The Monster Within Read Free

‘How did you know I’m from Whitechapel?’
    ‘There is a patch on your pants bearing the logo of a fruit shop in that area. In
addition, your belt is made from a type of rope that is only sold from a shop in
Raven Row.’
    ‘Wow.’
    ‘Best get used to that,’ Jack said, smiling.
    ‘And your mother…?’ Mr Doyle prompted.
    ‘She’s the one who told me to come here.’
    ‘Really?’
    ‘Well…’ Toby said. ‘She said I could solve the mystery. I heard Mr Jones, the storeowner,
talking about you and I knew you’d be the person to see.’
    ‘You’re not at school?’
    ‘Mum can’t afford to send me.’
    ‘Oh dear.’
    Jack understood the detective’s concern. He had just been speaking earlier that week
about the importance of education and how it led to a better life.
    ‘We’ll make certain you return safely home,’ Mr Doyle said. ‘But first—what exactly
is the mystery that has brought you here today?’
    ‘No-one else believes me,’ the boy said, frowning.
    ‘About what?’
    Toby looked about fearfully. ‘There’s something I’ve seen,’ he said. ‘Something at
night.’
    He went on to explain how he and his mother, Sally, lived in a small alley off the
high street. His father had died from tuberculosis. His mother worked in a garment
factory, sewing cloth, while Toby helped to pick up the finished garments and pack
them into boxes.
    At night, they walked the short distance to their home, where Sally made dinner and
helped him with his reading and writing. Soon after they would turn in for the night
and the cycle would begin again the next day. They worked six and a half days a week,
with only Sunday afternoons to spend at the park.
    ‘A few weeks back I woke in the middle of the night,’ Toby explained. ‘It was raining
outside. The noise was terrible, like. Thunder and wind. I was scared. Out my window
at the alley there was a flash of lightning…and then I saw it.’
    ‘You saw…what?’ Jack asked.
    ‘The monster.’ Toby’s eyes were round as saucers. ‘It was big. Maybe ten feet tall,
with huge hands, and his face was all mixed up.’
    Scarlet leant forward in her seat. ‘How do you mean?’
    Toby indicated. ‘One eye was up here, but the other was down near his mouth.’ He
shuddered. ‘He was terrible to look at.’
    ‘And what happened then?’ Mr Doyle asked.
    ‘I watched him go up the alley, looking in rubbish bins. ‘Then he went onto the high
street and came back a few minutes later.’ Toby swallowed. ‘And guess what he was
carrying.’
    ‘What?’ Jack asked breathlessly.
    ‘A cat.’
    ‘A cat,’ Jack repeated the words in confusion. ‘Why?’
    Toby pointed to his mouth. ‘To eat, of course,’ he said. ‘Why else would he have
it?’
    Mr Doyle sat back in his chair and formed an arch with his fingers, thinking for
a long moment. ‘I must tell you, Toby, that I have rather a lot on at the moment,’
he said. ‘Sadly, I can’t spare the time to investigate your… monster.’
    ‘Oh.’ The small boy looked crestfallen.
    ‘However, I believe I can still help you.’ Mr Doyle indicated Jack and Scarlet. ‘My
young assistants will take on your case.’
    ‘We will?’ Jack asked.
    ‘Absolutely.’ Mr Doyle turned to Toby. ‘I’ll get Gloria to look after you for a few
minutes while they gather their things.’
    After Mr Doyle had led Toby away, he returned to find both Jack and Scarlet wearing
puzzled expressions. ‘Confused?’ he asked, popping a piece of cheese into his mouth.
‘I hope you don’t mind helping young Toby.’
    ‘We don’t mind at all,’ Scarlet said, digging Jack in the ribs. ‘Do we?’
    ‘I’m just not sure how we can help,’ Jack said. ‘Where do we begin?’
    ‘You’ll know when you get there,’ Mr Doyle said. ‘Oh, just one thing.’
    ‘Yes?’
    ‘Be careful. That part of the city can be quite unsafe. Keep your wits about you.’
    Jack and Scarlet went to their rooms to get ready. Mr Doyle’s apartment was