Page 4 of Across Space and Time

“It’s in the upstairs of The Bull and Parasol. Mr. Galloway, he’s the owner.”

Hugh nodded, filing that information away for later. “And did Christopher go out to meet a customer?”

“Not specific, but he did go out to the street,” Anthony said. “Usually them in the street is supposed to bring them back to the brothel. Get ‘em to buy drinks and dances with the boys and the like. But if the bloke jus’ wants a quick fuck, they might just take the money and do it in an alley or something.”

“What sort of clientele do you usually encounter on the street?” Hugh asked.

“All kinds,” Anthony said. “Some gen’lemen, some real classy, but a lot of ‘em are just normal people. Sailors, fac’try workers, coppers.”

“Coppers? You mean, police officers?” Hugh asked in surprise, and Anthony flushed again.

“A few, sir.”

“While they were in their uniforms?”

“Yes, sir.”

Well, that was interesting. Hugh had never considered having a tumble with a street lad while he was working, and especially not in uniform. Any time he had slipped out to a secretive location to indulge his fancies, he had worn clothes that would not give away who or what he was. “What time last night did Christopher go out?”

“It must’ve been half twelve or so,” Anthony said thoughtfully. “He’d already brought back one gen’leman earlier in the evening.”

The watch had been summoned at around 2:30 am. Two hours from Christopher leaving the brothel to when he ended up dead in an alley. Who had he met in that time? Obviously not someone who wanted to go back to the brothel, so someone looking for a ‘quick fuck’ in the alley and then to be on his way? Unfortunately, that could be anyone of any class.

“What happened to the man he brought back earlier in the evening?”

“Oh, he had a few rounds, played some cards with a few’a the fellas. And then he had a shag, but not with Christopher. After that, I think he left.”

“Was he someone you knew?”

Anthony shook his head. “No, not that I recognized. But I don’t think he did anything to Christopher, he seemed like a nice, quiet bloke.”

Hugh hummed thoughtfully. “Do you have any regulars that you think could do something like this?”

Anthony frowned and looked thoughtful for a minute. “There’s a few blokes, mostly the richer ones, who seem to think they can get away with whatever they want. But I don’t think they’d do something like that. Killin’ is different than hurtin’.”

“Do you have customers who hurt you?” Hugh asked with a dark frown.

“Comes with the territory,” Anthony said with a shrug. “But Mr. Galloway is pretty good about keepin’ them away from us unless they pays extra. And he’s got a few boys who like that sort of thing, or at least, can tolerate it better. He tries to do right by us, Mr. Galloway does.”

Hugh wanted to have to have a word with this Mr. Galloway, but perhaps not in his official capacity as Metropolitan Police. He wondered if Anthony could get into trouble if it was known that he was telling the police about The Bull and Parasol.

“Do you know if Christopher had any family that we need to alert?”

Anthony looked a bit sad. “No, sir. Most of the boys under Mr. Galloway are on their own in this world, y’know? Family dead, or might as well be, treatin’ them like shit after they find out about them. You know…” He waved his hand vaguely.

“You mean, their families throw them out if they find out their proclivities towards men.”

“Yes, sir,” Anthony said with a small nod. “It ain’t an uncommon story for those of us in the brothel.”

“How many young men work in the brothel with you?” Hugh asked.

Anthony scrunched up his face. “It changes, but around a dozen or so. Some move on elsewhere or are only there to make a bit of money before they shove off.”

“What about you?”

“Me? Oh no, sir, I been with Mr. Galloway since I were fifteen.”

“And how old are you now?”

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