Sherlock Holmes and The Scarlet Thread of Murder by Luke Benjamen Kuhns Page A

shut. “Mrs Goodtree. You came to Hewitt and I to find Phillias Jackson, and we have found him.” Her eyes opened, and a glimpse of life returned to her. “What is your sin?”
    â€œWhere is Jackson?” she asked, “I am his... his queen, you know.”
    â€œYou are now a queen without a king. Jackson is dead,” Brett informed her.
    Tears welled in her eyes. “Dead?” she asked painfully.
    â€œTell us, Mrs Goodtree, what is your sin?”
    â€œMurder...” She trailed off. Her eyes closed, and her head slumped to one side. I checked her pulse, but it had gone. Mrs Goodtree had died.
    Hewitt came into the room and saw the grim scene.
    â€œOh dear, what a terrible shame,” he said, looking at the lifeless body.
    â€œIt is as if the universe is orchestrating against us with this case. A door opens then shuts as we approach!” said Reid bitterly.
    â€œWe know all we need to know,” said Lestrade.
    Reid looked at him with disdain. He rushed upon the Inspector who backed up against the wall.
    â€œYou above all should see your tremendous blunder, Lestrade!” shouted Reid. “It was you who questioned Mrs Goodtree! The rat was in your cage and you let it go!”
    â€œAre you telling me that there was no way someone who was in that explosion could have slipped out? We gathered as many names as we could. We cross-referenced and interrogated dozens and dozens of people! She had a solid story, there was no reason, no link that connected her presence at the explosion!”
    â€œApart from yours, Mr Reid,” said Brett. Reid turned an angry eye towards Brett.
    â€œAt the end of the day,” came the voice of Hewitt. The Investigator stepped into the room. “We could pass blame until we are blue in the face. We must now decide what our next action will be.”
    â€œWhat of Holmes and White?” I asked.
    â€œThey continue their work on the unknown body,” said Hewitt.
    â€œUnknown?” questioned Lestrade.
    â€œYes, correct, that man on that slab is not Phillias Jackson.”

Chapter 16
    Doctor Watson
    The Problem With The Body
    Autumn 1890
    â€œExplain yourself, Mr Hewitt!” Lestrade demanded.
    â€œIt’s quite simple, really. I looked over the body and determined that it was, in fact, not the body of Phillias Jackson.”
    â€œYes, but how?” Reid asked.
    â€œWhen our poor woman here came to enquire about our services in locating Mr Jackson, she informed us that he had a mole on the right side of his face...”
    â€œWhich we saw! After a mutilation like that, we were lucky to find that clue,” said Lestrade.
    â€œYou found a man with dark hair, whiskers, and a mole. What you didn’t find was a man with dark hair, whiskers, a mole, and a scar upon the index finger of his right hand.”
    â€œA scar?” Lestrade questioned.
    â€œIndeed. Mrs Goodtree told us of his scar. That body does not have one, ergo it is not our man. He still runs free.”
    â€œThen he made it to the continent?” I questioned. “If that is the case, then he is utterly lost to us. By this time he could be deep in hiding.”
    â€œAll might not be lost,” said Brett. “I found this in Mr Goodtree’s study.” He withdrew a letter and a card.
    â€œThe Liberal Club? What’s this?” Reid questioned.
    â€œI’ve not heard of it, at all,” said Brett.
    â€œFortunately I have,” said Holmes. He and White entered the room.
    â€œWhat is it?” I asked.
    â€œI’m not entirely sure,” Holmes admitted.
    â€œI thought you knew about it?” Lestrade questioned.
    â€œDid I say I did? I said I’ve heard of it. They are a tight-lipped club, and membership is nigh impossible to obtain.”
    â€œHave a look at this,” Reid said, handing Holmes the letter.
    â€œSo Daniels, Goodtree, and Jackson were all there. Two of these three are dead, and