Final Exit

The First Jack and Jill Short Story (a novella) by Arline Chase

Jillian Abercrombie and her brother, Jonathan, attend a benefit performance at the theater with their parents. There one of the actors makes a final exit, and Jon becomes smitten by an actress popularly known as "The Jerusalem Rose, while he solves the murder.

ISBN 1-59431-201-X Short Stories/ Paranormal Cover Art by Maggie Dix.

Also available in RTF and HTML formats.



Baltimore, MD June, 1901

On an evening that would end in murder, Jonathan Lloyd Abercrombie III sat beside his younger sister, Jillian, in a lower box overlooking stage right at the Lafayette Theatre. His mother posed on Jill's other side, while Jon’s father, an attorney known in the city as “Sidewinder Johnny”, spoke quietly to cronies in the back. Jon saw the new police commissioner join them. Harry Burke was a heavy-set man with an underslung jaw that had earned him the nickname, “Bulldog”.

If left to his own devices, Jon might have found better things to do, but Father had insisted he attend. Jon knew the old man was up to something. But what?

“He wanted me to meet some young man, but they’re not coming.” Jill whispered an answer to Jon’s unspoken question.

Jon shrugged. It wasn’t the first time his sister had read his mind. Their box so overhung the stage he could almost touch the actors. Except for a brief but galvanizing meeting-of-the-eyes with the tall and slender beauty who played “Columbine” in the commedia del l’arte, Jon felt bored. He tried not to think about the dark-eyed actress. Her single direct glance had caused him to check her name in the program. “Genevieve Desmond as Columbine,” looked magnificent.

Jon wouldn't have minded if his father hadn't forced Jill to come. She had a what MaMá called a “delicate constitution.” Less kind people often termed her “afflicted with a peculiar turn of mind.” Jon didn't know what to call it. Even in a new century, he felt that a practical man shouldn't embrace the word “psychic”, yet he had learned long ago that if Jill touched you, not even your most private thoughts remained hidden. Tonight, Father had insisted Jill attend the play. When Jon heard his father complain that one of his law partners had not brought his son, Jon realized his sister had been right about the attempt at matchmaking.

In an effort to hide his carnal thoughts about the actress, Jon was careful not to touch Jill’s arm as he whispered, “You look very pretty tonight.” She did look elegant in her emerald silk, with her tawny hair swept up in a golden cascade of ringlets.

“You, too. It's a shame your dinner jacket will be ruined.”

Jon smiled, as if her comment made sense. Jill leaned closer. “That woman over there thinks we're twins.” She nodded toward a woman in large improbable pearls who surveyed them through opera glasses.

Actually, Jon knew they looked alike. Same dark eyes, same straight nose, same generous mouth. But his hair was dark where Jill's was fair, and his jaw was square while Jill's pointed chin gave her face a heart shape. MaMá gave Jill a warning look, but she continued to stare at a woman who wore a large picture hat trimmed with ostrich feathers. A heavy gold snake bracelet coiled round the forearm of her opera glove. “She's the one.” Jill pointed with her fan, in case Jon hadn't seen.

“What—?”

Jill leaned closer and whispered, “Father's mistress.”