Better the Devil You Know: Tales from Clayton Bridge

By Jennie L. Morris

As an immigrant, Fredrick Wolf has to succeed at Morrow Academy of Anatomy and Science. Not merely succeed, he must prove to his peers he belongs—he isn't the poor local Dr. Morrow accepted out of pity.

 

Fredrick will do anything to procure a prime medical specimen. Calling upon his uncle, a dependable partner in crime since moving to England, Fredrick plans to use his uncle's position at Clayton Bridge's gaol to select the perfect candidate.

 

Not all prisoners are the usual drunkards or petty thieves. Some possess dark secrets, especially the man known as Eugene Wallaby. Biding his time, Eugene sees young Fredrick's murderous plan as a means of escape…if he survives the night.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jennie L. Morris
• Release date: Jun 11, 2019
• ISBN: 9781393761105

Book preview

Jennie L. Morris

Better the Devil You Know by Jennie L. Morris

First published by Jennie L. Morris 2019

Copyright © 2019 by Jennie L. Morris

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise without written permission from the publisher. It is illegal to copy this book, post it to a website, or distribute it by any other means without permission.

This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.

Jennie L. Morris asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work.

Jennie L. Morris has no responsibility for the persistence or accuracy of URLs for external or third-party Internet Websites referred to in this publication and does not guarantee that any content on such Websites is, or will remain, accurate or appropriate.

Designations used by companies to distinguish their products are often claimed as trademarks. All brand names and product names used in this book and on its cover are trade names, service marks, trademarks and registered trademarks of their respective owners. The publishers and the book are not associated with any product or vendor mentioned in this book. None of the companies referenced within the book have endorsed the book.

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To my husband, who never doubts.

We are each our own devil, and we make this world our hell.

Oscar Wilde from The Duchess of Padua

Contents

Acknowledgement

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Epilogue

About the Author

Also by Jennie L. Morris

Acknowledgement

I’d like to thank Natalie-Nicole Bates. She’s been instrumental in guiding me on my writing journey. Also, this story would not exist without her Perfectly Poisoned Anthology: GRAVE IMPORTANCE, from which BETTER THE DEVIL YOU KNOW was among a collection of short stories inspired by her vision. Thank you, my friend, for your continuing support.

I’d also like to thank Bbeca, Autumn, Joey, and my husband for listening to my meandering on about the plot or reading the unfinished manuscript. Your input is always invaluable.

And to my readers, thank you for the support. I hope you enjoy this short story and continue to find pleasure in my writing. You make everything worth it.

Chapter One

Autumn 1870.

Classes at The Marrow Academy of Anatomy and Science began a few weeks ago, and Dr. Fredrick Wolf already experienced seclusion from his fellow classmates. It was bound to happen, it was an eventuality. The same occurred while he earned his medical degree at school in Bristol. No matter how friendly or affable, his unmistakable, but slight German accent gave away his immigrant past.

The people of Clayton Bridge branded his family as filthy beggars upon their arrival. And despite their ascent from poverty into a somewhat comfortable life, they never accepted them into their community, they tolerated them. This drove Fredrick to succeed no matter the price. Yes, he’d finished his preliminary medical schooling, but now he wanted more.

When Dr. Benedict Marrow, the renowned surgeon, accepted him into his prestigious academy, Fredrick saw this as his only opportunity to raise his family’s status. Before classes started, Fredrick worked with his father, but as a certified