Chapter Five

Good to his word an hour later, the Pastor was able to get Scarlett an interview with poor Nathan, at the Police Station. She sent me home to fetch several items for my ‘special assignment,” but later relayed to me all that transpired.

“I know you’re scared, son” Lestrade had said, “but I need you to tell Miss Holmes anything you can.”

Nathan stared at a spot on the wall, holding his arms to him, rocking back and forth in agitation.

“I didn’t hit him. I didn’t hit him. I didn’t hit him.” He repeated. Then, a thought struck him, and he looked pleadingly at Pastor Lestrade and asked “How’s my Jenny?  Is she ok? They won’t let me see her.”

The Pastor held up his hands, his voice gentle. “I promise I will go check on Jenny. But I need you to tell me what happened last night.”

Nathan shrank back, and began his nervous rocking again.

“Take me to the apartment and then wait for me, the man say.  So I take him up there, and wait, like he said. But he took so long to come back.  And Jenny was getting hungry.  Another man arrived in another cab, did his business then left.  I though, maybe my fare fell asleep.  So I goes up the stairs, to check, to see if he still wants me to wait.  And that’s when I seen...I seen..”

Lestrade reached out, placing a comforting hand on Nathan’s arm, nodding gentle encouragement.

“I didn’t mean to touch nothin.  I didn’t hurt no one.”

“Did you see anyone else, Nathan?” Scarlett asked.

“I heard the footsteps on the stairs, and I thought maybe they was coming to kill me, too.  So I pick up the brick.”

“To protect yourself.” The Pastor says, with an understanding and certain nod.

Scarlett, ever vigilant, had noticed the stares of several of the policemen grow hard and increasingly suspicious during the course of the interview.

“Nathan, don’t say anything to anyone else.”

Nathan turned to the Pastor, his childlike innocence brimming over in scared tears. 

“They gonna hang me, Pastor? If they hang me, you gotta see to my Jenny and make sure she’s ok. I’m all she’s got.”

Pastor Lestrade squeezed Nathan’s arm hard, and nodded.

“I know.  You’ll be seeing her soon yourself, Nathan.” 

As they left the police station, Scarlett glanced back toward the entrance.  As she expected, two police Officers -- Officer Freckles and Officer Belly -- had followed them out the door, and were now watching them with suspicion as they walked down the street.  Scarlett took in the information with her usual informed detachment, but increased the length of her stride.

“Jenny.  That’s his horse.” Scarlett said.

Lestrade affirmed with a nod, saying, “He loves her.  Worn down and broken when he got her, but he brought her back with a little love and kindness.  She would pull his cab to the moon for him if he asked.  Kinder, more gentle soul you’ll never meet.”

“Nathan, or the horse?”

“Both. Too bad she can’t speak.  Didn’t get much out of him.  And...we need to be careful, Scarlett.  Even I observed the looks we were getting in there. I can’t afford to burn the few bridges I’ve got with the city.”

“Have faith.” Scarlett said. “Nathan has told us exactly what we need to know.  There were two men, and another cabbie.”