Fic: Mr. & Mrs. John Moore (aka Miss Sara Howard Moore) VIII: Beaded Pearls (3/10)
Title: Mr. & Mrs. John Moore (aka Sara Howard Moore) VIII: Beaded Pearls (3/10)
Author: BradyGirl_12
Pairings/Characters (this chapter): Laszlo Kreizler, John/Sara (Sara doesn't appear in this chapter), Julia Ogden, Greta Bremer
Fandoms: The Alienist/Murdoch Mysteries
Genres: Angst, Drama, Historical, Holiday, Horror, Mystery, Suspense
Rating (this chapter): G
Warnings (this chapter): None
Spoilers: None
Summary: Halloween still clings to Pine Grove like cobwebs.
Chapter Summary: John and Julia find pleasant lodgings.
Date Of Completion: March 14, 2021
Date Of Posting: October 14, 2022
Disclaimer: I don’t own ‘em, Universal does, more’s the pity.
Word Count (this chapter): 1059
Feedback welcome and appreciated.
The entire series can be found here.
III
Sanctuary
In the midst of fog,
Comes clarity
In the form of
Sanctuary.
Ellen Terry Carroway
"Wisps Of Poetry"
1861 C.E.
Laszlo conducted another session with Andy after lunch with Julia and John in attendance. At the end of the day Laszlo directed his carriage driver to drop his companions off at Bremer's Boarding House and then headed home.
John had engaged rooms for him and Julia, as he planned to spend a few days helping with Andy. Mrs. Bremer, a German immigrant, welcomed them warmly.
"A doctor and reporter for The New York Times? My, I'm coming up in the world," joked the portly woman as she smiled.
"Your boarding house comes highly recommended, Mrs. Bremer," said John.
"Glad to hear it, Mr. Moore. Come in, come in."
The rooms were small but pleasant with chintz curtains and ruffled bedspreads. Both new roomers were pleased
"Breakfast and supper are included," Mrs. Bremer said.
"Perfect. I'll be at the asylum all day, so shall take lunch there," said Julia
"Goodness, you'll need a decent supper for sure."
"You speak the truth," said John.
He and Julia went out to the veranda as their landlady started supper. They sat in wicker rocking chairs and admired the view of the residential street with its neat houses. Trees surrounded the houses and still held splashes of color
"Lovely neighborhood," said Julia.
"I like the peace and quiet. That is one thing New York is not."
"Neither is Toronto. I suppose that is the way of big cities."
"You must have been busy as City Coroner."
"Very much so."
"What was it like working with the famous Detective Murdoch?"
Julia looked a little uncomfortable but said brightly, "Quite stimulating, actually. He's a brilliant detective."
"So I heard."
"You heard correctly."
"Your cases must have been exciting."
"Life was never dull."
"But you're leaving."
"Yes. I was happy in the morgue, but after several years there it was time for a change."
John was very comfortable in his rocker, but he sensed there was more to the story. However, that was Julia's private business.
"What did you think of Andy?" he asked.
Julia rocked slowly. "I'm inclined to believe he is not insane, but I need to explore his ramblings."
"Did Laszlo go into detail about the dreams Sara and I had?"
"You dreamt of hauntings."
"Strange things happened the night we spent in Pine Grove."
Julia's interest was piqued. "What sort of strange things?"
"The room we stayed in became icy-cold. We heard strange noises. There was fog in the house!"
"But that was just part of your dream."
"Was it? Laszlo won't even entertain the thought of something supernatural."
"And you think it might be?" Julia's eyes were bright with interest.
"I don't know " John felt frustrated. "But I've been thinking. How could Sara and I dream the same things?"
"You spent the night at the mansion on Halloween."
"Yes "
"You could have merely taken the archetypes of ghosts and other things and both dreamed them."
John was still unconvinced. "It's really strange."
"The mind can conjure terrifying things."
"Yes, I know." He thought of the past murder cases solved with Laszlo and the darkness in which the minds of the murderers had inhabited. "Alienists have only begun to delve into the mind, eh?"
"We've barely scratched the surface."
"Laszlo thinks the supernatural is just manifestations of the human mind."
Julia smiled as she rocked. "Laszlo is a very practical man."
He says doctors are far more practical than writers," John said wryly.
His companion laughed. "That's Laszlo! He is a brilliant doctor, but considers writers as over-imaginative."
"Oh, definitely."
"What does your wife think?"
"Sara? She's practical, too."
"It must be a trait of detectives." Amusement suffused Julia's voice.
"Ah." John smiled. "All great detectives need their Dr. Watsons."
"Actually, I've met Sir Arthur Conan Doyle."
"You have? I love the Sherlock Holmes stories!" John stopped rocking. "How did you meet him?"
"He worked on a case with William. He was quite clever."
"No doubt." John noticed the use of Detective Murdoch's first name. Interesting.
"Supper's ready," said Mrs. Bremer as she opened the front door.
"Excellent, Mrs. Bremer." John stood and offered his arm to Julia, who took it gracefully.
Mrs. Greta Bremer's dining room contained a solid walnut dining room table, chairs and sideboard. A pewter chandelier hung over the table set with modest china and delicious-smelling food.
"Can I help you, Mrs. Bremer?" asked Julia.
"No, everything's all set. Have a seat."
Julia and John chose places and Greta Bremer brought in cups of coffee, and as soon as she sat down, supper began.
There was excellent roast beef, buttered peas and mashed potatoes, and hot biscuits. Good plain food that was highly satisfying, along with strong, flavorful coffee.
"Excellent, Mrs. Bremer," said John.
"Thank you, sir. Always a pleasure to cook for people who appreciate it."
"Well, that you have, good lady."
Greta laughed. "You're quite the charmer."
"Yes, I've only known him for two days, and I can attest to that." Julia sipped her coffee.
"So you're working at the asylum, Dr. Ogden?"
"For a short time. I'm doing a special evaluation for Dr. Laszlo Kreizler of New York City."
"I've heard of him. Pretty famous fella."
Julia nodded. "He's a brilliant doctor."
"I feel sorry for the people in that place." Greta shook her head.
"They are beknighted souls, to be sure."
"You're doing God's work, Doctor."
"Thank you, Mrs. Bremer "
John silently agreed, and he hoped that Julia could help Andy.
& & & & & &
Thick woods were all around him, and John thought he saw something swinging from one of the trees. Swallowing hard, he moved forward, but nothing was there. Perhaps it had been wisps from the underlying fog. He shivered with cold and turned around abruptly. Had someone whispered behind him? He felt the ground soften beneath his boots and experienced a sinking feeling in his stomach.
& & & & & &
John awoke feeling unsettled. Birds sang outside his second floor window, and the day was autumnal-bright.
Why did he feel wisps of fog still clinging to him?
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