Preys and Predators Part 1 Chapter 37

 37           The wonders of deduction

 

Holmes leaned back on his seat and reached for his pipe after reading the telegram. He did not light the pipe but looked to his guests and companion with the gleam in his eyes.

“Gentlemen, our hunt may have sprung some new discoveries.” Holmes handed out the first telegraph he received.

The worldwide communication network was established some years ago when telegraph cables were laid across oceans. On land, cables could be run uninsulated, suspended from poles. Underwater, a good insulator that was both flexible and capable of resisting the ingress of seawater was required. A solution presented itself with gutta-percha, a natural rubber from the Palaquium gutta tree, after William Montgomerie sent samples to London from Singapore in 1843. The new material was tested by Michael Faraday, and in 1845, it was used on the cable planned between Dover and Calais by John Watkins Brett. The idea was proved viable when the South Eastern Railway company successfully tested a three-kilometer (two-mile) gutta-percha insulated cable with telegraph messages to a ship off the coast of Folkestone. The cable to France was laid in 1850 but was almost immediately severed by a French fishing vessel. It was re-laid the next year, and connections to Ireland and the Low Countries soon followed.

“It was a reply from Belgium's finest on the whereabouts of Professor Freud. He is not here nor traveling but in his home in Belgium. He is recovering from a bout of flu and was resting there.”

“Boorish!” Mycroft exclaimed. “It cannot be we were duped. He had the credentials and... He was the one who told me of Mary Pleaste's whereabouts... more so after her death.”

“He was giving you bait, and you chewed on it. His credentials here are... Papers can be faked.” Holmes looked to his brother. “If not for the speedy messaging, we will be duped further.”

“Then who did I meet?” Doctor Watson asked.

“An ingenious personality that rivalled Professor Moriarty.” Holmes said. “His name is unknown but known as the Doctor and of late the Professor. There were tales that he adopted his name from a dead friend; a brother in arms to be exact but unproven. Proven fact is that he is from the Syndicate. No one knew of his face, for he wore disguises and imitated others.”

“Disguises and... Why, that is you, Holmes.” Mycroft burst out. “You could have fooled us most times.”

“All the time, Mycroft.” Doctor Watson added. “Disguises gives us access most times.”

“No one knows who leads the Syndicate.” Mycroft added. “They are a shadow organization.”

“Professor Moriarty is not linked to any criminal groups, but we know of its existence, and the leader is the Doctor.” Doctor Watson said. “I am sure the doctor and the organization may be linked. Could this Professor be the leader?”

“Inconclusive, Watson. I have been monitoring the Syndicate’s works, and they are rivals, but the Syndicate's works were more on smuggling and maybe killings.” Holmes gave his view. “They are more focused on that than Professor Moriarty, who is on building his crime network here.”

“Would Professor Moriarty and the Professor be the same person?” Mycroft asked.

“I checked with Glasgow. Professor Moriarty is there and leaving for the Baltics.” Holmes replied. “And more to it, the Doctor does not use disguises.”

"Could it be a first time?” Doctor Watson cut in.

“It may not be so. His aide, Colonel Moran, is well suited to manage for him. As reported to me.” Holmes handed the second message. “Colonel Moran was the one at Mary’s unit. He coordinated her escape and had the shootout with the intruders there. He may have been in a rush and left a spent casing. It carried his marking. The Colonel has his bullets from the armorer I befriended.”

“The criminal in cahoots with you?” Mycroft asked.

“No, he knew me as the duck hunter from Sussex. One of my many identities.” Holmes smiled.

“Holmes, I did not know you shoot ducks." Doctor Watson asked.

“I do not, but I can be convincing as a shooter.” Holmes explained. “Now back to the Syndicate. We do not know why they target Mary Reid. Was it because of her association with the doctor? And how killed Mary Pleaste and friends? Are they related to Mary Reid’s attempt? The more crucial query is, why were not the victims removed of their organs? Was it the timing of the kill? And why the rooftop?”

“Perhaps you want a drink to move those thoughts?” Mrs. Hudson had returned from the kitchen with the pot of tea and scones.

“Tha e na fhactar neo-àbhaisteach.” (Translated from Gaelic Scottish) It is the uncommon factor.) Holmes called out.

The gathered were stunned by his outburst.

“Mary Pleaste murders were by the monsters, but the organs were not touched. Her death and the others may be an execution to warn others. Their bodies were displayed on the rooftop to signify public display. You cannot hide from me. Like the Count Vlad did to the ones he impaled for all to see. He also did the infamous Dark Attack which terrorise the Turks.”

“Mary Reid’s attack was however not by the monster. She was a vampire hunter. So, where is the common factor?” Holmes looked at Mycroft.

“You mentioned to me that Doctor Jekyll has a guest...” Holmes tried to recall the name.

“Count Vlad Tepes.” Mycroft said. “He sought treatment there.” “The Count is well known as...”

Holmes looked towards the doctor.

“Count Dracula.” Doctor Watson mentioned the name.

“Do you know why I was asking on Doctor Jekyll? He remains a subject of mine, for I knew him then in the chemistry fraternity. We did not attend the same classes, but his works were uncommon.”

“The Am bàillidh neo-àbhaisteach; it meant in Gaelic Scottish for the uncommon factor. One of my tutors, who speaks Gaelic Scottish when he gets excited and teaches Henry Jekyll, told me of the other tests. He said Henry was fixated on the properties of the blood. He was also close to one named Daisy, who was the daughter of Lord Dennis.”

“Hmm…” Mycroft frowned at his expression. “Daisy was not known to me, but I was told that she was frail. She would not have been allowed to attend classes for her condition, but her father held great influence over the faculty. She did not complete her studies while Henry went on to get the honours. It was later when the news came to me of Daisy’s death. I looked up Henry out of concern and heard that he was on his own. I had wanted to consult Henry on matters regarding blood, but my letters were never replied.”

“It was much later than I was to know that Henry was involved in the secret tasks of the government." Holmes looked at Mycroft.

“You knew? I never told you anything.”

“No, you need not. I have my means to know.” Holmes then moved on the matter.

“Now that you mentioned Count Vlad, then there may be a link to Mary Reid. She was protected by Professor Moriarty and is a vampire hunter. She did enquire about the murders. She in her words to us then was it linked to vampires.”

“Yes, she did mention that.” “Doctor Watson affirmed that.

“The question is when and how this can be connected." Holmes pondered in his mind.

“Mycroft, how did you know of Mary Reid?”

“From my section. It was James Cambier who gave me the dossier.”

“And Professor Freud was the same?” Holmes asked. The other nodded.

“Mary had a little lamb; its fleece was white as snow; and everywhere that Mary went, the lamb was sure to go.” Mrs. Hudson hummed to herself.