing together as if sharing some private joke but they had unwittingly forced my hand. I made a conscious decision Martha Tabram would be the first to die.

Then once again, fate intervened, one of her apparently dissatisfied customers, stabbed her several times and denied me the pleasure of killing her. And I was so looking forward to seeing the fear in her eyes as I slit her throat, but be that as it may. There are still five left to amuse myself with, all is not lost!

Who’s to be next, obviously not Mary, I’m saving her till last, she will be my fait accompli. Until that time, I want her to learn what real fear is, she will learn and very soon, all about fear and what it can do to you.

(C) Damian Grange 2018