Midnight drew near as Mrs. Moore stepped out of the safety of her home and into the damp London night, brown leather toatbag clutched discreetly at her side.

She felt a partial ease in knowing that somewhere nearby yet hidden, Mr. Grae was keeping a watchful eye. Moreover, there was the added equanimity granted to Adeline by the .25 caliber pocket pistol discretely concealed within the fold of her long, black coat.

It belonged to the detective, of course, who had, only a short time before, given Adeline a quick lesson on how to use it, should the plan devolve.

Being that the hour was so late, Adeline's neighborhood stood uninhabited and ominously hushed apart from the echoe of her own heels clacking rhythmically along the sidewalk as she swiftly moved through the night toward Hyde Park.

The sky was saturnine and overcast with dismal, draping clouds which sent a biting mist down to the city below. Adeline could see her breath at every instance in which she passed under the amber glow of a tall street lamp and it reminded her of cigarette smoke. She thought that she might like another one once she returned from this ill-fated walk of hers.

As Adeline drew nearer the park, she was startled suddenly by a single, cacophonous carriage that almost seemed to have crept up behind her. She turned with a jolt to watch the clamorous carriage roll past, its coachman too focused on the cobbled road to acknowledge the lone woman staring wide-eyed at him from the sidewalk. Adeline loosened her grip on the pistol, still concealed in her pocket and picked up speed once more, eager to be done with this night in its entirety.

Once at the eerily deserted park, Mrs. Moore took the shortest path to get to The Bench. Her and Thomas' bench, long past. The bench, with which all positive association was now irrevocably lost. As she approached it, Adeline attentively scanned her surroundings before swiftly tucking the handbag containing the lockbox underneath the left side of the bench nearest the leg.

Just as soon as she made the drop, away she walked, eventually circling back to the original path and on to her way back home. She didn't dare look behind her for fear she might see too much. Eyes forward, she thought. Let the detective do the rest of it.

Adeline was relieved when she crossed the street over to the sidewalk across from the park and back to a residential neighborhood. She felt a shade more secure simply knowing that there were people close by, even if they happened to be behind walls and asleep in their beds.

Home was only a handful of minutes away now. Adeline felt relieved and assured that Mr. Grae's plan would, indeed, work and this whole devilish mess would meet its conclusion.

There came a sound, just then, as Adeline crossed a darkened alleyway. Threatening and guttural, it was the rumbling pitch of a growling beast. Most women would turn away from that sound in that alley, but of course, Adeline had never really been like most women.

Transfixed by the sound, Adeline turned into the unlit alleyway, cautiously closing the distance between herself and this disembodied communication. Unbeknownst to her, Adeline was to kick an empty, glass bottle with the tip of her shoe and when she did, the curious growling erupted into a sharp bark, only one. Immediately following this, a mangey, old mutt escaped the darkness and ran right passed Adeline as if she weren't standing right there at all.

Adeline let loose a sigh as she turned to watch the unremarkable dog dash off into the night.

But something clattered in the alley from where the dog had just emerged a moment ago and Adeline turned back toward the noise to see the inky silhouette of a man taking an intrigued step in her direction.

Adeline jolted with fright and hastily cleared out of the alleyway, back onto the lit street, her heart thumping wildly in her chest. Her pace was wicked as she continued forth, glancing behind herself every few seconds to be sure the shadow-man was not following behind. Luckily, he did not seem to be, but Adeline kept her little pistol at the ready regardless, all the way to her front door.

At long last she entered her safe haven and locked the door as quickly as she had shut it. She peered out through the stained glass to confirm one last time that she had not been followed.

Closing her eyes in relief, Adeline rested her forehead against the cool glass for a moment to catch her breath.

However, the release of that moment was soon shattered as suddenly as a heavy, gloved hand forcefully cupped itself over her mouth from behind, and an arm was wrapped with vice-like strength around her waist, hoisting her back and away from the door.

Adeline screamed under the glove and fought with all she had as this unseen assailant spoke breathlessly into her ear, 'Sshhh,' he began as he dragged her toward the stairs leading up to the main hallway, 'Alright now, just take it easy,' assured the Cockney baritone of an unfamiliar man. He wreaked of cigar smoke and cheap whiskey.

Coming to her senses, Adeline ceased trying to pry the man's hands away from her, instead reaching into her coat's pocket to retrieve her pistol. The man managed to drag her unwilling form to the top of the stairs, his breath labored but determined.

With the pistol in her hand, Adeline shoved the muzzle of the small weapon into the perpetrator's right thigh and pulled on the trigger, but when she did, all that could be heard was a dull click.

The man must have recognized the sound, because he quickly released Adeline's waist in order to pry the faulty pistol out of his victim's desperate hands. The two fought a tug of war for a few short moments before the intruder's size and strength proved too much for Adeline to contend with and the pistol was thrown down the stairs toward the front door where she had been only moments prior.

'None of that now. Come on,' grunted the attacker, re-fastening his grip around her torso and continuing to drag her through the hallway toward the back of the house.

As they moved, Adeline grabbed anything she could get her hands on to use to injure her captor or aid an escape, but at the end of it, all she had accomplished was to leave a hallway full of broken glass and down-turned tables.

The man dragged Adeline through the scullery, past the kitchen and directly into Brona's personal sleeping quarters where she was met with a horrible scene.

Her young maid, dressed in nothing but a nightgown, was faced down on the hardwood floor and a second man, wearing a bowler hat and handkerchief to hide his face knelt over her, completing the task of tying her upturned ankles to her wrists with double braided rope. Brona craned her neck to look up, seeing her employer and cried through a cloth mouth-gag, her cheeks red and glistening from shed tears.

Adeline's eyes widened and she struggled more fervently against her attacker, mortified to see Brona in such a state of distress. The second man quickly straightened up, stepping over the maid and toward Mrs. Moore with more rope to do the same to her. When the first intruder finally lowered his stinking glove from over Adeline's mouth, she tried to reassure her petrified employee, 'Everything will be alright, Brona,' she spoke breathlessly whilst attempting to, rather poorly, feign composure.

Brona weakly nodded, her eyes glossy and terrified, yet filled with faith in her employer's words.

'Have a seat, Mrs. Moore,' the first man ordered, pushing her further into the small room then prompting her to sit on the edge of Brona's single bed by pressing down upon her shoulders. Adeline could finally see the man who had attacked her at the door and he, too, wore a ratty bowler hat and handkerchief over the lower portion of his face. He was a tall, broad beast of a man who, like his partner, wore the garb of the laboring class with loose, worn and dusty corduroy trousers held up with suspenders and patched coats with missing buttons.

Neither man looked familiar in the least.

Adeline was immediately bound with the remaining rope, her wrists to the scratched brass poles of the bed frame and her ankles crossed and then bound too.

In one, desperate last ditch effort to halt the unfolding scene, Adeline screamed out, 'HELP! HELP US!' as loudly as she could muster, hoping to wake her neighbours, however the first assailant reacted instantaneously, slapping his gloved hand against her mouth once again, 'Be calm, Mrs. Moore, we're just here to have a conversation, yeah? Then we'll be on our way, no harm done'

Adeline looked down to where Brona lay before offering a wary nod of her head.

The first intruder loosened his grip around Adeline's mouth in small increments at first to build trust before relinquishing completely and stepping away so that he may face his captive head on, his counterpart soon doing the same.

'Right.. Now, we need you tell us where it is you've hidden the money and ledgers'

Adeline gazed at the first intruder, then the second before returning to the first, 'They are in the lockbox, which I've just returned from dropping at the park. Just as the letter demanded,' she assured as she worked to catch her breath.

'Come now, Mrs. Moore. Just tell us where you hid it and we'll be on our way'

'I assure you, gentlemen, the items you seek are no longer in my possession,' Adeline paused to swallow the lump forming in her throat, 'All you need do is go to the park and see for yourselves'

In response to this, the first attacker turned to the second and gave a stern nod, prompting him to then reach behind himself and proceeded to brandish a large, serrated hunting knife with a painted green hilt.

'We haven't got time for games'

The second intruder brought the knife up to eye level, turning the blade from one side to the other, making a show of the threat. He stepped over to Brona, taking a knee and grabbed a fistful of her loose auburn hair, pulling her head up enough to expose her throat. Brona squealed in terror as the terrible man pressed the large, jagged knife to her flesh.

'Stop! Please!' Adeline begged, fighting against her restraints.

The first man stepped closer to Adeline and crouched down to her level, 'Give us what we came for, Mrs. Moore'

'It..' Adeline faltered, 'It's under a loose floorboard, behind the writing desk in my bedroom,' she finally confessed.

The first assailant turned to his accomplice, 'Go'

Retracting the hunting knife from Brona's throat, the second intruder let go of her hair and stood, tucking the weapon once more into the waist of his stained trousers as he swiftly exited the room, closing the door behind himself.

'That wasn't so hard, now was it?' Stated the first intruder in a most patronizing manner before he straightened up and backed away from Adeline's proximity.

'Is this it then?' Adeline questioned, 'Will Blackthorn leave us in peace?'

Crossing his arms, the man shook his head, 'I don't know nothing about any Blackthorn'

Adeline realized just then that these intruders were nothing but grunts for hire. They knew nothing more than what their boss deemed fit to tell them. They probably knew nothing of the circumstance which led up to their involvement.

But her muddled thoughts were soon reoriented as she heard Brona whimper where she still lay on the floor.

'Hush, Brona. They'll only be here a moment longer,' Adeline reassured.

'So long as we find what we came for,' agreed the man whilst he paced slowly back and forth in the cramped space.

Suddenly a sound could be heard, a thump and then a bang reverberating from somewhere outside of the bedroom.

The intruder ceased his pacing in order to listen closely right as yet another clatter, followed by a low grunt resounded through the walls.

Without haste, the man trudged out of the bedroom, slamming the door shut behind himself. Adeline and Brona were left alone where they could do nothing but listen as, what sounded not unlike a drunken bar brawl, erupted from somewhere on the main level of the home.

Adeline struggled against her restraints, trying as she might to free one hand. A fruitless endeavor she would find.

Soon there came a cacophony of thumps, bangs, grunts and clatters, each resounding pitch enough to make Adeline wince and tremble where she sat, helpless to act on her instinct to unburden Brona and flee.

The skirmish continued and as the cracks, clangs and thuds echoed through the house, Adeline could only imagine what exactly was taking place.

All at once the air went silent.

Adeline stopped wringing her tender wrists around in the rope that bound her. She listened attentively, nervously, wondering what was to come next.

Adeline jolted suddenly as without notice, the bedroom door flew open to reveal the bloodied and beat up detective Grae.

He trampled into the room and knelt down in front of Adeline to untie her wrists, 'It's alright now,' he assured breathlessly.

'You're bleeding,' noted Adeline as she gazed at Mr. Grae, his nose and forehead seeping.

The detective freed Adeline of her binds before peering up to see the dampness under her eyes. He reached a hand up, using the back of his pointer finger to swipe a stray tear from Adeline's cheek, 'It's over'

Adeline seemed stunned into inaction as she stared at Mr. Grae's wounds.

'Mrs. Moore?' spoke the detective.

Returning to her senses, Adeline inhaled a breath of air and studied her surroundings, 'Brona'

Mr. Grae and Adeline went to where the young maid still lay and worked together to untie and ungag the frightened young woman. Adeline helped Brona to her feet and pulled her into a tight embrace, 'It's all over now, darling. We're safe'

As the detective left Mrs. Moore and her servant in order to search the house and ensure no threats remained, Adeline escorted Brona to the kitchen, sitting her down in the chair nearest the cook range for heat.

'Have you ever tried bourbon? queried Adeline whilst hastily unbuttoning and removing her coat.

Brona struggled to answer through her tears and short breath, 'N- No, ma'am'

'Well I cannot think of a better time to experiment,' stated Adeline as she walked straight out of the kitchen door and out of sight to access the liquor cabinet situated in the dining area. Brona watched as Mrs. Moore reappeared, carrying three short glasses and a decanter of premium bourbon.

She paced quickly over to the table, placing the glasses in a row before pouring a generous portion into two of them. Adeline handed one to her young maid and lifted one up for herself, 'You must drink it all at once,' she instructed.

Brona sniffed and nodded before the pair tipped their glasses back and drank the stinging liquid, causing the young maid to cringe and cough.

'It'll calm your nerves,' Adeline assured as she sat next to Brona and reached out for her hand, 'I'm so terribly sorry for what you've been through today. Would you like for me to arrange a carriage to your mother's in the morning?'

'No thank you, ma'am. I'm alright. I'll be alright,' Brona responded unconvincingly.

'Are you certain, darling? It would be no trouble. You won't miss a day of pay,' Adeline pushed, but Brona shook her head, 'I like it here, Mrs. Moore. I don't wish to leave'

With a sad sort of smile, Adeline cupped Brona's cheek, 'Very well'

Mr. Grae entered into the kitchen just then looking just as beaten and battered as ever.

Adeline stood from her chair, pacing toward the cook range to fetch the tea kettle, 'We'll need to clean you up, Mr. Grae'

The detective simply nodded in response then stiffly removed his heavy coat, hanging it up next to Adeline's, 'Are you harmed?' He questioned.

Adeline handed the detective a clean cloth, 'Not nearly as much as you,' she replied while pouring some boiled water into an earthernware mixing bowl.

looking over to where Brona still sat, Adeline asked, 'How are you feeling, darling?'

It took the young maid a few moments to realize she was being spoken to.

'Brona, dear?'

Coming out of her daze, Brona stood from her chair, thinking she had been given a task to do, 'Sorry, ma'am?'

'Poor girl, you must be exhausted. Come,' Responded Adeline pacing over to Brona then draping an arm around her, 'You'll sleep in my bed tonight'

Adeline peered back to Mr. Grae on her way out through the scullery, I'll only be a moment, detective,' to which Mr. Grae replied, 'Of course'

Padding through the hallway, Adeline and Brona were forced to step carefully over the mess of broken things which Adeline had once so meticulously selected for her home, yet now, she realized, bore no real significance or purpose.

Once upstairs, Adeline helped Brona into bed and sat beside her for a moment, 'Sleep now, Brona. We're safe,' she promised.

'You're a very kind person, Mrs. Moore,' expressed the young maid.

Adeline offered a gentle simper then stood from the bed and brushed her hands down her overskirt to smooth out the wrinkles, 'Goodnight Brona'

On her way out of the bedroom, Adeline stopped and knelt down to where she had so confidently hidden the contents of the lockbox many hours prior. The loose floorboard lay unlatched revealing the small space beneath, now empty. She slid the floorboard back into place before leaving the bedroom, closing the door behind her as she went.

Upon rejoining the detective down in the kitchen, Mrs. Moore went immediately to the bowl of hot water and ushered Mr. Grae to the table, 'Please, have a seat, Detective'

As he paced stiffly over to where Adeline stood waiting, she reached out and pulled the bloody cloth from his hand.

Mr. Grae sat in the chair closest the cook range and watched his employer submerge the cloth into the steaming hot bowl of water, wringing the blood from it a couple of times.

Adeline stepped up to the detective and began dabbing the area surrounding the gash above his right eyebrow, 'They took the money and the ledgers. They threatened to harm Brona, so I had no choice in the matter,' Adeline began and then dipped the reddened cloth into the water once more, 'I . . I tried to use the pistol but it must have misfired and then the intruder, the big one, he pulled it right out of my hand is if it was nothing.'

Returning to blot away more blood from the detective's head, Adeline continued, 'Brona was absolutely petrified. I've never seen someone so utterly afraid. The poor thing will be traumatized for life, I'm sure. She-'