Save You - Choni

Part 24

Cheryl's POV

I had to gotten off of work at 9 Pm and promptly set out towards London. Riding hard and fast I arrived in London just after 10:30 PM. It took, me a bit more to reach the factor where the worm hole was. I can only access the worm hole when the factory is closed. During the day, the room it appears in is croweded with people working. Having a wormhole show up then, would cause all kinds of problems.

I arrived at the factory about 11:00 PM and using my key, let myself in through the back door. Once inside, I hit the recall button on the watch.

A few moments later, a whirling circle of lights appeared on the ceiling. The basket was lowered shortly after.

I hopped in and rode back up. As I reached the top I said promptly to Jughead. "Don't shut down the wormhole. I need to go back."

He nodded and again reduced the wormhole to microscopic size.

"Ahh...So how was 1869. Did you succeed?" He said after looking me over to see how I looked.

"No, I didn't succeed; I pretty much screwed things up. I need to destroy this Fangs person, once and for all. I then filled him in on what had happened to this point.

Jughead nodded. "Ok, what's your plan."

"That lady who did research for me, said that Frances was accused of embezzlement from his family's firm. How he used the money to support his gambling and womanizing. But all this didn't come out into until several years after Toni died. I need to destroy him utterly and I'm going to move up the clock a bit. I'm going to the library research the newspapers from the 1870's and 1880's so I can find out all the details. How it was discovered, who accused him if anyone, what happened. I also want to get some details of his 2nd wife which was his mistress when he was married to Toni. I know he later divorces her. I need to dig up every bit of dirt I can on him. Only the internet and the computers at the library can give me that information."

After thinking for a moment, he said. "Sounds like a plan. You need to remember I have the wormhole still open, so time is ticking way in both times. Just to keep you up to date. You left on June 3rd, 2022. It is now 9:38 AM. August 14th, 2022. You've spent 10 weeks and 2 days in 1869 so 10 weeks and 2 days have passed here. Now when you came back here it was 11:09 PM, July 9th, 1869. Which means you have exactly 12 hours and 51 minutes before the wedding and the clock it ticking. More importantly you need to finish your business here in less than 8 hours. Remember the factory in 1869 will open at 7 AM and unless you want to cause a major panic by having the wormhole open up in a busy factory, you need to be back here in time. So you need be back here no later than about 5:30 in the afternoon. I know it's confusing but do you understand."

It was a bit hard to get my head around, but I got it. "Yeah, I understand. The clock it ticking. Every second I spend here gives me one less second there. I have 8 hours to finish my business here or I won't make it back before the factory opens. I need to go."

It was when I had rushed out on the street did I realize that I was wearing a 1869 dress in 2022. I was so used to wearing it, I didn't even think to change. Fortunately I had a change of clothes here, so I rushed back in and changed in the bathroom.

I'll tell you it was a thrill beyond belief to use a real toilet with real toilet paper for the first time in 10 weeks. It's pretty sad that I would find that thrilling, but you use rags and leaves for 10 weeks and see how you feel about it. Besides most out houses smell terrible and this bathroom smelled not too bad.

Having changed into modern clothes I took off and found myself once again in the present. I took a moment to take it all in; the cars, the planes, the noise, cell phones, all of it. Even me who was used to it, was a bit a taken aback by how busy everything was.

Not being able to resist, I ran to a local coffee place and got myself a decent cup of coffee and a cheese Danish, then headed to the library. I made it to the library around 10:30, sat down and got to work.

The first thing I did was to look up Toni. I need to know if somehow I did manage to change her mind.

An obituary from August 20th, 1870 sank my spirits made my stomach feel like it was filled with lead.

Antoinette Topaz Fogarty, aged 20, died Thursday the 18th at her home near Herford. The young Mrs. Fogarty was expecting and very excited to have her first child. However complications resulted in the death of both Mrs. Topaz and her child. Frances Fogarty her husband, who was....."

Just those few lines made me utterly sick to my stomach and I could read no more. I had changed nothing. This plan was her last hope.

Closing my eyes, I sighed mournfully. "I tried to tell you Toni. I tried."

I then took a deep breath and threw myself into my task; finding out every bit of dirt I could about Frances Fogarty.

It took me several hours to dig through all the old newspapers, I did stop at one point and had some lunch at a local pub. Sitting alone in the pub, I couldn't help but think of them all, now long dead. I even began to wonder if I could change history at all. Perhaps it's fixed and it's meant to happen. Fixed or not, I'm going to try.

Having spent most of the afternoon at the library searching old newspapers, I finally managed to find the articles that detailed the embezzlement accusations. It all came to light in 1882 and from the accounts had been going on since he had first started at the firm.

"I got you." I said with a smirk, as I wrote down the various details.

Having finished I left the library just after 4:30 in the afternoon. I had less than an hour to return to 1869 or I wouldn't be able to return. The factory would open and the room where the wormhole was would be filled with people. I ran to the tube station and made it back to Jughead's lab at 5:15.

"You just made it. You go change and I'll ready to open the wormhole back up. Did you find out what you needed?"

"Yes, it was finally brought to light by a clerk at the firm named Harold Ross. According to his testimony he gave police, Fangs began to steal from the firm, the very day he started. Fangs found out that Ross knew and threatened him with financial ruin if he said anything. Ross who had a wife and 4 children to feed, kept quiet, at least until he discovered that Fangs was setting him up to be the fall guy. There was going to be a trial but Mr. Ross was mysteriously knifed to death 3 days before the trial. Police said it was a robbery gone badly, but his wife said Frances Fogarty killed him. She had no proof however. In any case Fangs's father had already disinherited him for that, misappropriating other family funds and his other indiscretions. Fangs's activities pretty much bankrupted his entire family. He set sail for Australia a short while after that to escape his creditors. But the ship sank with all hands."

"Sounds like you have the info you need."

I shook my head as I grabbed my 1869 dress. "I'm only half done. I need the actual proof he stole from the firm. Without that, it's just an accusation. I looked up his address in one of the old books and know where Harold Ross lives. I'm starting with him."

I changed in a hurry and found the wormhole waiting for me. "Good Luck Cheryl. You'll save the day. I'm sure." Jughead said with a thumbs up.

I hopped in the basket and felt it start to move down. "If I don't, she's dead."

I made it back into the factory in 1869, 10 minutes before 7 am. After the basket was pulled back up and the wormhole vanished, I slipped out of the factory and once again back into the street. A moment later I heard the far off chime of Big Ben striking 7 am, meaning I had now 5 hours to complete my task and get to the wedding.

Mounting my horse, I headed towards the home of young Harold Ross and soon after 7:30 was pounding on his door. After that, It was a dizzying morning racing from place to place, person to person. Getting all I needed to destroy Fangs. I had to get as much solid evidence as i could.

Unfortunately it was just after 11 Am when I had the final piece of damming evidence in my hand. Much to my horror however, I realized that I now had less than a hour to get to St. Andrews's church which was on the far side of Herford, which was more than an hour's ride.

"Shit! I'm going to be late." I said, as I got on my horse and quickly moved to a full gallop.

As I raced down the road, towards the church I was struck how the situation I was in was much like one of those Richard Curtis Movies; Notting Hill, Four Weddings and Funeral, Love Actually; racing to stop to the wedding of the woman I love.

"Uggg... how revolting." I groaned at the Irony of the fact that I hated those movies with a passion.

I pushed the horse as hard as I could towards Herford. Each passing minute only made me more worried that I would not make it in time.

It was noon when I reached Herford and I couldn't help but curse at the fact that I was now late. Desperate, I got the horse to move just a bit quicker towards the church.

According to my phone it was exactly 12:22 when I reached the church. It was a typical Englishstone church and it was surrounded by buggies of the various wedding guests.

I grabbed my bag, dismounted and ran straight towards the church.

"STOP THE WEDDING!" I shouted as I burst into the church. I'll have to admit it was a pretty grand entrance, straight out of a movie.

The whole congregation, including Toni, Fangs, Toni's father and everyone else looked at me with shock.

"Cheryl what are you doing?" Said Mr. Topaz, looking very unhappy.

Toni who was in her wedding dress. said nothing, but instead glared at me coldly. Fangs on the other hand took a step towards me and shouted. "You have no right."

I looked to the elderly Vicar who, seemed surprised. "Tell me, have they said the vow's yet?

Shaking his head. "Uh...no...we were just about to."

I smiled and nodded. "Excellent."

Mr. Topaz, stepped from the pew and walked up to me. "What in the earth is the meaning of this interruption? It's bad enough you were missing from your duties this morning."

"Mr. Topaz. I apologize, but this is needed. You cannot allow your daughter to Marry Frances Fogarty. He is a liar and a thief...AND I CAN PROVE IT." I said, finishing with a shout.

"Get this insane woman out of here." Fangs bellowed.

Realizing I may just get kicked out, I pulled out from my bag a large green account book, and then ran to Fangs's father who was sitting not far away. He was a large man with a beard and resembled Santa Claus in a small way. He looked none too happy either. I then handed him the book.

"Mr. Fogarty Sir. This book, do you recognize this book?"

He looked down at it and paged through it, with a curious expression. "It's the account book from the trading house my son runs."

"It details all the transactions and how much money you are making. Yes?"

He nodded but then looked a bit angry. "Yes, my son shows me this book once a week. But how did you get this."

Fangs stormed up to me and poked me in the chest. "She's a thief, someone throw her out."

I tensed up and narrowed my eyes at him. "Touch me again and I'll cripple you."

Turning back to Mr. Fogarty, I pulled out a blue account book and handed it to him. "The green account book is the one he shows you every week. This blue one is the one he doesn't ever show you. Look at it, it is written in the same handwriting and style as the green book, only this one shows that Fangs has been embezzling from the firm and has been since he's started."

Fangs seemed to fume, but in his eyes, I could see fear. "She's a liar as well as a thief."

I looked to Toni briefly who was looking back at me with a mixture of shock, hatred, anger and disbelief. Her father, Mr. Topaz stepped back and crossed his arms, as if he wanted to hear what I had to say next.

As I had hoped, Mr. Fogarty started to look through the blue book. I then walked up and down the aisle and addressed the congregation. "Now while Fangs's father is looking at the books, I'll bet you're all wondering, just what is this supposed money being spent on."

"SHUT UP!" Raged Fangs.

"Bite me Dickweed." I snapped back, much to his confusion. "Oh and don't worry biff. You'll get your chance to defend yourself. Let's hope you have a good lawyer."

I then turned to the still very stunned and perplexed congregation. "Now to backtrack a bit, I was given the books by one Mr. Harold Ross an employee at the trading house that Fangs works at. He told me where the real account book was hidden. He was aware of the theft, but was afraid to say anything. I convinced him to do so. I can be very persuasive when I want to be. I also lied and told him I was a detective working for the Pinkerton agency. But what does Fangs spend his money on? Well thankfully he's very detailed in his entries. Gambling is his big vice, like for example he currently owe's Lord Hanford more than 30 pounds. But that's only one of his many creditors. The rest of his money is spent on his mistresses."

There was a brief gasp in the audience, as now several of them gave him rather dubious looks.

"I said mistresses' not mistress as in, he had two of them. I knew about one, but the entries told me about the other. The first is catherine Bodfish the other being Rachel Sherman. Now here's the funny part. Each one thought they were his true secret love and neither new about the other. At least until this morning."

I grinned and turned to Fangs who was still silently fuming. "Oh and by the way, they're not happy with you. In fact, neither wants to see you again."

"But good people who are assembled here today. I can stand here and make accusations all day. But I know what you want. You want proof, like those ledgers. "

I then pulled out two sheets of paper from my bad and walked over to an older woman. "Tell me Madam, would you say that these two letters are written in not only the same hand, but are identical, save for the name of the person it is addressed to."

Though confused, the old woman looked at the letters carefully.

"Yes, they are written in the same and are the same letter only addressed to separate people." She said, as she handed the letters back to me.

I took a deep breath ,smiled and held up the letters. "Now after finding them, I sat down today with Catherine and Rachel and we compared notes about Frances. Much to our surprise, they were the same note. He wrote the same love letter to both mistresses. Would you like to hear a sample?"

There was a stunned silence in the church save for a small boy who raised his hand. "I would."

I then ran up to the altar past a now very bewildered Toni and addressed the congregation.

After clearing my throat. "Dearest Catherine or Dearest Rachel, depending on which letter you're reading. Our last encounter left my heart a flutter. Though I am bound to another, only when I am with you, do I feel free. You're beauty is beyond anything I have seen in my travels of this earth, Queens, princess's, exotic beauties do not even compare to your unearthly beauty. Every day my love for you grows ever stronger."

Suddenly and much to my surprise, that rather horrible woman Hester stood up. I had no idea she had been invited to the wedding.

"HE SAID THAT TO ME!" She suddenly shouted, sounding very hurt.

Hester then looked to Fangs, tears now coming down her face. "You said I was the only one. You said you loved me." She then ran out.

As Hester fled church in tears, I looked to Fangs, who had begun to turn white. "My My, don't you get around. Three mistress's, how do you even find the time to steal money? But with 3 women to keep happy, you would certainly need to."

I handed the letters to Fangs's father, who was still studying the blue book and in a serious tone said. "You'll notice that the handwriting in the letters is exactly the same as the account books. I'm sure you'll see it is Frances's handwriting."

Fangs must have dug up some courage and again shouted. "Lies, Lies, these letters and that account books are a forgery, I have never been with that Hester woman and I have never stolen money. I am an honest man."

I nodded and looked again to the congregation. "I thought he'd say that." I then pulled out one final sheet of paper and held it up.

"Here is a statement signed by Harold Ross and witnessed by well-respected London solicitor Hugh McTavish this very morning. It states that Ross is aware of Fangs's embezzlement and will testify to that in a court of law. You see Mr. Ross said, Fangs threatened him with financial ruin if he said anything. I told him if he came clean, nothing would happen. Please Mr. Fogarty, do show some pity on Mr. Ross. Fangs at one point said his children would be taken from him."

When this first started, everyone assembled looked at me as if I were mad, now looking around, they were all now looking squarely at Fangs. Even a very stunned looking Toni was looking at him.

Fangs by this point turned white as a sheet and backed up. "Surely you can't believe the word of a servant. I...I...I'm innocent."

Fangs's father closed the book and stood up. "You told me you only owed Colonel Starkey 10 pounds, according to this, you owe him more than 50."

A now very nervous Fangs began to stammer. "Well...uh....I may have exaggerated a bit about..."

Fangs's father suddenly turned red and cut him off. "So these allegations are true. Gambling, embezzlement, womanizing, threatening that poor Mr. Ross to cover your evil deeds, you are disgrace to the Fogarty family name."

"Please father...it wasn't even a thousand pounds." Fangs said, his voice squeaking.

Seeming to explode, Fangs's father let him have it. "Frances Fogarty, as of this moment, I am cutting you off from all family funds, disinheriting you and firing you from your job at the trading house. All my estate, including my heredity title, will now pass to your brother Richard. YOU WILL GET NOTHING!"

Mr. Fogarty turned to a brown haired man in the audience. "Constable Hill, I see you are in attendance today. I would like you to place my....him under arrest. The charge is embezzlement and theft. He's a common criminal and deserves to be locked up like one."

I couldn't help but look at Toni, who now looked utterly devastated. It pained me to have to do that. I know that she believed he was a good guy and would indeed bring her happiness. But in order to save her, I had to shatter that illusion she lived under.

Fangs then looked at Toni with an odd look of contempt, then to the congregation. "At least I won't be stuck marrying that fat boring cow!"

Hearing him insult Toni in such a fashion, made my blood boil. "Oh you went there....You fucking bastard."

He didn't even have time to reply as I punched him right in the face. Not expecting the blow, he quickly staggered back. I moved forward and struck him several more times and I think one blow knocked out a tooth. I then kicked him right in the nuts."

He immediately screamed and then doubled over in pain.

"SHE IS NOT A FAT BORING COW!" I screamed, right before I kicked him in the ribs. Fangs at that point groaned, then collapsed to the floor.

All the recent excitement, compounded by the very unusual sight of a woman kicking a man's ass in a church was too much for several of the women in the audience. No less than 8 of them fainted; Toni being one of them.

I quickly looked to the stunned Vicar. "Sorry about that. It had to be done."

At this point the church broke into pandemonium, as people attended to the stricken women.

As her father rushed to her side, I looked to a now unconscious Toni with a breaking heart. "Good Bye Toni. Have a good life." I said quietly with a tear, as I slipped out of the church in the confusion.