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| Illustration for "ALEXANDRA, HARRY, TESS AND LISA TOO..." created by the author. Copyright © 2011-2025 Stephen J. Williams. |
"Ms. Teresa Green - A Human Agent for Jericho Tibbs in England, during the early 21st Century - passes a strange story onto Jericho which he may be interested in. Apparently a local London magazine has reported a story about an unknown young man, who is visiting stores and markets in the city purchasing large quantities of Victorian and Edwardian money. Alex finally meets the handsome and dashing Harry Hadden and with her friend Lisa [from Team 52] they arrange to meet Harry...."
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Concept date: 1st May 2019 First published: 8th March 2020 Status: COMPLETE & PUBLISHED. Revisions: 3 [last revised January 2020] Version: Final. Published Episode No. 12 Previous episode: "Alexandra's dirty weekend in 1970's Brooklyn." Next episode: "Alexandra and the artist." Angel-in-charge: Margret Team Assigned: Team 74 Mission: 3 - 200021 - 5 – 1939
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HUMAN YEARS:
Gregorian Calendar: MCMXXXIX
Muslim Calendar: 1357 - 1358 [AH]
Hebrew Calendar: 5699 - 5700
Christian Calendar: 1939AD
This episode has an average reading time of approximately 75 minutes.
This story can be found in "The adventures of Alexandra: Series 2." which can be obtained from 'Amazon.com' and all good bookshops!
This episode is LINKED to the following episodes of the "ALEXANDRA" series:
"ALEXANDRA ENCOUNTERS BIG QUINN McFARLAND."
EPISODE NOTES:
This is the alternative ADULT version of the original story/episode:
"STRANGER'S MARKET"
which is published [both in print and online] in "THE TEMPORAL DETECTIVES" series. It will differ from that episode in some respects. Both series' are written by the author: Stephen J. Williams. To visit that website's page for the original version of this episode please click on 'DETECTIVE' icon in the Navigation Bar at the base of this story: IF AVAILABLE.
It should be understood that the ON-LINE version published on this site is normally the most current version available of this story.
"ALEXANDRA, HARRY, TESS AND LISA TOO.....”
The original illustration for this episode was created by the author, as was this episode, which was also conceived and written by him. Copyright © 2011-2025 Stephen Williams. No reproduction of any part without written permission. |
"ALEXANDRA, HARRY, TESS AND LISA TOO..."
by Stephen J. Williams
1. THE COIN COLLECTOR.
"Well, I'm really surprised how slow it is this morning, hardly worth getting out of bed at 4am for." Ms Teresa Green folded her arms and stared down the street - there were very few people about and it was almost lunch-time. There appeared to be more stall holders than potential customers. She had been speaking to young Ellen, who helped her out on weekends for pocket money; Ellen was about to sit her exams this summer and hoped to go onto college - she was just sixteen.
Teresa, on the other hand, was nearly thirty, small and slim, with dark hair and eyes - many considered her 'quite pretty' - not that she cared about that anymore. She had taken over her late mother's stall in Portobello Road just last year. It sold old clothes, referred to as 'Antique, Retro or Period' to her customers; mainly women looking for dresses that would be unusual and noticeable in these modern times. Her 'Retro' mini-skirts [based on the 1960's fashion icon's] were good sellers. sometimes she really wanted to tell some 'ladies' that the skirt they wanted, would not flatter their legs - but she never did - live and let live came to mind - it made them happy.
When she wasn't working her late mother's stall on the weekend, she worked part-time in the local Library. Her late parents had left their only daughter very well provided for and now Teresa could pick and chose what she did and when, she did it. They had left her the house [all paid for] and a substantial bank balance. Her father; Gary, had been a deputy Director of a London Merchant Bank when he died suddenly three years ago - a massive stroke had taken him just months before his planned retirement. Her mother never recovered from his death and kept in poor health thereafter.
She died last year from complications of influenza and Teresa fond herself wealthy, but sad and lonely. She had never married or really dated men after Tom Redding had destroyed her dreams and her heart. Just weeks before the wedding, she had left the Library [where she was working full time in those days] early one afternoon with a slight toothache and returned to the flat they shared; he was in bed with their neighbour's son. The young man fled the scene in his underpants and Tom couldn't really offer any explanation, as he pulled the condom from his limp penis - standing shocked and naked in their bedroom.
That soured their relationship somewhat and they parted - permanently - just days later. She moved back in with her parents and rarely dated anyone after that. Her broken heart was taking time to recover and none of the men she dated really interested her - even sexually. She had her vibrator to relieve matters and some good friends to talk with. But she was desperately lonely now.
She use to laugh about her two cats being her best friends - 'Clare and Susan' were spoilt like only children and she loved the crazy pair of felines dearly.
Teresa was in a day dream when Ellen tugged her arm and said quietly; "I think old Rosie wants you Tess." She looked over to the stall opposite and saw Rosie gesturing for her to come over. "Well, there's not much going on now. Can you manage Ellen?" Teresa asked and with Ellen's agreement wandered over to old Rosie's stall.
Before she could say anything, Rosie grabbed her arm and pointed down the street; "That's him, the young man in the that story. You know, the one in the local paper, I can't believe he's come to my little stall" Teresa looked down the street where Rosie was pointing and just caught a handsome young man, wearing a classic three piece suit, walking away - brief case in hand.
Teresa grinned; "For heaven's sake Rosie what story in the local rag?" Big Rosie took a deep breath and started to dig amongst the little pile of papers and magazines that she kept for days like this. ""I'll show you Tess, it's him. I know its him. His description is in the story." Rosie pulled a copy of the local paper out and flicked quickly to a certain page and thrust it under Teresa's nose. "See, its all about a well dressed - very good looking - young man who is buying old coins. He's bought so many, that coin and antique shops mentioned it to the local Chamber of Commerce and it was passed onto the paper as a 'human interest' story. That's what they call stories like this."
Tess glanced at the article with very little interest, but she would keep Rosie happy by showing some attention. "So, a young man in a classic suit has been buying old coins, all around the Borough, where's the story in that?" Rosie looked about and turned her back on the street and dropped her voice to a whisper; "Just look at this - they are all genuine; I checked them with the forgery pen." Rosie pulled a wad of twenty pound notes from her apron pocket.
Teresa stared at the bundle; there must be five hundred pounds there.
That did take her back a little, but she recovered and smiled; "Well done Rosie, I wish someone would spend money like that at my stall." Rosie nodded but didn't smile, she pushed the notes back into her apron pocket and waved a hand over her coin and old token stall; "He purchased every Victorian coin I possessed - everyone. Then he bought all my Edwardian coins, but here's the funny thing - just like what the paper says - he only purchased Edwardian coins that where minted before 1905 - he wouldn't accept a single coin after that date - even the rare ones. Now what sort of coin collector is that?"
Teresa admitted it did sound strange; all such collectors would be after rare coins, but this one just wanted everyday Victorian and Edwardian coins minted before 1905 - why 1905 she wondered. "He also asked if I had any notes, the old white five pound notes that were in circulation before 1905. I said I didn't, but refereed him to Rubin Cohen's little shop in Newmarket Street. I know that he has some old notes in his antique shop. I bet that's where he's going now." Rosie said quietly, with a look of satisfaction on her face.
Teresa re-read the article with more interest this time. It stated that the young man must have spent thousands on these old coins and notes. But he always insisted that the Edwardian coins were minted before 1905 - the Victorian coins could have been produced in any year of Victoria's reign. Then the article went on further to say, that the same young man had purchased Edwardian period clothes from a couple of antique shops - again, insisting that they should not have been made before 1905!
Teresa looked up from the paper as Rosie tugged her shoulder and pointed back across to her own stall. The young man was talking to Ellen!
"Thank you Rosie, I'll see you in the 'Wagon & Horses' when we close, if I can." She mumbled and made her way back to her stall - quickly. He was just about to walk away when she introduced herself. Now that she was face to face, Teresa could see that Rosie and the paper hadn't exaggerated his appearance; he was a strikingly handsome man, possibly in his late twenties with deep blue eyes and sandy blond hair. He possessed big, well manicured hands and it was obvious that he knew his way around a gym. Fucking gorgeous! She thought to herself.
He smiled and asked if she possessed any authentic period wear from the early Edwardian era. his voice was firm and he was clearly educated and well spoken. Teresa had to say no - regretfully - but if he left a contact number, she could
the 'feelers' out with her associates in the 'Retro' and 'Period' clothes business.
He stood and thought for a few seconds and broadly smiled; "You would do that for me? That is most kind." Teresa had a rare thought that actually made her blush a little - she desperately hoped he had not noticed - She would do a little more for him than find some bloody old clothes!
She fumbled in her apron's pocket and pulled a little black note book out and a small pencil - nicked from the local bookmakers when she couldn't find one - and offered to write his number down. He slowly took the book and pencil from her hands, as they touched, Teresa actually trembled a little.
He wrote a number down and said quietly; "Just call that; they'll get a message to me. I particularly need a dress frock coat of the early Edwardian period - say before 1905." He handed the book back and gently lifted her hand and kissed the back of it. "I look forward to hearing from you Miss Green." He smiled again and started to walk away, but stopped and spoke over his shoulder with a broad smile; "Oh, tell them its for Mr. Wells - Harry Wells."
Teresa watched him depart - he walked with grace and strength, not to mention a fabulous arse. She gulped and watched him until he disappeared. Both Ellen and her watched him leave, then started to laugh together.
"Fuck! - now that's some fucking gorgeous bloke!" Ellen exclaimed and started to phone her friend about the young man she just met. Teresa walked behind the stall and ran a hand over her hair. She stared at the hand he kissed and licked her lips; some truly dirty thoughts were jumping around her head and she had not suffered the like for some time - for a very long time.
She quickly pulled open the notebook and stared at the number; it was a local land line number, not a mobile. His home number maybe? She clutched the book closely and allowed herself a big smile. "Harry Wells." She whispered quietly and couldn't stop smiling.
"I think we'll close early Ellen; I need to make some phone calls about a early Edwardian Dress frock coat." She said with real anticipation in her voice. Ellen didn't disagree with that decision and started to pack up the stall. Teresa's delicious dream was interrupted by a strange thought - why was he actually buying coins that most serious collectors wouldn't bother with and why the specific period clothing? She sighed; a handsome, mysterious and clearly wealthy and educated young man had just walked into her life, and all she could think about; was passing the story onto Mr. Jericho Tibbs - well, that's not all she was thinking.
After the stall had been packed up and the goodbyes said to Ellen, Teresa walked to the little private car park at the rear of the shops and sat in her car for some minutes just thinking; mainly about the handsome young man. She sighed and flicked through the contact list on her phone until she came to one marked: 'The Times'. She called the number and finally, after going through the useless 'automatized menu', was connected with the Personal Small Advert's desk and paid for an entry using her credit card.
It was the same advertisement each time:
"In the woodlands of Kent,
It was the same advertisement each time:
"In the woodlands of Kent,
the tree's are green,
their colours are only lent,
but visitor's are most welcome,
and some are Heaven sent."
Teresa drove home to Kent House, a little distracted by the events of the day and after feeding her cats, slumped onto the large comfy sofa and watched the news on BBC 1, without any real interest. She must have dozed for a while and laying back on the sofa, stared at the clock above the fireplace; she sat bolt upright - the second hand had stopped.
2. JERICHO DROPS BY.
Jericho and Alex stood by the door and Jericho removed his hat and smiled broadly; "Always nice to drop in on you Teresa, I don't think you've met Alexandra yet." Teresa jumped from the sofa and straightened herself up.
"Jesus Jericho, is she a fashion model or something?" Teresa stared at Alex and admired her lovely clothes and figure, she knew real beauty in other women when she saw it - men would certainly fall at her feet - she grudgingly admitted and offered the pair some tea. Teresa stood in the kitchen waiting for the kettle to boil and could hear Mr. Tibbs explaining to his lovely assistant about Ms. Green and how her father had worked for him since he was a teenager - Teresa had taken over from her father upon his death - Jericho had attended the funeral. It comforted Teresa greatly that she knew her father had moved on. The same feeling of well being had manifested itself when her dear mother passed away.
"Jesus Jericho, is she a fashion model or something?" Teresa stared at Alex and admired her lovely clothes and figure, she knew real beauty in other women when she saw it - men would certainly fall at her feet - she grudgingly admitted and offered the pair some tea. Teresa stood in the kitchen waiting for the kettle to boil and could hear Mr. Tibbs explaining to his lovely assistant about Ms. Green and how her father had worked for him since he was a teenager - Teresa had taken over from her father upon his death - Jericho had attended the funeral. It comforted Teresa greatly that she knew her father had moved on. The same feeling of well being had manifested itself when her dear mother passed away.
She carried the tea tray into the lounge and found Alex playing with the two crazy cats. "You like cats Alex?" She asked, smiling. Alex nodded; "Jericho's cat, Mr. Parker is a playful bugger when he wants to be - he would love this mad pair." Jericho chuckled; "Yeah, but you would have to put up with a bucket of kittens." Teresa smiled and said simply; "That would be lovely." They sat drinking tea and Teresa explained about the strange young man collecting Victorian and Edwardian coins - especially that the Edwardian coins couldn't be older than 1905.
Jericho was definitely interested and rubbed his chin; "Any other strange or eccentric behaviour?" Teresa nodded and explained about the young man's desire to purchase Edwardian Period clothing - again, only before 1905.
Now that did really interest Jericho and he consulted his mirror for a certain 'Harry Wells' and rather surprisingly; came up blank for this time period of Human existence. He chuckled to himself; "Bloody H. Wells, he may as well had 'Time Traveller' tattooed on his forehead." Alex accepted a refill from Tess and tapped the cup gently with an elegant finger; "Why before 1905, what's significant about that year? - if it was 1914 I could understand that."
Jericho nodded his agreement with that statement. "Well, in 1905 Einstein published his famous papers on Relativity and basically laid the foundations for science to create the Atonic bomb - ending up with the dropping of atomic bombs on Japan in 1945. Many refer to 1905 as the 'Year of miracles' - but if he wanted to stop or change that; then an earlier time in Einstein's life would probably be better." Tess refilled his cup and threw some biscuits crumbs down for her cats. "Wasn't that really important battleship launched in that year, didn't that change the history of warfare?" She spoke quietly and sipped her tea.
"You could be near the point there Tess, the launch of HMS Dreadnought changed navel warfare. Basically, the new ship made every other battleship in the world obsolete. That started a frenzy in building new, similar warships all around the world." Jericho placed his cup down and again, consulted his mirror.
Tess explained to Alex that the ship caused an arms race between Britain and Germany that eventually ended up with the first world war. Alex smiled; "But how do you stop a battleship being designed and built - there must have been thousands of people working in that project - who do you take out and when?"
Tess shrugged her shoulders; she didn't know the answer to that. "Maybe its an event before 1905 that his interested in?" Tess muttered and finished her tea. Jericho looked up from his mirror and smiled; "Perhaps the Wright brothers first flight in 1903? - but then he would be buying old American currency!" Everyone chuckled at that. Alex sighed; "Well, we're getting nowhere sitting thinking about this, why not just ask the bugger?"
Tess pulled the telephone number out, she had been given by 'Mr. Wells' and said with a little excitement in her voice; "He wants an Edwardian frock coat and I said I would call him when I found something suitable." Jericho accepted the number and smiled; "Good thinking Tess, I'll have a suitable coat dropped off. I'm sure he'll find a competent Taylor to make any alterations necessary."
Alex nodded; "Tess can arrange a meeting and I can check him against Human Records on my mirror, he won't be too suspicious if she turns up with a female friend in tow. We'll have his real identity then and can investigate him properly." Jericho agreed with that plan and Tessa stroked her cats; she didn't like the idea, but said nothing - she really didn't want him having romantic ideas about a beauty like Alex, then cheered up when Jericho told her to call him now and make the meeting happen. "The coat will be from 1903, that should suit his needs nicely." He added and called Supplies on his mirror.
"How much would a coat like that cost now?" Alex asked Tess, who shrugged her shoulders and thought for a few seconds. "We can't make it cheap, he probably knows how much a genuine one would approximately cost; so about three hundred pounds, I think." Jericho looked up, a little amazed at that figure and chuckled; "I think I paid about two pounds for my first one!" Alex grinned; "Yeah, but that was about a million years ago." Everyone laughed at that.
Tess called the number on her mobile, whilst Alex poured more tea all round and relaxed back in her chair. The number rang for a few seconds and to Tess's disappointment - but not shown - a woman answered. Tess explained that she had managed to procure a genuine coat made in 1903. The woman said that she would inform Mr. Well's, who would attend her market stall tomorrow afternoon - at about one o'clock. She didn't even ask the price and the call ended.
"That's excellent Tess, Alex can be your assistant on the stall - a very good cover - I'm sure your young lady assistant won't mind a day off, especially if you still pay her." Jericho was definably happy with the arrangements made to acquire the young man's real identity. But his mood changed slightly as he re-read his mirror. "That's really interesting, according to my mirror, that telephone number didn't exist in this time period - it's simply not listed - anywhere for here and now."
"But surely that's not possible, if it can be called, then it must exist here and now?" Alex asked and took the number Jericho offered, she studied it and placed her cup down. "Doesn't it have too few digits for this time?" Tess was annoyed at herself, that she had missed that significant clue. Jericho grunted and checked his mirror, then sat back and rubbed his chin; "Good spot Alex; that number was listed for London, but not in 2020. It's shown as active between 1957 and 1961 and was allocated to...." He sat upright and looked quite bemused. Jericho tapped his mirror and nodded to himself, then smiled slowly; "It was allocated to British Military Intelligence Department Number Six at their offices in Whitehall - their secret offices at the time."
There was silence for some seconds and Tess looked quite confused; "How the hell did I just ring a number, that was only active between 1957 and 1961 on my mobile phone in 2020 - nearly sixty years into the past?"
"Now that is a bloody good question." Muttered Jericho and Alex stared at the number; she knew that their mirrors could call between time periods, but surely there was no technology existing in the nineteen fifties and sixties that had that capability?
"I think, we really do need to investigate Mr. Well's I'll call the team together and bring Angel Margret up to date. This ladies, has now turned into a real mission." Jericho - unsmiling - said quietly and called Wilson on his mirror.
3. Mr. WELL'S? I PRESUME.
Despite the warm morning sunshine, a sharp breeze had popped up and lowered the temperature all round. Tess pulled on a bright red cardigan and folded her arms; she glanced across at Alex, who clearly didn't feel the drop in temperature. Tess wondered if it was because the lady standing near her, had been dead for over two hundred years. She actually shuddered at that and glanced at her little silver wrist watch. "It's almost one." She said softly to Alex, who checked her mirror and watched down the street - it was another quiet morning, turning into a quiet afternoon - and no sign of 'Mr. Well's'.
Alex checked - again- the black frock coat that had been provided by Supplies and replaced it into the clear plastic bag. "That is a beautiful coat, well worth three hundred pounds of anyone's money." She said to Tess, who was staring down the street and nervously tied up her hair; "He's outside the pub." She whispered, but didn't point. Alex looked around the pub entrance and caught sight of a good looking man. tall and clearly well built, talking to a couple of elderly ladies who were laughing and chatting. "Blimey, you didn't exaggerate Tess; that is one good looking young man by any standard." She whispered, as if anyone could hear the conversation between the women.
It was clear that the old ladies really didn't want their little conversations to end, but Alex watched as 'Mr. Well's' pointed towards their stall and started to walk towards them. he cheerfully waved goodbye to his lady friends and was stopped again, this time by a very pretty young woman dressed like a catwalk model. "He's clearly popular with the girls." Muttered Tess, not hiding the jealousy in her voice. Alex did smile at that. It took a few minutes, but he finally managed to extirpate himself from the woman's persist and obvious attention.
He finally managed to arrive at Tess's stall with a gorgeous smile and an apology for lateness, which the woman waved away instantly. Tess, quite reluctantly it should be said, introduced him to her 'Cousin' Alex, who was helping her out today - her assistant having to revise for an important exam. Now her quarry was close up, Alex could really appreciate what a fine, handsome young man 'Mr. Well's' actually was - and he was utterly charming and attentive.
Tess chatted away about the coat that Alex produced and Mr. Well's examined it carefully; "This looks like it was made yesterday!" He exclaimed and ran his big hands over it with great care. Alex stood a little to one side and operated her mirror with great discretion. Harry Well's pulled a brown envelope from his pocket and produced three hundred pounds in denominations of twenty's - they appeared to be all brand new and unused. Alex made a note of that. "You have served me really well ladies, the coat is excellent and well worth the money. I thank you both." He pushed the envelope back into his pocket and Alex thought she saw something in his shirt pocket, but couldn't make it out properly.
Alex really did switch on the feminine charm and asked quietly; "You must be a Production Manager for a film company, scouring the county for props - a new period drama is it?" Mr. Well's chuckled; "Your very close in your deductions Alexandra, but we're called Prop Manager's and we find and supply decent props for films and TV. With a period drama, it's always best to have the real thing. With the drama I'm working on now, I have a small part which requires a proper coat of the period - 1905, to be exact." He folded the coat over his arm and with another smile; said goodbye and slowly walked away. He seemed to be laughing to himself - Alex thought that was quite strange.
Alex disappeared into the rear of the stall and called Owen on her mirror; "Did Human Records identify our handsome would be time-traveller?" She smiled broadly as Tess joined her, asking; "Anything yet?" Alex shook her head and Owen said simply; "Best return to the van ladies, as soon as possible." The girls had the stall packed away in record time and headed for the small private car park that Tess normally parked in.
The team were waiting in a plain white Transit van and Wilson pulled open the side door and the girls jumped in - with some impatience. "Well, who the hell is he?" demanded Alex and settled on a rear seat. Owen held up his mirror and sighed; "Now, now ladies. Your gorgeous young man is a certain Mr. Harry Gordon Well's, who lives locally and works at Shepperton Studio's as a Property Buyer for 'Time-Piece' films of London and New York. He is quite genuine - I'm afraid." He grinned, as Alex slumped back in her seat, but Tess grinned broadly; "You mean he actually belongs here? - in this time period - I mean." Owen did grin; "Oh yes, he's apparently the real deal Tess." The look on her face was priceless and that did made Jericho smile.
Alex was still a little troubled about Mr. Well's and leaned forward - unsmiling - "I thought I caught sight of something in his shirt pocket, a device no bigger than a mobile phone of this time-period. But I don't think it was a phone. I can't be sure what it was." Wilson grunted; "It probably was a phone Alex. Very few people in this era don't carry one." Alex nodded and then remembered the money - or rather the envelope it came in. She tapped Jericho on the shoulder; "Did Supplies give you any money for this mission?"
Owen chuckled; "Careful Boss, I think Alex wants to go shopping." Jericho scratched his chin; "Yes they did." He said quietly. "May I see it please." Alex held out her hand and Jericho pulled the brown envelope from his pocket and handed it over. "Best count it, when she hands it back." Murmured Wilson with quite a smile. Alex pulled open the envelope and showed Tess; "Do you have the money he gave you?" Tess nodded and rummaged in her coat pocket.
Alex held up the money that Supplies had provided Jericho with; a big handful of new twenty pound notes - all unused. Tess produced the notes that Mr. Well's had given her. - all new twenty pound notes - unused. "That's some bloody co-incidence. Same envelope and same notes." Owen said and everyone was silent for a few seconds. Alex sighed quite loudly; "The thing in his pocket, I think I know what it was." Everyone turned to her and she folded her arms; "Our Mr. Well's was carrying a bloody mirror - a temporal detectives bloody mirror!"
Jericho sat up in the front passenger seat and ran both hands through his thick, dark hair. "I do hope we haven't compromised another Team's mission here." He said quietly and pulled out his mirror. Wilson gripped the steering wheel; "This don't make sense, if he's on a mission here, then Supplies would have provided anything he needs - including a bloody frock coat." Owen nodded at that deduction, but Alex half smiled; "Not if he was trying to lure someone out...or something like that."
Tess sat unsmiling - she really wasn't happy with this particular turn of events; "If he's a Temporal Detective - like yourselves - then he must be...." Alex gripped her arm and said quietly; "Yes, dead like us." She didn't smile. Tess sighed and folded her arms; today wasn't going well for her.
Jericho had put a call through to Operations Control and was waiting to speak to the duty Controller; an old friend of his - Janet Turnkettle. He sat waiting and stared out the passenger window and saw a plain white Transit van sitting at the rear of the private car park - with two people in. They were staring at him.
Jericho ran a hand over his face and groaned; "Unless I'm very much mistaken, Lisa Solomon and Tom Slurburger from Team 52 are sitting opposite us in an identical van - provided by Supplies - and wondering what the hell we're doing here!" His mirror buzzed and he answered it slowly; already knowing what the Controller was about to say.
The conversation was quite brief and Janet really did laugh. She confirmed that team 52 were on a mission in that time and place - headed by Inspector Harry Hadden - Now that did bring a smile of relief to Jericho, who muttered; "Of all bloody people, I should have recognised a young Harry. What a twat I am." Everyone started to laugh and Jericho jumped from the van and the team followed, they walked over to their much amused colleagues, who jumped from their van to greet them.
There were handshakes all round and Lisa was introduced to Tess by Alex. There was one topic of conversation; the dashing Inspector of Team 52. Lisa did smile; "Tell me about it, we've only been here a couple of days and he must have been propositioned by half a dozen women and girls, he's like a bloody girl magnet, but is anyone surprised with that gorgeous old style charm of his. He even open's doors for me and stands up when I enter the bloody room. He's bloody charming and it's real - that's how he is around women. For the first time in two hundred years, I've met a real hunk of a man and I'm bloody dead!"
Alex pointed out that everyone was dead - well, except Tess of course. The girls chuckled about that. But Tess wasn't really too happy about it - if she was honest with herself. She had some delicious day dreams about the young man and now, she knew, that's all they would remain; dreams.
Temporal Detective Sergeant Thomas Slurburger slapped Wilson on the back and really did laugh. "I was actually just saying to Lisa, that the big ugly bugger in the identical van opposite, looks a lot like bloody Wilson from Team 74."
They chatted for some minutes and the happy - but unscheduled - reunion split up, with Jericho asking Tom to tell Harry to pop round to Tess's address and catch up on old times. The conversation in the van was lively, as Wilson drove back to Tess's home. The unanimous decision was an Indian take-away and a visit to the local supermarket for brandy.
Alex laughed to herself and pointed out, that when she had met Harry Hadden previously; he was an old man in his late seventies. Little wonder he laughed when walking away - he had certainly recognised her. "He must think we're a right bunch of plonkers." Muttered Owen, but cheered up at the prospect of curry and booze.
4. RENDEZVOUS.
Alex and Lisa sat in the bar of the very posh hotel and sipped white wine, for an early afternoon it was a little busy. All the men's eyes kept drifting to the ladies at the bar. Both dark haired beauties dressed to kill and they impatiently waited their prey; the dashing, handsome young Harry Hadden. Lisa smoothed her cocktail dress down and tapped her heels against the bar stool leg. She smiled at Alex; "Best bloody idea I've heard in ages. It's not often I get to dress like a real woman again."
Alex nodded and sipped her wine; "Well, he can't complain. We're both wearing stockings and a Basque's that don't hide much. " She dropped her voice and giggled a little, adding: "I'm bloody wet already with anticipation." Lisa really did smile and eased off the bar stool; "Well, you don't have to wait much more. He's here." Both women watched Harry walk up to reception and collect the room keys. He walked straight to the lift foyer and waited. The girls didn't even bother to finish their drinks and joined him quickly.
Harry undressed as the girls finished their drinks and helped unzip each other, both laughing softly. Harry actually whistled and ran both hands through his thick curly dark hair. The girls placed their dresses - carefully - on a chair and walked slowly over to him. They were wearing marching outfits; tiny black lace panties, stockings and identical Basques which only covered half their ample breasts.
Alex didn't waste time and gently pulled his underpants down; both girls were really impressed. Lisa took a deep breath; "For heaven's sake boss, you've been hiding that from me/" Harry grinned and kissed her; "Not any more." Both girls knelt and took turns eating his big cock. Harry chuckled and finished his drink. Softly he told the girls what he wanted and they both readily agreed. Alex and Lisa would get themselves in the mood - they really didn't need to - with some light lesbian play.
He watched - sitting in a nearby chair - as they pulled each others panties down and were soon in the '69' position on the big bed. The girls really went for the 'pussy eating' - they certainly weren't playing at lesbian sex. Alex moaned loudly; Lisa really knew how to please another woman. They tried the 'scissor' position and were soon having little orgasms. The bed was creaking under the strain of the detectives, as they went for it with some real determination. Alex squatted over Lisa's face and soon had a bigger climax. Lisa didn't hesitate cleaning that up and Harry rose from the chair, clutching his big erection and joined the pair.
He took Lisa first, doggy style, while Alex pushed under her and feasted on her swinging tits and willing mouth. Then it was Alex's turn and they swapped a couple of times before he fucked Alex hard in the Missionary position, with Lisa now sitting on her face, having little orgasms of her own. They again swapped and Harry fucked Lisa hard and fast. She had a really big climax and wasn't restrained in her screaming with sexual excitement and real pleasure.
The three of them, rolled about the bed, sweating, groaning, panting and fucking. Harry finally shot his load into Alex and lay back gasping as Lisa went down on Alex and cleaned that mess up. Both girls were then back, sucking his cock with urgent need for him to erect again. He didn't let them down and the fucking started again within minutes. Lisa managed to produce a tube of 'KY' jelly from somewhere and Harry fucked her in the arse whilst Alex paid serious attention to her gaping fanny. Then it was Alex's turn. He was only up her back passage for about ten minutes before she had an enormous climax.
Again - Lisa cleaned that up - and finally, Harry fucked Lisa again in the arse and came again. It was Alex's turn to clean that messy cum load up. the Three lay on the bed and the girls took turns French kissing Harry with some real passion. Lisa fetched some drinks and they sat on the bed, leaned against a pile of pillows and enjoyed the aftermath of their sexual high jinks.
"This is one of the best missions I've ever been on." Confessed Lisa, gently jerking Harry's cock. Alex chuckled and muttered to herself; "You should come on some of mine." She leaned across and whilst Lisa jerked, Alex pushed her mouth over his cock and set to work. Harry and Lisa kissed with some passion as he became erect again. Lisa shouted happily; "Here we fucking go again!" and they certainly did. They spend another hour fucking and fell back; this time exhausted. Harry groaned that his 'balls were bloody empty' having shot his last load over their faces and watched the pair kissing and licking. They didn't waste a drop. He staggered to the toilet whilst the girls had some more lesbian sex - a lot rougher this time - on the floor.
The happy trio left the hotel and the chambermaid complained to her supervisor that a 'herd of bloody elephants' must have danced on the bloody bed!
"How come your mirror's showed him as genuine and from this time, when he's obviously not?" Tess asked Jericho as she laid warm plates upon the dinning table. Jericho tapped his mirror and smiled; "When team members are on an active mission, Control will upload their cover profiles; it's suppose to stop two teams investigating each other - that didn't work today!"
Owen chuckled and pulled the lids off the take away containers with some relish. "Does our dashing Inspector like a good curry?" He asked and sniffed at a chicken Madras. Jericho nodded; "Harry loves a good curry and a few beers, his lovely sister Dotty was the same. They were the best human agents I had - in any time period - present company excepted."
Tess really did smile at that compliment form Jericho and fetched her best brandy glasses from the kitchen.
"I've heard you mention Dorothy before, she clearly must have impressed you Jericho." Alex opened the brandy bottle and wiped the glasses Tess had given her. Jericho smiled; "She's a lot like you Alexandra. A real beauty - inside and out - with courage and humour. She really had a superb mind and would have made a first class detective in the time period she lived; had the silly buggers allowed women to join the police!" Wilson handed around several bottles of cold beer and eased into his dinning chair; "Don't know about you bunch, but that beef Jalfrezi is just begging me to eat it."
That's when the door bell buzzed and Tess answered it - it was Harry. He was shown into the dinning room by Tess and given a brandy - immediately - by a smiling Alex. "Thank you Alexandra." he said quietly and smiled, which gave Alex a few little butterflies in her stomach - Harry Hadden was indeed a handsome young man and utterly charming. He and Jericho embraced like long lost brothers and sat on the sofa together. Alex and Tess started to dish up the meal and Alex simply could not stop herself glancing over towards the young man.
Wilson placed more open beer bottles near each plate and whispered to Alex; "Who's the moth now?" He grinned broadly and piled his plate with the Beef Jalfrezi that had temped his palate so much. Everyone sat around the table eating and chatting. Harry - with a great deal of amusement in his voice - said he had recognised Alexandra immediately; you don't forget beauty like that, even when your old and dead!
He became quietly serious when Jericho asked about his mission; he explained that a time portal had been detected in this area which was locked to May 5th 1906 and someone was using it. They had made two trips back and Inspector Longstreet's human agent for this time and place had reported that a young man had been purchasing coins and notes from that period. So Harry believed, if the time traveller thought he had a rival, he would break cover to discover who else may have discovered the portal.
Harry added that Angel Margret thought he was the best choice for the mission because he obviously knew the Edwardian Era well. Jericho nodded at that and asked where the time portal was - Harry did smile and sipped his brandy; "The old clock tower near the entrance to the East India Docks, which in this era is now really expensive flats and houses. In 1906 it was a thriving dockyard and most importantly, the Edwardian battleship HMS Dreadnought is docked there."
Owen finished his curry; "That ship was really important; it caused the First World War." Harry placed his fork down; "Your almost correct there Owen, the navel arms race that it started really did contribute to the development of the Great War, but there were other factors that actually kicked it off; like the assignation of Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand at Sarajevo in 1914. But your right about the ship being really important to the current human time line."
Harry continued; "We had to make a few assumptions at first, the time jumper must have gone back once and found that he could do little without proper funds and so returned and purchased the relevant money and notes to cover his second trip. He probably took back some gold and silver trinkets to sell and wouldn't need to purchase old coins and notes anymore - there would be plenty of them back there!" Everyone chuckled at that and Wilson grunted; "So if he reads about some young man doing exactly the same as he did, he would certainly want to know, what the new boy on the time travelling block was up to." Everyone agreed that Harry's plan was really good.
"I think its working, I'm pretty sure that the same young man has followed me on a couple of occasions already. But I had Tom and Lisa follow the follower! - that's where Tom and Lisa are now; sitting outside the address we followed him to. We now just have to wait and see if he males a move." Harry finished his curry and his brandy - Alex gave him a refill with another big smile. Wilson and Jericho exchanged a humorous glance, they were clearly thinking the same thoughts; Alex was smitten and she really couldn't hide it!
Tess had to ask about the strange telephone number and the woman at the other end. "Why did you use that old number for British Military Intelligence and who was the woman that answered?" Owen mumbled; "Damn Good question." and accepted a refill of his brandy glass from Alex. Harry chuckled; "Firstly, the woman was Lisa and secondly I thought a real strange number like that would certainly raise the interest of our time traveller; could he resist someone that had contacts apparently going back to the late 1950's and early 1960's?"
Tess nodded and sipped her brandy. It had certainly got Jericho interested, who admitted that Harry's plan was a good one. That's when Harry's mirror buzzed and he answered it quickly. He jumped up from the table and smiled; "To quote the great Sherlock Holmes - the games a foot!" He shook everyone's hand and particularly thanked Tess for her hospitality, then operated his mirror - he was gone.
"Well, we best follow him; and leave, I mean." Jericho said and thanked Tess for her superb hospitality; as did the rest of the team and a few minutes later; they were gone. Standing alone in her dinning room; Tess realised just how lonely, she had become.
The team walked back to the lighthouse in good spirits and Alex's apparent interest in Inspector Harry Hadden was the major source of amusement. She couldn't really put up any honest arguments, about her colleagues deductions, because they were right!
They sat about the study. Wilson and Jericho chatting about Edwardian times and Wilson was most amused about Jericho's comment - which he always said about the era - that 'civilisation' actually ended in 1914. Owen waved a pack of playing cards about and asked if anyone wanted to play Bridge. Alex was interested and Jericho agreed to play. Wilson grunted and folded his arms; "What about Poker? That's my favourite." Finally, it was agreed, that a few hands of Poker may be interesting; mainly to Keep the big man happy!
They gathered around the card table and Owen started to deal, when Mr. Harris appeared in the doorway - he addressed Jericho directly - Mr. Harris explained that 'Little Ivan'; the Messenger, had just delivered this; He held out a brown paper file marked with big red letters: 'Urgent'.
Jericho accepted the file and broke the seal; he read slowly and didn't smile. Everyone could see the concerned look on his face. "What is it?" Alex asked quietly and Jericho looked up from the file: grim faced. He spoke softly: "The whole team has simply vanished. All their mirrors are off-line and they are missing. Gone." Jericho lowered the file and stared at the fireplace.
"Who?" Asked Owen and stopped dealing out cards. Jericho sighed; "Harry and his entire team has vanished. We've been tasked to go after them." There was silence for a few seconds and Alex rose from the table; "Well, we had better get going then." She said, with real concern in her voice. The rest of the team followed her to the light room without another word being said.
6. IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF TEAM 52.
Wilson pulled up outside the modest house and wiped his face; the weather couldn't have been better; hot and sunny, with just a gentle breeze. "Supplies have already removed the other van. It was parked outside the Clock Tower with three parking tickets affixed to the windscreen." He said quietly and stared at the silent house. He was already sweating and it was still only early morning. Owen took a sip of water from the plastic bottle, that Alex had handed him. "Nothing is really known about the occupant for this year; A certain Rashid Kamill. Human Records have him born in 1996, so he must be about 23 years old; works as a plumber, apparently for a local Heating Company. No time portals - the house appears clean."
"Well, he must be involved some how or Harry wouldn't have staked the house out." Jericho muttered and consulted his mirror yet again. Control informed him that there was still no contact with any member of Team 52. "If we draw a blank here, then, its off to that damn Clock Tower by the old docks." Jericho grunted and the team decamped from the van into the bright sunshine.
The team gathered under the little porch and Alex - rather cheekily - pressed the doorbell. The others stared at her; "The mirrors record no one inside." Owen said and rolled his eyes in mock despair. That's when they heard the barking and Alex just smiled at them. Jericho chuckled; a little basic stuff and they nearly forgot. But Alex hadn't. Wilson peered through he letterbox and started to laugh; "I think you brits call it a 'Yorkshire terror'." He let Owen have a look, he laughed too. "Its called a Yorkshire Terrier my big yank friend."
Jericho indicated to the door and Wilson pulled his lock pick from a pocket and had the door open in seconds. "You certainly missed your true vocation." Owen muttered as Wilson swung open the door and stepped over the yapping, snarling little dog.
"Well, he's certainly cute." said Alex and tried to pat the dog, which went for her with some ferocity. She stopped and sighed; "Not a friendly little bugger is he." She murmured and followed the team into the living room, which was neat and tidy. The TV was on and they watched as the little dog sat down in front of it. "Must keep the goggle box on to keep the miniature Rottweiler happy." Owen said and with Wilson, headed up the stairs, whilst Alex checked the kitchen. Jericho stood at the bottom of the stairs and consulted his mirror - yet again.
A very amused - and very puzzled - Owen stood at the top of the stairs and gestured for Jericho and Alex to join him. He was really trying hard not to laugh. "The fucking spare bedroom....well, you have to see it for yourself...its fucking unbelievable!" The laughed outright. Intrigued; Alex and Jericho made their way up the stairs and stood in the bedroom doorway, with a very amused Wilson.
It was a shrine to Adolf Hitler and the Nazi party. There were flags and busts of 'Der Fuhrer', pictures of Nazi soldiers and politicians; maps and a big cabinet of Nazi regalia. Owen checked his mirror again and was even more amazed; "Our Nazi loving friend is originally Pakistani in origin. What the fuck is he doing with all this?" Wilson chuckled and jabbed a finger towards the huge portrait of Hitler on the wall opposite. The painter/artist had placed a halo around Adolf's head!
Jericho just stared around the room in total disbelief; "In all my years, not much has really surprised me, but this has to be the mother of all surprises." Alex folded her arms; "This doesn't make any bloody sense. An English born descendant of a Pakistani family is a Neo-Nazi?" That's when she saw the little white packet on the small, ornate table by the door. She picked it up; "Photographs." She said and opened the packet.
Everyone stood around; there were loads of photographs of Hitler and his cronies, what appears to be Berlin; draped in Nazi flags. There were old cars from the thirties and everyone in the pictures appeared to be dressed for the period; including the wearing of 'Swastika' armbands. "Anyone spot the bloody odd thing out?" She said softly.
Owen picked out a couple of pictures and nodded; "They're all in fucking colour. Very unusual for the time." Alex just sighed and held up two photographs that had really caught her eye. Jericho took the pictures and nodded; "It's our Nazi loving little friend; in Berlin in the late 1930's. But look how he's dressed? That clothing is straight out of the Edwardian era." Wilson stared about the room; "So Harry was right; he was onto something. But how the hell did Rashid end up in Nazi Germany, when the portal is set for 1906?" Alex threw the packet back on the little table and whispered; "It still has to be the clock tower next."
But Owen rubbed his face and folded his arms; "Why was the little Nazi prick buying Victorian and Edwardian coins, when he was visiting 1930's fucking Nazi Germany?" No-one had an answer to that intriguing question. " Let's go." Was all Jericho said and they departed for the van.
They were climbing into the van, when a nice old lady from next door appeared at her gate; clutching a huge ginger and white cat. She beckoned them over. Jericho and Alex smiled and walked across to her. "Have they found him yet?" She asked, sounding quite concerned. They chatted together for a few minutes and Alex stroked the appreciative cat.
Wilson and Owen sat in the van and watched; "I wonder if the dear old girl knows that her neighbour is a fucking Nazi?" Owen asked and swigged from his plastic bottle of water; he handed it to Wilson, who chuckled; "Who would suspect a English Pakistani is a bloody Nazi? That's like finding one of my brothers in KKK." Jericho and Alex re-joined them in the van. "It appears our Nazi friend has been missing for about a week. No one has seen or heard from him for days. Nothing; didn't turn up for work or even call his mother, who he's very close to apparently. No sign of him." Jericho told his team.
Alex chuckled; "According to Nan [the old lady] he's a lovely young man, nice and quiet, no noisy parties and he's good to his mum - apparently - and of course; an animal lover." Jericho just sighed; "So was Adolf bloody Hitler."
Owen grunted; "Who's feeding the bloody dog then?" Alex smiled and gestured towards the old lady; "Apparently 'Rommel' and Osborne are the best of friends; they play together." Owen leaned back in his seat; "The cat is called Osborne and the bloody dog is called Rommel?" Alex nodded and sipped her water bottle. "Well, she certainly hasn't poked her nose into that spare bedroom or she would have a very different opinion about the nice young man next door." Wilson muttered and started the van.
7. THE TOWER.
It took nearly two hours to reach the clock tower; the traffic was horrendous. It took some time to find a parking space and they had to walk nearly fifteen minutes to the tower. "Too many buildings, too many cars, too many people and far too much noise." Jericho was not impressed with the changes, since he last visited in 1901. They passed three local lads, sitting on the kerbside drinking cans of beer and smoking dope. Owen just stared at them; coming from a Medieval Monastery in the middle of rural Yorkshire; he was suffering a little 'culture shock'.
They [the lads] swore and stuck up their fingers; asking what the fuck he was looking at? Wilson just stared at them and then went back to fighting amongst themselves and drinking beer. One made an obscene gesture towards Alex and told her what he wanted to do with her arse. They all laughed about that. She just ignored them.
They found that the tower was now part of a small heritage museum on site. The place was almost empty and the young Indian woman running reception told them the tower was open and that would be fifteen pounds each; to view the bloody thing! Jericho slapped the money down without comment.
Alex asked her about Harry and his team; had she seen them? She shrugged her shoulders and sat back down without saying anything. She was reading a Jeffry Archer novel and wasn't really interested in who went up the tower - as long as they paid. They climbed the stairs, standing aside, so that a party of Japanese tourists could make their way down. They even photographed themselves on the staircase and at the foot of the stairs. Jericho just shook his head; "See what I mean, about when civilisation really ended?" He muttered to Wilson, who just smiled.
They were the only 'tourists' in the clock room and Jericho discretely pulled out his mirror and gestured towards the cage that surrounded the clock mechanism; "Its in there." He said quietly looking about. "The lock won't prove a problem; will it?" Owen asked Wilson, who was already examining it. He shook his head.
Jericho suddenly raised his hand and fumbled in his coat jacket pocket; he pulled out his orb and everyone could see the red streaks around its circumference. A powerful demon had passed this way and recently. "Shit!" said Owen and consulted his mirror for reports about the place, from Demon Ingress. Jericho was already contacting control for a Knights assistance - on the hurry up. "We're going no-where until we get assistance." He said quietly and Wilson gestured towards the cages lock; "Its open - someone had already forced the lock."
They heard footsteps coming up the stairs and so the orb and any mirrors were hastily hidden in pockets. They all sighed with some relief; it was James - a Knight of God - and he smiled broadly and shook hands all round. He especially lingered over Alex's handshake; it was well known that he a 'bit of a thing for her' - like most males. James stood hands on hips and did not smile; "It's that sneaky bastard Kiri. He's back." Owen had just received that information via his mirror - but then, Knights of God didn't need mirrors!
"Harry never called for Knight's assistance, but then the traces are quite recent." Jericho said, as he and James chatted together and Alex was peering through the cage at the clock mechanism. She turned to Wilson; "What's that on the floor, right there by the bare brickwork in the corner?" Wilson knelt down and peered through the bars. "I think its an old coin. An old English penny I think." He was just able to reach it and showed to it to the team. "Victorian. 1898." Owen lowered his mirror. "Either someone just dropped it or its lain there - unseen - for over a hundred years and I think I know which is the right answer."
"Shall we go?" James gestured to the cage and Wilson pulled it open; they disappeared into the time portal at the very rear of the small room. They all cloaked themselves in anticipation of meeting living humans on the other side; sometime in the middle Edwardian period for the London Docks. They were mistaken about that and several other things.
They had appeared in the dirty, grim backroom of a Berlin music shop; coming out from the old fireplace. The wall's were covered with posters about records and music - all pre-war [the second one]. The shelves had stacks of boxes, filled with gramophone records. There were books about composers and their music stacked in one corner; they looked like they had not been read in sometime. They could all hear the noise coming from outside the small window.
Jericho had to wipe the dirty window to see out. There was a big parade going on outside; it was passing the top of the alley that the room looked over. "Fucking Nazi's." Was all Wilson said. It was a Nazi parade with flags, uniforms and banners. The crowds appeared to be cheering and shouting enthusiastically. Owen held up his mirror, quite grim faced; "Check your mirrors - mine's offline - no signals, nothing." Everyone agreed with him; their mirrors were not working.
Jericho took a deep breath; "Do you realise that if we didn't have James with us; we would be stuck here." Wilson grunted; "That might explain what happened to Harry and Team 52; they're trapped here."
Alex stared out the window and shouted; "What are those bastards doing?" Everyone squeezed around the window. Four Nazi's in uniform had dragged an old man in a black coat and hat into the alley. They were punching and kicking him. Shouting and laughing, they left him laying on the road. He tried to raise himself a couple of times, but couldn't. "Come on!" Alex shouted and pulled at the door; it was locked, frustrated she kicked it and went back to the window. The old man lay ominously still in the quiet alley.
That's when they heard the lock being turned on the door.
8 THE OLD MUSIC SHOP.
James actually smiled as the door swung open; he already knew who was on the other side. The old man peered in, clutching the big key with both hands. He turned and spoke to the person who was behind him; "There is no one here my dear. No one." They heard a woman's voice say; "There is Franz, you just watch." Everyone in the room realised that James had uncloaked them - yes, Knights really don't need mirrors!
The old man jumped, but didn't seem really surprised by his small back room being suddenly filled with people. Alex rushed to the door and embraced Temporal Detective Lisa Solomon, who looked like she had just won the National lottery's top prize - without having to buy a damn ticket. "They beat up an old man, he's lying..."Alex frantically told her and pushed past the pair. Lisa gripped her arm; "It's ok Alex; Tom and Wolfe are all ready on their way." Alex sighed with relief. Lisa said quietly; "It's bloody common around here. Harry won't let me go out because, well, I really do look Jewish - which isn't strange -considering I was - when alive." She managed to smile and the pair held each other again.
Lisa then introduced them to old Franz; "He owns this little shop and over the years has seen a few strange people pop out the fireplace. He's not a Nazi supporter; in fact, he detests the bastards and what they're doing to his country. He's being hiding us here. None of the bloody mirrors will work. The portal is one way only and has apparently changed its destination since we checked it last." Owen rubbed his chin; "Who the hell is Wolfe?" He knew that Team 52's trainee was a small Japanese fellow called Suki. Lisa laughed; "His name is Wolfgang; he's Franz's grandson. I call him Wolfe and he seems to like that."
Jericho stared back at the fireplace; "This is just an exit, the portal back in 2019 is a rotating one - a very dangerous aberration - which means it can send its traveller anywhere in time, provided he or she is holding an object from that period. Our little Nazi friend must have had something from this time period on him; something made here. I wonder if he was surprised by the new destination?"
Wilson grunted; "If its one way, how did he get back to place those photographs in his Hitler Shrine?" James smiled; "There must be at least two of them and the second person must have his own control device or be..." Owen had practically read James's mind; "A bloody demon?" He asked. James nodded; "Kiri often uses humans and just abandon's them - the bastard."
The old man gestured down the stairs and mentioned that the coffee pot was on the stove and he had some Snapp's; if anyone wanted something stronger. Now that did make Owen smile. They could hear the commotion from down stairs and a young boy shouting for his grandfather to come. "Grandpa, its old Mr. Herron, they've beaten him badly." Alex and Lisa ran down the stairs and the old man followed much more slowly; he spoke to Owen, who was behind him; "My days of running anywhere are long gone. The only time I move quickly is for the toilet and when someone open's a new brandy bottle." He chuckled to himself and Wilson exchanged an amused glance with Owen.
Jericho and James stood at the top of the stairs and spoke quietly; "There must be a Judas Stone nearby; that's the only thing the 'Dark Side' has that would close down mirrors. If I recall, the last time we encountered Kiri, the bastard had one." James walked slowly down the stairs, with Jericho behind, who did remember his last encounter with Kiri [The Episode: 'Alexandra investigates Cordless, Cordless & Fraser (Solicitors)'] and how they had been trapped without mirrors. He really was glad that he called James.
It appears Kiri - with some forethought - and secreted a 'Judas Stone' near the time portal exit [the old fireplace] to catch out temporal Detectives on his trail; and it had worked. James always said that; 'He [Kiri] was a sneaky bastard!'.
Tom and Wolfe had placed old Mr. Herron in the big office chair that sat behind Franz's desk, which was covered in papers, magazines and vinyl records. He was bleeding about the face and couldn't move the fingers on one hand. Alex examined him and realised he needed an x-ray; the cuts and bruises she could easily deal. with. Mr. Herron thanks her several times, but said he couldn't go to hospital. He pointed to the 'Star of David' on his arm. The local hospital wouldn't take him. They didn't treat Jews.
"Little wonder Harry doesn't let you out. the bastards would really have fun with you." Wilson spoke quietly to Lisa; who just nodded with some sadness. Everyone sat around the little shop and drank coffee and brandy; old Franz was a very good host and clearly had acquired some affection for Lisa. He treated and spoke to her like a much loved granddaughter. He wasn't Jewish, but many of his old friends were. He pointed out, like him, they had served their country, in the trenches of the last war. [the First World war]. His disgust with Hitler and the Nazi's was really apparent.
Owen sat on the floor with young Wolfe, drinking coffee, and Owen said to Jericho; "We have a real problem. If the time portal is one way and our little Neo-Nazi friend jumped through it; How did he get the pictures of himself back to 2019? If we can find an answer to that, it would certainly help." Everyone in the team nodded at that conundrum. Alex sipped very welcome brandy and checked old Mr. Herron again.
James almost smiled; "Kiri. Like I said; that nasty big demon certainly has the power to travel where he likes and we've already picked up traces of him." Jericho sighed; "And the bast...bugger would certainly like this little time period of human history." He had moderated his language because young Wolfe was listening with great interest. His grandfather told the boy to refill the kettle and put more coffee on. He left the room with great reluctance. That's when there was several soft knocks on the front door. Owen carefully lifted the 'closed' shutter and peered out. He smiled broadly; "It's Harry and Suki."
He unlocked the door and the pair squeezed in; carrying shopping bags. Everyone greeted them with some warmth; Especially Alex with Harry; that didn't go un-noticed! They had picked up some supplies; another bottle of Cognac, fresh bread, fruit and cheese, with a huge German sausage. Harry handed the food and the change, from the money Franz had given them, over to Franz and patted the old man. He turned to Jericho - unsmiling - and pulled off his jacket. He said quietly; "The place is crawling with bloody demons. My orb was practically blood red." He pulled the 'Swastika' arm band off his discarded jacket; Suki did the same.
Little Suki did not smile; "The bloody Nazi's kept shaking my hands and offering me booze. Apparently my people are now their Allies." He said that with some real disgust and like Harry, handed his armband back to Franz. They both accepted coffee from Lisa and Harry propped himself on old Franz's desk. "Our strange little, Nazi loving friend won't be going home and his soul is now in the darkness. He was picked up by the Gestapo and they didn't take kindly to an Indian fellow claiming he was devotee of Adolf. They beat him to death and dumped in body in the local woods. I suspect there are quite a few missing people in there."
"I think that's called Karma." Muttered Wilson and chuckled to himself. But Owen sighed; "Now we'll never know why he was collecting those old notes and coins." Alex sipped her coffee and said quietly; "I suspect that he was heading back to 1905 or around that time, and ended up here. Who ever was with him, returned and ditched those photographs at the 'Shrine'. If it's Kiri, then he's probably using the house now for his own ends. He probably has more supporters there; Nazi friends of the dead man. What better proof of his powers, than those photographs? That's bound to recruit the other Neo-Nazi's to his cause."
It appears that young Rashid had travelled through the portal - the first time - and ended up in 1906. It was still standing at that date, when Harry and Team 52 had checked it. He must have met up with Kiri in that time period [a demon like him, would know when humans cross through time] and they teamed up.
But for whatever reason; Rashid had used the portal again; this time dressed for the period and with lots of money to use there. Except; the 'rotating' gateway had thrown him to Nazi Germany in the thirties. He must have been carrying a strong object from that time. He had no demon with him to effect an return; he was stuck here and that ended badly - he couldn't return because he had fallen into the wrong hands and killed.
9. SOME ORIGINS OF EVIL REVEALLED.
The sounds of a commotion in the street could be heard and Franz lifted the door blind a little, he turned with some real sadness on his old face. "They're smashing old Joseph's windows and looting his shop." Mr. Herron just sighed and wiped his bandaged hand over his face; "I sent Ester to her sisters - thank God." He said and sipped some coffee that Wolfe had given him. Owen stared at the date marked on the calendar behind Franz's desk. "Sweet Jesus; its the first of September, 1939 and Germany has just invaded Poland and started the bloody second world war!"
Everyone looked at the fragile old man, sitting helplessly on the floor of his old friends shop and all thought the same thing; the 'Final Solution' to Germany's 'Jewish problem' would soon be underway; extermination - mass murder on an industrialised, horrific scale - would now start in earnest. Alex saw Lisa wipe her damp face several times and cuddled her friend. the two women were silent; they didn't have to say anything for the others to understand.
Finally, Jericho turned to Franz and asked him, if had had seen a young Indian fellow appear from the fireplace and disappear down the back stairs. Franz nodded; "Young Wolfgang told me that a little brown man had come from the room with another; a big white fellow and they were laughing and joking together. I never saw them." James had to chuckle; "I'm surprised that you take all this so calmly; I mean all those strange people appearing out of the fireplace and disappearing down your back stairs into the street. Have you ever wondered about it?"
Old Franz smiled; "My Father and grandfather always said they were just visiting and would do us no harm. This shop has been in my family since 1790. The rear parts are all original, the rest has been refurbished over the many years that this shop has stood here. I have seen many such people since I was a child." He shrugged his shoulders and started to rummage in the shopping bags that Harry and Suki had returned with.
Jericho rubbed his face and stared at the old man; there was something very familiar about him. "May I ask Franz, what is your family name?" Franz looked up and smiled; "Leitcher." Jericho and Wilson slowly rose from the floor and then looked at Franz's grandson; "Is young Wolfe named after your father?" Franz seemed a little surprised by that question; "Yes, Wolfgang is a traditional name in our family. My own grandfather was called Wolfgang Franz Leitcher."
Everyone in Team 74 just stared at the gentle old man and remembered their adversary; Wolfgang Leitcher [from two episodes; 'The man who died in the future to save his past' and 'The Dunmore Witch Trials' both from 'THE TEMPORAL DETECTIVES' series.] Jericho asked quietly; "Was your ancestor - the first one in your family - to purchase this shop, was he called Wolfgang Leitcher?" Franz nodded; "Yes, like I said; he bought the shop in 1790. I believe he was some sort of music professor or the such like. Probably why music has always been part of my families life down the generations."
Alex touched the old man's arm: "Are there any strange stories about him; your ancestor, I mean?" Franz nodded; "Family gossip has it, that old Wolfgang was ill - dying apparently - and with his final strength, sought out a healer, who lived in the woods. Well, it is said that he was gone for some time. Then returned home; miraculously cured by the stranger in the woods. But within months; he simply vanished and was never seen or heard of again. But it is just family legend."
Wilson whispered to Jericho; "And we know who the bloody healer in the woods was." Alex folded her arms; "Now that's bloody Karma, his ancestor tries to bump us off and his descendant saves Team 52." Jericho nodded and grunted; "Yes, something about the sins of the father and his children come to mind." James interrupted their quiet discussion; "I think its time we all went home. I need to close the portal here and the one in the clock tower."
"Hope you got fifteen quid for that one." Owen grunted and finished his brandy.
Everyone said a very warm farewell to their gentle and generous host and his grandson. James closed the portal in the fire place, then noticed that the door, at the bottom of the rear stairs - that opened onto the back alley - was swinging open. James stared at the fireplace; "Two humans have passed through here whilst we were downstairs. I really need to close that portal in the tower." Then Everyone was gone.
Franz stood in the doorway and ruffled his grandson's dark hair; "Don't worry boy, Old great Uncle Wolfgang will soon have it open again for visitors." The pair returned to the shop, they would have to arrange for poor Mr. Herron to get home, after dark and avoiding the Nazi patrols; who were searching the streets for Jews. That's when the shop bell tinkled and old Franz shouted; "Sorry, we're closed." Owen must have left the damn door unlocked when he let in Harry and Suki.
Franz and Wolfgang stood in the quiet shop and looked about; there was nobody there and Mr. Joseph Herron had gone. Franz sighed; "He's probably worried about Ester; they have been married nearly forty years." He smiled and locked the door. He sent young Wolfe to clean up the kitchen and fetch his coat; Franz would walk the boy home. He sat at his desk and pulled the bottom drawer open, he slowly removed the big money box from the back and placed it on his desk.
He slowly lifted the lid and stared at he pile of Victorian Coins and Edwardian notes. He really didn't like lying to those nice young people, but he and Wolfgang had their plan. He lifted one coin; it was an Edwardian half crown and tossed it in his hand. He was a little sorry about the confused young Rashid; but Franz had warned him about dealing with Nazi's - he didn't listen - and now he was in a shallow grave in the woods. But he had added considerably to the old money that the pair was collecting for the 'Great Plan'.
Young Wolfe appeared in the doorway and grinned at his grandfather. "I'm going to be a very rich young man when I go there Grandpa." The old man nodded; "And you will change everything. No Nazi's and Britain on Imperial Germany's side. Your future will be golden Wolfgang." He smiled and dropped the coin back into the box.
5. HARRY'S MISSION.
"How come your mirror's showed him as genuine and from this time, when he's obviously not?" Tess asked Jericho as she laid warm plates upon the dinning table. Jericho tapped his mirror and smiled; "When team members are on an active mission, Control will upload their cover profiles; it's suppose to stop two teams investigating each other - that didn't work today!"
Owen chuckled and pulled the lids off the take away containers with some relish. "Does our dashing Inspector like a good curry?" He asked and sniffed at a chicken Madras. Jericho nodded; "Harry loves a good curry and a few beers, his lovely sister Dotty was the same. They were the best human agents I had - in any time period - present company excepted."
Tess really did smile at that compliment form Jericho and fetched her best brandy glasses from the kitchen.
"I've heard you mention Dorothy before, she clearly must have impressed you Jericho." Alex opened the brandy bottle and wiped the glasses Tess had given her. Jericho smiled; "She's a lot like you Alexandra. A real beauty - inside and out - with courage and humour. She really had a superb mind and would have made a first class detective in the time period she lived; had the silly buggers allowed women to join the police!" Wilson handed around several bottles of cold beer and eased into his dinning chair; "Don't know about you bunch, but that beef Jalfrezi is just begging me to eat it."
That's when the door bell buzzed and Tess answered it - it was Harry. He was shown into the dinning room by Tess and given a brandy - immediately - by a smiling Alex. "Thank you Alexandra." he said quietly and smiled, which gave Alex a few little butterflies in her stomach - Harry Hadden was indeed a handsome young man and utterly charming. He and Jericho embraced like long lost brothers and sat on the sofa together. Alex and Tess started to dish up the meal and Alex simply could not stop herself glancing over towards the young man.
Wilson placed more open beer bottles near each plate and whispered to Alex; "Who's the moth now?" He grinned broadly and piled his plate with the Beef Jalfrezi that had temped his palate so much. Everyone sat around the table eating and chatting. Harry - with a great deal of amusement in his voice - said he had recognised Alexandra immediately; you don't forget beauty like that, even when your old and dead!
He became quietly serious when Jericho asked about his mission; he explained that a time portal had been detected in this area which was locked to May 5th 1906 and someone was using it. They had made two trips back and Inspector Longstreet's human agent for this time and place had reported that a young man had been purchasing coins and notes from that period. So Harry believed, if the time traveller thought he had a rival, he would break cover to discover who else may have discovered the portal.
Harry added that Angel Margret thought he was the best choice for the mission because he obviously knew the Edwardian Era well. Jericho nodded at that and asked where the time portal was - Harry did smile and sipped his brandy; "The old clock tower near the entrance to the East India Docks, which in this era is now really expensive flats and houses. In 1906 it was a thriving dockyard and most importantly, the Edwardian battleship HMS Dreadnought is docked there."
Owen finished his curry; "That ship was really important; it caused the First World War." Harry placed his fork down; "Your almost correct there Owen, the navel arms race that it started really did contribute to the development of the Great War, but there were other factors that actually kicked it off; like the assignation of Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand at Sarajevo in 1914. But your right about the ship being really important to the current human time line."
Harry continued; "We had to make a few assumptions at first, the time jumper must have gone back once and found that he could do little without proper funds and so returned and purchased the relevant money and notes to cover his second trip. He probably took back some gold and silver trinkets to sell and wouldn't need to purchase old coins and notes anymore - there would be plenty of them back there!" Everyone chuckled at that and Wilson grunted; "So if he reads about some young man doing exactly the same as he did, he would certainly want to know, what the new boy on the time travelling block was up to." Everyone agreed that Harry's plan was really good.
"I think its working, I'm pretty sure that the same young man has followed me on a couple of occasions already. But I had Tom and Lisa follow the follower! - that's where Tom and Lisa are now; sitting outside the address we followed him to. We now just have to wait and see if he males a move." Harry finished his curry and his brandy - Alex gave him a refill with another big smile. Wilson and Jericho exchanged a humorous glance, they were clearly thinking the same thoughts; Alex was smitten and she really couldn't hide it!
Tess had to ask about the strange telephone number and the woman at the other end. "Why did you use that old number for British Military Intelligence and who was the woman that answered?" Owen mumbled; "Damn Good question." and accepted a refill of his brandy glass from Alex. Harry chuckled; "Firstly, the woman was Lisa and secondly I thought a real strange number like that would certainly raise the interest of our time traveller; could he resist someone that had contacts apparently going back to the late 1950's and early 1960's?"
Tess nodded and sipped her brandy. It had certainly got Jericho interested, who admitted that Harry's plan was a good one. That's when Harry's mirror buzzed and he answered it quickly. He jumped up from the table and smiled; "To quote the great Sherlock Holmes - the games a foot!" He shook everyone's hand and particularly thanked Tess for her hospitality, then operated his mirror - he was gone.
"Well, we best follow him; and leave, I mean." Jericho said and thanked Tess for her superb hospitality; as did the rest of the team and a few minutes later; they were gone. Standing alone in her dinning room; Tess realised just how lonely, she had become.
The team walked back to the lighthouse in good spirits and Alex's apparent interest in Inspector Harry Hadden was the major source of amusement. She couldn't really put up any honest arguments, about her colleagues deductions, because they were right!
They sat about the study. Wilson and Jericho chatting about Edwardian times and Wilson was most amused about Jericho's comment - which he always said about the era - that 'civilisation' actually ended in 1914. Owen waved a pack of playing cards about and asked if anyone wanted to play Bridge. Alex was interested and Jericho agreed to play. Wilson grunted and folded his arms; "What about Poker? That's my favourite." Finally, it was agreed, that a few hands of Poker may be interesting; mainly to Keep the big man happy!
They gathered around the card table and Owen started to deal, when Mr. Harris appeared in the doorway - he addressed Jericho directly - Mr. Harris explained that 'Little Ivan'; the Messenger, had just delivered this; He held out a brown paper file marked with big red letters: 'Urgent'.
Jericho accepted the file and broke the seal; he read slowly and didn't smile. Everyone could see the concerned look on his face. "What is it?" Alex asked quietly and Jericho looked up from the file: grim faced. He spoke softly: "The whole team has simply vanished. All their mirrors are off-line and they are missing. Gone." Jericho lowered the file and stared at the fireplace.
"Who?" Asked Owen and stopped dealing out cards. Jericho sighed; "Harry and his entire team has vanished. We've been tasked to go after them." There was silence for a few seconds and Alex rose from the table; "Well, we had better get going then." She said, with real concern in her voice. The rest of the team followed her to the light room without another word being said.
6. IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF TEAM 52.
Wilson pulled up outside the modest house and wiped his face; the weather couldn't have been better; hot and sunny, with just a gentle breeze. "Supplies have already removed the other van. It was parked outside the Clock Tower with three parking tickets affixed to the windscreen." He said quietly and stared at the silent house. He was already sweating and it was still only early morning. Owen took a sip of water from the plastic bottle, that Alex had handed him. "Nothing is really known about the occupant for this year; A certain Rashid Kamill. Human Records have him born in 1996, so he must be about 23 years old; works as a plumber, apparently for a local Heating Company. No time portals - the house appears clean."
"Well, he must be involved some how or Harry wouldn't have staked the house out." Jericho muttered and consulted his mirror yet again. Control informed him that there was still no contact with any member of Team 52. "If we draw a blank here, then, its off to that damn Clock Tower by the old docks." Jericho grunted and the team decamped from the van into the bright sunshine.
The team gathered under the little porch and Alex - rather cheekily - pressed the doorbell. The others stared at her; "The mirrors record no one inside." Owen said and rolled his eyes in mock despair. That's when they heard the barking and Alex just smiled at them. Jericho chuckled; a little basic stuff and they nearly forgot. But Alex hadn't. Wilson peered through he letterbox and started to laugh; "I think you brits call it a 'Yorkshire terror'." He let Owen have a look, he laughed too. "Its called a Yorkshire Terrier my big yank friend."
Jericho indicated to the door and Wilson pulled his lock pick from a pocket and had the door open in seconds. "You certainly missed your true vocation." Owen muttered as Wilson swung open the door and stepped over the yapping, snarling little dog.
"Well, he's certainly cute." said Alex and tried to pat the dog, which went for her with some ferocity. She stopped and sighed; "Not a friendly little bugger is he." She murmured and followed the team into the living room, which was neat and tidy. The TV was on and they watched as the little dog sat down in front of it. "Must keep the goggle box on to keep the miniature Rottweiler happy." Owen said and with Wilson, headed up the stairs, whilst Alex checked the kitchen. Jericho stood at the bottom of the stairs and consulted his mirror - yet again.
A very amused - and very puzzled - Owen stood at the top of the stairs and gestured for Jericho and Alex to join him. He was really trying hard not to laugh. "The fucking spare bedroom....well, you have to see it for yourself...its fucking unbelievable!" The laughed outright. Intrigued; Alex and Jericho made their way up the stairs and stood in the bedroom doorway, with a very amused Wilson.
It was a shrine to Adolf Hitler and the Nazi party. There were flags and busts of 'Der Fuhrer', pictures of Nazi soldiers and politicians; maps and a big cabinet of Nazi regalia. Owen checked his mirror again and was even more amazed; "Our Nazi loving friend is originally Pakistani in origin. What the fuck is he doing with all this?" Wilson chuckled and jabbed a finger towards the huge portrait of Hitler on the wall opposite. The painter/artist had placed a halo around Adolf's head!
Jericho just stared around the room in total disbelief; "In all my years, not much has really surprised me, but this has to be the mother of all surprises." Alex folded her arms; "This doesn't make any bloody sense. An English born descendant of a Pakistani family is a Neo-Nazi?" That's when she saw the little white packet on the small, ornate table by the door. She picked it up; "Photographs." She said and opened the packet.
Everyone stood around; there were loads of photographs of Hitler and his cronies, what appears to be Berlin; draped in Nazi flags. There were old cars from the thirties and everyone in the pictures appeared to be dressed for the period; including the wearing of 'Swastika' armbands. "Anyone spot the bloody odd thing out?" She said softly.
Owen picked out a couple of pictures and nodded; "They're all in fucking colour. Very unusual for the time." Alex just sighed and held up two photographs that had really caught her eye. Jericho took the pictures and nodded; "It's our Nazi loving little friend; in Berlin in the late 1930's. But look how he's dressed? That clothing is straight out of the Edwardian era." Wilson stared about the room; "So Harry was right; he was onto something. But how the hell did Rashid end up in Nazi Germany, when the portal is set for 1906?" Alex threw the packet back on the little table and whispered; "It still has to be the clock tower next."
But Owen rubbed his face and folded his arms; "Why was the little Nazi prick buying Victorian and Edwardian coins, when he was visiting 1930's fucking Nazi Germany?" No-one had an answer to that intriguing question. " Let's go." Was all Jericho said and they departed for the van.
They were climbing into the van, when a nice old lady from next door appeared at her gate; clutching a huge ginger and white cat. She beckoned them over. Jericho and Alex smiled and walked across to her. "Have they found him yet?" She asked, sounding quite concerned. They chatted together for a few minutes and Alex stroked the appreciative cat.
Wilson and Owen sat in the van and watched; "I wonder if the dear old girl knows that her neighbour is a fucking Nazi?" Owen asked and swigged from his plastic bottle of water; he handed it to Wilson, who chuckled; "Who would suspect a English Pakistani is a bloody Nazi? That's like finding one of my brothers in KKK." Jericho and Alex re-joined them in the van. "It appears our Nazi friend has been missing for about a week. No one has seen or heard from him for days. Nothing; didn't turn up for work or even call his mother, who he's very close to apparently. No sign of him." Jericho told his team.
Alex chuckled; "According to Nan [the old lady] he's a lovely young man, nice and quiet, no noisy parties and he's good to his mum - apparently - and of course; an animal lover." Jericho just sighed; "So was Adolf bloody Hitler."
Owen grunted; "Who's feeding the bloody dog then?" Alex smiled and gestured towards the old lady; "Apparently 'Rommel' and Osborne are the best of friends; they play together." Owen leaned back in his seat; "The cat is called Osborne and the bloody dog is called Rommel?" Alex nodded and sipped her water bottle. "Well, she certainly hasn't poked her nose into that spare bedroom or she would have a very different opinion about the nice young man next door." Wilson muttered and started the van.
7. THE TOWER.
It took nearly two hours to reach the clock tower; the traffic was horrendous. It took some time to find a parking space and they had to walk nearly fifteen minutes to the tower. "Too many buildings, too many cars, too many people and far too much noise." Jericho was not impressed with the changes, since he last visited in 1901. They passed three local lads, sitting on the kerbside drinking cans of beer and smoking dope. Owen just stared at them; coming from a Medieval Monastery in the middle of rural Yorkshire; he was suffering a little 'culture shock'.
They [the lads] swore and stuck up their fingers; asking what the fuck he was looking at? Wilson just stared at them and then went back to fighting amongst themselves and drinking beer. One made an obscene gesture towards Alex and told her what he wanted to do with her arse. They all laughed about that. She just ignored them.
They found that the tower was now part of a small heritage museum on site. The place was almost empty and the young Indian woman running reception told them the tower was open and that would be fifteen pounds each; to view the bloody thing! Jericho slapped the money down without comment.
Alex asked her about Harry and his team; had she seen them? She shrugged her shoulders and sat back down without saying anything. She was reading a Jeffry Archer novel and wasn't really interested in who went up the tower - as long as they paid. They climbed the stairs, standing aside, so that a party of Japanese tourists could make their way down. They even photographed themselves on the staircase and at the foot of the stairs. Jericho just shook his head; "See what I mean, about when civilisation really ended?" He muttered to Wilson, who just smiled.
They were the only 'tourists' in the clock room and Jericho discretely pulled out his mirror and gestured towards the cage that surrounded the clock mechanism; "Its in there." He said quietly looking about. "The lock won't prove a problem; will it?" Owen asked Wilson, who was already examining it. He shook his head.
Jericho suddenly raised his hand and fumbled in his coat jacket pocket; he pulled out his orb and everyone could see the red streaks around its circumference. A powerful demon had passed this way and recently. "Shit!" said Owen and consulted his mirror for reports about the place, from Demon Ingress. Jericho was already contacting control for a Knights assistance - on the hurry up. "We're going no-where until we get assistance." He said quietly and Wilson gestured towards the cages lock; "Its open - someone had already forced the lock."
They heard footsteps coming up the stairs and so the orb and any mirrors were hastily hidden in pockets. They all sighed with some relief; it was James - a Knight of God - and he smiled broadly and shook hands all round. He especially lingered over Alex's handshake; it was well known that he a 'bit of a thing for her' - like most males. James stood hands on hips and did not smile; "It's that sneaky bastard Kiri. He's back." Owen had just received that information via his mirror - but then, Knights of God didn't need mirrors!
"Harry never called for Knight's assistance, but then the traces are quite recent." Jericho said, as he and James chatted together and Alex was peering through the cage at the clock mechanism. She turned to Wilson; "What's that on the floor, right there by the bare brickwork in the corner?" Wilson knelt down and peered through the bars. "I think its an old coin. An old English penny I think." He was just able to reach it and showed to it to the team. "Victorian. 1898." Owen lowered his mirror. "Either someone just dropped it or its lain there - unseen - for over a hundred years and I think I know which is the right answer."
"Shall we go?" James gestured to the cage and Wilson pulled it open; they disappeared into the time portal at the very rear of the small room. They all cloaked themselves in anticipation of meeting living humans on the other side; sometime in the middle Edwardian period for the London Docks. They were mistaken about that and several other things.
They had appeared in the dirty, grim backroom of a Berlin music shop; coming out from the old fireplace. The wall's were covered with posters about records and music - all pre-war [the second one]. The shelves had stacks of boxes, filled with gramophone records. There were books about composers and their music stacked in one corner; they looked like they had not been read in sometime. They could all hear the noise coming from outside the small window.
Jericho had to wipe the dirty window to see out. There was a big parade going on outside; it was passing the top of the alley that the room looked over. "Fucking Nazi's." Was all Wilson said. It was a Nazi parade with flags, uniforms and banners. The crowds appeared to be cheering and shouting enthusiastically. Owen held up his mirror, quite grim faced; "Check your mirrors - mine's offline - no signals, nothing." Everyone agreed with him; their mirrors were not working.
Jericho took a deep breath; "Do you realise that if we didn't have James with us; we would be stuck here." Wilson grunted; "That might explain what happened to Harry and Team 52; they're trapped here."
Alex stared out the window and shouted; "What are those bastards doing?" Everyone squeezed around the window. Four Nazi's in uniform had dragged an old man in a black coat and hat into the alley. They were punching and kicking him. Shouting and laughing, they left him laying on the road. He tried to raise himself a couple of times, but couldn't. "Come on!" Alex shouted and pulled at the door; it was locked, frustrated she kicked it and went back to the window. The old man lay ominously still in the quiet alley.
That's when they heard the lock being turned on the door.
8 THE OLD MUSIC SHOP.
James actually smiled as the door swung open; he already knew who was on the other side. The old man peered in, clutching the big key with both hands. He turned and spoke to the person who was behind him; "There is no one here my dear. No one." They heard a woman's voice say; "There is Franz, you just watch." Everyone in the room realised that James had uncloaked them - yes, Knights really don't need mirrors!
The old man jumped, but didn't seem really surprised by his small back room being suddenly filled with people. Alex rushed to the door and embraced Temporal Detective Lisa Solomon, who looked like she had just won the National lottery's top prize - without having to buy a damn ticket. "They beat up an old man, he's lying..."Alex frantically told her and pushed past the pair. Lisa gripped her arm; "It's ok Alex; Tom and Wolfe are all ready on their way." Alex sighed with relief. Lisa said quietly; "It's bloody common around here. Harry won't let me go out because, well, I really do look Jewish - which isn't strange -considering I was - when alive." She managed to smile and the pair held each other again.
Lisa then introduced them to old Franz; "He owns this little shop and over the years has seen a few strange people pop out the fireplace. He's not a Nazi supporter; in fact, he detests the bastards and what they're doing to his country. He's being hiding us here. None of the bloody mirrors will work. The portal is one way only and has apparently changed its destination since we checked it last." Owen rubbed his chin; "Who the hell is Wolfe?" He knew that Team 52's trainee was a small Japanese fellow called Suki. Lisa laughed; "His name is Wolfgang; he's Franz's grandson. I call him Wolfe and he seems to like that."
Jericho stared back at the fireplace; "This is just an exit, the portal back in 2019 is a rotating one - a very dangerous aberration - which means it can send its traveller anywhere in time, provided he or she is holding an object from that period. Our little Nazi friend must have had something from this time period on him; something made here. I wonder if he was surprised by the new destination?"
Wilson grunted; "If its one way, how did he get back to place those photographs in his Hitler Shrine?" James smiled; "There must be at least two of them and the second person must have his own control device or be..." Owen had practically read James's mind; "A bloody demon?" He asked. James nodded; "Kiri often uses humans and just abandon's them - the bastard."
The old man gestured down the stairs and mentioned that the coffee pot was on the stove and he had some Snapp's; if anyone wanted something stronger. Now that did make Owen smile. They could hear the commotion from down stairs and a young boy shouting for his grandfather to come. "Grandpa, its old Mr. Herron, they've beaten him badly." Alex and Lisa ran down the stairs and the old man followed much more slowly; he spoke to Owen, who was behind him; "My days of running anywhere are long gone. The only time I move quickly is for the toilet and when someone open's a new brandy bottle." He chuckled to himself and Wilson exchanged an amused glance with Owen.
Jericho and James stood at the top of the stairs and spoke quietly; "There must be a Judas Stone nearby; that's the only thing the 'Dark Side' has that would close down mirrors. If I recall, the last time we encountered Kiri, the bastard had one." James walked slowly down the stairs, with Jericho behind, who did remember his last encounter with Kiri [The Episode: 'Alexandra investigates Cordless, Cordless & Fraser (Solicitors)'] and how they had been trapped without mirrors. He really was glad that he called James.
It appears Kiri - with some forethought - and secreted a 'Judas Stone' near the time portal exit [the old fireplace] to catch out temporal Detectives on his trail; and it had worked. James always said that; 'He [Kiri] was a sneaky bastard!'.
Tom and Wolfe had placed old Mr. Herron in the big office chair that sat behind Franz's desk, which was covered in papers, magazines and vinyl records. He was bleeding about the face and couldn't move the fingers on one hand. Alex examined him and realised he needed an x-ray; the cuts and bruises she could easily deal. with. Mr. Herron thanks her several times, but said he couldn't go to hospital. He pointed to the 'Star of David' on his arm. The local hospital wouldn't take him. They didn't treat Jews.
"Little wonder Harry doesn't let you out. the bastards would really have fun with you." Wilson spoke quietly to Lisa; who just nodded with some sadness. Everyone sat around the little shop and drank coffee and brandy; old Franz was a very good host and clearly had acquired some affection for Lisa. He treated and spoke to her like a much loved granddaughter. He wasn't Jewish, but many of his old friends were. He pointed out, like him, they had served their country, in the trenches of the last war. [the First World war]. His disgust with Hitler and the Nazi's was really apparent.
Owen sat on the floor with young Wolfe, drinking coffee, and Owen said to Jericho; "We have a real problem. If the time portal is one way and our little Neo-Nazi friend jumped through it; How did he get the pictures of himself back to 2019? If we can find an answer to that, it would certainly help." Everyone in the team nodded at that conundrum. Alex sipped very welcome brandy and checked old Mr. Herron again.
James almost smiled; "Kiri. Like I said; that nasty big demon certainly has the power to travel where he likes and we've already picked up traces of him." Jericho sighed; "And the bast...bugger would certainly like this little time period of human history." He had moderated his language because young Wolfe was listening with great interest. His grandfather told the boy to refill the kettle and put more coffee on. He left the room with great reluctance. That's when there was several soft knocks on the front door. Owen carefully lifted the 'closed' shutter and peered out. He smiled broadly; "It's Harry and Suki."
He unlocked the door and the pair squeezed in; carrying shopping bags. Everyone greeted them with some warmth; Especially Alex with Harry; that didn't go un-noticed! They had picked up some supplies; another bottle of Cognac, fresh bread, fruit and cheese, with a huge German sausage. Harry handed the food and the change, from the money Franz had given them, over to Franz and patted the old man. He turned to Jericho - unsmiling - and pulled off his jacket. He said quietly; "The place is crawling with bloody demons. My orb was practically blood red." He pulled the 'Swastika' arm band off his discarded jacket; Suki did the same.
Little Suki did not smile; "The bloody Nazi's kept shaking my hands and offering me booze. Apparently my people are now their Allies." He said that with some real disgust and like Harry, handed his armband back to Franz. They both accepted coffee from Lisa and Harry propped himself on old Franz's desk. "Our strange little, Nazi loving friend won't be going home and his soul is now in the darkness. He was picked up by the Gestapo and they didn't take kindly to an Indian fellow claiming he was devotee of Adolf. They beat him to death and dumped in body in the local woods. I suspect there are quite a few missing people in there."
"I think that's called Karma." Muttered Wilson and chuckled to himself. But Owen sighed; "Now we'll never know why he was collecting those old notes and coins." Alex sipped her coffee and said quietly; "I suspect that he was heading back to 1905 or around that time, and ended up here. Who ever was with him, returned and ditched those photographs at the 'Shrine'. If it's Kiri, then he's probably using the house now for his own ends. He probably has more supporters there; Nazi friends of the dead man. What better proof of his powers, than those photographs? That's bound to recruit the other Neo-Nazi's to his cause."
It appears that young Rashid had travelled through the portal - the first time - and ended up in 1906. It was still standing at that date, when Harry and Team 52 had checked it. He must have met up with Kiri in that time period [a demon like him, would know when humans cross through time] and they teamed up.
But for whatever reason; Rashid had used the portal again; this time dressed for the period and with lots of money to use there. Except; the 'rotating' gateway had thrown him to Nazi Germany in the thirties. He must have been carrying a strong object from that time. He had no demon with him to effect an return; he was stuck here and that ended badly - he couldn't return because he had fallen into the wrong hands and killed.
9. SOME ORIGINS OF EVIL REVEALLED.
The sounds of a commotion in the street could be heard and Franz lifted the door blind a little, he turned with some real sadness on his old face. "They're smashing old Joseph's windows and looting his shop." Mr. Herron just sighed and wiped his bandaged hand over his face; "I sent Ester to her sisters - thank God." He said and sipped some coffee that Wolfe had given him. Owen stared at the date marked on the calendar behind Franz's desk. "Sweet Jesus; its the first of September, 1939 and Germany has just invaded Poland and started the bloody second world war!"
Everyone looked at the fragile old man, sitting helplessly on the floor of his old friends shop and all thought the same thing; the 'Final Solution' to Germany's 'Jewish problem' would soon be underway; extermination - mass murder on an industrialised, horrific scale - would now start in earnest. Alex saw Lisa wipe her damp face several times and cuddled her friend. the two women were silent; they didn't have to say anything for the others to understand.
Finally, Jericho turned to Franz and asked him, if had had seen a young Indian fellow appear from the fireplace and disappear down the back stairs. Franz nodded; "Young Wolfgang told me that a little brown man had come from the room with another; a big white fellow and they were laughing and joking together. I never saw them." James had to chuckle; "I'm surprised that you take all this so calmly; I mean all those strange people appearing out of the fireplace and disappearing down your back stairs into the street. Have you ever wondered about it?"
Old Franz smiled; "My Father and grandfather always said they were just visiting and would do us no harm. This shop has been in my family since 1790. The rear parts are all original, the rest has been refurbished over the many years that this shop has stood here. I have seen many such people since I was a child." He shrugged his shoulders and started to rummage in the shopping bags that Harry and Suki had returned with.
Jericho rubbed his face and stared at the old man; there was something very familiar about him. "May I ask Franz, what is your family name?" Franz looked up and smiled; "Leitcher." Jericho and Wilson slowly rose from the floor and then looked at Franz's grandson; "Is young Wolfe named after your father?" Franz seemed a little surprised by that question; "Yes, Wolfgang is a traditional name in our family. My own grandfather was called Wolfgang Franz Leitcher."
Everyone in Team 74 just stared at the gentle old man and remembered their adversary; Wolfgang Leitcher [from two episodes; 'The man who died in the future to save his past' and 'The Dunmore Witch Trials' both from 'THE TEMPORAL DETECTIVES' series.] Jericho asked quietly; "Was your ancestor - the first one in your family - to purchase this shop, was he called Wolfgang Leitcher?" Franz nodded; "Yes, like I said; he bought the shop in 1790. I believe he was some sort of music professor or the such like. Probably why music has always been part of my families life down the generations."
Alex touched the old man's arm: "Are there any strange stories about him; your ancestor, I mean?" Franz nodded; "Family gossip has it, that old Wolfgang was ill - dying apparently - and with his final strength, sought out a healer, who lived in the woods. Well, it is said that he was gone for some time. Then returned home; miraculously cured by the stranger in the woods. But within months; he simply vanished and was never seen or heard of again. But it is just family legend."
Wilson whispered to Jericho; "And we know who the bloody healer in the woods was." Alex folded her arms; "Now that's bloody Karma, his ancestor tries to bump us off and his descendant saves Team 52." Jericho nodded and grunted; "Yes, something about the sins of the father and his children come to mind." James interrupted their quiet discussion; "I think its time we all went home. I need to close the portal here and the one in the clock tower."
"Hope you got fifteen quid for that one." Owen grunted and finished his brandy.
Everyone said a very warm farewell to their gentle and generous host and his grandson. James closed the portal in the fire place, then noticed that the door, at the bottom of the rear stairs - that opened onto the back alley - was swinging open. James stared at the fireplace; "Two humans have passed through here whilst we were downstairs. I really need to close that portal in the tower." Then Everyone was gone.
Franz stood in the doorway and ruffled his grandson's dark hair; "Don't worry boy, Old great Uncle Wolfgang will soon have it open again for visitors." The pair returned to the shop, they would have to arrange for poor Mr. Herron to get home, after dark and avoiding the Nazi patrols; who were searching the streets for Jews. That's when the shop bell tinkled and old Franz shouted; "Sorry, we're closed." Owen must have left the damn door unlocked when he let in Harry and Suki.
Franz and Wolfgang stood in the quiet shop and looked about; there was nobody there and Mr. Joseph Herron had gone. Franz sighed; "He's probably worried about Ester; they have been married nearly forty years." He smiled and locked the door. He sent young Wolfe to clean up the kitchen and fetch his coat; Franz would walk the boy home. He sat at his desk and pulled the bottom drawer open, he slowly removed the big money box from the back and placed it on his desk.
He slowly lifted the lid and stared at he pile of Victorian Coins and Edwardian notes. He really didn't like lying to those nice young people, but he and Wolfgang had their plan. He lifted one coin; it was an Edwardian half crown and tossed it in his hand. He was a little sorry about the confused young Rashid; but Franz had warned him about dealing with Nazi's - he didn't listen - and now he was in a shallow grave in the woods. But he had added considerably to the old money that the pair was collecting for the 'Great Plan'.
Young Wolfe appeared in the doorway and grinned at his grandfather. "I'm going to be a very rich young man when I go there Grandpa." The old man nodded; "And you will change everything. No Nazi's and Britain on Imperial Germany's side. Your future will be golden Wolfgang." He smiled and dropped the coin back into the box.
10. RENDEZVOUS: REDUX.
Alex patted Teresa's hand and said quietly; "Don't worry, he has the stamina of a bull. You'll be well pleased with your share of him." She sipped her brandy and added, with quite a smile; "We could always entertain each other while we waiting for Harry to be free." Teresa shook her head - which really disappointed Alex - and muttered that she didn't go in for 'lesbian stuff' and would use her big vibrator, while she waited her turn to be fucked by Harry. Alex just smiled and watched as the naked woman [they were all stark naked] fumbled in a drawer near the small sofa they were sitting on and pulled out a huge black vibrator, that even made Alex's eyes widen. Tess checked the batteries and switched it on.
"Sweet Jesus Teresa, you could beat an elephant to death with that." Teresa just grunted and pulled a tube of 'KY' jelly from the same drawer and smeared the ugly looking thing with it. Alex watched a little amazed as Teresa pulled up and opened her legs and carefully inserted the bloody thing into her vagina. it slipped in easily. It sounded like a road drill and apparently took no less than six batteries!
"Must use the bloody thing on a regular basis." Alex whispered to herself as Teresa really began to fuck herself with it. With a real smile on her face, Alex returned to watching Harry & Lisa on Teresa's bed. They were fucking hard with Lisa riding Harry. Alex thought that Lisa was riding so hard, she could push home a bloody Grand National Winner from the saddle, with such exertions. Alex turned back to the loudly groaning Teresa, who with both hands, was driving the big vibrator into her fanny. Alex took the tube of lubricate and squeezed some onto her fingers and rubbed inside and out of her vagina, inserting her fingers in to spread it around. She was now ready for a real hard fucking session.
Lisa climbed off Harry and walked - with her legs open and quite awkwardly - over to the small sofa and panted; "Your turn Tess and give me that bloody thing." Teresa was quickly off the sofa, shoving her dripping vibrator into Lisa's hands and actually jumped straight on Harry's big erect cock and bounced up and down; groaning and cursing like an angry docker. Lisa dropped next to Alex and carefully inserted the dildo and said quietly; "I take it she hasn't had a real cock in some time." and thrusted the loud - but apparently effective dildo in and out of her cunt - with some determination. Alex nodded and the pair kissed, tongues everywhere. Alex was really tempted to have a go with the monster piece of vibrating plastic, but her attention was drawn back to Teresa.
After a few minutes, Teresa, who was screaming; had some kind of monster climax and Harry was having to hold her tight. Her language was quite unbelievable; she was calling Harry everything from a pig to a dog and then some. Finally, she collapsed on top of him and sobbed. He cradled in his arms and gave Lisa and Alex a strange look. He mouthed; "What the fuck just happened?" Alex chuckled, shrugging her shoulders, she turned to Lisa, who was having an orgasm of her own, though not on the scale that Teresa had just suffered and said; "Well, that was quick. Couldn't have had a good cock in a long time." Lisa just nodded; groaning loudly.
Alex had to go and lift the sobbing girl off Harry's cock and walk her to the sofa. She gave her some brandy and returned to Harry and climbed on him, inserting the big cock deep inside the wet and willing vagina. Harry pulled her down and the pair kissed with some passion as Alex rode him. She was impressed that he lasted another ten minutes with her on top of him. But nature took it course and he spurted inside of her and groaned loudly. They kissed again and Alex slipped off him, pushing one hand between her legs to stop his cum running out. She shouted at the girls on the sofa; "Who wants a fresh cream pie. just delivered?"
She was a little stunned when Teresa jumped up and ran across to her. Alex squatted on the edge of the bed and Teresa was on her fanny in an instant, forcibly pulling Alex's hand away. Alex groaned as Teresa's tongue and lips set to work. She was so thorough that Alex thought her whole bloody head would disappear into her cunt. She went deep and just didn't stop. "So much for not liking lesbian stuff." Groaned Alex and squirted into Teresa's mouth. That spurred the young woman to push Alex on her back and she really went to work. Lisa joined them on the bed and sucked Harry's cock, grinning; "I think Alex will want you again when the nympho has finished eating her out. And I mean really eating her out." Harry chuckled and gently pushed her head back on his cock and laid back.
Lisa was right about that and Harry fucked Alex on her back, legs around his shoulders and she had another orgasm. Lisa was taking a break and sipping her brandy, watching - with some real amazement - as the part time Liberian Teresa, suck her tongue up Harry's arse, as he fucked Alex hard. Lisa sighed, but smiled. "I think we've released a sex monster." Then re-joined the three on the creaking bed. Teresa grabbed her and with some hidden strength forced Lisa's legs open and set about having lunch out of Lisa's cunt. The sex session lasted another twenty minutes and Harry came inside wild cat Teresa, fucking her doggy style; she was now eating out Alex again, while Lisa rubbed the big vibrator on Teresa's bum hole. She had another screaming orgasm, as the three worked on her at the same time.
While Harry and Lisa kissed passionately, the now un-sexually repressed Teresa used the big vibrator on Alex. Swearing and cursing, Tess pushed the plastic monster into Alex with some passion, using both hands. Alex had another screaming orgasm and actually had to tell Teresa to bloody stop; she was exhausted and her legs wouldn't stay still. She grabbed Teresa and the pair French kissed and Tess sucked hard on her big nipples, while Alex fingered her now very loose red cunt. Tess whispered for Alex to fist her hard. Alex sighed; Lisa was right, they had created a sexual monster!
Tess squatted over Alex as she rapidly pushed her hand into Tess's dripping fanny. Lisa joined in, holding Teresa tightly whilst she licked out the screaming girls trembling arse. Harry watched, laid back sipping some brandy and wondered about the transformation of the shy young woman. He chuckled and finished his drink; "Well, she won't be shy coming forward for cock or cunt now."
Finally everyone collapsed on the bed, panting and sweating. Lisa cleaned up Tess whilst Alex and Harry embraced passionately, whispering to each other. The temporal detectives left the sleeping Teresa, sprawled on the wrecked bed, clutching her big vibrator. Alex turned the damn thing off and said quietly; "Must save the bloody batteries, I think she's going to need it again." They operated their mirrors and were gone. They did leave a hastily written note, thanking Teresa for her 'hospitality'.
Alex walked back to lighthouse with a big smile on her face. For a supposed sexually repressed Victorian/Edwardian Ex-Policeman, young Harry certainly knew how to satisfy women; even three in one go. Alex was impressed with Harry and looking forward to their next rendezvous.
"The mission was
deemed a success, despite the mix up earlier between the two teams. A very
dangerous time portal had been closed. But the time travelling Leitcher family
would prove a pain in the neck for Jericho and Team 74. Alex has a real 'thing' for the dashing Inspector Harry Hadden and that relationship is bound to continue......"
Teresa Green served as Jericho's human agent for some years. She never married
or bore any children. She died in 2032 and her soul was collected and
processed. Jericho and Alex attended her funeral. She now works as a Collector
but has applied to join the Temporal Detectives Department. She has asked -
repeatedly - to be assigned to Inspector Harry Hadden's team...
Tom Reddigge quickly recovered from his breakup with Teresa and over
the next few years, dated several women - and young men - he finally
married and had two children. But was caught by his young wife with one of his
'boyfriends'; unlike Teresa; she didn't just throw him out. He survived the
knife wounds but died of Sepsis some weeks later. His soul was collected and
processed.
Ellen Stanton never did get to university; she met a young woman at college and
the pair set up home together and had two children. She died in 2054. Her soul
was collected and processed.
Rosemary Ellen Cornwallis suffered ill health and had to give up her stall in the market. The diagnosis was not good; the cancer spread quickly, and Rosie died in 2022. She left a husband and five children and twelve grandchildren. Her soul was collected and processed.
Rashid Kamill had died outside his own ordained time period and his soul was lost to the darkness. It was never recovered and remains missing to this day. His dog ‘Rommel’ was finally adopted by his lovely old neighbour who changed it's name to 'Winston'. [For some strange reason, I think that's a bit of Karma, don't you?]
Franz Leitcher did not survive the war and was killed a few days after Russian troops entered Berlin. He was sitting in the ruins of his little shop, when a Russian forward patrol discovered him. They didn't even speak to the gentle old man; they simply shot him dead where he sat. His soul was collected and processed.
Wolfgang Henrik Leitcher survived the war and moved to the ancient city of
Baden-Baden in 1948. He purchased an old town house that had a strange
reputation and in 1951, he simply disappeared from the Human Timeline, in
mysterious circumstances. The matter is under investigation by Inspector
Jericho Tibbs and Team 74. There is no resolution yet.
Joseph Herron did not survive the Nazi regime [nor did his wife]. He was sent
to Treblinka Concentration camp in May 1941 and only lived for a few days.
His soul was collected and processed.
NOTES:
The character, Harry Hadden - when alive! - appears in the author's other series: 'MISS DOROTHY HADDEN' which has both a book series and website. The series has - currently four books with the one below, the FIRST book in the series:
This book is based on the original internet adventure series: ”MISS DOROTHY HADDEN” by Stephen J. Williams writing as ‘William Alexander Stephens which first appeared in 2016.’ Dorothy was her uncle William’s Magician’s Assistant working the Theatres and Music Hall’s of Edwardian London. [But she has some magic of her own!] Dorothy also assisted her brother; Detective Inspector Harry Hadden with his caseload. Together they were a formidable team fighting crime, investigating the paranormal and supernatural. They became agents for the famous Temporal Detective Inspector Jericho Tibbs, who can be found in the book series; ‘THE TEMPORAL DETECTIVES’ & "THE ADVENTURES OF ALEXANDRA" by the same author.
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Copyright © 2011-2025 Stephen Williams. No reproduction of any part without permission.