JETHRO’S ACE OF HEARTS

a thirteen-part story, EXCLUSIVE to Trapped By Monsters

story (c) Sam Enthoven / illustrations (c) David Melling, 2009. All rights reserved.

(Click here for Slice One)

-Second Slice-

‘So sorry to trouble you,’ Mr Theophilus continued, his green eyes twinkling kindly. ‘But I couldn’t help noticing that t-shirt you’re wearing. It’s not… is it?’

‘An Official Jack the Ripper Fan Club t-shirt?’ said Jethro, swelling with pride. He was a very fat young man – the reason we were interested in him – so this was an impressive sight. ‘Yes! Yes it is, actually.’

‘My,’ said Mr Theophilus in a tone of respect. ‘That’s quite a difficult item to lay one’s hands on, I understand.’

‘Well, you know…’ Jethro’s shrug was casual but his ears were turning pink. ‘Why? Do you want one yourself?’

Mr Theophilus grinned his widest grin, displaying to perfection the gleaming whiteness and splendid condition of his teeth. ‘Oh, good heavens no! T-shirts aren’t really my line.’ His eyes locked onto Jethro’s and, almost imperceptibly at first, he began to nod. ‘I am interested in Jack the Ripper, though. Specifically, the man behind the myth. May I enquire: do you have a theory as to who he really was?‘

‘Well,’ said Jethro, finding himself nodding too, ‘I’ve, er, read all the books, of course. It’s kind of a hobby of mine. You know, serial killers.’

‘The mystery of the Ripper’s true identity,’ Mr Theophilus declared, ‘has now vexed the world for a hundred and twenty years!’

‘Yeah!’ said Jethro. ‘And sometimes the books have pictures!’

Mr Theophilus blinked and the nodding stopped for a moment. ‘Quite,’ he said. Then his eyes locked back on Jethro’s again. ‘Young man, would you like to know the answer?‘

-Click here for Slice Three-