Jewel

Prologue

A/N: Dear Readers,

Please read Elsie before reading Jewel. There is very important background information in the first book that is necessary for understanding its sequel. Thank you.

TW: Violence

June 1888

NYC

"In addition to her broken ribs and arm, there were imprints of the sole of a man's shoe evident on her left thigh..."

Linus Patterson listened with thinly veiled horror as the witness, a Doctor Revoire, described each of the woman's injuries in disturbing detail. Linus knew that Eileen Jones had been brutally beaten working in an elegant brothel in the city, but until this moment, his mind had failed to comprehend just how gruesome it truly was. She had been struck multiple times with the man's cane – at least two dozen, as far as the doctor could determine from the wounds that she sustained.

The courtroom was deathly silent as the doctor continued with his statement. Linus watched the defendant, Mr. Pike, as each grisly act was recounted. Mr. Pike sat motionless with no sign of remorse on his face. If anything he looked bored or annoyed at the proceedings. Linus felt sick to his stomach just looking at the man.

Once the doctor concluded, the defense attorney took time to cross examine. Next to him, Linus could feel his childhood friend, Clement Jones, stiffen as the defense attempted to cast doubt on the doctor's testimony. Clement was the cousin of the victim. Linus knew very well how distraught Clement had been when the awful event occurred. He promised Clement he would support him through the legal proceedings, and he had. He intended to sit by Clement every day in court until justice was served.

Linus gently clapped a hand on Clement's shoulder, trying to ease the frustrated tension radiating from his friend. Although it was at times painful to watch an attorney defending a man who was clearly guilty, the justice system was built upon the right to a fair trial. This was part of the process. Linus was a lawyer himself, and though he worked in corporate law rather than in criminal cases, he was well acquainted with the process. He continually reminded his friend that the prosecution had everything they needed to put Mr. Pike behind bars for a long time to come. They just had to be patient.

Still, the defense rattled on, often drawing attention to the fact that the victim was a prostitute, clearly attempting to arouse prejudice in the jury. Clement was practically bristling with rage.

"These... women," the defense attorney was saying, "often bring upon themselves such—"

"Damn you!" Clement shouted, suddenly on his feet before Linus could stop him. "That's a lie!"

"Order!" the judge pounded his gavel and shot Clement a death glare. "Might I remind the defense, prosecution, and spectators present that I will have order in my courtroom, or I shall find the offender in contempt of court!"

Linus stood, gently easing his friend back into his seat.

When the court adjourned, Linus heaved a big sigh. The defense was good, for certain, but he still had faith in the system. The two men walked toward the exit, only to be stopped by an officer with whom Linus was acquainted.

"It's rather common, you know," the officer commented in the course of the conversation.

"Pardon?" Clement asked. "What's common?"

"Violence in a whorehouse," the policeman remarked casually.

Linus glanced at his friend and noticed the way that Clement clenched his jaw. "It shouldn't be," Clement gritted out.

The officer shrugged. "Comes with the territory."

Clement stepped toward the policeman, and Linus began to feel uneasy.

"This man must be brought to justice for what he has done to Miss Jones – regardless of who she is or what she does!" Clement returned hotly.

Linus extended an arm to gently block Clement from following the officer any further. "And so he shall," he assured his friend in a low voice. "We'll get him. The law is blind, Clement."

Clement sighed deeply and turned back as the policeman left the room. "Is it?" he asked, as he dropped into a nearby chair. "You're a lawyer. You of all people should know how a jury can be swayed – how a judge might be influenced."

Linus watched as Clement slouched in his seat, his elbows on his knees. He ran his hands through his hair and then buried his face in his palms.

"Clement," Linus took a seat next to his friend and spoke in a low, firm voice, "I can't deny that there have been times that the justice system has neglected its purpose. However, let me assure you that in my experience as a lawyer, it has seldom failed. The prosecution will do their very utmost to ensure that Miss Jones sees justice done."

Finally, Clement raised his head, his eyes weary and bloodshot from the stress of the day. "Linus, after everything Eileen has been through... and you don't know the half of it... this man must be brought to justice. I – I can't let this man walk away."

Linus's brows furrowed at the cryptic statement. "What do you mean? Have there been other instances?"

"I just mean that Eileen has been wronged. She has been wronged too many times," Clement ran his hands through his hair and blew out a breath. "She never had a chance."

Linus wanted to ask what else had happened, but he could see that his friend was beyond fatigued and not in the mood to enlighten him.

"Go home. Rest, Clement," he ordered his friend. "We will get this man, but the day is over now."

Clement only nodded. They stood together and Linus accompanied his friend back to Clement's mansion, Elmsdale. From there, Linus would walk home, not many blocks away.

"I put her in your room," Clement suddenly divulged just as they were about to part ways. "I mean... the room that your parents always stayed in when they visited."

A light smile graced Linus's face as distant memories danced across his mind. He and Clement had been good friends growing up, and their parents had been especially close. Linus vividly remembered the two of them giving their younger siblings all kinds of trouble in Clement's home at Elmsdale Mansion. Those had been happy years.

"The best room in the house," Linus remarked. "She is well-taken care of, Clement."

Clement nodded. "Thank you, Linus... for being there today."

"I'll be there tomorrow as well— every day from now until the bastard is behind bars," Linus assured him.

The men parted. Clement walked up the drive toward his home, and Linus continued down the street. Just as he was about to veer around the corner and lose sight of Elmsdale Mansion, he turned for one last glance. There, in the room that he knew to be the one that his parents had always inhabited on visits, he could see a warm light glowing, and a frown took over his face. His thoughts turned to the gorgeous blonde woman who now occupied that room. He couldn't fathom what could have happened to her... a beautiful, educated young woman who came from such a wealthy family. Yet, she had ended up working in a parlor house somehow, and nearly beaten to death. He thought back to Clement's ambiguous words at the courthouse. Whatever had happened to Eileen Jones in the past, Linus was certain it was worse than he could imagine.