Death is the Beginning - Chapter Six
Ianto checked his pocket watch; it was 3.55pm as they let themselves in to the antique shop. Tosh had not uncovered very much exciting about Grayson only to say that he and his mother had purchased the shop nearly 20 years ago and been running a very successful antique business. It was only in the last six years that he had started the hypnotherapy business. From all the testimonials, it seemed he was quite good at it.
The shop appeared empty and they heard soft voices coming from the back. Feeling like intruders they hid behind a shelf and watched the session unfold.
“So, how long did your mother work for Sir Winston Churchill?”
The woman answered in a high pitched child’s voice.
“I was nearly six.” The woman looked to be in her late 70’s by Ianto’s estimation.
“I used to play with his dog and he used to like me to sit on his lap.”
“I bet he did,” whispered Jack, an evil grin spreading over his lips and Ianto poked him in the ribs.
“Now my dear, I need you to picture the hall. There was a lovely Wedgewood vase, can you remember what happened to that?”
Ianto scoffed as Jack shh’ed him.
“He gave it to his Joan.”
“Joan Astley?”
“Yeah...why?”
“Oh no reason my dear. Now I’m going to count to three at which point you will be wide awake, feeling refreshed and remember nothing of this conversation. One....Two...Three.”
The woman woke, her demeanour changing to that of the older woman she was.
With a deep rasping voice she spoke, “So, how did I do?”
“Very well my dear, I can safely say you won’t get any more of those pesky chocolate cravings.”
Ianto rolled his eyes at Jack, asking him the silent question if he still wanted to go through with this, but Jack was not to be deterred. He wanted answers; he wanted control back and the nightmares to stop.
Grayson welcomed them and told them to make themselves comfortable while he escorted the woman out and locked his shop.
Ianto remained standing, pacing nervously around the room looking at the various objects inside while Jack took the seat previously occupied by the woman.
“I thought since this is your first time that we would take it slow today, just an hour or two is that ok?”
Jack looked from Ianto to Grayson and nodded.
“What do you need me to do?”
“Just relax, let me do all the work. Mr Jones?”
“Yep?”
“Please come and sit, your making too much nervous energy in this room.”
Ianto did as he was told, sitting at the table slightly detached from the other men.
“Ok let’s get started.” He lit the candle in the centre of the table and took Jack’s hands in his.
“Focus your attention on the flame and I want you to stare at it.......Good......now imagine you are going down a flight of stairs, with each step you relax more and more and as you‘ll feel yourself going deeper and deeper into a state of hypnosis.”
Ianto watched as Jack’s breathing became deep, like on the edges of sleep.
“Now, since your reaction on the Plass might I suggest that you distance yourself from what you are seeing like you are watching a film about someone else, can you do that?”
Jack nodded.
“Ok, now at the bottom of the stairs I want you to picture a door. The door is very important to you. Through this door you will find whatever period of your life you need to visit the most. The door is now open. Step through and tell us where you are, what was the happiest moment.”
“The day Roman and Margaret first met.”
“Who’s Margaret?” Ianto asked.
“Quiet Mr Jones.” Ianto sat back crossing his arms across his chest with a scowl.
“Margaret Strauss.”
“Ok, let’s go back to when they first met. How long ago was this? Two years, three?”
“It was the summer of 1948....”
“Oh this is bullshit.”
“Mr Jones, I am warning you, if you cannot be quiet then leave!”
“Come on he just told you it was nearly 65 years ago, I think this is over.”
“Mr Jones, hypnosis can take us back to not only our past but also our past lives. I believe he was Margaret in a past life. Unlocking this could be the key to his memory.”
“Rachmaninoff was on the program that night...”
“Wait for me Jack, when was this?”
“Summer of 1948, Roman Strauss was the guest conductor for the Wales Symphony Orchestra and he terrified everyone, everyone except Margaret.”
Ianto watched with a spiked interest as Jack told the story of Roman and Margaret Strauss.
Wales Cardiff, 1948
It was after the war and everything was just becoming exciting again, music was enjoying resurgence and everyone was partying as if trying to shake off the memories of war.
It was only days of them meeting before Roman asked Margaret out on a date. They danced to Moonlight Serenade and laughed like it was going out of style, learning everything about each other in that one night.
Later that evening they were walking home along the river Taff.
“I heard you where married once?”
He nodded and replied in his clipped German accent she found so desirable.
“Yes I did, she died a few years ago when we had to flee Germany. To escape, we had to go over the mountains and the trip was less than forgiving on her weak heart”
On and on they walked that night until it started to rain. He grabbed her hand and led her back to his home.
Roman lived in a huge house with just him, his housekeeper and her son and it was here they found themselves wet from the rain, lust in the air as he took her into his arms and lowered her on the couch. Dripping water from their rain soaked skin mingled as they lost themselves in each other, an unspoken bond forged that night as two became one.
Ianto moved in his seat, squirming at the lust and love lacing Jack’s voice.
Grayson spoke, guiding Jack.
“Tell us about the wedding.”
The day of the wedding was the happiest day of their lives.
Margaret’s career was taking off and Roman was on the brink of writing a new opera that would make him in Cardiff. All of their friends were there wishing them well but for Roman and Margaret they only had eyes for each other.
It was later that day that Margaret needed to talk to Roman’s housekeeper
“Suzette, I’ve just been upstairs and I thought we talked about you and your son moving downstairs.”
“Roman said nothing to me.”
“Well I am now his wife and I would appreciate if I could spend my wedding night alone without you two next door.”
“As you wish Madame, I’ll move now.”
“Thank you.”
It wasn’t that Margaret disliked the woman; she made her uncomfortable, like she couldn’t quite trust her, not to mention her son.
Margaret walked out of the hall and ran straight into a man she did not know, knocking him slightly off his feet as she rebounded back. He grabbed her holding her upright leaving his hands on her just a little bit too long. She disentangled herself from him.
“Sorry....I didn’t see you Mr....?”
“Hart, John Hart I’m a reporter.”
“Oh, I didn’t think this wedding was interesting enough to be covered in the social pages.”
She watched as the man lit a cigarette trying to hide his shaking fingers as they got their nicotine fix.
“Sorry to disappoint, I don’t do the social columns, I’m here as a long suffering date.”
“Ah, well what’s new in the news today?”
“Zero to tell the truth, I really miss the war.”
“Really? What an odd thing to say.”
“Well at least something was always happening. I must admit I am at a loss Mrs Strauss, not having the chance to hear you play.”
“You’ll get your chance Mr Baker, I’m married not dead.” She smiled as she walked away, not noticing how the man stared hungrily after her.
****
Roman had given Margaret the wedding of her dreams but there was one more surprise to come.
It was later that night when all their guests had gone home that Roman surprised her with a jewellery box, she gasped as she opened it.
“Oh Roman it is beautiful.” The small chain was encrusted with diamonds set in rose, white and yellow gold.
“I’ve never seen anything like it.”
“It’s an anklet, a very special anklet.”
He took her leg as she laid back on the couch running his hands up and down her calf muscles.
“It’s very old, the man I brought it from explained to me that when a husband gives this to his wife they become two halves of the same person and nothing can separate them, not even death.”
He fastened the jewellery around her ankle, caressing the firm skin as he placed kisses over her foot working his way up to her toes.
“So we’re stuck with one another?”
“Either that or I paid too much for it.”
He dropped her foot before gathering her in his arms, kissing her passionately.
“And three, two, one.”
Jack blinked breathing heavily.
“How do you feel Jack?” Ianto asked, studying Jack’s flushed face.
“It’s a little warm in here.”
“Mother?” Grayson yelled. “Could you open a window.”
Ianto started throwing questions. “Do you remember anything about who you are, those people, do you know if they are still alive?”
Jack shook his head. “No memory has come back but those people, that was so vivid.”
“If you please gentlemen, I’d like to show you something.”
Grayson handed Jack an old magazine open to an article on a Roman and Margaret Strauss. Jack gasped as the figures from his dreams shone out from the pages.
“That’s them.”
Ianto swallowed as Roman Strauss peered out from the pages. There was a resemblance to him that he could not deny.
“That was their home.”
Grayson pointed to a picture of St Agnes’ Orphanage and the two men exchanged glances.
“Handsome couple yes? You wouldn’t think he could be capable of murdering his wife.”
Jack started and stared up into Grayson’s face.
“Stabbed her to death with a lovely pair of antique Die Schere barber scissors.”
“Die Schere?” Ianto stared at Jack.
“Gwen said you were calling that name out in your sleep.”
Jack stood, taking the magazine with him reading intently.
“Could he have read this?”
Grayson shook his head.
“No, I got clarity beyond him merely picking up the tabloid story. I really think this is where the trauma lies for him. If we can work through this I think we will unlock his mind and memory. I have some time tomorrow, say around five?”
Jack nodded as Ianto sighed.
“Well if it helps....”
Jack looked up and smiled at him and Ianto knew he was in trouble when he found he could not refuse him.
Chapter Seven