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Today's Topics:

1. "I didn't know..." responses (Oswald and Lucinda too) (Mel Mason)
2. RE: "I didn't know..." responses (Oswald and Lucinda too)
(Brian Schoner)
3. Re: "I didn't know..." responses (Oswald and Lucinda too)
(Mel Mason)
4. Re: "I didn't know..." responses (Oswald and Lucinda too)
(Brenda McCartney)
5. Re: "I didn't know..." responses (Oswald and Lucinda too)
(Knave of Amber)
6. Re: "I didn't know..." responses (Oswald and Lucinda too) (Jvstin)
7. RE: "I didn't know..." responses (Oswald and Lucinda too)
(Brian Schoner)
8. Re: "I didn't know..." responses (Oswald and Lucinda too)
(Mel Mason)
9. RE: "I didn't know..." responses (Oswald and Lucinda too)
(Brian Schoner)
10. Re: "I didn't know..." responses (Oswald and Lucinda too)
(Brenda McCartney)


----------------------------------------------------------------------

Message: 1
Date: Wed, 19 Jan 2005 00:38:03 -0000
From: "Mel Mason" <goldfired@...>
Subject: [MaC] "I didn't know..." responses (Oswald and Lucinda too)



> She fought - oh, how fiercely she fought that silent battle for life.
> But her hairs fell forward over that face that was lovely no more as she
> slowly grew still, and limp in his hands. And then there was no
> movement, no more hoarse breath. She was resting against him, as she
> should always have rested, gentle, biddable. A moment, an eternal
> moment, when she was utterly his.
>
> Then the record came to an end, and Philip was once again in the here
> and now, with Anton's cigarette still smouldering in the ashtray and
> Nola dead in his arms.

"Dear God," Arabella murmured, almost under her breath. Her heart went out,
in a brief, instinctive moment, to all of them... to Nola Diamond, who had
died too young, too brutally, as so many were dying, to this poor,
anguished, young man, maimed in both body and soul, to Esme Fitzroy, to her
own daughter, who felt so trapped by duty and tradition... to all of them.
Instinctively, her eyes went to Michael's face, searching for something -
perhaps wisdom, perhaps simply understanding...

Michael's eyes offered strength and support as he offered her a
handkerchief, his hand touching hers and lingering a few moments.


She allowed the touch, took comfort in it... indeed their little secret
seemed as nothing compared to the torments that had swirled around them in
Mortmain Mansions... then brushed the handkerchief lightly under her eyes,
which had become moist. She looked for Pamela... "What happens now?" she
asked.

Oswald, who was standing and watching, glanced at Michael, and then shook
his head. "He's confessed to murder," he said quietly. "In front of us
all.

James looked shocked, amazed, and most of all, saddened by the tragedy
described. He looked down at the ground for a moment, and then back
at everyone else.

"The endgame." he said softly. "The fall of knights, bishops and
rooks, leaving just a few of us pawns on the board, alone, to carry on
after the blood and fire."

In the background, Cyril nodded and his blue eyes behind the spectacles
looked tired and sad. He stood with his arms around Florence, who was
weeping quietly into his shoulder.

Pamela put down a soiled cloth with which she had been cleaning
Fitzroy's face. "If we can... keep him alive," she said to her mother,
"it's a reduced sentence, I think... but I don't know how much... and I
do hope the ambulance gets here soon, because..."

Arabella nodded her understanding and agreement. She gave Michael back his
handkerchief, and this time allowed her hand to stay in his. She didn't know
what the future would bring, but now, more than ever, she understood the
importance of the moment. She smiled slightly at her daughter, wanting her
to know how proud she was of her...

"I don't know if they will, with the UXB outside," Warren said, his
voice hushed.

Lucinda and Oswald exchanged glances at Pamela's words ... and Oswald shook
his head very slightly.

Nicola moved her ear from the door to the kitchen and
shook her head sadly. She had heard it all and was
overwhelmed with sadness... and anger.

"Oh, Nola," she sighed for the second time that
evening. "Why did you have to be so cruel?" She walked
towards the settee and sat down. One hand
absentmindedly made its way up to her hair and
fingered the combs holding it in place. Expensive.
Classy. Useless. She pulled hard, removing the combs,
looked at them momentarily and then let them fall from
her hand. She didn't care if she ever saw them again.
A few tears fell from her eyes, splattering onto her
velvet dress. Never before had she wanted so badly to
just be home.

"I think," said Lucinda, "that the cruelty was Mr Fitzroy's, in holding back
the letters. If he hadn't ... Officer Powell would probably have stood by
her. She wouldn't have needed to get that abortion from ... was it your
sister, Mrs Fitzroy? In Bethnal Green?"

Esme nodded. "She'd almost given it up," she said, dabbing at her eyes with
a small lace handkerchief. "But Marty ... Marty would still send her girls
who got into trouble."

Perhaps Esme was labouring under a slight illusion her about the scale of
her sister's continuing career.

"And Nola was one of them," said Lucinda. "And when she was so angry and
bitter tonight ... perhaps it was a combination of the pain she must have
been feeling ... I wonder if she took anything to alleviate that. A
combination of the pain, and a sense of betrayal at seeing the man who - she
thought - had ignored her. Abandoned her. All because Marty Fitzroy
decided to hide those letters ... and keep his client."

"So... did you poison Mr. Fitzroy, too?" Marjorie asked
Philip from where she stood awkwardly by the other evidence.
"Cause of Nola?" she said, not looking directly at Philip.




------------------------------

Message: 2
Date: Tue, 18 Jan 2005 23:08:36 -0500
From: "Brian Schoner" <brianschoner@...>
Subject: RE: [MaC] "I didn't know..." responses (Oswald and Lucinda


It seemed as though the rush of disjointed words had taken all energy out of
Philip. He sat in the same chair, slumped over, hanging his head, looking as
nearly-dead as Marty Fitzroy. The conversation and conjecture seemed to wash
over him, leaving him unchanged, until...

> "So... did you poison Mr. Fitzroy, too?" Marjorie asked
> Philip from where she stood awkwardly by the other evidence.
> "Cause of Nola?" she said, not looking directly at Philip.

"I told you," he said, hoarsely, without raising his head. "I knew it was
his fault. Whatever had made Nola behave the way she did...I knew he was to
blame. And now I know what he did."

"Bastard," he added a moment later.



------------------------------

Message: 3
Date: Wed, 19 Jan 2005 07:56:43 -0000
From: "Mel Mason" <goldfired@...>
Subject: Re: [MaC] "I didn't know..." responses (Oswald and Lucinda
too)


It seemed as though the rush of disjointed words had taken all energy out of
Philip. He sat in the same chair, slumped over, hanging his head, looking as
nearly-dead as Marty Fitzroy. The conversation and conjecture seemed to wash
over him, leaving him unchanged, until...

> "So... did you poison Mr. Fitzroy, too?" Marjorie asked
> Philip from where she stood awkwardly by the other evidence.
> "Cause of Nola?" she said, not looking directly at Philip.

"I told you," he said, hoarsely, without raising his head. "I knew it was
his fault. Whatever had made Nola behave the way she did...I knew he was to
blame. And now I know what he did."

"Bastard," he added a moment later.


Oswald glanced at Michael, and the Warren - the officers present.

"Perhaps," he suggested, "Officer Powell should be detained - alone - until
the police arrive. One of the rooms in Fitzroy's flat."



------------------------------

Message: 4
Date: Wed, 19 Jan 2005 03:12:26 -0800 (PST)
From: Brenda McCartney <windeaglebjm@...>
Subject: Re: [MaC] "I didn't know..." responses (Oswald and Lucinda
too)

> It seemed as though the rush of disjointed words had taken all energy
> out of
> Philip. He sat in the same chair, slumped over, hanging his head,
> looking as
> nearly-dead as Marty Fitzroy. The conversation and conjecture seemed
> to wash
> over him, leaving him unchanged, until...
>
> > "So... did you poison Mr. Fitzroy, too?" Marjorie asked
> > Philip from where she stood awkwardly by the other evidence.
> > "Cause of Nola?" she said, not looking directly at Philip.
>
> "I told you," he said, hoarsely, without raising his head. "I knew it
> was
> his fault. Whatever had made Nola behave the way she did...I knew he
> was to
> blame. And now I know what he did."
>
> "Bastard," he added a moment later.
>
>
> Oswald glanced at Michael, and the Warren - the officers present.
>
> "Perhaps," he suggested, "Officer Powell should be detained - alone -
> until
> the police arrive. One of the rooms in Fitzroy's flat."

"No," Cyril piped up quickly. "Don't take him back to Fitzroy's." His
expression revealed a bit of sympathy for the officer who had been
driven so far as to commit murder. "Use my spare bedroom."



------------------------------

Message: 5
Date: Wed, 19 Jan 2005 07:36:38 -0500
From: Knave of Amber <kris.kunkel@...>
Subject: Re: [MaC] "I didn't know..." responses (Oswald and Lucinda
too)


> "No," Cyril piped up quickly. "Don't take him back to Fitzroy's." His
> expression revealed a bit of sympathy for the officer who had been
> driven so far as to commit murder. "Use my spare bedroom."

"Sir?" he answered Oswald. An ironic smile crossed his lips for the
barest instant before he asked, "I suppose the study would be a poor
choice, oh, scratch that... too far up this time."

Businesslike again, Michael turned back to Phillip. "Officer Powell,
again, I must ask for your sidearm."

"If you wish, I might offer some legal advice, the first of which is
to say no more until the bobbies arrive and secondly is hope that it's
the Yard and not the Service that gets a hold of you," he suggested.



------------------------------

Message: 6
Date: Wed, 19 Jan 2005 14:54:13 -0600
From: Jvstin <jvstin@...>
Subject: Re: [MaC] "I didn't know..." responses (Oswald and Lucinda
too)

> > "No," Cyril piped up quickly. "Don't take him back to Fitzroy's." His
> > expression revealed a bit of sympathy for the officer who had been
> > driven so far as to commit murder. "Use my spare bedroom."
>
> "Sir?" he answered Oswald. An ironic smile crossed his lips for the
> barest instant before he asked, "I suppose the study would be a poor
> choice, oh, scratch that... too far up this time."
>
> Businesslike again, Michael turned back to Phillip. "Officer Powell,
> again, I must ask for your sidearm."
>
> "If you wish, I might offer some legal advice, the first of which is
> to say no more until the bobbies arrive and secondly is hope that it's
> the Yard and not the Service that gets a hold of you," he suggested.
>

James agreed, although with clear reluctance on his face. He look at
Philip.

"No matter what you did do, you do have rights as a subject of the empire."



------------------------------

Message: 7
Date: Wed, 19 Jan 2005 23:44:13 -0500
From: "Brian Schoner" <brianschoner@...>
Subject: RE: [MaC] "I didn't know..." responses (Oswald and Lucinda
too)

>> Businesslike again, Michael turned back to Phillip. "Officer
>> Powell, again, I must ask for your sidearm."

Philip looked at Michael with a slight air of confusion, as though he had no
idea what the senior officer was asking, or why. After a moment, however, he
docilely removed the pistol from its holster (left-handed, so somewhat
awkwardly) and handed it, butt-first, to Michael.

>> "If you wish, I might offer some legal advice, the first of
>> which is to say no more until the bobbies arrive and secondly
>> is hope that it's the Yard and not the Service that gets a
>> hold of you," he suggested.
>>
> James agreed, although with clear reluctance on his face. He
> look at Philip.
>
> "No matter what you did do, you do have rights as a subject of
> the empire."

Philip nodded quietly, but said nothing.





------------------------------

Message: 8
Date: Thu, 20 Jan 2005 21:08:21 -0000
From: "Mel Mason" <goldfired@...>
Subject: Re: [MaC] "I didn't know..." responses (Oswald and Lucinda
too)



>> Businesslike again, Michael turned back to Phillip. "Officer
>> Powell, again, I must ask for your sidearm."

Philip looked at Michael with a slight air of confusion, as though he had no
idea what the senior officer was asking, or why. After a moment, however, he
docilely removed the pistol from its holster (left-handed, so somewhat
awkwardly) and handed it, butt-first, to Michael.

>> "If you wish, I might offer some legal advice, the first of
>> which is to say no more until the bobbies arrive and secondly
>> is hope that it's the Yard and not the Service that gets a
>> hold of you," he suggested.
>>
> James agreed, although with clear reluctance on his face. He
> look at Philip.
>
> "No matter what you did do, you do have rights as a subject of
> the empire."

Philip nodded quietly, but said nothing.

"Then Mr Beaman's spare bedroom, if you are sure?" Oswald glanced at that
gentlemen. There seemed to be a question in his eyes. "And ... perhaps ...
someone should guard the door."

He took a few steps closer to Philip. "Of course, if all this comes out in
a trial ... I'm afraid there'll be no hiding Miss Diamond's condition."






------------------------------

Message: 9
Date: Thu, 20 Jan 2005 16:22:25 -0500
From: "Brian Schoner" <brianschoner@...>
Subject: RE: [MaC] "I didn't know..." responses (Oswald and Lucinda
too)


> He took a few steps closer to Philip. "Of course, if all
> this comes out in a trial ... I'm afraid there'll be no hiding
> Miss Diamond's condition."

Philip looked up at Oswald. More than anything else, he looked tired. "What
does it matter?" he asked softly.





------------------------------

Message: 10
Date: Thu, 20 Jan 2005 13:30:09 -0800 (PST)
From: Brenda McCartney <windeaglebjm@...>
Subject: Re: [MaC] "I didn't know..." responses (Oswald and Lucinda
too)


>
> >> Businesslike again, Michael turned back to Phillip. "Officer
> >> Powell, again, I must ask for your sidearm."
>
> Philip looked at Michael with a slight air of confusion, as though he
> had no
> idea what the senior officer was asking, or why. After a moment,
> however, he
> docilely removed the pistol from its holster (left-handed, so
> somewhat
> awkwardly) and handed it, butt-first, to Michael.
>
> >> "If you wish, I might offer some legal advice, the first of
> >> which is to say no more until the bobbies arrive and secondly
> >> is hope that it's the Yard and not the Service that gets a
> >> hold of you," he suggested.
> >>
> > James agreed, although with clear reluctance on his face. He
> > look at Philip.
> >
> > "No matter what you did do, you do have rights as a subject of
> > the empire."
>
> Philip nodded quietly, but said nothing.
>
> "Then Mr Beaman's spare bedroom, if you are sure?" Oswald glanced at
> that
> gentlemen. There seemed to be a question in his eyes.

Cyril nodded. "Certainly," he answered.

>[Oswald continued} "And ...
> perhaps ...
> someone should guard the door."
>
> He took a few steps closer to Philip. "Of course, if all this comes
> out in
> a trial ... I'm afraid there'll be no hiding Miss Diamond's
> condition."
>
Philip looked up at Oswald. More than anything else, he looked tired.
"What
does it matter?" he asked softly.



------------------------------

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End of murder_at_christmas Digest, Vol 2, Issue 43
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