A Path Lit By Shadow (Jasper Lewingdon Book 1), page 25
The tree lined space of Hoxton Square still held a few people despite the change in the weather. Ruby skirted two sides of the square before entering and then heading for the small covered shelter at the northern end of the park. Fortunately the shelter was empty. Ruby sat down and waited for Jasper and Elspeth to join her which they did a few moments later.
“What's the plan now?” asked Jasper as soon as he stepped into the cover afforded by the shelter. As he stood in the shadows waiting for Ruby's reply he scanned the park which seemed to be emptying at the first distant rumble of thunder.
“We head back to the safe house and get some raincoats, I think it's going to rain.”
Although he knew that Ruby was being deliberately obtuse Jasper couldn't stop himself biting.
“No, what about Crispins' sister? What are we doing about finding her address and getting to Crispins?”
“All taken care of. Miss Crispins lives at number 3 Rushton Street, it's just a few streets north of St John's Church. As for getting to Crispins, if everything works out as intended then his sister will bring him to us.”
Jasper stood with a look of incredulity on his face.
“Close your mouth Jasper, it keeps the dribble in.”
“How did you get her address?” asked Elspeth.
“She kindly let me use her address book to write in and I took the opportunity to check for her address.” Ruby then outlined her conversation with Sally Crispins.
“So all we do now is go and wait in the pub for Crispins to show up?” asked Jasper.
“Broadly speaking,” replied Ruby, “with one small difference. We, in this instance will be Elspeth and myself. You on the other hand will be staking out Sally's Crispins' house and then following Crispins, as and when he turns up there. That's why you are going to need your raincoat.”
11 Rendezvous
Despite turning the collar up on his coat the rain was still managing to find a way down the back of Jasper's neck. A cold damp patch was forming, threatening to join up with the wetness that had seeped through the shoulders of his raincoat. The premature dusk, formed by the heavy rain-bearing clouds, had given way to the gloom of full night time darkness. The earlier threat of thunderstorms had lessened only to be replaced by a thin, steady rain that had set in for the duration of the night. Jasper pushed himself as far as he could into the narrow doorway of a near derelict Victorian terraced house in the vain hope that the meagre eaves would provide some protection from the rain. The only effect seemed to be that his already damp rain coat was now mopping up moisture from the wet wood and peeling paintwork of the door. The only consolation in this sodden vigil was that there were few if any people about on the streets to notice him, and those that were abroad were too busy trying to get out of the rain to notice someone lurking in the shadows.
Over an hour had passed since Jasper had dropped Ruby and Elspeth near the Monarch on Hoxton Square. He had parked the Bentley a couple streets away from Sally Crispins' home before trudging into Rushton Street to carry out a quick reconnaissance of the area. The street was made up of small, pinched Victorian terraced houses crammed together back to back, their front doors opening straight onto the pavements. A narrow alleyway ran behind the houses providing access to the small courtyards at the back of each property.
It seemed unlikely that Crispins would brazenly walk into Rushton Street and enter through the front door of his sister's home, the dark alleyway must present a far more appealing prospect to someone who thought they were being hunted. Even so, Jasper knew he needed to be able to check the front of the house at the same time as keeping the entrance to the alley under observation. This was why he was now huddled in a doorway of a run-down property on the opposite corner of the crossroads where Rushton Street met New North road. From there he had a good view down the length of Rushton Street as well as sight of the eastern end of the alleyway. There was still a chance that Crispins could come and go from the other end of the alley but if he really was hiding out by day on a narrow boat moored on the canal, he would practically have to walk past Jasper to get to his sister's house.
Jasper wondered just how long he would have to wait here getting more sodden by the moment. A curious cold trickle had started to make itself felt down the right side of his face which gave him warning that any waterproof quality his hat might have had was now long gone. The few gas lamps dotted along the road seemed to be struggling to push any appreciable illumination further than a couple of yards from their bases. The effect was as if an artist had daubed random patches of colour and detail across an otherwise inky black canvas. Despite the earlier warmth of the day the dampness was beginning to chill Jasper, he shuffled his feet slightly and as he looked down a small stream of rain water ran off the brim of his hat.
Although he had been able to peer over the back gate of Sally's house it hadn't been clear whether she was at home or indeed if anyone had been about. Ruby had seemed quite certain that Crispins would come to Sally and not the other way round, but what if she had gone to him? The doubt gnawed away at Jasper, should he walk past the property and see if there was any sign of Sally, but then he risked missing Crispins if he left his post now.
The intensity of the rain suddenly increased, the clatter of raindrops on the slate roofs producing a low hiss that seemed to ring in the ears. Jasper tried to push himself deeper into the doorway but the near vertical slant of the rain still sought him out finding every gap in his raincoat. Small rivulets now coursed down the inside of his jacket and shirt. In the small pools of light marked out by the gas lamps the fierce drops kicked up a curtain of splashes that formed into an almost fog like mist over the pavements. A bus passed by and Jasper looked enviously at the passengers safe and dry aboard. The rain was making it difficult to see but this wasn't the only sense to be muffled by the downpour. The drainpipe to his right now emitted a whooshing rush as it emptied itself in a frothing flow across the pavement and into the gutter. Just as it appeared the torrents would never cease the pressure lessened and the rain eased back to its original heavy drizzle, the heavens marked the change by a distant rumble.
With the end of the heavy static-like hiss of the rain on the road and roofs, the air seemed still. The only sound was the gurgling whoosh of the drain pipe. Jasper was wet but still not completely soaked, he tried not to move and cause a fresh set of dribbles to cascade down his neck. The scrape of a boot on pavement caught his attention. He froze and listened, straining to catch the sound again, willing it to repeat to confirm the presence of someone. There was no one in view either along Rushton Street or approaching from either side on New North Road. Again Jasper thought he heard a step, less distinct than before, but certainly there. The only direction left was from behind Jasper on Shaftesbury Street.
The crossroad was poorly lit so Jasper hoped that if he stayed still in the shadows then whoever was approaching wouldn't notice him half hidden in the doorway of the house. A slight muffled cough announced in no uncertain terms that someone was all but upon him. Jasper was now seriously regretting his choice of observation post, anyone coming out of Shaftesbury Street onto the crossroads was going to all but look at where he was when they checked to cross the road, but it was way too late to move now; Jasper prayed for a miracle.
A bus growled its way down New North Road, its headlights dim but still one of the few bright things amidst the gloom. Jasper held his breath and looked to his right to see the small hunched form of a man appear at the crossroads. The man had no hat and pulled his jacket tight about him in a vain attempt to keep the wetness out, he glanced to his right before starting to turn his head to the left and towards Jasper. The headlights of the bus illuminated the face of the man, it was Crispins. He squinted slightly at the unexpected illumination and then continued to follow the bus as it rumbled past. Barely pausing, Crispins crossed the road. Jasper watched him shuffle quickly, head down, into the alleyway that led to his sister's house.
Jasper breathed out slowly and silently through his nose, he was certain that Crispins hadn't caught sight of him. After a slow count to two hundred Jasper left the non-existent shelter of the doorway and headed across the road and into the alleyway after Crispins. He kept an eye closed as he walked past the street lamp outside the passageway in the hope that he would be able to retain some night vision as he entered the Stygian darkness of the alley. He tried to push away the thought that for anyone lurking in the alleyway he would be beautifully silhouetted by the street lamp.
The tall walls that separated the alley from the back yards of the houses on either side loomed up and seemed to almost be closing in over the top forming an imaginary arch in his mind. Jasper counted down five back gates until he reached what must be the back of Sally Crispins' house. The upper windows of the property were clearly visible and from one window a dim electric bulb glimmered through drawn curtains. Jasper peered over the top of the wooden gate pulling himself up slightly with his fingers. There was light showing from what he thought must be the kitchen, a movement of shadow showed that someone was inside. The noise of a back door opening caused Jasper to drop back from the gate. He hadn't noticed the back door to Sally Crispins' house open, it must have been from one of the adjoining houses. Jasper made ready to leave but the sound of a latch being operated on another door followed by the squeal and thunk of wood on porcelain confirmed his suspicion, it was somebody making use of the outside toilet in their courtyard. Jasper returned to his peeping Tom vigil over the back gate, curiously uncomfortable that within ten feet was a person voiding their bowels. Somehow it seemed wrong to invade this person's privacy whilst at the same time spying on two other people seemed perfectly reasonable; Jasper wondered what exactly was happening to his moral compass.
After a good half hour Jasper was finally rewarded with a sight of Crispins in Sally's house. His sister had placed a meal on a table in the small dining room at the back of the house. As Crispins entered rubbing his head dry with a towel Sally pulled the curtains shut blocking any further view that Jasper had. He dropped back down from the back gate, the ends of his fingers beginning to throb now that the edge of the wooden gate was no longer pressing into them and cutting off the circulation. The question now was what to do, hang around in a damp alleyway waiting for Crispins to re-emerge or hang around in a damp doorway, neither option appealed. Ruby had seemed pretty certain that Crispins would act as she expected and head for the Monarch public house to be swept into the protection afforded by their safe house.
Jasper's musings were interrupted by a crash and a yell from Sally Crispins' house, instantly he was back to the gate trying to make out what was happening. The curtains still frustrated any possibility of seeing into the room but the sounds from the room found no difficulty in reaching Jasper's ears. Although he couldn't make out the words it was clear that Crispins was railing at his sister, her voice was raised too but the nature of it swaying between pleading and angrily defensive. Jasper guessed that Sally must have just broken the news of her meeting with Ruby to Crispins, hoping that a warm bath followed by a hot meal would have made him far more receptive to Ruby's overtures. Currently it didn't seem that Sally's plan, and presumably Ruby's, was working.
The arguing continued for a few more minutes, Sally's tone clearly changing to an all-out attack that finally and abruptly ended with the crash and smash of china-ware being thrown, followed by the screech of wooden chair legs being pushed back suddenly across a floor. There was a pause followed by the thump of a door in the house being slammed then silence. The damp night air held its breath for the next instalment of this domestic drama to be played out, Jasper held his breath too but aware that this wasn't any normal domestic dispute. The spell was partly broken by another thump of a door being slammed but the timbre didn't match that of the one earlier. With sudden alarm Jasper realised that Crispins had just stormed out of the house via the front door; wherever Crispins was heading now he had a head start on him.
Jasper flipped a coin mentally and quietly ran back down the alley checking his pace as he approached the end and the less than seductive pool of light cast by the street lamp. As soon as he stepped out of the end of the alley Jasper would be all but stepping into a spotlight advertising his presence to anyone that might care to be watching. Still safely in the shadows he strained to hear Crispins' footsteps but the passing motor traffic made it impossible to hear anything except chugging petrol engine and tyres on wet road. There was nothing for it and Jasper stepped out onto the street, a quick glance left and right revealed no signs of Crispins. He walked slowly to the corner of Rushton Street. Glancing down Shaftesbury Street he could just make out the departing figure of Crispins with his familiar crouched over scuttling gait.
Jasper let Crispins get about a hundred yards ahead before he set off after him. Crispins was moving fast his head down against the rain. It was difficult to see in the poorly lit streets but it didn't appear like his target was making any attempt to avoid being followed, but there again he never really had. With no one else out on the streets in the awful weather it was no trouble to follow Crispins even from as far back as he was. But where was he heading and what to do when they got there? Scenarios swirled in Jasper’s head. He couldn't easily get a message to Ruby unless there was a payphone conveniently close to wherever they ended up.
Crispins turned left and crossed Shepherdess Walk heading in the direction of the tall blocks of warehouses that rose like a glistening brick built cliff face in the gloom. Here and there a light was on but for the most part they were dark and still; no cargoes being hauled from waiting barges. The buildings that Crispins was now skirting were part of the factories and warehouses that surrounded the canal basins that spurred off the Regent's Canal. Crispins must be heading for one of these basins, presumably back to the barge where he had been hiding out during the day. At least he would finally know where Crispins was and then get a message to Ruby.
Crispins disappeared into a side street, Jasper upped his pace slightly to close the gap. As he reached the corner he just caught a glimpse of Crispins exiting the other end of the street. Jasper wasn't sure but he thought that Crispins was moving faster. Picking up his own pace, his heart beginning to thump faster with nervous energy, Jasper was soon at the end of the short road he had last seen Crispins in. To his left he could see the junction with the City Road, a few cars and the odd lorry still vying with the trams grinding their way along. If Crispins had made a dash from here Jasper was going to need all his luck to find him again. The street off to his right was silent and dark, Jasper jogged to the City Road and scanned around for Crispins.
Apart from an approaching tram the road was devoid of any signs of life. Crispins must have caught sight of him and taken the opportunity to sprint off. Jasper looked towards the lights of the pub that sat at the opposite end of the bridge that carried the City Road over the dark water of the canal basin below. The light cast shimmering reflections off the wet surface of the road. It seemed unlikely that a man on the run would have decided to dive into a pub.
A sense of defeat and weariness started to settle on Jasper the damp suddenly feeling so much more oppressive. Slowly he walked to the middle of the bridge where he stopped and looked to see where Crispins could have run to. There were a few streets at either end of the bridge that Crispins could have conceivably made it to. It was possible he could have got further but he would have had to put in a pretty good dash to have made it out of sight before Jasper would have had a chance to get a glimpse of him.
Jasper lent against the parapet of the bridge and looked along the length of the City Road Basin. Its sides were lined with wharves, warehouses and factories all serviced by the itinerant collection of barges and narrow boats. The surface of the water below the bridge looked as black as oil. Several barges were tied up along the wharves further towards the head of the basin where it joined the Regent's Canal. A few lights glimmered on the barges, a little smoke caught in the light indicated someone was at home, somewhere in the darkness a small dog barked a strident challenge to some unseen or imagined intruder.
Jasper turned away and walked disconsolately across the road. The remainder of the basin extended under the City Road and out the other side by another hundred yards, Jasper looked out over the dark water lined with a few warehouses. The pub took up the corner plot nearest the bridge with a couple of tall thin houses squeezed between it and a block of industrial buildings housing Jasper knew not what. A small wharf seemed to service the factory, its yard piled with stacks of timber.
Feeling somewhat rudderless now that he had managed to lose Crispins Jasper drifted along heading in the direction of the Angel café and restaurant in Islington. At least he could go and dry off a little over something warm before having to go and report back to Ruby that Crispins was gone. The low brick parapet of the bridge petered out to be replaced by a wooden fence, its surface plastered in posters advertising forthcoming attractions and events that were now firmly in the past. A couple of posters were hanging away where one of the pickets that formed the face of the fence had become loose at the bottom and now left a small triangular gap in the otherwise unbroken wall of wood.
As Jasper focused on the prospect of a hot chocolate at the Angel, the rain started to increase in tempo. The heavens opened and the rain started to come down in stair rods, turning the surface of the pavement and the road into a dancing shimmering froth; suddenly the trudge up to the Angel café didn't seem so appealing but at least the pub was just on hand. Keen to get out of the rain Jasper pushed open the door of the public bar and thankfully escaped into the dry before his coat finally gave up all pretence of keeping the rain out. The warm waft of stale beer and cigarette smoke that hung in a heavy fug, closed around him like the embrace from an aged aunt.
