'Blood From A Stone'

11.30am Wed 12th Sept 1888.

eorge Dower sat eating dry toast and drinking cup after cup of strong coffee. He appeared recovered from the effects of the drug, but he wasn't saying much.

"George I need you help, if I'm to discover why these people are after you and Vicky Smith. the Russians and the anarchists are also chasing you, did you know that ?"

"They can do nothing to me now. I'll just sit here and wait for the world to end, and Vicky's safe and sound. Tucked away."

"Tucked away !" Bing flung the mornings paper at him. "Read that !" Bing turned away in disgust, things weren't turning out as expected.

George gasped, and Bing turned. He wasn't reading the article about the fine, but the one about the Choker. Most odd.

"You might think you're safe, but what about your son, Eric ? He's missing as well, out there somewhere !"

"Eric. He's not safe ?" George was looking worried now. Bingo.

"No, he's disappeared. Running scared. Panicking. He needs help !"

"He must be kept safe. If they get him, it's the end. The end of it all !"

"Where did you go that weekend with Vicky Smith and that happened to her ?"

"She knew to much, they didn't like that. We went to Kent ... "

"The Dwarf," screamed Camellia.

Bing turned to behold the grinning visage of the dwarf starring in through a window. Smoke wreathing from it's mouth. It burst in, there was a clatter behind Bing, the dwarf bounded over a table, drew a strange looking gun, and fired past Bing, at Dower.

There was a scream, Bing flung a jam pot at the hideous midget. Raspberry oozed over its white leather suit.

A deceptively small arm lashed out and caught Bing in the stomach, he collapsed in agony.

He could hear crying, a weak rattle and then no more.

Later he awoke. Camellia was dead, her shoulder a mass of burns and scorches. It must have been the dwarf's strange gun. There was no sign of Dower or the violent dwarf but the front door was rocking to and fro in the breeze.

Two telegrams lay on the mat. Numbly Bing opened and read them. They were replies to the ones he'd sent earlier, while Dower was still unconscious.

Apparently Dr Powers had died in the fire, trying to save the patients.

Sir Albert Perrier said that Dower's shop had been ransacked and the surviving policeman had sworn his friend was still being attacked when he was there, but he'd seen nothing but his friend in his death struggles !

Bing sat down and took a brandy, what a hectic day and it was still only morning.