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Alcohol – Smoking
- Strong language – Strong Violence [including sexual assaults] – strong sexual
references [including references to BDSM] – Mild horror.
[1]
WARNING: This episode contains strong language and strong sexual references,
including references to BDSM.
[2]
The original Title for this episode was: ‘THE PHOTOGRAPH.’
[3]
A ‘Jericho Tibbs’ original story.
[4]
There is NO Alexandra version
available.
[5] The original photograph was found in the Public Domain and is of the Edwardian actress 'Mile Hartlay.' If you know anything about this please contact the author via his website: https://stephenjohnwilliams.blogspot.com
Concept
date: 20th October 2019
First
published: 28th January 2020
Status: COMPLETED & PUBLISHED.
Location: BOOK SERIES 4 – EPISODE 5.
Revisions: 4 [last revised March
2021]
Version:
Final.
Published Episode No. 040
Previous
episode: “Black Sword.
Next
episode: “The Devil’s Dolls House.”
Age
recommendation: 15+
Average
reading time: Approx. 30 Minutes.
Angel-in-charge: Margret
Team Assigned: Team 74
Human Time: 2019AD-1440AH
Mission: 9
- 352078 – 10 – 2019
Doctor David Glover smiled and grabbed his large, well worn briefcase from the
passenger seat and switched off the engine. He stepped from his car and greeted
his colleague with a warm smile, then buttoned up his coat against the
persistent drizzle. “Morning Davey, this bloody rain is forecast for the entire
day.” Muttered old doctor Porter and the pair walked to the small Victorian
building that housed their practise and a one woman dental surgery. Phil
pointed to the little white car parked by the entrance; “I see big bad Bernie
is already in – as usual – she’s real eager to pull bloody teeth – too eager.”
He chuckled and they pushed the single red door and walked into reception.
Mrs. Claxton looked up from behind the reception counter and said ‘Good
Morning’ with no smile – but she was actually well known for lacking humour,
she often stated; “If you had been married to my Harold for fifteen years, then
you’d understand.” She pressed the button under the counter and the security
door released, the two doctors wandered in.
“You both have full schedules today.” Mrs. Claxton tapped at her keyboard, then
sipped her coffee slowly. “Kate would like a few minutes with you Dave; about
old Mrs. Crisp and her feet, I expect.” Doctor Glover just nodded and pulled
off his coat. “Shall I tell her that you’ll see her before surgery starts?” She
added and lifted up the phone to buzz the Practise Nurse; Kate Templeton. Dave
just nodded again and walked to his Consulting Room.
He sat at his desk and stared at the computer screen, then turned to the door
as someone knocked – Kate stuck her head around the door and smiled broadly;
“Morning Dave, could I start your day with a real treat?” Dave smiled and
nodded; “Mrs. Crisp and her painful toes again?” Kate chuckled; “If you could
just cast an eye over them and agree with my proposed treatment – in front of
her – I would be grateful.” Dave sighed and followed Kate to her Treatment
Room. “Must she always have a second or third opinion?” He asked and Kate
laughed; “Yes.” She replied.
Old Mrs. Crisp was more than happy with Doctor Glover’s agreement to Kate’s
treatment of her troublesome feet and Dave returned to his surgery and awaited
his first scheduled patient. At least being busy made the day go by he always
reasoned. Sometimes, just occasionally, he would pull open the bottom drawer of
his desk and remove the large brown envelope and slowly open it.
Dave would stare for some minutes at the large coloured picture of him and
Isabella; their engagement photograph. She would be dead just months before
their wedding – victim of a young drunk driver who showed little remorse in
court and only received four years in prison for his terrible deed. He was high
on drugs and drink – he was just seventeen, unlicensed and uninsured in his
‘borrowed’ step-fathers car. That was three years ago and Isabella’s ghost
still haunted his thoughts and dreams.
They had known each other since they were children together at primary School.
He always knew he would marry her; even back then. Dave suddenly found himself
smiling as her face passed across his thoughts. He sighed and ran a hand over
his face. He pulled himself together with a little difficulty and stared at the
wall opposite.
Dave replaced the precious
picture and put the envelope back into the drawer. That dreadful night at the
local hospital continually played out in his head. He slumped in his chair;
eyes closed until the phone buzzed. He lifted the receiver and spoke quietly to
Mrs. Claxton. Big Freddie, the Director of the local amateur theatre had
called, to say that the theatre group would be meeting tonight and his call was
just a gentle reminder.
Dave admitted to himself that amateur theatre was probably the third great love of his quiet life; after Isabella and medicine. It filled his lonely hours and everyone said he was good at it - very good at it. 'Big Freddie' even said he was good enough to turn professional; if he really wanted to. But he did love being a doctor and Isabella had always insisted he was better at medicine than acting!
At lunchtime, Dave drove the few miles into the village and picked up a couple
of sandwiches and a proper coffee. He sat in his car, slowly eating, watching
the rain tumbling down. That’s when he caught sight of the little shop next to
the post-office. He had lived in the village for almost a year and had never
noticed it before. He glanced at his watch and realised that he had time to
take a look. He pulled on his coat and headed for the shop; the façade was
wonderfully old fashioned and a little bell tinkled as he entered. It was
stuffed full with old photographs and bric-a-brac – mostly Victorian and
Edwardian. There was a wonderful smell of lavender pervading the place. The old
man behind the counter looked up and placed the local paper down; he smiled and
nodded. “Good afternoon Doctor Glover, I wondered when you would pop in.” He
spoke softly and rose from his little stool.
Dave didn’t ask him, how he knew who he was; it was a small village and the two
local doctors would certainly be known to most of the villagers. “Just going to
have a look around, I’m quite interested in late Victorian and Edwardian
theatre. Do you have anything like that?” Dave muttered and the old man pointed
to a corner of the shop; “Try there, I have lots of photographs from the
theatres of those times. I’m pretty sure you’ll find something you like.” He
eased back on his stool and picked up his paper.
“No high pressure salesmanship here then.” Dave said quietly and smiled to
himself. He walked over to the large corner unit which was packed with
pictures, prints and books on the early theatre. He carefully lifted framed
pictures of famous and long dead actors and actresses. Then a single dark
framed photograph caught his eye and he studied it with real interest. Written
in the corner, in a wonderful sweep of lettering that could pass a calligraphy
test, was the words; ‘To David with love.” and two big ‘X’s beneath. There was
no name and he turned the frame over; a small faded sticker simply said
‘Whitechapel Theatre – summer ‘01’.
“!901, I expect.” He said quietly and stared again at the young woman in the
photograph; she was simply stunning – a real Edwardian beauty. He suddenly
realised that he had been looking at the woman for some time and turned to find
the old man standing next to him, smiling. “A real beauty that one; even by
today’s standards.” The old man’s smile faded and he added; “Really strange
what happened about her, quite a mystery, still unsolved to this day, but a
pity no matter how you look at it. Had the world at her feet.” He straightened
some items on the shelves and turned back to his counter.
The strange old man returned to his counter and Dave stood for a few more minutes; staring at the picture. “How much is it?” he finally asked and the old man smiled; “I couldn’t take less than twenty pounds I’m afraid.” Dave nodded; twenty pounds would be just fine. He knew who the woman reminded him of – and they both had the same name - a strange co-incidence that, he mused. The fact that it was marked ‘To Dave with love’ also touched his fancy - another odd co-incidence?
Dave left the shop with the photograph wrapped up in a brown paper bag and jumped back in his car, placing it carefully on the passenger seat. His phone buzzed and he answered slowly; it was his colleague Mrs. Claxton wondering where he was – he was going to be late for his first afternoon patient. Dave apologised and said he was on his way. He had spent nearly an hour in the damn shop – he looked at his watch several times with some disbelief as he drove back to the surgery.
"How the hell, did I lose all that damn time?" He said aloud and turned into the surgery car-park. He would hang the picture in his bedroom, as soon as he finished at the theatre tonight - he was going there straight from work. He was well pleased with his little purchase and he would look up Miss Isabella Ford on 'Google' tonight - If he found the time!
IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER:
“All incidents and dialogue, and all characters with the exception of some well-known historical figures, are products of the author's imagination and are not to be construed as real. Where real-life historical figures appear, the situations, incidents, and dialogues concerning those persons are entirely fictional and are not intended to depict actual events or to change the entirely fictional nature of the work. In all other respects, any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.”
CAUTION:
“SOME OF THESE EPISODES CONTAIN VERY STRONG LANGUAGE, VIOLENCE, HORROR AND SEXUAL REFERENCES. Some are RECOMMENDED suitable for persons aged 15+ years only.”
THE AUTHOR.