Reign of Gears: A Clockmaker Mystery (Book One)

Chapter 1: Eccentric Detectives

Axel watched the crowds milling about the street, looking for someone who could use to donate their money to a worthy cause. That worthy cause being putting food in his stomach. It was midafternoon on a Friday and the crowds filled the streets. The ships had come to the harbor the night before and the shop windows were overflowing with the latest new wares. Anyone who was someone was here to get a glimpse of the latest fashion or newest technological gizmo. People of all social classes roamed the streets. Axel could not afford the linger long on these streets. Even among the riff-raff, under the dirt of the city, Axel was still recognizable. The police were, unfortunately, quite familiar with him. Last week he had botched a lift and the police had chased him all the way to the Thames. He couldn't risk getting spotted again.

Overhead airships floated, cutting through the hazy smog. In the middle of the city, visible from almost everywhere stood the London Spiral. It was an impressive structure that towered over the surrounding buildings. The building was due to be completed at the end of the week and the Queen was set to attend the unveiling. She had commissioned it for the celebration of her husband, the Prince Consort Alberts 25th birthday. Axel was looking forward to the crowds at the event. Lots of well-to-do's with deep pockets all in one spot, it was easy pickings for any decent thief. The matters of politics and architecture mattered very little to Axel. He was concerned with more attainable goals such as having something to eat and not getting knifed in his sleep.

His eyes swept the crowd again. A woman in a blue and white dress of very fine quality exited a shop across from where Axel was watching. Her dark hair was styled in an intricate braid. She looked around her and tucked her black parasol under her arm. He didn't see why she needed the parasol. What caught Axel's eyes though was the coin purse carelessly hanging on her hip. He slipped through the crowd, keeping his eyes on the women. She looked to her left and Axel bumped into her right side, nimble fingers plucking the bag from her belt.

"Sorry love," he said. He tucked the coin purse into his pocket.

"Vile pettite chose," she snapped. A French accent colored her voice. "Watch where you're going."

Axel tipped his cap and slipped off into the crowd. The bag felt heavy in his pocket. He would be able to eat a warm meal and have a roof over his head for the rest of the week. This week he had been having a string of good luck. They weren't large lifts, but nobody had noticed their empty pockets until was he far away and he hadn't gone hungry in a while. Axel wasn't lazy or incapable of holding a real job. There just wasn't a job that interested him enough for him to stay long. He had done them all, bag boy, a runner for the paper, sweeper. Axel would work at a job for a few weeks and then he would get bored. He was good with his hands, but none of the local craftsmen were taking on apprentices and he had to survive somehow.

Axel moved through the crowd. There was a pub several streets over that served a delicious rabbit stew. Before he could head that way, a strong hand gripped his upper arm in a vice-like grip.

"That was very good," the owner of the hand said. His voice was low and gravelly. "Now unless you want me to notify the young lady of her missing purse, I suggest you come with me." Axel glanced at the man. He had short hair that was grayer than black. There were batches of grey hair growing on his sunken cheeks. A scar cut across his face, one eye was milky white and the other startling blue. Altogether the man was a terrifying figure.

A million thoughts ran through Axel's mind and none of them were good. Coppers were not usually this subtle, they favored their billy clubs too much. Rat Snatchers were never this public. They grabbed people in deserted back alleys, not crowded city streets. He had had run-ins with both groups. Axel tried to pull his arm free, but the man tightened his grip as he pulled Axel through the streets.