Capturing the Devil (Stalking Jack the Ripper, #4)

by Kerri Maniscalco

Dear reader, Beyond life, beyond death; my love for thee is eternal.

Here we goooo!

For ever and for ever farewell, Brutus! If we do meet again, we’ll smile indeed; If not, ’tis true this parting was well made. —JULIUS CAESAR, ACT 5, SCENE 1 WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE Good night, good night! Parting is such sweet sorrow, That I shall say good night till it be morrow. —ROMEO AND JULIET, ACT 2, SCENE 2 WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

Why the sad onessss

Anything at all in the universe you need, we will make it so. And if you’d prefer to do it on your own, I will always step aside. I also promise to keep my opinion mostly to myself.”

Ahhhh!! He is so sweett

“Actually,” Thomas said, “I don’t think I’ve expressed myself clearly. Your uncle quite nearly bit my head off when he noticed I hadn’t brought you with me, and sent me out again straightaway.” He stood and held his hand out. “Shall we see about solving another gruesome murder, my love?”

Here we go again

While it was tempting to have him confront that monster for me, it was my duty. He might be heir to a dynasty saturated in blood, but so was I.

Mrs. Harvey was staying on the same floor as Liza and me and wouldn’t mind if she did catch me sneaking around. In fact, she might push me off toward Thomas’s chambers all while humming pleasantly to herself.

Byrnes said, clearly shifting his words because of my presence. What a pleasant gentleman. I all but rolled my eyes.

“Have you no morals?” “Don’t be ridiculous; of course I’ve got morals. One or two, perhaps.”

For the first time in a long while, I was surrounded by a boisterous, happy family.

I want to share a name with you. Thomas doesn’t quite suit me, although you’d make a lovely Audrey Rose.”

Once my love collected himself, he stepped near, holding my hands in his. “I would take your name, if you wanted to keep it.”

I have to put my gown on and I’m sure I can rustle up a rather dapper ribbon for you.” Lord help me, but the cat seemed to perk up at the thought. It was a Cresswell through and through.

“You beautiful, brilliant, wonderful woman,” Thomas whispered, eyes going wide as he stuck his finger in the closest cake and tasted the frosting. I shook my head. He had the manners of an alley cat and the disposition of a child. “My God. Is that espresso frosting? I’ve never—” He inspected me in that Cresswell way of his. “Your creation?” “It was just an idea—I know how much you favor coffee, and it goes so well with chocolate…”

“Please raise your glasses in a toast. Mr. Cresswell is now eighteen. If only he were a bit wiser to match his old age.” “You may be waiting on that day for all eternity, Audrey Rose.” Daciana elbowed her brother, smiling tenderly. Chuckles went around the table.

“Oh, joyous day!” Mrs. Harvey practically fell backward in her excitement. She rushed around the table, tottering a bit, and hugged me close. “Congratulations, my dear! I knew you and my Thomas were a smart pair! The way he looks at you—like he’s seeing under all those layers and—”

If you think me a romantic old fool, my brother is twice as much on both counts.”

We needn’t complete each other; we complemented each other. He and I were whole on our own, which made us so much stronger when combined than two symbolic halves coming together to create one. Our bond had double the strength. Nothing could tear it apart. And after tomorrow, nothing would.

“Why are you smiling like that? I’m trying to have a serious moment and you appear as though you either need to use the loo or have inexplicably sat on an anthill in the middle of my room.”

“Nothing in life comes with a guarantee, Wadsworth.” Thomas took a deep breath. “Outside forces will always be out of your control. One thing you can control is how you choose to live. If you wake up fearful of every bad thing that might happen, you miss out on the good. Death will come for us all one day. Worrying about tomorrow only accomplishes ruining today.”

“Love is immortal. Death can neither touch nor steal it. Especially when it’s true.

“My love for you will be a constant in a sea of unknown variables. We may fight or be cross with each other, but our love will never fade or wilt. Trust in that. Trust in us. Forget the future. Forget worry. The only thing that terrifies me is the possibility of living with regret. I don’t ever want to wake and wonder what life could have been like with you in it. I don’t ever want to regret holding myself back from loving you as fully and openly as possible.”

As if he’d crafted some magical tool to see into my mind, my father hugged me near, patting my head. “There, there, Audrey Rose. You’ll always be my darling baby girl. If you’re happy, then I am, too. I just wanted you to know that you have choices. Options. Whatever you’d like, I will make happen. As I ought to have done for you a long while ago.”

“Part of growing older means letting go. You can’t move forward if you never take those first few steps onto new ground. Now’s the time to be brave, Daughter. Walking into the future means trusting in yourself even when you can’t see around the bend. As long as you’re certain this is what you want, all will be well.”

“You fell down. So? Will you stay there, weeping over skinned knees? Or will you brush off your skirts, adjust your hair, and carry on? Do not relinquish your grasp on hope. It’s one of the best weapons anyone possesses.”

“He didn’t realize she’d already gifted herself with ten or more by then, but he never complained when they’d have an extra trunk or two packed entirely with books.”

Love is wonderful, but as with most forces of nature, there’s lightness and darkness within it. I believe in some instances the greater the love, the more we ignore facts that are obvious to others.

Maybe, perhaps, what if, if only; they all ought to be stricken from the world. At least in our world they ought to be outlawed.”

Thomas would set fire to the case—and the world—if it meant we could be together.

These violent delights have violent ends And in their triumph die, like fire and powder, Which as they kiss consume.

I love this quote sm

“You! Go home to your mother, girl. Save yourself!” My excitement and smile evaporated. I stared at him, all warmth gone from my features and my tone. “My mother is dead, sir.”

Girl is not playin

Uncle, Thomas, and I walked into police headquarters, appearing like a murder of crows, swooping in with our black cloaks and sharp eyes.

The sound of my cane reminded me of the tapping of Edgar Allan Poe’s famous raven.

Noah loped through the snow, his infectious smile in place.

That is such a fitting description

Despite clouds covering the sky, the enormous Ferris Wheel cut like a blade through the gloom with its sheer might.

“Yes, well, my lady hardly needs watching.” Thomas didn’t return the man’s smile. “I enjoy obedience in my dogs, not my wife. She’s free to do as she pleases.”

Thomas immediately abandoned me in favor of a table stacked with sugar cubes. He held a small box up, breathing in the scent as if it were a fresh bouquet. I all but rolled my eyes. We were here on a hunch regarding the Ripper frequenting this establishment, and here he was, mesmerized by candy.

There was no one who’d stand by your side and stare down demons with you as much as a sister would. She’d then kick you for being stupid and getting involved with demons after the fact, but a sister was always there when it counted.

“Tell him there’s been two poisonings.

Bet it is either from the sugar cubes or the pastries. Most likely sugar cubes bc Henry runs the Pharmacy where flavored sugar cubes were sold. Thomas had 4 sugar cubes and Dr.Wadsworth only 2 while Audrey Rose had none. This would make sense if Henry from the pharmacy is H.H. Holmes

His name was Dr. Carson and he appeared to be one million years of age.

Sugar cubes.

Knew it!!!

I memorized the shape of his face, the bone structure I’d been taken with from the moment I’d first set my attention on him. In Uncle’s class, I’d thought he reminded me of a painting or sculpture done by da Vinci. All angles and lines; strong and sharp enough to carve a person’s heart out if they ventured too close. A smile started at the edges of my lips. I’d fought so hard against falling for him, never realizing I’d already been laid out on the ground, staring up into my future. “I love you, Thomas Cresswell.” I kissed him gently, before straightening. I permitted myself another stolen moment alone with him, then forced myself to stand and leave his side. I needed to complete my task and be home before he awoke. Because I would come home to him again.

My bounty is as boundless as the sea, My love as deep; the more I give to thee, The more I have, for both are infinite. —ROMEO AND JULIET, ACT 2, SCENE 2 WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE