The Problem of Threadneedle Street (The Assassination of Sherlock Holmes Book 2) by Craig Janacek Page B
Authors: Craig Janacek
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editions of every paper, but as many older copies that he could get his hands upon. I have just been looking though all of them in order to master the particulars of what is transpiring in this vast city teeming with over five millions of people.” [3]
I glanced at the jumble of newspapers on the floor, from the Times to the Morning Post to the Daily Chronicle , Daily Telegraph , and many others. “Would it not be simpler to just question Parker or Windibank? If they were put up to the job by someone, surely they must know the identity of the mastermind?”
Holmes shook his head. “It is rare to find an informer, for their lifespan is short and filled with fear.” [4]
“And did you discover anything of note in the papers?”
“Nothing conclusive. But there are some interesting items worthy of following up. Perhaps one of them will prove to be the thread that I require.”
“So you plan to remain in London for some time?”
“Indeed. I cannot conduct this inquiry from Sussex, that much is certain,” said he, chuckling. “If I may ask for your co-operation, my dear Watson, you would confer a great favor upon me by staying on as well.”
“On the contrary,” I answered, “I should wish nothing better.”
Holmes raised one of his bushy eyebrows. “We may have several hard and dangerous days’ and nights’ work in front of us. Are you certain?”
“Of course, Holmes.”
“Very good,” said he, smiling. “I have often said that there is no man who is better worth having at my side when I am in a tight place, and I think we may find ourselves betwixt the devil and the deep sea before the matter is clear. [5] Ha! This is like the old days, then! Well, if we are to continue this, we shall need a London base. The Northumberland Hotel may be fine for a night or two, but it is hardly an adequate headquarters for conducting an investigation. And our sanctum at Baker Street is no more. It is a great pity that Mrs. Hudson has sold the flat to an insurance company and retired to Brighton.” [6]
“Unfortunately, I sold my house on Queen Anne Street as well.”
Holmes snorted with amusement. “I think not, Watson. Even if you had not set up your shingle in Southsea, I fear that your good wife would little stand my particular habits for very long.”
“You do her a discredit, Holmes.”
“Ah, I did not mean to offend you, Watson. Of course, I do not mean to disparage your lovely wife, of whom I wholeheartedly approve. But my ways would be difficult for any woman to become accustomed. Not to mention that there may be an element of danger, to which I would fain expose her.”
“A hotel then? The Langham, for instance.” [7]
Holmes laughed. “Your tastes have become refined over the years, Watson. When I first met you, you were bunking in some nameless hotel on the Strand. Now you wish to lay your head in a room next to royalty. Have your scribblings sold so well that you can afford such luxury?”
I blushed. “I suppose that I have become accustomed to a certain degree of comfort over the years.”
“Yes, well, a hotel poses certain other problems. You can only keep the maids out for so long.”
“Why would you bar the maids? Do you suspect that they may disrupt your unique, and shall we say, somewhat untidy, methods of organization?”
“No, I suspect them of being spies.”
“Truly?”
“One can never be too certain, Watson. No, there are only three men that I trust implicitly in London, and two of them are standing in this room.”
“And the third?”
Holmes glanced at his pocket watch. “I think, at the present moment, we will find the answer to that question at number 22 Pall Mall, across from a certain club of little renown.” [8]
§
Before we departed the hotel, I dashed off a telegram to my wife informing her that I would be detained for several more days. Having read every one of the manuscripts, published and private, describing my past adventures in the company of Sherlock
I glanced at the jumble of newspapers on the floor, from the Times to the Morning Post to the Daily Chronicle , Daily Telegraph , and many others. “Would it not be simpler to just question Parker or Windibank? If they were put up to the job by someone, surely they must know the identity of the mastermind?”
Holmes shook his head. “It is rare to find an informer, for their lifespan is short and filled with fear.” [4]
“And did you discover anything of note in the papers?”
“Nothing conclusive. But there are some interesting items worthy of following up. Perhaps one of them will prove to be the thread that I require.”
“So you plan to remain in London for some time?”
“Indeed. I cannot conduct this inquiry from Sussex, that much is certain,” said he, chuckling. “If I may ask for your co-operation, my dear Watson, you would confer a great favor upon me by staying on as well.”
“On the contrary,” I answered, “I should wish nothing better.”
Holmes raised one of his bushy eyebrows. “We may have several hard and dangerous days’ and nights’ work in front of us. Are you certain?”
“Of course, Holmes.”
“Very good,” said he, smiling. “I have often said that there is no man who is better worth having at my side when I am in a tight place, and I think we may find ourselves betwixt the devil and the deep sea before the matter is clear. [5] Ha! This is like the old days, then! Well, if we are to continue this, we shall need a London base. The Northumberland Hotel may be fine for a night or two, but it is hardly an adequate headquarters for conducting an investigation. And our sanctum at Baker Street is no more. It is a great pity that Mrs. Hudson has sold the flat to an insurance company and retired to Brighton.” [6]
“Unfortunately, I sold my house on Queen Anne Street as well.”
Holmes snorted with amusement. “I think not, Watson. Even if you had not set up your shingle in Southsea, I fear that your good wife would little stand my particular habits for very long.”
“You do her a discredit, Holmes.”
“Ah, I did not mean to offend you, Watson. Of course, I do not mean to disparage your lovely wife, of whom I wholeheartedly approve. But my ways would be difficult for any woman to become accustomed. Not to mention that there may be an element of danger, to which I would fain expose her.”
“A hotel then? The Langham, for instance.” [7]
Holmes laughed. “Your tastes have become refined over the years, Watson. When I first met you, you were bunking in some nameless hotel on the Strand. Now you wish to lay your head in a room next to royalty. Have your scribblings sold so well that you can afford such luxury?”
I blushed. “I suppose that I have become accustomed to a certain degree of comfort over the years.”
“Yes, well, a hotel poses certain other problems. You can only keep the maids out for so long.”
“Why would you bar the maids? Do you suspect that they may disrupt your unique, and shall we say, somewhat untidy, methods of organization?”
“No, I suspect them of being spies.”
“Truly?”
“One can never be too certain, Watson. No, there are only three men that I trust implicitly in London, and two of them are standing in this room.”
“And the third?”
Holmes glanced at his pocket watch. “I think, at the present moment, we will find the answer to that question at number 22 Pall Mall, across from a certain club of little renown.” [8]
§
Before we departed the hotel, I dashed off a telegram to my wife informing her that I would be detained for several more days. Having read every one of the manuscripts, published and private, describing my past adventures in the company of Sherlock
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