“…Looks like the holiday is over.”
When I muttered quietly, the man gave a regretful smile. Although I felt a bit deflated, I wasn’t upset. I wasn’t naïve enough to complain about something inevitable. This is our line of work, after all.
“I’m sorry to leave just a day before Christmas and disappoint my parents, but it seems that London and Scotland Yard need us desperately.”
It seemed the news of our return had quickly reached the Moores. They looked quite disappointed that we were staying only for a day. Liam repeatedly promised to visit again and keep in touch frequently. Theodore Moore also expressed his desire for us to visit again, pleading earnestly.
Mrs. Moore held Liam’s hand tightly and insisted.
“Send a telegram when you arrive in London. Promise?”
“…Yes.”
“Take care of yourself.”
Liam, looking hesitant, responded.
Watching, I couldn’t help but smile warmly. Mrs. Moore beamed as she patted her disobedient son’s back. Liam gave a small smile.
“Nifoisse Hall will always be waiting for you both….”
Me too? Even my ears turned red. Liam looked at me, his lips twitching, probably because our time at the beach had spread as a rumour. Understandable, given the scene we made with Liam lying down and me on top of him.
Liam Moore slowly spoke.
“Mother, about Jane….”
The long pause made Mrs. Moore widen her eyes and then ask again.
“…Weren’t you two supposed to get married?”
Oh dear, this is a huge misunderstanding. If this keeps up, we might end up married. Though there was a brief moment on the train when I became Jane Moore, it was just a cover….
“…Uh, well, um.”
“Isn’t it? You weren’t….”
I could almost hear the unspoken “playing with her.” He looked so pitiable not being able to answer that I had to step in.
“We’re still getting to know each other.”
“Oh my!”
Leaving behind Mrs. Moore, who was pleased with the idea of young people pursuing love marriages, we got into the carriage.
As I was about to close the carriage door, a hand suddenly reached in. It was Theodore Moore, slightly leaning into the carriage to greet me.
“Sister-in-law.”
“…It’s Jane Osmond.”
He reluctantly pronounced my surname. It seemed to him I was already determined to be his sister-in-law.
“…Miss Osmond, please take good care of my brother.”
I would look after him even without the request. I nodded politely. The carriage door closed quietly.
“Let’s go!”
Liam thumped on the carriage wall and shouted. Leaving Nifoisse Hall and the Moore family behind, we returned to Lancard Station. The short vacation was over. It was time to go back to being the detective and his assistant at Bailonz Street.
I had a feeling I would never forget the stark yet poetic atmosphere of this place. Turning my head, I took a final look at Hisford before leaving.
At that moment, I saw someone waving at me from the beach. The distance made it hard to discern who it was, but it was clear the person was friendly.
Their white clothes fluttered in the wind, as did their hair. I lifted my hand in response.
Liam, who was handing over our luggage, looked at me. Seeing me wave at someone, he asked,
“Is there someone there?”
I turned my head back.
“Oh, someone was waving over there.”
“Waving?”
His gaze turned towards the sea where we had stayed. I looked with him.
But there was no one. The white figure waving at me was gone, with only the sea remaining.
“Did I see it wrong…?”
I murmured quietly. Liam’s hand touched my shoulder. He gently guided me into the train.
“You’re just tired. Let’s rest.”
“Yeah, let’s do that.”
A moment later, the train started with a clattering sound. Leaning on Liam Moore’s shoulder, I closed my eyes.
＊ ＊ ＊
When we returned to 13 Bailonz Street, London, two people were waiting for us.
The first was Inspector Tobias Jefferson. Wearing a flat-topped bowler hat and a thick winter coat, he brightened upon seeing us.
“Oh!”
“How did you know when we’d arrive to be waiting here?”
Liam Moore retorted sharply as he took off his coat. Mary, noticing my tired expression, quickly said she would bring some warm tea and pushed me gently.
Jefferson replied.
“I figured you’d come up quickly, given your personality. It takes about six hours by train from Hisford. So, I waited.”
“You’re slow at deductions but quick at this sort of thing.”
“I know how to catch Liam Moore well.”
I laughed. It was true that Jefferson, having spent a lot of time with us, knew Liam well. Considering the time he had spent solving cases, he had likely seen Liam even longer than I had!
Mary handed over the tea. Liam, Jefferson, and I gathered around the fireplace, holding our teacups to warm ourselves.
“So, what’s the matter that brought you here?”
Liam added,
“Yes. I hope it’s worth calling us back for. If not, I’m ready to head straight back to Hisford.”
“You young people are so heartless. England’s future is bleak.”
“Raphy! Raphy, are you outside? Come and take this man away!”
I had to step in to calm them down.
“Please, let’s sit and listen first. So, Inspector, what’s the issue?”
“Dead men are walking.”
With that statement, Liam sprang up from his seat. His expression was unusually pale, and he seemed furious. He struggled to speak.
“That’s impossible.”
“But it’s true. Someone saw his face.”
Him?
I was confused by the conversation, but Liam kindly explained for my sake. Sitting back down, he spoke calmly.
“One of my first cases involved a criminal who pretended to die to release prisoners.”
“Was he caught?”
“…He was executed five years ago.”
Jefferson handed over some documents. The top page was marked “Top Secret.” How had this confidential information been leaked? Seeing my frown, Jefferson explained.
“I copied them. If it gets out that I shared this, I’ll likely lose my job.”
“I’ll verify and burn them immediately.”
Jefferson smiled. Sweat beaded under his moustache as he anxiously waited for Liam to finish reading.
“…He was in Coldbath (a male prison built in 1794 and expanded in 1850) briefly before being executed.”
Liam read the copied documents, pressing his forehead and leaning back in his chair.
“So how can someone like that be alive? Inspector Jefferson, these documents suggest he’s back in action.”
The documents detailed recent activities meticulously.
Another prisoner had died, and his grave was dug up shortly after. By the time Scotland Yard sent someone, everything was over.
“The body was gone.”
“…Yes. It was just like the method used by the executed man.”
Incredulous, I muttered.
“Executed people can’t commit crimes.”
“That’s the problem, Jane.”
Liam Moore’s grey eyes fixed on mine.
“He’s the only one who knows how to extract people from British prisons.”
It was strange. I understood why Jefferson called us. This was our specialty. A dead man walking around London, freeing criminals? Such a bizarre case.
I asked Jefferson,
“How did you confirm he’s alive? His method can be mimicked. There must be a reason you’re so certain.”
Jefferson squeezed his eyes shut and confessed.
“I…dug up his coffin.”