Stalking Jack: The Hunt Begins... (Madeline Donovan Mysteries Book 1) by Madison Kent Read Free Book Online

she might have missed, locking it into her memory. What an honor it had been to have been the first to walk on her decks, her newness almost feeling sacrilege to light upon her. Whenever she heard the laughter or cries of small children, she would brace herself against the rail, holding on for dear life. She still could not escape the cold chill that came over her when this happened. Children’s voices, when laughing, all sounded almost imperceptibly alike, it could have been Will or Nate. It could have been, but it wasn’t. Would she ever be able to get beyond her grief?
    She thought again of Anna and Helen’s niece. She could not save her children and her husband, but she’d be damned if she didn’t try to save Mary Ann. That sense of freedom from self-desire possessed her again; she had nothing left to lose. She was determined to do this. She would go down to Whitechapel, and find Mary Ann if she had to sleep in the alley ways until she found her.
    She had never quite realized how sardine packed the ship was. With the passengers all having their separate quarters and parts of the ship, it did not seem to be crowded at all. But now as they converged onto the main deck, it appeared as if there were anthills of people. She began to wonder if she would be able to find her friends among the hundreds of people milling about.
    When she finally saw Anna, she was already exiting from the ship, Madeline called out to them, “Anna, Helen, I will be round to see you soon, very soon. As soon as I settle in, I will find my way to your home. Stay well.”
    A man touched her on the arm, and she turned to see Jonathan.
    “How disappointing to not have seen them,” said Madeline.
    “It is. I had hoped to see them, also. I searched for all of you, but the ship has turned into a cattle run. It feels more like a stampede than an exit. My editor has telegraphed me that he expects some type of story by the end of the day. He wants me to get something in writing. So it begins—we all will go our separate ways. I hope you enjoy your stay at the Hotel George. I have heard it is a fine place,” said Jonathan.
    “Thank you and I as well hope to begin my work in trying to find Miss Mary Ann.”
    “Please be careful, Madeline. I am sure that I will worry for your safety. I don’t believe that you are prepared for the type of lifestyle that exists in Whitechapel.”
    “Thank you for your concern, but I am young and healthy and do not have the terrors of when I was a girl. I am a woman now, and fully able to care for myself and hopefully can assist in caring for others. But I do agree that men can move more freely and with greater safety than us, so if I may have your company sometimes when I venture into the area, I will be most grateful.”
    “I will say farewell and not good-bye for I hope to see you soon.”
     
    With that; he kissed her gloved hand and walked away.  She did not mind that he had done that; it seemed appropriate. They were now friends, and she did trust him, in a way. Mr. Bonneville had secured a Hansom cab for her. It was mid-morning, and London appeared as she had it imagined it in many ways. The mist from the morning fog lingered in the streets and gray clouds muddled the sky. There was a noxious odor that when inhaled immediately set her to coughing.
    “Where to, Mum?” said the portly driver with the handlebar mustache.
    “The Hotel George, sir.”
    “Mum, you might be keeping a handkerchief over your mouth. That’s the gas you’re smelling—it’s a menace.”
    The cab bumped along the cobbled road while her eyes gazed upon the city. It was dirtier than she had expected, and foul smells lingered in the air. Crowds of people shoved each other, and the loud noise of vendors were calling into the wind. Children running in the street, squealing and laughing added to the cacophony. But the visual and audio distraction was welcome and in many ways reminded her of Chicago. Her hotel was in the West End of the