Murder in Whitechapel (The Judas Reflections) by Aiden James, Michelle Wright Read Free Book Online Page B

damnation.”
    “But what if he did not die, instead becoming doomed to wander for all eternity?”
    The man fell silent as did the group, He was short in stature, with glasses perched on the end of his nose and a slight twitch in his left eye. Highly strung, perhaps?
    “Judas Iscariot was a thief and a disciple of the devil, stealing any monies that came his way until he hung himself with great remorse for his hideous crime against Jesus, his closest friend.”
    “What if he was standing right in front of you at this given moment? What, kind sir, would you have to say to him?”
    “That he would be walking with Satan and shunned by God. A heathen! ”
    This seemed to be the consensus of opinion wherever I ventured. The majority of people, who followed the Bible and the teachings of Jesus, perceived me as a devil’s disciple: greedy, without compassion, a betrayer, a swindler and a thief to boot. They assumed I was once hanging by my own rope and now burning in the fires of hell, as did this well intentioned man who lived by the teachings of the bible. Who was I to judge what he believed or didn’t believe? It was but a select few who had taken the time to become acquainted with me, foregoing any judgments and accepting I was doing my utmost to change.
    It was true I had once been a thief and a scoundrel with no compassion for others. Just like a prisoner behind bars for the rest of his days with plenty of time to think about his misdeeds, I too had time to think of my crime and its devastating consequences. My dear father, Simon Iscariot, taught me duty and honor was the most important attributes in a man, without them he would be lost. So, why did I take the wrong path and lead myself into temptation?
    The debate continued, “I am sure Jesus is a pious, forgiving soul who would surely lead Judas into the kingdom of God where all would be forgiven upon atonement.” I decided to make my point as polite as possible.
    “Then you are a trite naïve, good sir, and deluded. Judas Iscariot would never be accepted into the kingdom of our Lord God, he would be doomed forever in Satan’s lair!”
    I wondered why I was drawn to such a place, far too frequently for my own good. Could it be a form of self flagellation, somewhere deep in my conscious was a driving need to be reminded of what I had done? Only I knew the answer.
    It was fine weather indeed, a warm temperature for November. I loved the sunshine, no matter how small the dose. It appeared I was not the only one. Nannies strolled with their small charges; men rode their magnificent horses and Speakers Corner in full swing. I decided to relent on the discussion. There was no point in attempting to reason with the man and his bible. He had his mind set and I did not care to hear I would be doomed forever, even if a grain of truth were to be found in such a prolific statement.
    “Douglas, next stop the office.” I climbed into my carriage, a little unnerved by the experience and feeling quite melancholy. But my spirits rose when the carriage entered fashionable Bond Street. This was where I secured a chamber of offices at a good rent. Considering the high prices, it was a find. The street housed some of London’s most sought after shops. Ladies and gentlemen’s clothing of the highest standard, their windows sparkling clean, with the finest quality mannequins, mingled with England’s most exclusive milliners and art galleries. It was a pleasant sight to watch the ladies as they strolled by in the latest fashions, the rich and privileged of the capital showing off for all and sundry. It was a marked contrast to the starving poor who languished just a few miles east of the city.
    Upon opening the door to the office, the division between rich and poor suddenly became unnatural and dreadfully unjust, not something I previously paid great attention to. I put it down to the constant newspaper stories of Whitechapel having an influence. Roderick was deeply ensconced in the