September 22nd, 1899

I walked into the doors of Jacobs' Mortuary after work; briskly making my way down the main hallway and to the main laboratory.

"Well boys," I said, tossing my bag onto one of the counters, "do we have any new leads?"

Davey shook his head, pulling off a pair of bloody rubber gloves with a loud snap!

"Leads? No.  Another death? Yes."

I whirled around, now seeing another pale, lifeless body on the slab of metal.  I could feel my own face pale in horror.

I walked over to the body of a woman with short blonde hair.  Stitches ran across her throat that I could only imagine was once slit.  My stomach felt sick and my ears rung.  Short blonde hair.  Pale skin.  The ghost of a smile spread across her lips.

"Papa?" I asked, tugging on the sleeve of his suit, "When is Mama gonna come back?"

My father looked down at me. I'd never seen such a look of despair in his eyes.

"She's in heaven Katherine." He said hoarsely, "She's safe and watching us from the sky."

"But- she's right there?" I tilted my head, pointing to the coffin.

"H-Her b-b-body is K-Kathy." Lucille said, gripping my hand tightly as sobs racked her body, "S-She's not h-h-here anymore."

"But who's going to tuck me in at night? Who's going to do my hair and kiss my cheeks and nose?" I felt a jolt of panic through my veins.

It wasn't that I didn't know about death. People died everyday. It was the fact that my own mother- she wasn't here anymore. It was denial. It was a voice in my head whispering that it all wasn't real and that she would open her eyes any moment.

I pulled my hand away from my older sister's and walked up to the open casket. My mother's short blonde hair spread like a halo around her head. It was as if she were already an angel on earth. The smallest of smiles still at her lips.

"Mama," I whispered, my hand tracing against the hard wood, "If you want to open your eyes, you can.  I-If you could, please." I could feel my voice cracking as my mind finally came to the realization.  She wasn't opening her eyes.  She wasn't coming back.

"Are you watching me right now?" I asked, glancing up at the sky, "H-How am I supposed to go on without you Mama?" I whispered, "I'm trying to be strong.  I know you'd want me to be." I took a deep and shuddering breath, "I-I'm going to write for the crime section Mama.  J-Just like y-you did." I pressed my head against the wood, "I-I love you." I pressed a kiss to my fingers and touched the casket once more.

I can't do this.

That was when I turned and ran.  My small black dress swishing behind me as I sprinted across the graveyard; rain mixing with my tears and blurring my sight.  My flats slipped off behind me and my white tights becoming stained in the slippery, wet grass under my feet.

I heard my father call for me in the distance and my eldest brother, Ralph, stop him and tell him to let me have my time in silence. My sister still yelled my name though,

"Katherine! Kath! Katherine!"

"Katherine!"

I suddenly looked up to see a very concerned Jack and Davey staring back at me, somehow Jack ended up holding my arm and keeping me upright.

"Are you alright?" Davey asked.

I nodded mutely. I knew that Davey could tell what was going on in my mind. The flashback to that day. He was there as well with his mother and Sarah. Les wasn't born until the following year.

I carefully walked over to a chair at the counter and sat down. Jack soon passed a cup of water to me. My eyes couldn't stray from the woman.

"What information do we have?" I said, trying to keep my voice from shaking.

"Mary Davis. 30 year old prostitute. Throat was slit and kidney removed."

Even after the last death, it came as a shock. I nearly spit out water. First a liver and now a kidney?

"What could the killer want with all of these body pa-" I stopped short at the white folded piece of parchment that lay on the tile floor.

"What's that?" I asked, pointing to the paper.

Jack went over and picked it up, looking at it quizzically and opening it. His eyes widened as he walked back over to me; letting me read the red lettering.

Dear Sir,

A third one is down. She barely had a time to squeal. A shame really- I quite enjoy the scream; but it would simply give away my location too quickly. We wouldn't want the police on our tails. Dumb bastards can't figure out which way is up or down, haha. I would have written this in their blood but it's dried to the bottle too quickly. Red ink should be enough to be satisfying. Keep your eyes open. You're on a better lookout than the police are.

Signed,
Simon Says.

By now Davey was leaning over our shoulders and scanning the letter.

"Simon Says?" I asked, looking over at Davey.

"He thinks it's all a game." Jack said.

I jumped off the stool and began pacing around the room. I took a glance at the clock:

8pm I should be getting home soon before Father begins to panic.

"Who are our suspects?" I asked.

"Spot Conlon." Davey said without even looking at a paper.

"Okay plural." I said, "Suspects."

"Our other is Jimmy Barker." Jack sighed, "So far that's it."

"I said he wasn't a suspect."

"I say he is." Jack retorted, narrowing his eyes.

I crossed my arms and was ready to say more before Davey cut me off.

"Two suspects so far. We're still keeping an eye out though. We've collected as many notes as we can and Jack has be doing sketches. The police are planning to interview people who were nearby the crime scene."

I just nodded. No point arguing about the police right now.

"I gotta get home." I said, "Come on Jack."

He just sighed and passed the note to Davey, grabbing his bag and an umbrella.

"See ya Davey."

The two of us walked out the doors and made our way to the street. The rain fell hard and Jack opened the umbrella; holding it over both of us.

"Lead the way Plumber."

We walked in silence for most of the way home.

"Why are you suddenly more cold and distant?" I asked, "I mean- the other night we were talking like friends."

"You keep arguing for one thing." He stopped and rubbed a hand over his face, "I'm sorry."

"Don't be."

"I was close with my mother. She died at the hands of my father- someone I never suspected to be a killer. If I get attached to someone again. I- I could loose them too."

I stopped in my tracks, nearly loosing the coverage of the umbrella. We'd reached the front doors.

"What do you mean?" I mumbled.

"I do care about you, you know. . ." Jack muttered, suddenly finding his shoes very interesting, "I- I gotta get back to the laboratory; help Davey clean up."

He stuck out his hand to me and I took it to shake; surprised when he leaned down and pressed a light kiss against my knuckles.

"Goodnight Plumber."

He quickly walked off into the rain.

I stood there watching him walk away; my cheeks burning. A dizzy feeling came over me as an image flashed back into my mind.

"Why are you in the rain?" A boy around my age asked, holding a black umbrella over his head.

I sat under a tree. It was my first thought to run to and gather my thoughts. If my dress weren't black it'd be covered in stains.

"I'm gathering my thoughts." I muttered, a shiver racking my body.

"What thoughts?" He asked.

"My mother just died so- if you could please just leave me alone."

The boy stood closer to me; now covering me with the umbrella as well.

"Well, I'm not going to let you catch pneumonia out here."

I'd be with her. I thought to myself.

"Why do you care?" I asked, finally looking up at him.

The boy had shaggy black hair and dark brown eyes that seemed filled with worry.

"Because a pretty girl shouldn't be crying in the rain alone." He said, extending a hand to me, "At least let me walk you home."

I hesitated before taking his hand. He pulled me up; keeping the umbrella steadily over us.

"Lead the way."

I nodded and began walking.

"Won't your family be worried about you?" He asked.

"I could ask you the same question."

The boy grimaced, "They'll be fine."

I decided not to question him about that.

"What happened to your shoes?" He asked.

"F-Fell off." I muttered, trying to keep from shivering once more.

The boy suddenly stopped and took off his worn out jacket.

"Oh, no no you need it-" I began protesting before he shoved the umbrella into my hand and helped put it on me. He took the umbrella back and smiled softly.

"Looks better on you." He said.

We reached home and I turned back to him.

"Thank you." I said, "For walking me home. And not letting me be alone with my thoughts. I didn't really like them."

"Of course." He said, "It was no problem."

He took my hand and hesitantly pressed a kiss to it; a pink tint spreading to his cheeks.

"My mother always told me that's how to say goodbye to a girl."

A small smile tugged at my lips for the first time that day.

"She's a very smart woman."

He nodded before turning and walking away down the sidewalk.

"Wait!" I called, remembering the jacket I was currently wearing, "Your jacket! What's your name? I can give it back to you!"

The boy turned around, "Consider it a gift- and a clue to my name."

And with a wink he walked away; leaving me speechless at the boy with the umbrella.

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1727 words WOWIE. Sorry this took so long to update! Also- do you get it? JACK-et🌚 tee hee. I hope you're having a lovely day and see you in the next chapter!👋🏻

~ ky