The City in the Sky
CHAPTER 21

30 minutes later, Mulligan’s little townhouse was engulfed by waves of medtechs, journalists, and Ministry officials, led by Archer himself. Amidst the chaos, on the plush velvet couch in front of a roaring fire sat a freshly scrubbed James Mulligan and Lucy Devonshire. She shivered and pulled the quilt she was wrapped in closer to her body. James took her hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. They sat quietly in this manner until Archer finally disengaged himself from the interview he was giving the press and pulled up an armchair adjacent to them. He calmly packed his pipe and lit it. Then he pushed his eyepieces up on his forehead as he puffed thoughtfully on the sweet smelling tobacco. A minute passed by as he sat regarding the two of them in silent admiration before James began to feel a bit awkward and finally broke the quiescence.

“Sir?”

“I suppose I owe you an apology, James. I should never have doubted you. I guess it was only a matter of time before an artie snapped and went on a killing spree.”

Now it was Lucy’s turn to shift uncomfortably. However, like most Clockworks, she bore the insult with silent grace. James gave her hand another squeeze and said, “Indeed it would appear the murderer was a Clockwork, Sir, but it just doesn’t make sense. I mean how did he get past the violence inhibitors? What was his motive? There are still so many questions...”

Archer gave a sardonic bark of a laugh. “Well I might suggest you ask him”, he said as he watched two of the remaining officers lift the stretcher that carried the assassin’s body draped in a sheet, “but, under the circumstances, it seems we may never know.”

James nodded dejectedly but underneath the surface the gears of thought were still turning at full speed.

“What I find curious”, continued Archer as he puffed on his pipe, “is why he ended up here. Why was he after your housekeeper?”

“That is something of a mystery, Sir, but I think I may be able to offer an explanation. It would appear that our Clockwork Slayer was more than just some indiscriminate butcher. There was a reason he was only killing Clockworks, and those Clockworks in particular.”

“And what might that be?“, asked Archer who now looked slightly bemused at the drama of this impending revelation.

“Because they all shared the same last name: Devonshire.”

Archer’s look of amusement faded into thought as he probed the recesses of his brain attempting identify the importance that the name should invoke.

“Devonshire.” He parroted taking the pipe from his mouth. “Sounds like a common enough name. Where should I know that from? In any case, it still doesn’t explain why he would be going after a group of Clockworks simply because they chose the same surname.”

“It wasn’t a random name, Fred. It was the name they shared with their Creator, Ayumu Devonshire, and they didn’t choose it, it was given to them by Devonshire himself. The victims were the Prime Models, the original six prototypes created by Ayumu.”

“So why did this Ayumu fellow give only these six arties his last name? Why not all of them?“, asked Archer.

“Because those ‘arties’, as you call them, were his family”, interjected Lucy with unmistakable ire in her voice.

Archer looked taken aback. He had obviously never been addressed in such a fashion by any Clockwork and hadn’t considered the possibility of offending one. A moment of uncomfortable silence passed as the Commandant attempted to make sense of Lucy’s hostile reaction. James, on the other hand, couldn’t help but feel a surge of pride for the Clockwork having stood up for herself and her kind.

“Forgive me, Miss”, Archer finally said slowly. “I didn’t intend to belittle you. Please, if you could enlighten me in my ignorance, explain what you mean when you say ‘his family’.”

Lucy gave a smile and but Mulligan couldn’t help but detect a little sorrow in her voice as she began, “Ayumu used to tell us how lonely he was when he first emigrated to the Old United Kingdom. He had left his parents behind in his homeland and had a hard time feeling accepted in his new home. He never married or had any offspring. However, he was a very skilled clockmaker and made a vast fortune fulfilling his purpose by building clockwork creations to assist his fellow humans. But, in spite of his wealth, he still felt a great loneliness, and it was out of this that we were conceived. He called the first five models his children, christening each of them with his family’s name.”

“And it was because of these familial ties, the Prime Models were given ownership of the coal importation collective?“, queried James.

Lucy nodded.

“But according to the Clockwork historian I spoke with there were six models”, said Mulligan. “He said you were the ‘unofficial’ Prime Model, Lucy. What sets you apart from the other five?”

Lucy seemed almost embarrassed at the question, as if the answer wasn’t fit for public discussion, but she lifted her eyes and said, “Ayumu was very happy with his five children as they filled a large hole in his life, but something was still missing. I suppose all humans desire a mate...”

At once Mulligan understood. He looked at Lucy and said, “So he made himself a wife?”

“Yes”, said Lucy. “I was the sixth model and the first created with copper eyes. He said I was the most beautiful thing ever created by man or God. We were married in an illegal ceremony performed by a justice he paid. It was kept secret, for he was afraid of the repercussions if it were discovered. As his wife, I took his last name and was numbered among the other five Prime Models as a Devonshire.”

“Remarkable!“, exclaimed Archer. “And that’s why the assassin came here tonight? Because you were the final Devonshire on his list?”

“I think so, yes.“, said Lucy sadly.

“Tell me”, asked James, now working on a hunch, “was it a coincidence that I hired you around the time of the first murder?”

Lucy once again looked abashed and avoided Mulligan’s eyes as she answered, “I’m sorry, I didn’t want to cause any trouble. After August was killed, ’Liza became concerned. She did some research and found that detective of M.C.A. was hiring for a housekeeper. She believed I would be safer with you.” She looked up at Mulligan, her copper eyes begging for absolution.

Mulligan broke into a broad smile and said, “Lucy, your presence here has given me new life. I would not have traded that for anything.”

A moment of intimacy and mutual respect passed between them in their smiles, before Archer broke in and said, “Indeed that is all fine and well, but none of this explains why the Slayer was so interested in the Devonshires.”

“That is the question, Sir. The fact that he targeted a group of individuals who share the same name would seem to rule out random victim selection. I can only assume that it must be something else they all held in common. If I had my say, I would suggest something to do with the Clockwork Coal Collective. Though as to why a Clockwork would kill for something he already had a share in, I cannot say”, theorized Mulligan.

“Is it possible he did so to increase his share, or perhaps he sought the position of the Prime models?“, offered Archer.

“Actually, as Clockworks, we all receive an equal share”, said Lucy shaking her head. “Not even the Prime Models are entitled to more.”

“Well I shall be interested to see the speculations dredged up in the papys tomorrow”, laughed Archer. “For the meantime, this investigation is officially closed.” He rose to his feet and extended his hand to Mulligan. “Excellent work detective. I can’t tell you how happy I am to have you back alive and well”, he said as he firmly shook James’ hand.

He turned to leave, then paused and turned to face the two of them once more. His face was a bit reddened as he stammered, “James, I hope you can forgive me for the trouble I gave you regarding Lucy. Seeing the two of you here together, I can see the comfort that you bring one another. Having met her, I can see now that she is a wonderful...” The commandant seemed to be at a loss for words.

“Woman?“, offered James.

Archer flushed even deeper red and muttered something that sounded like, “Yes, quite” and walked to the door.

“Will I see you at work tomorrow, Detective?“, he asked as he paused at the doorway.

“Well, Sir, I was thinking of taking a day off”, said James smiling at Lucy.

“Of course. Very good, then”, replied Archer.

“Goodnight, Mr. Archer”, said Lucy in her pleasant way.

Commandant Archer turned and gave her a small bow before saying, “And a pleasant evening to you, Miss Devonshire.”

Then he was gone.

Another hour passed as the few dwindling officers finished documenting the scene. The last officer bid them both ‘goodnight’, and for the first time in what seemed like eons, James and Lucy found themselves alone.

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