Close Shave Anyone?

Hands jammed in the pockets of the trousers he lifted, Jack's top hat is tilted forward, creating a shadow over his blue eye and the patch which is back in place.

"We're going in there..." Jack's chin moves up as if it were pointing.

Following his friend's gaze, Warren looks across the wide street area; they're standing at the Y intersection again.

"Are you quite serious?" Warren turns his head to see if his companion is having a joke at his expense.

"You're a Bobby, should be simple."

Jack chews the inside of his lower lip as he plays with the key to their room in his left pocket.

"I was, past... well, future... this isn't 1888 or have you forgotten?" Warren whispers out the side of his mouth as he tips his hat and smiles at passersby.

"My dear fellow, you can get us in and I'll be your sidekick." Jack grins, "The game is afoot!"

Stepping off the curb, Jack navigates the filth of the streets, carriages, and carts with Warren trailing after him.

"I say... I say..." Holding onto his felt bowler, the 'future' detective attempts to jog to catch up with his fast moving friend. "I say old-man... how in the devil are you my... sidekick? Pray, tell what manner are you referring?"

Jack rolls his eye, being from a far distant future and other worldly, he sometimes finds the past tedious. Pointing to his own temple, he retorts.

"Use that clever head my friend, you are the lead and I follow you."

"You're never referring to dancing, that's just not done, not with men."

"Oh, for the love of Pete. You silly oaf; I will play your assistant, your junior, and you will say your visiting to inspect the prison."

"Oh. Right. I see."

Jack jams his hands back in this pockets again and frowns at Warren as he slowly rocks back and forth on his boot heels; he's a bit disappointed with the detective.

The gate to the prison is about 150 yards away; uniformed guards are just inside the large, ornate locked gates. Concrete blocks create two pillars on either side and then repeat, with a short concrete wall and wrought iron bars to complete the security surrounding the vast property.

"When are we doing this?"

"Now, unless you have a pressing engagement, with that girl back at our lodgings." Jack's lack of sleep renders him charmless and crude.

Warren took offense to Jack's tone and responded in kind.

"Highly unlikely... besides, you do not look respectable."

Jack laughed in annoyance. "What?! Do I need to wear a bow-tie?"

Warren glares, "You need to shave. Try running a comb through your hair and get that shirt pressed."

A quirky smile slips across Jack's unshaven face.

"Well, if I didn't know better... I'd say you cared about your 'ol pal Jack."

Turning on his heel, the frumpy time traveler trots back across the street, leaving his surprised companion standing on the sidewalk.

"By thunder! He is rather vexing at times." Warren exclaims as he too heads back to the Public House; at  this rate, it'll be lunch before they can get their 'act' together.