Jack The Ripper: Newly Discovered Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Holy Ghost Writer Page A

with a nervous laugh.
    “We will start with Julie in the Top Star Bar, the pub most of the women visited before their murders. Of course we will need either Joseph and Thomas there too, keeping an eye on her,” Holmes started. “It seems the pub may be the starting point where the killer first sees his victim. The victims left a little, or even a lot, intoxicated. I will speak with the bar keeper, Julie, and tell him to give you seltzer water instead of liquor.”
    “I may want just one for courage and something on my breath,” Julie said. “I will feign clumsiness and spill some of on my dress, as well.”
    “That will be your final drink,” said Grant. “Holmes and myself will hide behind the white fence that lines the sidewalk from the bar to Whitechapel, and we will station one of the officers in the bar to watch you. Dr. Watson will be up the street somewhere, keeping an eye from afar.”
    “Yes, and we will be dressed as if we belong in the neighborhood, so as not to raise suspicion. Remember, Julie, we will not be far from you at any time. You need to give us some sort signal, though, if you suspect that you have the fish on the line,” Holmes told her. “You have the profile, so you must redirect the attention of anyone who does not fit it. Can you do that?”
    “Yes sir. I will be able to do that. And if I feel I have him I will say, where you all can hear, ‘I am getting a little chilled—I wish I had brought my wrap!’”
    “Excellent! But of course you know he will have to make some kind of move to hurt you—and for that to happen, you will have to lead him outside. That’s what will make it so dangerous.”
    “I understand. I will leave the pub with the man only if I am sure he is the Ripper.”
    They all went through several possible scenarios so that everyone would be prepared for anything that might happen. For hours they did this, until they could no longer keep their eyes open. They agreed they would go out the next evening about 10 P.M. They knew that apprehending the murderer might take more than one night, but they were prepared to be patient.
    Holmes and Watson spoke at the door as Watson was leaving.
    “You suspect who it is don’t you, my friend?” Dr. Watson said. “Your demeanor has grown calm and composed—as if a weight has been lifted from your shoulders. I feel as if you’ve had another of your famous epiphanies sometime this night.”
    “Yes, I am almost sure, I do but I do not want to disclose his identity right now, even to you.”
    “I understand these feelings you get. We will catch him, Holmes.”
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

 
    CHAPTER Seventeen
    The Hours Before
     
    The next day was a long and tiring one. Each member of group not only had to prepare for his or her part of the plan, but also toil at their day job. Julie engaged a few of her friends to help her dress, and though she was nervous about the coming danger being around others lightened her mood and made the time pass quickly.
    Holmes worked on his list alone, as he had requested that Dr. Watson stay home and rest—when Holmes neared his quarry, he preferred the peace of solitude. Holmes was not the only detective who had made progress, however—quite a few suspects had been eliminated by the others working on the case. The list was slowly shortening, and while Holmes was almost certain he now knew the perpetrator, he wanted to leave no doubt in his own mind. As a result, he continued to investigate every remaining suspect.
    Just as Holmes was diving deep into concentration, his train of thought was broken by the friendly voice of Donald, from the coroner’s office.
    “I trust you are having a pleasant day, Inspector Holmes?”
    “It is busy, but certainly it has not been a bad day. I feel we are getting ever closer to catching the Ripper.”
    “The whole city hopes so. We are grateful that there have been no other murders yet. The dedicated work of Scotland Yard must have