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

Jackson is missing,” said Holmes. “What happened to Mrs Goodtree?”
    â€œMiscarriage, Holmes. Bled to death from the inside,” said I. “She did confess to a sin, and not that of infidelity. She confessed to murder. She also said her husband and Daniels were vile and she was doing the world a service by ridding us of them.” A look of distress came over Holmes’ face.
    â€œInspector Lestrade?” said an officer. “We have a lawyer here with regard to Daniels, his will, and the business. He said he must speak with you at once.”
    â€œVery well. I’ll be there in a moment.” The officer nodded and departed. “You work out the next move while I see to this.”
    â€œMay I accompany you?” Reid asked. Lestrade looked unsure. “I beg you, forgive my words earlier. We are working together, not against each other.”
    â€œCome then,” said Lestrade, and the two men departed.
    ***
    Holmes led the five of us into an empty cell. Hewitt took a seat on the stone bench, White leaned through the bars looking in, Brett and I stood with our backs to the wall facing White, and Holmes stood opposite Hewitt.
    â€œIn some way or another, little things have slipped by during the course of this investigation,” began Holmes. “Whether that be Reid and Lestrade’s blunder with regards to Mrs Goodtree, or perhaps your mistake at Jackson’s lodging in Putney, Mr Hewitt-”
    â€œMy mistake,” Hewitt cried.
    Holmes withdrew a card from his pocket and handed it to him.
    â€œJackson has departed for the continent. This was left in his rooms. There is only one explanation.” Hewitt looked at the card, his eyebrow arched. A look of realisation befell him, “You understand?” Holmes confirmed.
    â€œI do.”
    â€œMind sharing this understanding with the class?” White asked, pulling his glasses off and biting the arm.
    â€œIn time, we shall,” Hewitt said. White rolled his eyes.
    â€œAccording to Jackson’s landlord, he’s been out of the country for about three months,” said Holmes.
    â€œMrs Goodtree also gave us a similar timeframe.”
    â€œThat means the last time Jackson was seen was the night before the explosion at the Whitechapel Underground station with Lemach,” said White.
    â€œHe arranged the explosion, and left for the continent to avoid suspicion, or perhaps lay blame on Mrs Goodtree?” I asked.
    â€œI think not, Watson,” said Holmes. “Had he wanted her to be the scapegoat she would have been snared long ago. Another game is afoot.”
    â€œBut the Goblin outfit that was found among his possessions. It was he who tormented Daniels, poisoned and killed him,” said Brett.
    Holmes took an envelope from another pocket.
    â€œWhile you were talking back in the shed, I found several long strands of hair in the goblin mask.” Holmes withdrew them and held them near a light. “These hairs do not correlate with Mrs Goodtree. One can’t be sure that they are female. But it does imply someone with long hair had worn the mask recently.”
    â€œJackson had an accomplice,” said White.
    â€œAnd what of the body?” I asked.
    â€œSomeone wanted us to think Jackson was dead,” said Hewitt.
    â€œThe body here wasn’t drowned in the Thames. As you noticed, Watson, the bruises on the shoulders and the marks on the forehead indicate he was forcibly drowned. Then he was mutilated to disguise his face. The markings, as White observed, indicate that it was done by an animal. It is here our trail ends with a murder confession from Mrs Goodtree on her deathbed,” finished Holmes.
    â€œWhat’s next?” Brett asked.
    â€œTwo, possibly three, things must be investigated at once. The Peckham Liberal Club and Mr Goodtree’s study,” said Hewitt.
    â€œWhat’s the third?” I asked.
    â€œThat will be left with me,”