Ripper Read Online Free PDF Page B

turned and closed the coach door and then looked into the eyes of the writer. “This is over for you. I thank you for your assistance. I understand you are a very wealthy man Mr. Stevenson. May I make a suggestion that you spend that wealth and leave the country. Leave immediately and never come back. Sergeant, take Mr. Stevenson back to his hotel, and then take him to the train station.”He looked back at Stevenson. “Take the train to Scotland, leave the country from there. Do you understand, Mr. Stevenson?”
    Robert Louis Stevenson nodded his head in understanding. “Good luck, Chief Inspector.”
    “I doubt if luck will have anything to do with this night’s work.” Abberline slapped the side of the coach and the sergeant whipped the horses away from the warehouse.
    “I wanted thatman to remain here,” Colonel Stanley said as he stopped and turned to face Abberline.
    “I know you did, but Her Majesty’s letter said nothing about eliminating material witnesses.”
    “You judge me too harshly, Chief Inspector.”
    “I don’t judge at all, Colonel. I investigate, I discover who the rat is, and I suspect that the rats are not only inside the warehouse, but out here in this damnable fogalso.”
    Stanley smiled and then bowed his head and removed his black cap at the same moment. “Shall we see this business concluded?”
    Abberline watched Stanley and his approach to the large, rundown building. He took Inspector Washington by the coat sleeve and stopped him.
    “Stay close to me old boy. I don’t want any accidents to befall us.”
    “You mean like a well-intentioned but stray bulletreaching out and finding us?”
    “I knew there was a reason they made you inspector, Washington old boy. Now, as the colonel said, let’s finish this business.”
    The warehouse was large and they could see lights streaming from several of the windows that looked out onto the street.
    “You men have your orders. Shoot anyone on sight. He has a large man in his employ working as his assistant—he willnot be allowed to live. He may have several more men inside, but we cannot be sure. Have no mercy upon these people. They are enemies of the Empire.” Stanley pulled out his own revolver that was attached by a cord to his polished holster. “Gentlemen, his workshop is located on the river side, but be careful as we move through the building; we don’t know what to expect. Now, let’s move.”
    As themen started to move off, Abberline realized that Colonel Stanley had been to this particular warehouse before.
    Two of the soldiers of the Black Watch approached the double sliding doors of the warehouse and used a large pry bar to tear off the hasp and lock that secured the building.
    “Colonel, you have been here before,” Abberline said as the lock and hasp clattered to the roadway, making allof the twenty-three men cringe as the fog failed to cover the noise.
    Stanley noticed that the statement from the chief inspector was not put into the form of a question.
    “Yes, Chief inspector, I was here for the first time five months ago.”
    “The day we found Mary Kelly in her room?” Abberline asked, his anger growing. “You knew who the Ripper was then?”
    “Yes,” came the curt answer. “And Isuspect I will burn in hell along with a lot of other people for knowing just that, sir.” He finally turned and faced Abberline as the twin doors opened to the foggy night. “And I will be happy for it just to get a chance at killing this monster. No matter what you think of me, know that I was never in favor of what you are about to see.” Colonel Stanley followed his men inside the massive warehouse.

    “Inspector Washington?” Abberline called out.
    “Sir?”
    “Keep your pistol at the ready to defend yourself. If I fall, return to headquarters and start screaming your bloody head off about Colonel Stanley and the Black Watch’s involvement in this. The notoriety may protect you to some degree.”
    “I will do just that