Page 31 of The Journal of a Thousand Years
I drove to the home of Cyclops and Catherine Bailey next. I knocked several times until he finally answered. His eyepatch was in place, but he clutched the waist of his trousers to stop them falling down. He held a belt in his other hand. He seemed relieved that it was me on his doorstep.
“I thought you were a constable come to tell me something terrible had happened.” He peered past me at Bertie Hobson. “Has something happened, Sylvia? It’s very early. Are you all right?”
“I am now, but before I give you an account of my night, I need you to promise you won’t tell Gabe.”
He shook his head. “I can’t do that.”
“Then I can’t tell you what happened, but I will tell you that you must warn Gabe not to trust any of the Hobsons.”
“It’s true,” Bertie said from behind me. “My mother and sister are up to their necks.”
Cyclops scratched his bald head with the hand that held the belt. Then he stepped onto the porch and closed the door behind him. “I don’t want to wake Catherine or the girls.” He threaded his belt through his trouser loops. “You have my word I won’t tell Gabe…for now. Go on, Sylvia. I’m listening.”
“The Hobsons and Thurlow abducted me in the middle of the night.”
He stopped doing up his belt and stared at me. His one eye blinked back at me then narrowed as it shifted to Bertie. “I take it you were set free.”
“I escaped.”
“Bloody hell.” He rubbed his jaw. “Are you sure you’re all right?”
“I’m fine, just a paper cut here.” I showed him my neck.
“Ah. So that’s how you escaped. And you brought one of your abductors to me to turn him in?”
“Not quite. I want you to arrest Mrs. Hobson, Ivy and Thurlow, if you can find them. I’d also like you to contact Mr. Jakes at Military Intelligence. Bertie wants to talk to him about a batch of army-issue boots manufactured by his company, but it’s too early for Mr. Jakes to be at his office.”
“I’ll make a telephone call. Wait inside where it’s safe. I assume your abductors are cut, too, but not dead?”
“I think so. Make your telephone call, then we’ll tell you about it.”
A few minutes later, we got back into Thurlow’s motorcar and drove to Scotland Yard where Cyclops had arranged to meet Mr. Jakes.
As I drove, I told Cyclops about the abduction, including the excuses Mrs. Hobson and Ivy planned to use to place the entire blame on Thurlow so they could walk free. He scribbled down my statement in his notebook.
When we arrived at Scotland Yard, I informed Bertie I’d drop him and Cyclops and go on my way, but he begged me to stay for the duration of the interview with Mr. Jakes. I reluctantly agreed. Time was marching on, and Gabe would wake soon.
As I parked the vehicle, I reminded Cyclops not to tell Gabe anything about my abduction. He must carry out the investigation in secret for as long as possible.
“I assume the reason you want me to keep it from him has something to do with that?” He pointed his pencil at the two small cases on the back seat beside Bertie.
I remained silent.
“Running away won’t solve anything, Sylvia.” When I didn’t respond, he added, “So you plan to leave without talking to him?”
“She left him a note,” Bertie piped up.
Cyclops shook his head. “Whatever excuse you wrote, he won’t believe it. You two love each other. It’s obvious to everyone, including him. Talk to him, Sylvia. Be honest.”
“I’m leaving for his safety,” I finally said. “That’s also the reason why I don’t want you to say anything about my abduction. You know he’ll put himself in danger to exact justice. It’s better if you do it. Just as it’s better that I go. Last night proved that I make him vulnerable”
He sighed and shook his head again.
“Warn Gabe about Ivy and Mrs. Hobson,” I urged him. “They may still try to lure him to Thurlow.”
“How do I warn him without telling him about the abduction?”
“Bertie informed you of their plans for Gabe when he turned himself in. Didn’t you, Bertie?”
