Vacher claimed insanity, using the defense that he had been given a non-traditional cure for rabies as a child that had altered him. Later, he changed his reasoning claiming he had been sent there by God to make people understand the true virtues of faith. He was judged sane and after a trail, was sentenced in October 1898 to death by guillotine.
Phillips found the case interesting and went to France (although he had retired in June of 1898) to offer his services to the local police. The police there knew of his work with the Jack the Ripper murders and welcomed his help. They were not entirely convinced that Vacher had acted alone and were curious if Phillips could help prove this theory.
Phillips went back through the evidence and found nothing that would indicate that Vacher was not the lone murderer. In all, he spent two months going through everything and was about to make his final report when it was pointed out that he had not actually interviewed Vacher.
Phillips was more interested in the science of solving crimes and found that people were generally a waste of time. There were people who studied other sciences who would argue there were methods of determining truth from observing the features of that person, such as their eyes, but this science did not interest Phillips. In the end, it was curiosity more than anything that encouraged Phillips to meet with Vacher face-to-face.
Vacher was isolated as they were concerned for the safety of other inmates and was asleep when Phillips entered the cell area. He looked down at the sleeping man. He knew Vacher’s history and found it difficult to believe any man could be capable of such violence and yet look so normal. Then, he thought of his drink with Jack.
Vacher had fallen in love with a woman when he was a young man and that woman did not return his love. Worse, she mocked him. He responded by putting four bullets in her. Afterwards, he turned the gun on himself, shooting himself twice in the head. He did not die but was paralyzed on the left side of his face. He was put in a mental institute and despite none of the treatments working, the doctors released him as completely cured a year later. Now, he was back in custody as a serial murderer.
As Phillips looked down at Vacher, he saw something strange behind Vacher’s ear. “What is that?” Phillips asked the attending officer.
“I’m not sure, Monsieur. I have not seen that before.”
Phillips looked closer at the object that was small and round. Vacher was still sleeping and Phillips took the risk and reached down through the bars. He removed the item from behind Vacher’s ear.
Phillips had just pulled his hand back and was studying the object when Vacher opened his eyes. He looked up at the men, chose to ignore them and stretched. He scratched his head and then stopped. His eyes went wild and he sat straight up.
Vacher stood up and locked eyes with Phillips. In Vacher’s eyes, Phillips could see the dangerous belligerence that reflected the murderer within. Then, Vacher looked at Phillips’ hand and saw the object that should have been behind his ear. He erupted in French profanity and threw himself against the bars of his cell.
Other officers were called in. “I’m sorry, Monsieur,” the original attending officer said to Phillips, “it looks as though you will not be able to speak with him after all. In fact, I am afraid he has lost the rest of his mind.”
Phillips nodded in understanding.
Two days later, Phillips attended the execution of Vacher on December 31, 1898. Vacher refused to walk towards the scaffold that held the guillotine and had to be dragged by the executioners. Phillips pronounced the headless body dead.
Phillips retired to his small room and pulled out the item he had taken from behind Vacher’s ear. It was small and round and didn’t resemble really anything he had seen before. It was made of a flimsy material that was mildly opaque. On the backside of the item were several small silver lines. Phillips considered several possibilities but was not able to determine what the object was or what its purpose might be.
Finally, he resigned to placing the item behind his ear in hope that he would better understand the intent. He found that the item was adhesive, even though when he touched the object there was no stickiness and once placed on his skin, it stayed in place.
He felt slightly strange but thought it was anxiety over the case and lack of sleep. He thought of how much easier it had been when he was younger and had the energy to work long hours on cases without slowing down. He recalled the first time he walked into Scotland Yard many years prior as a young man – a boy really.
That thought triggered the device.
Phillips disappeared.
CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT
Bourg-en-Bresse, France – January 1899
“Can I help you, sir?” a voice asked. Phillips wasn’t sure where he was. Perhaps he had blacked out. He had been in his room in France and now it seemed he was in Scotland Yard – Scotland Yard as it looked many years prior.
“Can I help you, sir?” the voice repeated,
