A new Case

Laudanum


I woke up in the middle of the night by a loud rumble. As I looked out of the window I could make out the branches of a tree which reached into the lighted up sky for merely two seconds before another rumble followed. Uncountable raindrops pelted against the roof and window.
The thunderstorm in my head was not less disturbing. I laid in bed for at least an hour concentrating on the pounding head-ache before I decided to brew up a herbal tea for myself to reduce the pain hoping I would be able to fall asleep again.

I threw on my lacy white rope and lit a candle before exiting my bedroom.
Everybody must have been fast asleep for there was no lighten room whatsoever.
I rushed down the stairs for I did shudder at the thought of being alone in this big old house.

I pushed open the solid wooden door leading to the kitchen. I held my candle out glimpsing into the room before walking inside. The floor was cold and dirty and I felt as if I was walking on ice blocks instead of feet.
I headed for the cupboard where spices and herbs were kept instantly.
I wanted to brew up a ginger and peppermint tea knowing it would be the right medication to heal a headache. I tripped from one foot to another for it was so cold as I reached to opened the doors.
A penetrating smell came from inside of it. As I opened the doors I saw the shelves filled with at least two dozens of small brown bottles.

“What on earth is this?” I asked out loud as I picked one out.
I pulled the cork out of the bottle squeezing my nostrils shut.
It was a tincture and one I have never seen being used to spice up food with.
Although I have never cooked a meal myself , I did spent uncountable hours of my childhood watching Rosemarie ,our former kitchen maid, preparing the most delicious meals for our family.

I took a closer look at the bottle. Although I did not know what it was the bottle seemed familiar.

Then it occurred to me. I have seen it stand on my late husbands bedside locker the morning I found him motionless and covered in vomit thinking it was the medicine doctor Thomson had given him.

Suddenly a wicked suspicion interrupted my trail of thoughts.
“Poison” I said out loud my heart pondering powerfully in my chest.
I felt a strong feeling of anxiety rushing through my body.

Before wasting another thought I ran out into the hallway, slipped into my shoes and threw my red coat over my night grown and morning rope.
I put the bottle into my pocket and stormed out of the house and into the quiet streets of New York.
It was still pelting down but I ran as fast as I could. I ran as if it were a matter of life and death…which it was if you considered it closely.

For the first time I was glad to live in the centre of the city for the police station wasn’t very far away. And I knew from the Constable’s note that he didn’t live far away from the station.

It took me less than 45 minutes to reach a grey building that hardly differed from any other building. It didn’t remember the house number clearly but I thought it was either 254 or 256. I was still as upset and out of breath and ventured the possibility of somebody thinking I was a mad women and taking me to the mental house.
But I didn’t care.

I looked up to the windows, rain dripping into my face, and screamed on the top of my lungs.
“Constable Crane!!!! Constable Crane!!!!”

No sign of reaction.

I screamed louder.

“Constable Crane!!!! Ichabod Crane!!!”

Suddenly I saw a man opening one of the top windows. He leaned out of the window and I could finally make out the sleepy figure of Ichabod Crane.
“Oh Constable.” I said quietly almost sinking to the ground of feeling such relief.

He opened the front door less than a minute later wearing nothing but a plane white nightdress made out of canvas that reached to his knees. A sight a women could get used to if I may add.

Still not having caught my breath I rushed to him and wrapped my arms around his neck. His whole body tensed , his arms hanging stiffly to his side, but I didn’t let go.

“Oh Constable…”I repeated. “I’m in such need of your help.” I said in between deep breaths.
“You are soaked. ”he acknowledged. And I was indeed, wet streaks of my hair fell into my face and water practically dripped from my coat. Even my rope and night grown were wet.

He led me to his apartment . It was nice…not as luxurious but cosy. He had many shelves filled with books. He lit a fire in the fireplace , took off my jacket and hung it beside the fireplace. “Calm down and warm up now. Then you can tell me what happened.”
I did as told and crouched down in front of the fire, rubbing my hands.

He excused himself and disappeared behind a door. His bedroom I believed.
As he came back out he wore a pair of black trousers underneath his night dress and he shyly announced that he put one of those onto the bed for me to change. He nervously scratched his head.
I thanked him for his kindness and asked if it really were all right. He assured me that it was and told me he’d be waiting in here.

He was really thoughtful, the Constable. A pure person I could tell.

I hesitantly went into his bedroom after all it was the most intimate place for a stranger to go into. It was rather empty. Only a bed stood beside the window. There hung a mirror above a cabinet where three books laid on and a cupboard stood next to the door.
I took off my soaking wet rope and night dress and slipped into the fresh white one belonging to the Constable.
Although it was washed it carried a manly sent…his sent and if there was heaven I surely was in it then.

When I came back a cup of tea was waiting for me. The Constable sat in one of the two armchairs in front of the fire place observing the sparks. I sat down quietly. He turned towards me and asked: “Are you still cold?”
“A little.”I replied.

He grabbed the blanket that laid on top of his chair, unfolded it and walked over to me. He gently placed the blanket over my body.

“Thank you.” I said almost in a whisper gazing into his eyes.
“Welcome.” He replied in the same tone.
We sat in pleasant silence for a while both of us starring into the fire.

As my gaze shifted and as I saw my red coat I remembered the reason for coming.
“I woke up with a terrible headache tonight…” I began to tell him what happened, he turned his head to me and listened carefully.
” and decided to medicate it with a tea. In the kitchen I opened a cupboard and found a great amount of small brown bottles with a liquid substance inside sitting on the shelves. There is one in the pocket of my coat.” I pointed to the coat. He stood up and took it out, looking at it before sitting back down.
“I remember seeing one of those on my late husband’s bedside locker thinking it was medicine when I found him….dead.” I continued starring at my bare feet.

“It was terrible to see him laying in his own.” I paused “ vomit and urine.” I continued making a grimace.

“Laudanum!” he said holding it up. “It is an opiate, a drug and indeed used as medicine but it is lethal in high dose. And no doctor has the ability to give a “great amount” as you say, for it has to be documented” He explained.


“Do you think he was…” I couldn’t finish the sentence. The thought of it was too cruel.
“Poisoned?” he asked, finishing the sentence for me.
I nodded.
“Most likely.” he said.
“Oh god.” I mouthed to myself squeezing my eyes shut.
“When I examined his body, the same smell escaped his gastric.”

It was already dawn when I woke up in the arm chair. I noticed a pair of beautiful brown eyes starring at me.
“Good morning.” the Constable said.
“Morning.” I yawned and stretched myself before looking around a little confused but then remembering where I was again.

“You fell asleep and I didn’t dare to wake you up.” he told me looking shyly at the floor.
“Thank you”
I leaned back and watched him go to the window.

“Your coat is almost dry. And there are a few carriages parking outside.”
I nodded, stood up and started folding up the blanket but the Constable came, took it away from me and did it himself.
“It’s all right. You don’t have to do that.” He smiled at me.
It was the first time he actually smiled at me and my stomach was full of butterflies as they like to say. I smiled back at him before I put on my coat and grabbed my clothes.

He accompanied me to one of the carriages. He held the door open for me as I climbed inside and told the coachman where to take me. He gave him some money before he turned to me.
“ Thank you for validating my suspicion. It was really important for the case. You are a great help. I kept the Laudanum as evidence.” he told me.
I nodded my head feeling a little disappointed.
“I enjoyed your company.” I told him bluntly.
“As did I.” he said blushing but showing me his lovely smile once more.
“Thank you for everything….Ichabod.”

I really put it to the test then feeling anxious about his reaction.

“No thank you…..Mary – Alice.” He replied still smiling.
“Good-bye.”
“See you soon.” I said before he closed the door and stepping back.

He waited until the carriage took off.
I waved at him until he was too far away to be seen.