“One of the curators I work with in 1938 believes that the Freemasons are responsible for covering up Jack’s murders.” I quickly told him Calan’s theory as the carriage rolled along Commercial Street. “If Mary’s death is supposed to be random, then I could simply force her to leave the morning of the intended murder.” I paused, feeling overwhelmed with all that was against me. “But if it’s linked to Freemasonry, then things are different. What if Jackhas plans to kill her, no matter where I take her? Can I protect her from him?”
“I don’t know the answers to those questions. But I do know the Freemasons are dangerous. That’s why I’ve refused to join them. If they’re involved, then this thing is much bigger than we can imagine.”
“I need to know who Jack the Ripper is, Austen. If I can learn his identity and find out if he’s linked to the Freemasons, then maybe I can unearth the connection between the women.”
“How would that help Mary?”
“If he’s not a Freemason, and just a random madman, I would have the assurance that if I send her somewhere else, she would be safe from him. But if he is a Freemason and I need to reveal his identity to put him behind bars, to keep her safe, I would do that.”
“The Freemasons are powerful.”
“They don’t scare me.”
“They should.”
The way he said those two words made me turn to him. “What do you know about them, Austen? Mr. Maybrick made it sound like you know more than you let on.”
“The less you know, the better. Please believe me when I tell you that. Nothing good would come to you if you knew what I know about the Freemasons.”
“But I want to save my sister.”
“What I know wouldn’t help. If it would, I’d tell you.”
I believed him. And even though it was hard to not know, I would trust him.
As we drew closer to Miller’s Court, there was something else that was gnawing at my thoughts. “I can understand why the authorities were trying to cover up the identity of Jack, if he was a Freemason, but what compelled him to go on the killing spree? What was his objective? Was it simple insanity, or was he trying to accomplish something?”
“I wish I had answers for you, Kate.”
I took a deep breath and then said, “The next two murders willhappen on the same night. One will be in a highly public place, and Jack will loiter around the scene of the crime for at least half an hour before he kills Elizabeth Stride. It will happen around one in the morning on September 30th. Lots of people saw him.”
Realization dawned in Austen’s gaze, and he began to shake his head.
“Please,” I said. “We can dress in shabby clothes and find a place to hide. It’ll be dark and raining, so we can stay hidden.”
“It’s a ludicrous idea. What if we run into the killer? What if we change history somehow? Would I forfeit my life ifIknowingly change history?”
“I—I don’t know.” I’d never wondered. I had always known that time-crossers forfeited their lives in the path they changed, but what about non-time-crossers? Did the same rule apply to them?
“Not to mention your safety in other regards,” he continued. “It’s insane to go there now, and the only reason I’m taking you is because we know that Mary lives at Miller’s Court and she’s someone we can trust. But to just loiter in Whitechapel, knowing Jack the Ripper is somewhere in that area—it’s out of the question.”
“I will go, Austen. Whether you’re with me or not.”
His face was grim. “You have always vexed me, Kathryn Kelly, but never more so than now.”
“I’ve never been as desperate as I am now.”
We stared at each other for a moment, and then he growled and said, “Fine. I’ll take you.”
I smiled, though I didn’t feel relieved or even happy. Just grateful that I didn’t have to go alone.
When we arrived at Miller’s Court, Miles opened the door for us and Austen stepped out, then offered me his hand.
It was firm as I exited the carriage. I wanted to cling to it, but I let go as we walked down the passageway to the back of Miller’s Court, conscious once again that I didn’t fit in here and neither did Mary.
I’d changed into the plainest gown I owned and wore a dark bonnet with a wide brim to cover my face. But I still felt like I wasdrawing unwanted attention. Even though I didn’t see anyone, it felt as if there were eyes everywhere.
I knocked on number thirteen, relieved and anxious and desperate to finally see Mary again.
