Scarecrow of 1889
Chapter 28: Pieces of puzzle

Chapter 28: Pieces of puzzle

"Milady?" Addison asked, puzzled by Jane’s interest in Sylvester Crowley’s cellmate. His lady sure was brave to always walk where one didn’t think to.

The warden eyed Jane up and down before nodding. "Alright, consider it arranged."

Jane and Addison were led to a private room where they waited for Teddy Walsham. Soon, Teddy was brought in, his legs and hands shackled. The warden informed them, "Not more than ten minutes."

"That’s good enough," Jane replied. Once the warden left, she turned to Teddy. "Were you trying to tell me something earlier?"

"I did, milady," Teddy responded. "I think I know what you’re looking for."

"What do you mean?" Addison asked, sceptical of the prisoner’s intentions.

"I’ve heard bits and pieces from others here about Sylvester Crowley, who supposedly killed women. But at night, someone else visits. Ricardo Wood," Teddy explained, causing Jane and Addison to exchange surprised glances. "He’s suffering from a mental illness. Split personality disorder."

Jane leaned forward, intent on extracting more information. "How can we believe your word?"

"I was previously not just a doctor but an alienist, studying the human mind. You can verify that with anyone you want. I have nothing to gain from lying," Teddy said confidently.

Addison leaned closer to Jane and whispered, "I’ve heard about a Walsham—the one who euthanized his wife with a drug."

"That is me," Teddy replied calmly. "I’ve been observing Sylvester since he arrived. Call it fate that put him in my cell, but I know he’s suffering from it. I treated a patient with similar symptoms in the past."

"Like many people inside of him?" Jane asked with her expression turning grim.

"Correct," Teddy nodded before explaining it further, "Sylvester must have gone through a grave trauma in his childhood, which is why his mind has created a protective shield to block intense pain. He was probably unaware of the murderers he committed. I have noticed him this personality appear every night and he has no recollection in the morning—"

"There’s more than one," Jane intercepted.

"You are already aware of it. Have you met?" Teddy asked, taken aback. At the same time, he was more than intrigued to meet a patient having the mental disorder.

Jane nodded, "I have met the man. But not the other one. If one of them is the murderer for sure," she began with an apprehensive look, "How do you get the personality to leave the person?"

A small chuckle escaped from the man’s lips, and it had her and Addison stare at him. Teddy then said, "Milady, the personality is part of Sylvester. You cannot remove it as if something fell in your cereal, which can be picked and thrown. The only way is to unify them, to heal the trauma in him and then they will turn back to one single person."

Jane could already tell that the public would have a witch trial and want Sylvester burnt to crisp. He then asked him, "Can you prove it if I bring a few viewers with me? That this condition exist?" She needed others to see and believe it.

Teddy nodded, giving her a glimmer of hope. "It’s possible. I shall use a technique that taps into the deepest parts of the mind to find answers even during awakenings that might not reveal them. But please remember that sometimes the stubborn alters don’t listen when they are called, which is why I cannot promise it."

Jane thought for a moment before agreeing. "Okay. I’ll seek the necessary permissions and arrange it. Thank you, Mr. Walsham."

With that, they left the room, Jane’s mind racing with the possibilities of what they might uncover through this new approach.

As Jane and Addison stepped out of the prison, they made their way to their carriage. Once inside, Jane turned to Addison. "Do you know where we can find Mr. and Mrs. Button?"

"The last I heard, they were near the courthouse, trying to get lawyers to take up the case," Addison replied, wincing at the thought.

"Let’s go see them. I’m sure his sister would want to be there to witness the hypnosis if it actually works," Jane said, instructing the coachman to head to the front of the court.

Meanwhile, far from the jail where Sylvester was held, Elizabeth and her husband John spent their day pleading with lawyers to take on Sylvester’s case. However, their efforts were met with rejection after rejection. Even those who once admired her mother now refused to help, believing the case against Sylvester was insurmountable.

"Mrs. Button, this is a losing case. If I stand with him, I risk losing my reputation. I’m sorry, but I have to sit this one out," one of the well-known and reputable lawyers said apologetically.

Elizabeth stepped out of the lawyer’s office with her husband, John, and rubbed her face wearily.

"We’ll find someone, Beth. Don’t worry about it," John said, placing a comforting arm around her shoulders.

"We’re running out of time, John. Any lawyer will need time to prepare for the case before he fights it," Elizabeth replied, her voice heavy with fatigue. She knew that with her brother’s weak defence, a bad advocate would mean a swift journey to the scaffold. "Who else is left?"

As they stood outside the building, discussing their dwindling options, Jane and Addison approached them. Jane stepped forward and interrupted gently, "Excuse me, Elizabeth Button. I want to talk about your brother, Sylvester Crowley."

Elizabeth’s expression immediately turned guarded. "We have nothing to discuss. Please let us be so that we can do the work we came here for," she said dismissively before beginning to walk away from there.

"You misunderstand me. I am Jane Reinhart, the detective on this case," Jane persisted, following them. "I am trying to help. I believe your brother is suffering from an illness."

"Yes, I have heard all about it," Elizabeth replied, and Jane was taken aback by this. His sister knew about it all this time? But then the woman said, "Holy water needs to be thrown at him as he is possessed. He is a witch and he’s gone crazy. We are tired, so please leave us alone."

"It is none of them," Jane replied, before revealing, "A disorder."

"What disorder?" Elizabeth asked warily, her eyes narrowing in suspicion, and she stopped walking.

"I have reasons to believe that your brother suffers from a split personality disorder. I know it sounds strange, but an ex-doctor revealed it to us just now, and I would like you to come with me when we conduct a session—"

"Ex-doctor?" John asked, scepticism evident in his tone.

"Yes, he’s currently in prison," Jane admitted, seeing the fury flash across Elizabeth’s face.

"Do you hear yourself speak, Miss Reinhart?" Elizabeth asked with a bewildered look. "You cannot take a prisoner’s opinion. It is invalid, and who knows what he is spouting to pass his time."

Before Elizabeth could leave, Jane quickly added, "I know it sounds strange, but you and I both know your brother is innocent and needs all the help he can get. I’m trying to help because I’ve met this other personality he has. I have conversed and spent time with him. A lot of time, and I know what I saw. I am not wrong. Please, trust me."

Elizabeth pursed her lips, exchanging a look with her husband. "What do you want from us?" she asked.

Jane felt a wave of relief. "To attend a session in the prison. I need to get permission from the commissioner first. Since this involves a criminal who was once a doctor, it might take some persuasion and time."

Addison added, "Can we get your number to contact you?" and John shared it with the assistant detective.

"Okay. We shall wait for it," Elizabeth nodded.

After the meeting with the Buttons, Jane hurried back to the commissioner’s office. Her foot tapped impatiently against the carriage floor as she glanced out of the window. Upon arrival, she briskly entered the building.

Noticing Jane, the commissioner greeted her, "Miss Reinhart, did you solve the new case already, Miss Reinhart?"

After listening to Jane for the next five minutes, the commissioner frowned deeply and he remarked, "Meddling right back into what was solved. Do you know you hold a reputation for meddling too much, Miss Reinhart?"

"I have heard. But in my defence, when a man does he’s called persistent. I am just trying to find and bring out the truth," Jane replied.

The commissioner sighed, before saying, "Alright."

Two days later, a room inside the jail was arranged for the session. Present were Jane, Addison, Mr. and Mrs. Button, and Teddy Walsham. They watched as Sylvester was brought in, flanked by guards who remained stationed outside the room.

Jane stood quietly in the room, her gaze following Sylvester with many names. Professionally, she was there to uncover the truth, but her heart ached knowing this man was also Ricardo Wood. Despite the situation, the Ricardo she had encountered exuded a certain wildness that was absent in Sylvester now.

They hadn’t known each other for long—just a few weeks—but the impact Ricardo had on her was undeniable. She found herself leaning towards Ricardo, trying to piece together the shattered fragments of her understanding. The more she thought about it, the more she wondered if Lady Delilah had twins, a question that would have been directed at the woman had she been alive.

"What is going on?" Sylvester asked, puzzled by the unexpected gathering.

Was everyone here to give him the news that he was going to die? Were they here to say their goodbyes? But then again, what was his cellmate doing here?

Teddy stepped forward, his voice calm and reassuring. "Miss Reinhart mentioned you had trouble sleeping and thought I could help. We will be using this instrument," he said, showing a pendulum-like object that swung back and forth.

"I am going to sleep in front of so many people?" Sylvester’s voice was filled with doubt.

"Yes, with the people whom you trust," Teddy replied with a smile. "I need you to trust me and follow my instructions from now on. Please, close your eyes."

Well, this was awkward, thought Sylvester to himself.