Jack the Ripper – A Love Story ( Excerpt 60 )

Jack the Ripper – A Love Story ( Excerpt 60 )

  I went to meet Abberline at the Whitechapel Mortuary as we had arranged that morning. He was stood waiting, smoking a cigarette, when he saw me approaching, he snubbed it underfoot and raised a hand to acknowledge he had seen me coming.

As soon as I drew level with him, he banged on the Mortuary door, so that we may be granted admission. Personally I was eager to see my handiwork from earlier in the day. The light was far from perfect, but the Mortuary lights are excellent. I can examine every nuance and detail of my handiwork.

But I must learn to temper my enthusiasm, I keep underestimating Inspector Abberline. The man is no fool and I should not underestimate his intellect, by his own admission, he is a skilled thief -taker. I am no thief but I’m sure the same applies. He is a very diligent officer with a fine brain, although he plays it down. He, is definitely to my mind a worthy adversary, may the best man win.

We were directed to a side room where Annie Chapman’s body lay on a gurney, covered by a single sheet. I waited for my instructions from Abberline, although I was almost quaking with anticipation to see her, call it morbid curiosity if you will, but I longed to turn back the sheet and study my handiwork.

The Inspector said, ‘You may commence now, Doctor, as before anything you consider relevant tell or point out to me?’ I turned back the sheet, I was pleasantly surprised, I expected most of my work to be hidden by the Post Mortem, but it had been scheduled for the morning, so other than a little superficial cleaning, she was as I had left her.

(C) Damian Grange 2018