Chapter 17

We took a hack back to Spitalfields. We put out money for the cab because of a need to locate Joe quickly, not to preserve Blathers’ soles. The driver dropped us at the gin shop. “If’n you’re a-goin’ ta dat joint, doesn’t be ’spectin’ me ta pick yas up.” He wasn’t of the highest class in England, but he wasn’t low enough to go into that gin shop.

Blathers explained, “We is on official business here, now. We doesn’t drink in a place like this.”

“Sure, sure!” The driver shook his head and drove away.

“Never mind him,” I said. “Let’s start searching for Joe.” The first place we looked was the gin shop. “Say, Conway, have you seen Joe the Dip around today?”

“He were by here just a bit ago. He says ta tell ya, if’n I sees ya, dat he’s hot on the trail of somethin’, and he’ll meet ya here at six.”

Blathers said, “We’ll wait down the street.”

“Me place ain’t good ’nough fer the likes o’ ya, now, is it?”

As usual, I covered for my partner. “We just need to take another look at the house down the street. We’ll be back.” We hurried out of the dank room before we were required to touch any of the filthy drinking vessels used to serve the regular patrons. We walked to the murder scene once again. No one was on guard now.

“Does we wants ta look inside again?” Blathers asked.

“It wouldn’t hurt. The last time, we were looking for the necklace. I’m pretty sure it’s not there, but we might find something we weren’t looking for that’ll help us.”

We went to the back of the house. The door was locked. Blathers reached in the pocket of his greatcoat and removed a little box containing several small tools. Seconds later, the door popped open. Blathers has some unusual skills. I told him, “Nicely done. That’s one of the reasons I’ve kept you as a partner.”

“Ya has kept me ’cause ya can’t get by wi’out me. The question is why has I kept ya.”

Inside, Blathers started on the ground floor and I went up to the first floor. I heard Blathers searching the front room, so I yelled, “Blathers, come up here now. Hurry!”

I was on my knees on the floor of the front room. I held Joe in my arms. Blood dripped from a wound on the crippled lad’s skull. “He’s still alive. Quick! Go to the street and get a cab. We need to get him to a hospital, fast.” Blathers ran down to the street. It was just beginning to get dark and foggy. I heard him call, “Cab, cab. Wait right here, I’ll be right back. It’s a ’mergency.” When we got to the street, I saw it was the same driver who had dropped us at the gin shop earlier.

He shrugged and shook his head, but he waited while we got our injured friend into the hack. “The ’spital is right near, gov. We’ll be there in a sec.” The hack jolted forward.

****

Blathers and I, and the cabdriver, waited outside the hospital while Joe was being cared for. Finally there was word. “Sister, how is Joe. Will he live?”

“He’ll be fine, but he needs a few days’ rest. Do you know, is he registered with any parish? We should see he goes to the facility maintained by his parish.”

I asked, “Can you keep him until the morning? We’ll be back for him then.”

“I’ll care for him tonight, but you’d best be here early, afore the gov shows up, or there’ll be a row.”

“We’ll be here by half-seven. Is that soon enough?”

“That’ll be fine. I’ll see you then, right here.” The sister disappeared into the hospital.

I extended my hand. “Driver, thank you for your help in this matter. What is your name?”

“They calls me Barbary, gov.”

Blathers said, “We wishes ta thank ya fer your help, then, Barbary.”

I added. “We haven’t much cash on us now, but if you‘ll meets us in the morning, and help us to get the lad home, we’ll be sure to pay you then.”

I gave Barbary the name of the coffeehouse where Blathers and I met most mornings. Barbary agreed to join us and help transport Joe. We both were concerned about the boy’s recovery, and we were also anxious to learn why he was attacked.