The Dolocher by European P. Douglas Read Free Book Online Page A

Edwards said nonchalantly.
    “Why?”
    “Nothing illegal as such but you know the soldiers, they just get involved with everything they see and cause trouble where there really isn’t any.”
    “Are the Pinking Dindies planning to burn down another brothel?” James asked with a raised eyebrow.
    “I couldn’t tell you what they are up to, but my reason has nothing to do with them,” Edwards said, “and to be fair Darkey Kelly was a murderess after all,” he added.
    “How do I know what you have is worth my turning a blind eye to whatever it is you have planned?”
    “It is, I can assure you of that. If what I have heard is true, it is exactly what you have been looking for.” James could sense Edward had him over a barrel. “Listen what’s going to happen on Sunday is the settling of a bet. It will be rambunctious and noisy for a little, but that is the true extent of it” James mulled this over before answering.
    “Fine, now tell me what you have heard”
    “That a guard of the debtor’s prison was attacked, and savagely I might add, is true but he was not attacked by drunken louts trying to free a friend.”
    “Then who attacked him?” James was getting annoyed at the playing around the issue.
    “Not who Alderman, but what attacked him.”
    “What do you mean?”
    “I have it on good authority from three different eyewitnesses that the guard was attacked by some wild beast that did ferocious damage to the man.”
    “What beast and what good authority?”
    “One of the other guards of the prison, one of the people who was incarcerated there that evening and the victim himself”
    “The victim said he was attacked by a wild beast?”
    “Yes and I am afraid it was the last thing he said.”
    “He died today?”
    “This morning, first thing, just after I spoke to him.”
    “And what animal are we talking about, a feral dog?”
    “It doesn’t sound like a dog from his description, but then it doesn’t sound like any animal by his description,” Edwards said sighing and sipping from his tumbler.
    “What did the witnesses say?”
    “The guard says he saw something very big and black on top of the man but he also could name no animal.”
    “And the other?”
    “I am afraid that person only heard the attack, and they couldn’t put a name to animal they heard either.”
    “So what do you think it was?”
    “I don’t know to be honest but it did remind of something ghastly I heard years ago.”
    “Which was what?”
    “I once heard that a pack of wolves driven mad by hunger got inside the city walls of Paris; this was back in the 1400s I think.”
    “And?”
    “Well, they were starving and naturally they killed people and ate them” there was a glint in Edwards’ eyes that was almost lupine, and it sent a shiver through James. Edwards was the man to go to for information about anything that was unseemly or morbid but how much he knew and how much he told were probably two very different things James mused as he looked at this almost evil, mocking face.
    “So you think it’s a wolf?” he asked bluntly, not willing to engage in ghost stories or mystical talk.
    “As I say, I don’t know but the doctor who examined the man said there the marks from large teeth on the body, face and neck of the man that would indicate a large animal like a wolf”
    “Did the doctor say anything else about what it could have been?”
    “Yes actually,” and again that smile, “he said that it looked like there were hoof marks on his chest.”
    “Hoofmarks?”
    “Yes, that doesn't’ add up with the teeth though,” and at this Edwards stood, “unless the Devil has large sharp teeth and in that case he’s our man!” and at this he laughed out loud.
    “I wish you wouldn’t speak so flippantly of the Devil,” James said also standing up.
    “I’m sure he doesn’t mind it.”
    “I wasn’t saying for his sake.”
    “Well, Alderman James, until we meet again,” Edwards said holding out a hand