Catching Mr Ripper

September 30th Morning

Elizabeth entered the police station hesitantly, before she spotted Edmund, causing her to freeze in her path. He was bent over the desk, his sleeves rolled up to his elbows, his hair a mess from him constantly running his hand through it. He had a crease in his brow that he only got when he was lost in thought about something that angered him deeply. Everything about him, every little action or movement, Elizabeth had memorized, because it was him. They way he smirked, the way he studied something, it was all uniquely him, and Elizabeth found it nothing short of intoxicating.
Elizabeth took one steady breath before walking over to Edmund.
"What did you find?" Edmund asked.
"Catherine Eddowes kidney was removed with surgical-like precision. Miss Stride didn't have anything removed from her body which was strange considering that there were things missing from the other victims" Elizabeth explained.
"This must be the amazing coroner I've heard so much about" A detective smiled.
"Elizabeth. And you are?"
"Detective James McWilliam" he smiled shaking her outstretched hand.
"We also found this written on the wall" Edmund handed her a written copy, their fingers grazing one another's before being taken quickly away again.
"The Juwes are the men that Will not be Blamed for nothing" she read out loud "The illiteracy seems deliberate, he's trying to confuse our profile of him" Elizabeth, bit her lip as she thought deeply.
"Stop biting" Edmund told her. Elizabeth dropped her lip from between her teeth before placing the paper onto the desk. John and Robert shared a look as the two continued talking as if no one else was in the room.
"Once again, I don't think that there's anything else I can tell you. This man is clever" Elizabeth sighed.
"So he's upper class, educated, smart. Smart enough to hide his intelligence" Edmund told them.
"Exactly. He may also struggle to talk to women" Elizabeth suggested.
"Because of his mother. The possible sexual assault as a child makes him hate women and he therefore-"
"Feels the need to kill them, to take away the things that make them women-"
"He sees these prostitutes as his mother-"
"Everyone but Miss Stride had children and they were all casual prostitutes-"
"Maybe the mother thing doesn't matter to him, maybe they-"
"Just have to be prostitutes" Elizabeth and Edmund smiled widely at each other.
"That's an amazing break through" Edmund smiled widely as Elizabeth jumped into his arms, hugging him tightly. When they pulled apart, Edmund connected their lips, pulling her to him by her waist. Elizabeth moved her hands to his face, pulling him closer and holding him to her at the same time.
"Elizabeth?" A familiar voice made them break apart from their kiss.
"Alexander" Elizabeth crossed the room to him "We had a break through with the case and got a little carried away" she said awkwardly.
"Well I suppose we best get you home" he smiled kindly "The carriage is outside, I need to ask the commissioner something" he smiled.
"Alright. I'll wait downstairs for you" Elizabeth smiled awkwardly before leaving.
"Edmund, kindly refrain from touching my wife again" the anger in his voice and eyes evident.
"This isn't the place to talk about this-"
"You kissed her in front of all these people. You do realize that you can't have her? Don't you? I love her and I know that she may not love me but she can learn to" He said.
"I may not be able to have her, but I have her heart, and that means she'll never be able to love you. She will always long for me" Edmund argued back. Alexander let out an audible laugh.
"You made your choice. Now let her go" Alexander bit back before leaving the office.

Elizabeth and Alexander had rode home in silence, neither one of them wanted to admit what was hanging over them.
Elizabeth sat in the parlor, waiting for Alexander to argue with her. Instead he poured himself a large drink.
"You don't drink" she said quietly.
"I'm starting now" he downed his drink before slamming the empty glass onto the tray "Him. You told me that the two of you had known each other for a while but you never told me that you loved him" he gritted.
"What happened between Edmund and I is complicated. What we had was fleeting. The kiss was a...reflex" she lied and Alexander laughed.
"He said he loves you. You haven't let me touch you. It's all because of him, isn't it?" He shouted. Elizabeth remained still, not flinching as he yelled at her, not even as he approached her "Tell me the truth!" He demanded.
"I love him. I always have" she admitted "Our courtship only began because my father caught Edmund in my bed" she admitted.
"I thought you could learn to love me! I thought you at least enjoyed my company! Your just a whore!" He yelled at her. Elizabeth quickly rose from her feet and angrily met his eyes.
"I was content to be his whore but my father wouldn't allow it. I would rather be his whore than to be trapped in his sham of a marriage" she said calmly "Whilst Edmund still has air in his lungs, I cannot love anyone else" she told him.
"Get out" Alexander muttered, when Elizabeth didn't move he shouted, making sure she heard him "Get out!" He shouted. Elizabeth calmly left the room and packed her things, leaving Alexander behind her, with a smile.