Brotherhood of Secrets: Victorian Psychological Suspense

Praise for Anatomy of a Darkened Heart,

the first book in the Dark Victoriana Collection

If you have any interest in the Victorian era, dark stories, or even just a love of beautiful writing, this is a book you must read.

—Travis West, author of What Was Left

Christie Stratos has taken meticulous care with the use of symbols throughout this story, enhancing her characters with sinister traits that she offsets with unique backstory or extenuating circumstances, blurring the line between good and villain line enough to make this a super compelling read.

—MM Jaye, author of the Greek Tycoons series

Christie Stratos has written this story in such a wonderful way and brings the 19th century to life…I was completely mesmerized by this slice of the 1800s as Christie presented it to us.

—The Scary Reviews

The writing is phenomenal. It’s not a long book, and the author makes every word count. Her descriptions are perfectly refined to give the reader exactly the amount of detail you need.

—Sunshine Somerville, author of The Kota series

I loved it. If I had to categorize this work I would say that it is a much darker version of Alcott’s work.

—Amazon review

The author clearly did a lot of research to get her facts right about many different aspects of the Victorian era, right down to details, which gives the story a believable quality and brings it to life. Frighteningly so.

—Autumn (Amazon review)

"There are times when the author delivers moments of sheer sadness of a tragic quality that profoundly moved me. That is not easy to achieve, whatever your talents as a writer…Psychologically compelling and full of depth, intelligent, beautifully written, literary but easily accessible, Anatomy of a Darkened Heart may well begin a new era of dark Victorian-era fiction."

—Jason Greensides, author of The Distant Sound of Violence

The psychological twists and turns kept the tension high and the way Christie could get me to sympathize with a character in one chapter and despise them three chapters later was masterfully done.

—Emily S. (Amazon review)

I liked the natural progression of the story, how each character’s darkness stood out more as the story went. It isn't easy to give a character his or her own world while keeping the story in check and allowing for each storyline to merge and form into a coherent piece of masterful awesomeness.

—J.B. Taylor, author of the Dissimilar Shorts series

This was definitely a book full of intrigue and mystery…

—Amazon review

Brotherhood of Secrets: a Dark Victoriana Collection novel (Book 2)

Copyright © Christie Stratos (2017, 2018). All Rights Reserved.

Second edition. Previously published as LOCKE AND KEYE.

Published by Proof Positive Publishing

Cover art design: Ebook Launch (http://ebooklaunch.com)

Editing and proofreading services: Proof Positive (http://proofpositivepro.com)

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the author with the subject line Brotherhood of Secrets Permissions at cstratos.writes@gmail.com.

The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictional. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please delete and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

ISBN: 978-0-9967812-4-4

To everyone who told me I could—thank you.

Books by this author

From the Dark Victoriana Collection:

Anatomy of a Darkened Heart

Brotherhood of Secrets

There will be many more to come in this collection…

Short stories by this author

Self Portrait in the Awethology Dark anthology

Piece and Quiet in The December Awethology Dark Volume anthology

Focal Point in the Gems of Strength anthology

Intent in the Gems of Gratitude anthology

Welcome to Locke and Keye,

brothers in the art of keeping secrets.

We are ready to keep yours.

Enter.

February 8, 1849

Dearest Prospective Locke and Keye Employee:

I greatly look forward to having you in my employ on a trial basis. Until I choose my permanent employees, you will rotate your work schedule as I require. I know you will be agreeable.

It is typical in most locksmith shops to wear a costume of loose shirt and apron, and for the men at the shop’s counter, a waistcoat. However, I ask that you attend in a full suit no matter the job you perform. You may only remove your jacket and waistcoat while working out of sight to make locks and keys and use equipment, in which case you will wear an apron provided to you by Locke and Keye. The apron is to stay in the shop. Please enter and leave the shop fully dressed; lock makers must remove their apron and appear in front of customers with at least a waistcoat.

I expect to see you no later than seven o’clock in the morning starting Monday.

Sincerely,

Mr. Locke

Mr. Locke’s journal

March 8, 1849

Locke and Keye Employee Candidates

Locksmiths, lock builders, key makers

Matthew Hunniford, age 30: eager to please; good manners; experience as a locksmith and working the front of the store; has no family and isn’t in contact with his parents (topic is sensitive)

William Burke, age 27: experience with lock picking; independent—DO NOT HIRE

Edward Penn, age 35: pushy; asks too many questions—DO NOT HIRE

Luke Forge, age 32: makes a daunting appearance, very well built but doesn’t seem aggressive; focused; eager; experience with customers and key making; made it clear he has no attachments anywhere

Nicholas Jenson, age 33: has a family—DO NOT HIRE

Jude Wickes, age 30: strange mannerisms; has no family of his own, did not want to answer questions about his parents; past employers consistently report stalking and obsession; fired from every job he has held; very good lock picker; willing to do menial tasks and visit homes for lock picking and installation

Owen McPherson, age 39: master locksmith; strong willed—DO NOT HIRE

George Fallow, age 29: experience in lock building; has a family—DO NOT HIRE

Thomas Lobb, age 48: formerly had his own locksmithing business; particularly good at picking difficult locks; too close in age to me—DO NOT HIRE

John Sinnett, age 37: keen; lock builder, key maker, designer; highly skilled and talented; goes along with all creative suggestions; no family

Apprentices

William Stead, age 16: family lives in town; experienced, father used to be a locksmith—DO NOT HIRE

Timothy Kiddson, age 14: not very knowledgable in the trade but eager to learn; shy, moldable; orphaned

Phineas Moore, age 12: still lives with family—DO NOT HIRE

Mr. Locke

March 10, 1849

Mr. Locke stood in front of the store’s counter and faced his final selection of permanent employees, lined up one next to the other in front of him.

Locke and Keye has been open for one full month now, and I’ve chosen you five men as the ones I will keep, Mr. Locke said. He looked each person in the eye as he spoke. Judgment had already been passed, and yet Mr. Locke’s inclined head and unwavering frown said it was still being made. The number of staff will not grow any larger than this. I would like to keep this shop… he chose his words carefully, manageably small. He paused and took something out from behind his back. I would also like to keep better track of what our customers buy. Mr. Locke held out a thick ledger. From now on, when you work on anything new, and whatever is purchased from our store, however small, you will record their names. We must have names.

He looked each person in the eye one at a time again. The apprentice nodded and looked away under Mr. Locke’s glare. He was obviously intimidated. Just as it should be. The others met his gaze although their eyes shifted. They would do what he said, that much he knew. They would become loyal. One man, only one, stared back with unblinking, unshifting olive green eyes. Yes, he would do nicely.

Mr. Locke’s slow and careful choice of permanent employees had been well worth the effort.

We can identify each customer’s buying habits, anticipate what to stock, what they do and don’t need. That will ensure our profits are higher and our losses are lower.

Mr. Locke looked at his gold pocket watch.

Five minutes until we open our doors, Mr. Locke said. And remember. Get their names…no matter what.

*

Matthew

Matthew couldn’t have secured a better job if he’d created the position himself. Mr. Locke was the kind of shop owner—the kind of person—you only came across once in a lifetime. If you were lucky.

I need to keep this job. This one has to last longer than the others. If I can just fit in here… What was Mr. Locke looking for that made him choose me? Am I still doing whatever it is that made such a good impression on him? I must keep my nerves under control. Just carry out the job, and if he doesn’t like me, he’ll fire me. Clearly. But still…to have been so careful which of us he chose to hire, he must have been looking for something rather specific to choose me. If only I knew what it was so I could make sure I continue to please him…

At the end of today—Locke and Keye’s first day of keeping the ledger—Mr. Locke said with his stern face, I’d like to invite all of you for supper tonight. It’s short notice, I know, but I’d like to discuss your first day using the ledger. I don’t want to keep you here late. Please join me for the evening. My home is only a short carriage ride away.

This was something Matthew had never heard of, outside of a planned party. It was most unusual to invite employees—new employees especially—to such an intimate occasion. Mr. Locke dressed quite richly compared to the rest of the locksmiths, and his manners were more refined. He probably lived in some grand two-story home with a couple of servants. Matthew had a small apartment, and he was sure the other men weren’t much better off. It was too soon to talk to them about their living arrangements, even though they were all in the same working class position. And yet Mr. Locke, miles above them socially, was inviting them to his home for supper. They would probably meet Mrs. Locke, a flock of children, and eat well for this one night that he wanted to discuss something. It was kind all the same.

Matthew didn’t pass it up. None of the others did either.

*

John

One by one, mouths dropped open in the carriage as it approached not a house but a mansion. John had seen beautiful homes, large homes, and many combinations of the two. But this…this was unprecedented. The house was so tall John couldn’t see the top even when he put his head against the window.

Mr. Locke said nothing as they drove up the extraordinarily long driveway. Just how wealthy was this man? John had only ever lived in small, relatively cramped quarters, but even so he couldn’t imagine what he would do with that much space. There had to be so much emptiness.

He glanced at the other men again. All stared out the windows—all except Jude. Jude watched Mr. Locke as if he was the only thing that mattered. Mr. Locke was looking down, seemingly unsure whether to remove his gloves now or once they got inside the mansion. He pulled at his gloved ring finger, pulling the glove off the finger a bit, and then tugged it back into place, securing it on his hand again. He looked up into Jude’s eyes. Jude did not look away. It was the oddest and longest stare John had ever witnessed—eye to eye, neither seeming to feel abashed or awkward, neither blinking. There was an understanding, almost palpable. John knew it, although he didn’t understand what it meant. Neither of the men noticed their onlooker.

After the carriage stopped, Mr. Locke broke the stare when the footman opened the door from the outside. Jude followed Mr. Locke with his eyes. John couldn’t tell if Jude was like a puppy who had finally found his master or a wolf who had found his next target; either way, his stare was so extremely unsettling. John felt a mass lower in his throat, something between apprehension and sadness. The mass stayed there until Jude exited the carriage.

John stepped down from the carriage and looked at the mansion in its full enormity, an architectural achievement all its own just for its five-story height, although it had none of the customary gingerbread work. Then something caught John’s eye. Spikes jutting skyward from every peak of the house, tall and thin and knife-like. He had seen decorative pieces rise upward from houses’ peaks, but nothing as intimidating as this. Each must have been ten feet high and seemed to slice the sky with its sharpness.

Come along, John, Matthew said from the stairs of the house. John felt a strong impulse to grab Matthew away from the house and run. But it would do no good. They were both already in its shadow.

*

Luke

As soon as Luke stepped inside the house, a footman was upon him to take his coat, hat, and gloves. There seemed to be a footman for each man. How many footmen could one house have? Mr. Locke’s whole family must live here, including his parents, his wife’s parents, and…was he old enough to have grandchildren? It was hard to tell. His beard hid any lines around his mouth and he didn’t have any gray in his hair.

The entry was an expanse of oil-painted floorcloth that led down halls to the left and right, and a tall staircase ahead with a gradual incline that ascended to the left, out of sight. The ceiling was high and patterned with unusual moldings that were so oversized, they had their own shadows. They were huge, rounded diamond shapes with detailed carved flowers in their centers that protruded so far they almost looked as if they could fall off the ceiling. Each diamond built flower upon flower to create a sort of pyramid that climaxed with a woman’s face.

When Luke looked away from the ceiling, he saw Matthew ahead of him. Matthew turned around to look back to Luke, raising his eyebrows up and down quickly. He appeared just as amazed. He nodded his head toward the hallway to the right. That must have been where Mr. Locke had gone. Interesting that he hadn’t waited for his guests before walking into the next room. Luke followed Matthew under the gaze of each woman in the center of her diamond.

*

Timothy

The table in the dining room was for large dinner parties, twenty people. Their intimate group was six: one place setting at the head of the table, then two on one side and three on the other. That left one place setting with nothing across from it. Mr. Locke made no excuse for this strange arrangement. It was so improper that the men stood a distance from the table, just staring at each other. But Mr. Locke stood at the prepared head of the table, waiting with his hands on the chair in front of him. He gave no instructions. A footman stood quietly behind him, focusing ahead at nothing.

Timothy looked at the others. He was only an apprentice, half the age of all the other men. He hadn’t the right to choose where he sat. His head hung down with insecurity, watching for the others’ reactions. They all looked one to the next. Finally Matthew walked to the seat in the middle of three—the odd-chaired side—and began to pull his chair out when he stopped abruptly. He moved to his right, the seat directly on Mr. Locke’s left, and a footman appeared to stop him from pulling out his own chair. The footman stood behind Matthew in a way that would have seemed awkward had the servant not stood so tall and confidently.

Name cards. There must be name cards. Still, Timothy waited. Matthew seemed like the kind of man who would know what to do all the time—Timothy had noticed this in the short time they’d made each other’s working acquaintance. And Timothy wasn’t Matthew. Timothy was only an apprentice.

Jude stood behind the chair on Mr. Locke’s right side directly next to him, the most important place any of them could sit. A footman stood behind him, and when Luke walked around the table to sit next