Page 31 of Across Space and Time

“It would stand to reason that they are one and the same!” Jack said, slapping his knee in excitement. “Jupiter’s jellyfish, you are an excellent investigator! Well done, Hugh!”

Hugh flushed a little. “Well, it is my job.”

“Indeed, but that is most exceptional sleuthing. What is the next step?”

“I’m going to visit the bakery tomorrow,” Hugh said. “See if I can learn anything about the viscount. Unfortunately, beyond the gold paper, I have no idea what I’m looking for.”

“A decent start anyway!” Jack declared. “We shall investigate the bakery forthwith!”

“We?” Hugh asked. “Jack, you can’t go with me.”

Jack frowned. “But I hid my horns,” he said, a slight pout in his voice. Hadn’t that been what Hugh asked him to do?

“Yes, but you still don’t look human enough in daylight,” Hugh replied. He reached up his hand and touched it to Jack’s chest. The warmth there sent a thrill through Jack, and he placed his own hand over Hugh’s. “I know you want to come with me and protect me, and I appreciate it, I really do. But for things like this, you have to let me do my job.”

Jack heaved a deep sigh. “Very well, I understand. But please promise me that you will take someone with you to the bakery in case of trouble?”

Hugh smiled and squeezed his hand tightly. “I will,” he promised.

Hugh

The next afternoon, Hugh enlisted Constable Depesh to go with him to the Elysium Bakery and Emporium in Fleet Street. It was a nice-looking two-story building with a staircase on the outside of the building that looked like it led up to a set of rooms above. They arrived during what must have been the dinner rush, as the shop was quite busy, so they wandered about, looking at the various shelves. While the bakery had many pastries and confections, it also held a number of colorful bottles with neatly printed labels that were oddly generic. ‘For Finding Love,’ read one. ‘For Health,’ read another. There were also packs of tarot cards stacked neatly on a shelf, and, besides that, a display of necklaces with colorful crystals dangling from them.

Depesh ran his finger over the box of one of the tarot cards. “Strange thing to have in a bakery,” he murmured.

Hugh nodded. “Perhaps that is the ‘emporium’ part. But I agree, it does seem odd.”

Depesh picked up the ‘For Finding Love’ potion in a bright red bottle, turning it around to read the back. “Really just seems like a novelty,” he said. “Simple ingredients, though there’s enough alcohol and opium to make anyone feel like they might be in love.”

Hugh chuckled, examining one of the necklaces that had a fiery red stone that reminded him of Jack’s eyes. “You don’t believe in magic?”

Depesh frowned thoughtfully as he replaced the bottle on the shelf. “I don’t really know. I wouldn’t discount it.”

The shop had cleared out enough for them to speak to the girl behind the counter now. She looked to be in her late teens, and she tossed her strawberry blond hair over her shoulder as she smiled at the two police officers. “Good afternoon, gentlemen. How may I help you?”

“Hello, miss,” Hugh said, nodding to her. “My name is Constable Hugh Danbury, and this is Constable Rezal Depesh. Do you know the owner of this shop?”

“My father and mother own it, and they do most of the baking too.” She glanced between them. “Is there a problem?”

“No problem. We just have a few questions about a recent customer.”

The girl smiled again, still looking a bit uneasy. “Perhaps I can help?”

“Perhaps,” Hugh said, giving her a reassuring smile. “What is your name?”

“Prudence, sir. Prudence Wilcox. My father is Hamish Wilcox, and my mother is Elizabeth.”

“Miss Wilcox,” Hugh said, giving her a polite nod. “This is quite the fine shop.”

“Thank you, sir.”

“When was this bakery opened?”

“Only last year, sir,” Prudence said.

“Only a year in business, and you seem to be doing quite well,” Hugh said, glancing around at all of the brightly colored bottles of tinctures and the glass domes over delicious-looking cakes, the airy curtains that fluttered in the breeze.

“Yes, sir. My father is a very good baker,” Prudence said.

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