“Yes, she does.” Robert smiled. “Do you see, Officer?”
“I’m beginning to.” The officer replied gravely.
“Tell them!” Edward snapped at his ailing wife. “Tell them that you gave birth to the boy!”
Corliss Cage was silent.
“How could you do this to me?” Edward roared.
“Mrs. Cage,” Robert began gently. “From where did you get the child?”
“Iolanthe…” Corliss rasped.
“She has no idea what she’s saying!” Edward moaned nervously. He reached for Corliss’ throat, but Robert and the officer restrained him.
“We bought him…” Corliss sputtered.
“Is it true, Mr. Cage? Did you buy the child?” The officer asked, releasing Edward.
His face red with rage, Edward Cage groaned, “Yes! I bought him!”
“We’ll be leaving now,” Robert nodded.
“Not so fast,” The officer stopped Robert.
“Why not?”
“If Mr. Cage paid money for the child, it seems to me that the child is his property.”
Edward’s face registered surprise, and, then, he began to grin.
“What are you saying?” Robert asked. “Are you suggesting that selling a human being is legal?”
“I don’t sound so good when you say it.” The officer shrugged. “But, Mr. Cage paid for a service and for goods and those goods belong to him.”
“A child is not ‘goods.’” Robert snarled. “Though I shouldn’t be surprised! This comes from a man who works for a government which freely supports the sale of human beings into painful lives!”
“You need to leave my home,” Edward Cage hissed.
“I’m taking that child,” Robert said firmly.
“Try it, Sir,” The officer shook his head, “and you’ll end up in prison.”
Meanwhile, downstairs, Mr. Punch handed his nephew to Adrienne who cradled him while Cecil and Punch spoke to the younger officer.
“When me chum comes back, you’re gonna see that that boy is mine.”
“I don’t want an argument, Sir.” The Officer frowned. “We’re just trying to uphold the law.”
“The law?” Cecil sighed. “Or are you trying to line your own pockets? How much did Mr. Cage pay you?”
“You’re pressing your luck, Sir.” The officer warned.
“Is he?” Punch asked as he paced the foyer, pausing at a sideboard laden with bronze sculptures. He nodded a greeting to the figures.
“He’s a loon, ain’t he?” The Officer laughed.
“He’s a nobleman, and I’ll thank you not to speak ill of him.” Cecil squinted.
“Look at him,” The officer grinned. “He’s talking to the statues.”
Mr. Punch picked up one of the figures and studied it, pausing to look up at the officer. “They got more of worth to say, they do, than you got.”
“I see why Mr. Cage didn’t want him holding the baby.” The officer said to Cecil. “Still, I wonder if the two of you ain’t much better.” The officer looked toward the sideboard and noticed that Punch was no longer standing there. He felt the blow to his head as he slumped to the floor and the room went black.
Mr. Punch dropped the bloody bronze figurine next to the officer’s body.
“Come with me!” Punch said quickly, opening the door as Adrienne and Cecil looked on in horror. “Come on!”
Did you miss Chapters 1-389? If so, you can read them here.
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