Sherlock Holmes: The Dark Reckoning (7 page)

Lestrade looked puzzled and said, “I don’t know quite what
you are getting at, Holmes.”

“As the doctor just explained, Sally Spencer was hit twice
from behind and suffered damage to her parietal bone.  This suggests that her
attacker was significantly taller than she was and very strong; possibly the
larger of the two men the tramp told me of.”

“I see.  That makes sense.  But how do you know there was
another man involved in
this
particular murder?”

“I am not absolutely certain there was, Lestrade.  I can
only present conjecture based upon the facts at hand.  At this stage, it helps
to visualise a possible sequence of events, in order to form a theory.  More
evidence is required to prove, or disprove, this theory, however.  Shall I
continue?”

“Please do,” added the inspector, trying not to show that he
was impressed with the way that Holmes’ mind could make such connections.

“The second man that the tramp spoke of, the well spoken one,
is probably who is responsible for removing Miss Spencer’s arm.  If she
regained consciousness whilst he was carrying out this atrocious act, he may
now have some nasty scratches on his face.”

“How do you know all of this, old fellow?” asked Watson.

“Consider what we know, Watson.  She was hit from behind and
fell forwards, smashing her face into the kerb.  We will probably find some of
her missing teeth at the scene of this attack.  Whilst laying face down on the
kerb, she would not have been in a position to scratch anyone.  She was, I
suspect, loaded into a carriage and…”  Holmes stopped, mid sentence.

He turned to Dr. Death, and asked, “May I see her clothing?”

Dr. Death fetched a small sack, and emptied its contents
onto an examination table.  Holmes sifted through the garments.  Her cloak
showed a scuff mark, where she had fallen, and there were a lot of blood stains
upon her upper garments.  Every item of her clothing had blood stained hand
prints all over it.  Most revealing, however, was that her blouse still had its
left sleeve intact and the stitching around the shoulder was undamaged.

Holmes continued from where he had left off.  “When she had
been dragged into the carriage, the smaller of the two men removed her clothing
and started to saw her left arm off.  At this point, the girl was not dead. 
The sudden pain she experienced, when he started sawing, caused her to regain
consciousness.  She struck her attacker with her right hand, and scratched his
face.  The print on her throat is from a shoe, or boot, and suggests that the
man stamped on her, in reprisal for scratching him.  It was probably at this
time that, in his anger, he thrust his walking cane twice into her face. 
Judging by the size of the mark on her throat, left by the shoe, or boot, I
would venture that the man is approximately 5 feet, 8 inches to 5 feet 10
inches tall.”

“That’s incredible, Holmes.  But how do you know that it was
the smaller, well spoken man that cut the girl’s arm off?” enquired Lestrade.

“Firstly, the size of the print on the girl’s throat is far
too small to belong to the larger of the men.  Secondly, I suspect the well
spoken man to be Stephen Wood.  If so, he will have hired the larger man as his
muscle, but will be compelled to carry out as many of the gruesome acts as
possible.  I believe that he will derive a twisted pleasure in conducting such
mutilations.”

“You mentioned that the killer is likely to have been
scratched on his face, by Sally Spencer.  What leads to believe that the
scratch will be on his face?” asked Watson.

“It was freezing cold last night, Watson.  Anyone out in
that weather would have been wrapped up in thick clothes.  This leads me to
think that the only parts of the killer’s anatomy not covered by clothing,
would have been his face and, possibly, his hands.  Since he was using his
hands to saw off the girl’s arm, his face would have been in range of such an
attack.”

Holmes turned to Dr. Death, and asked, “May I examine the
bodies to the two policemen?”

“Of course,” replied the doctor.

Holmes began to examine the two dead policemen, whilst the
other three men looked on.

After a short time, Holmes commented, “Both of these men
appear to have been hit around the head with something like a shovel, moreover
a clean shovel.”  He pointed out the marks on the dead bodies to the three
onlookers, and then drew their attention to a small pin prick in the left arm
of each policeman.  “It also appears that the policemen were injected with
something, which may have caused them to convulse, violently.  Look at all the
bruises, especially around their feet, ankles, elbows and wrists,” he added.

Dr. Death responded, “I also noticed those marks, Mr.
Holmes.  I can’t be completely sure, at this stage, but I think they may have
been injected with strychnine.  If a lethal dose of strychnine is given, it
causes convulsions.  Death is usually caused by asphyxia or sheer exhaustion
from the intensity of the convulsions.  The bruises you mentioned are
consistent with somebody experiencing a violent fit of some kind.”

“I agree,” said Holmes.  “Let us move on to the trade marks
of our killer.  As you can see, P.C. Roach’s right arm and Sergeant Baxter’s
right leg have been removed.  Both appear to have been cut off with an axe, or
similar instrument.  The wounds show similarities, so I believe the same weapon
was used in both cases.  This mark appears on both wounds and was probably
caused by a defect on the blade.  Judging by the depth of the cuts, I would
venture that Stephen Wood carried out this act, but it was the stronger
accomplice that hit them with the shovel.”

Nobody questioned the detective on what he had said, so he
continued, “I believe that the girl was attacked between 11pm and 11:30pm last
night, based upon the information her sister gave us.  The policemen were
probably killed some time after that.”

“How do you know that?” questioned Watson.

“The clue is in the use of strychnine on the policemen,
Watson.  If I am correct about Miss Spencer attacking Stephen Wood after he
thought her to be dead, it would have scared him.  In order to avoid any
further occurrences, he got his accomplice to attack the policemen, on his
behalf, with the shovel to make certain they would be rendered unconscious. 
After that, both were injected with strychnine to ensure that they were dead,
before their limbs were removed.  May I see their clothing please, Dr. Death?”

Dr. Death showed the clothing to Holmes.  As with the
clothing of the other victims, nothing was damaged except for the blood stains. 
Holmes examined the garments, but didn’t discover anything of use.

He turned to Lestrade and asked, “May we return with you to
Scotland Yard to find out where the bodies were found?”

“Of course you can, Holmes.  Would you like to go there
now?”

“Unless Dr. Death has any further information to share, then
I should like to go now.”

Dr. Death shook his head and said, “At this point, I can’t
tell you anymore than you already know.  I may be in a position to give you
more information later.  Good day, gentlemen.”

The three men bid the doctor farewell as they left, and
returned to Scotland Yard.  Just inside the entrance, a group of policemen were
discussing their dead colleagues.  They stopped talking when they saw Inspector
Lestrade enter, with Holmes and Watson.

The three men walked over to the group and Lestrade asked,
“Were you just talking about the murders of Sergeant Baxter and P.C. Roach last
night?”

“Yes, Sir,” replied one of the officers.  “It’s terrible,
Sir!  Things like that just shouldn’t happen.  It could be one of us next!”

The inspector addressed the group.  “Listen men.  It is
important that we continue to uphold the law.  We
can’t
let something
like this distract us from our duty.  It’s a difficult time for all of us and
we have to stick together.  Can I count on you all?”

The men all nodded in agreement.

Holmes then addressed them.  “May I ask where the policemen
were found?”

“They were both in a field, Sir.  Sardinia Fields, just by Lincoln’s Inn,” answered one of the officers.

“Yes, I know where that is.  It’s about 4 miles to the west
of Holborn Viaduct,” said Holmes.

“That’s right,” commented Lestrade.  “The men hold a weekly
card game near there, and I expect that Baxter and Roach would have been there
last night.”

“Does this card game take place
every
week?” asked
Watson.

“It does, and it’s normally the same group that play, except
for those on duty.”

“Whereabouts do these card games take place?” enquired
Holmes.

“In Red Lion Street.  It’s about half a mile from where the
bodies were found.  I’ve been a couple of times in the past, but not for over a
year.  The games normally go on until past one in the morning.  That’s too late
for me,” replied Lestrade.

“Watson and I must leave now, Lestrade.  We will try to
establish what we can about the girl’s death, and will be in touch later.”

“Very well, Holmes.  I’ll go and speak to the Chief about Baxter
and Roach.  I will let him know about the connection between their deaths and
those of Sir Charles Grey and Miss Spencer.”

Holmes and Watson left Scotland Yard and walked under the
archway, where Holmes suddenly stopped and looked at the pool of blood.

“The girl has been dragged from that direction,” he said, pointing
towards Whitehall.

He stepped under the barrier, followed by Watson, and walked
through the crowd.  When he got to a point where there were fewer people, he
started walking much more slowly, whilst looking around on the ground.

After several minutes of this, he turned to Watson and said,
“A carriage stopped just here, Watson.”  He pointed out the tracks, still
visible in the morning frost, and continued, “The carriage had four wheels,
indicated by these tracks.  Furthermore, the distance between the left and
right tracks shows it was a large carriage.  Note the markings in the tracks
themselves.  We may find similar tracks at the scene where Miss Spencer was first
attacked.  The frost now covering the tracks leads me to believe that they were
left some time ago; probably at about midnight, if Miss Spencer was at the
theatre until around 11pm.  The coach had been travelling south before it came
to a stop.”

“How can you tell that, Holmes?”

Holmes smiled and pointed at the tracks, as he explained, “See
how the tracks show where the wheels locked as the carriage came to a halt. 
These small mounds of grit to the side of the skid marks reveal the direction
the carriage must have been travelling.”

“Oh yes, I see.  But how can you be sure that this carriage
was used to bring the body of the dead girl?  Isn’t it possible that Miss
Spencer was attacked here?”

“According to her sister, Miss Spencer would have made her
way directly from the theatre to her flat.  Whitehall would have been too far
out of her way.  I believe she was attacked elsewhere, and then brought here in
the carriage.  As I suggested in the morgue, it is likely that her arm was
removed whilst inside the carriage.  Her attacker would have wanted to avoid
being discovered, when conducting such a vicious act.”

“Yes, but I still can’t see why you believe it was the
carriage that left
these
tracks that brought the girl here.”

“Imagine where the door of the carriage would be, if it
stopped here.  This blood on the ground corresponds exactly to where the
carriage door would have been.” replied Holmes pointing out several blood spots
on the pavement.  “That’s why I believe these are the tracks of the carriage
that brought the dead girl here.”

Holmes took a piece of paper and pencil from his pocket and
started to draw the pattern left by each of the four tracks.  He then took a
handkerchief and wiped some of the blood from the pavement onto it.  He placed
the handkerchief into a small bag and then asked, “What time is it, Watson?”

“Five minutes before ten, old fellow.”

“Good!  Come along, Watson!  Let us find where Miss Spencer
was attacked.”

The two men walked to Trafalgar Square, and into a small
butcher’s shop on the corner of Cockspur Street.

The owner looked pleased to see the two gentlemen, with a
broad smile, said, “Good mornin’ to you, Mr. Holmes, and to you, Dr. Watson. 
What can I do for you?”

 “We should like to use the services of Ginny for a while,
Mr. Bloomfield,” replied Holmes.

“I see,” said the butcher, suddenly looking far more
serious.  “What’s happened?  Are you workin’ on a case?”

“Yes, we are,” answered Holmes.  “There isn’t a great deal
that I can tell you at present, but I do believe Ginny may be able to help”.

“Fair enough, Mr. Holmes.  Wait here a minute.”  The butcher
went through a door at the back of the shop, and called up to his wife.  He
returned to the shop, followed, a few moments later, by his wife.

“Darling’, Mr. Holmes wants to borrow Ginny.  Can you look
after the shop for a few minutes?” asked the butcher.

“Of course,” smiled Mrs. Bloomfield, warmly.  “How are you
gentlemen today?” she asked Holmes and Watson.

“Very well, thank you, Mrs. Bloomfield,” replied Watson. 
“How are you?”

“I’m well, thank you.”

“Come through, gentlemen,” said the butcher, leading the way
into the living quarters at the back of the shop.

He led them into the living room, where Ginny, a smooth
haired fox terrier, was curled in front of a large fire.  She looked up as the
three men entered the room.  Her tail immediately started wagging, excitedly,
as she got up to greet them.  Holmes squatted and made a fuss of the small dog,
and attached a lead that Mr. Bloomfield handed to him.

Holmes and Watson left the shop with Ginny, via the back
garden, and made their way to Scotland Yard.  They allowed Ginny to sniff
around the blood where the body of Miss Spencer had been dumped and, also,
where the carriage had stopped.  After this, they made their way to The Theatre
Royal, Haymarket and discussed the likely routes that Sally Spencer may have
taken from the theatre the previous night.