Preys and Predators Part 1 Chapter 22

 

22           Kansas is a hole away.

 

Mary Reid sat herself on the seat offered. She had her feet hidden behind the dress hem and avoided leaning back on the seat. It was uncomfortable with the tight bodice, but she had to act like the lady here in the living area of Mr. Holmes, whom she had just met. She was introduced to a doctor named Watson, who apparently shared the unit with Holmes. She was later served tea by the housekeeper, Mrs. Hudson, but she consented to the request for coffee.

“Coffee? Yes, I do have that. In South America, where I was last, they served the best coffee. I have some in the airtight container.” Mrs. Hudson smiled. She has seen her share of visitors to the unit courtesy of Holmes; his achievements have reached far and wide to the needed, but that was the first time she had met a Frontier lady.

“Kansas is a huge country.” Mary explained to the doctor when asked about the state. “We are larger than your country. I think we have more coyotes than your rabbits here.”

Doctor Watson smiled and thought of his countryside home; that will be about the same as any homestead on Kansas without the cows and horses.

“Watson, I invited the lady here in the mutual interest of the murders. She is a...” Holmes has forgotten the work Mary does.

“A writer. I do small articles for the prints.” Mary cut in. “Among my other skills.”

“I am a writer too, besides my medical practice.” Doctor Watson wanted to impress the lady. “I was formerly...”

“In the military and was discharged after he got shot, and now practice as a doctor while in the city; he assisted me in my work." Holmes cut into the greetings and wanted to focus on the murders.

“Yes, Ms. Mary is here on... vacation, but her curiosity got her onto the murders. She was to share with us her findings.”

“Yes. My instinct as a writer got the better of me. What is your view on the murders, Mr. Holmes? Doctor Watson?”

“Sherlock. Please call me Sherlock.” Holmes cut in the formality. “You may address him as a doctor here. He likes his rank. Military trained.”

Doctor Watson was not amused. He may be married twice, but his ego to attract ladies was still intact.

“Mary will do. I am asking if there were any... findings that you would like to share.” The lady smiled.

“Do you do a horse riding in Kansas?” Holmes asked. “The callousness on your hands is obvious.”

“Yes, I do. I also do hog tying and the bronco rides.” Mary replied sheepishly. “Do you?”

“No, I do not. I do long walks...” Holmes was cut off by the doctor.

“I do ride; maybe not so in the city but in the countryside.” Doctor Watson claimed his moves. “Nothing more vibrant than a morning gallop.”

“I can agree. I do miss the rides.” Mary smiled. The last one she had was on Jon Roxton.

“On the matter regarding the murders, I found no clues to the victims except the missing organs.” Holmes decided to derail the Doctor there. “Watson is equally baffled.”

“Interesting…...” Mary looked towards the doctor. “I am sure, as a doctor and also in the military, you have seen your scenes of... mutilations.”

“Yes, I did. I was in the Frontier at India, and...” Again, Holmes cut in.

“We are far from the Frontier, but killings are done in many manners. How would you describe it from the Kansas’ view?”

“I would say a ritual killing or a... vampire attack.” Mary uttered her view.

“Elementary, Watson. I had that same assumption from the lack of blood there. They were drained of it.” Holmes spoke out in excitement. “We do have... Pardon me. I had the same thoughts.”

“Vampires? Supernatural causes have been disputed many times and proven otherwise.” Doctor Watson stuck to his professional opinion. “When we were on the case of the Hounds of Baskervilles, it was rumoured to be the works of demons but later proven otherwise.”

“Nevertheless, we would not dispute the possibility of the supernatural actions.” Holmes decided to widen his thinking. “Vampires in their context are unfounded in the acts, but the action of these supernatural beings is well documented in many myths. Unproven but nevertheless many believed in. Like the banshee from Ireland, or Mahoun associated with the Scots.”

“You may have heard of Dracula." Mary led the conversation.

“Dracula is a tale.” Doctor Watson added on his professional expression. “The continent is rife with such demonology.”

“Yes, many in that area believed in it. Dracula may be a tale, but the existence of the castle and the hordes of bats there add to the methodology; I said that as it was a series of incidents to place in the beliefs.” Mary defended her view.

“A wooden stake or any sharp tool would have killed any living form if pierced at the heart.” Doctor Watson ever the sceptics pressed on. “A sharp blow to the brain may have the same outcome; medically stated.”

“Indeed, but in the myth, the way to not allow the vampire to resurrect was to stake the wooden sharp end into the heart.” Holmes shared his view.

“You could blow his brains out with a silver bullet.” Mary cut in. “I was referring to them as men due to the Count Dracula being one too. No offenses to the man. In Kansas, we blow their heads off.”

“The cowboys have that simpler approach.” Doctor Watson smiled. “Was there one named the Lone Ranger? Fabled cowboy who fought for justice and uses silver bullets.”

“Yes, the Lone Ranger exists and uses the silver bullets, but he does not kill. He wound or maimed them but never took a life.” Mary defended her cousin towards the doctor.

“I was carried away there. I am sorry, Doctor.”

“None taken, Mary. I believed the female vampires are called harpies. Holmes defended the lady. It was then Mrs. Hudson joined them.

“Holmes, there is the copper. He said there was another set of murders.”

“You meant murder, Mrs. Hudson.” Doctor Watson corrected the housekeeper.

“No, it was a few this time.” Mrs. Hudson snapped back. “I am never wrong in my numbers.”