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

remember speaking with Russell about coming here one day. We had thought when the children were a little older; perhaps we would take a year to travel. He was doing so well at the bank, and father had offered to help finance the trip. How simple and wonderful life once was.
      Russell, at night, sometimes I can feel you calling my name and wake to calm the children’s crying, and when I realize you are gone, my only solace is a treasured silver flask that holds precious drops of bourbon. I know you wouldn’t approve of that either, but somehow I believe you would forgive me nonetheless. Besides, I only partake of enough that could fairly intoxicate a bird. How I would have enjoyed discussing this Jack the Ripper with you. You would not approve of me going into Whitechapel, but I am going to do some good while I am left alone in this world.
    She stopped writing when another steward came by and requested another glass of absinthe.
    Everyone is rushing to their destination, happy families playing together, none of them realizing that they have already arrived at it. This now, this moment they have, wherever they are going is secondary to their being with each other today. How I envy them!
    I feel fortunate to have met the ladies of Mumford Street; I will endeavor to be their ally.
     
    The morning sun was rising, directly pointing at her so that she had to shade her eyes with her hand. She wondered if the boys were dancing in the clouds, and instinctively raised her hands to wave at the sky. Someday, she thought, I will be with you again.
    “Mrs. Donovan, how are you this morning?” said Jonathan.
    “Well, sir, well.”
    “We must all dine together and this time in the Grand Saloon. You must let me have the company of you and the fine ladies. I will miss our conversations about Mr. Holmes and even though an unusual conversation, the Ripper has put our mettle to the test. Do you have any opinions about him?”
    “I suppose we should start with that. The perpetrator must be male. We must assume he is mad; I cannot imagine that just evil would waste its time with such a slaughter. Evil usually has a purpose with an end in monetary or power gain they achieve in the fulfilling of the crime. There is no purpose to these crimes, but malicious murder, murder for the sake of cruelty; at least those are my thoughts.”
    “Do you agree with the theory that it must be a doctor or a butcher?”
    “I don’t think it can be that limited. The cooks in any house in London would have the knowledge of cutting up a carcass and would be able to have the skill to do such damage.”
    “Well, then, we would have a masterful amount of suspects. I am anxious to learn more truths and less fiction. I hope that will be the case when I start my investigation.”
    The ladies began to file onto the deck, taking the chairs and forming them into a circle.
    “Good morning ladies,” Madeline called out. “May we join you?”
    “Please do, a lovely morning to start our last day, don’t you think?” asked Anna.
    Madeline and Mr. Franks gathered their refreshments and paperwork and made their way over to their friends.
    “My dear friends—Mr. Franks has kindly extended an invitation to us to join him for dinner in the Grand Ballroom this evening. Would that be agreeable to you?” said Madeline.
    “What a lovely man you are, Mr. Franks, but I am not certain we should go, as we have planned to pack up our belongings this evening and get ourselves put together properly for our arrival,” said Helen.
    “Ladies, I may not get the chance again to see all of you. You must come.”
    “That will not be the case, Mr. Franks, as you must come and dine with us at Mumford Street. Felicia, Sophie, and Grace live just a five-minute walk from us, and we can all have supper and a visit together once again. We will insist, I’m afraid,” Helen continued with a smile.
    “You cannot disappoint us, Mr. Franks, and may we call you Jonathan. I feel you are a