The Case of the Black Group

Chapter 2: The Bank

We got into a cab a few minutes later and departed to the bank which Lestrade had described as the one that had been stolen from. Lestrade seemed to be nervous. As far as I knew there hadn't been any good results in the case, the reason why the Scotland Yard had called my friend. They needed his assistance, and this pleased Holmes. Holmes quiet enjoyed the fact that the Scotland Yard wouldn't be able to deal with the case by themselves and they needed his help. Holmes enjoyed that the police officers would be in need of his help.

"Lestrade, I trust that you have given us all the information you know," said Holmes, his eyes closed, "but is there any detail that you may have ommitted? Anything. Anything may be of help."

"I believe I have told you everything, Holmes."

"Are you sure? Everything? Little details, all?"

"Yes. 50.000 the first bank, 20.000 the second one. The victim of the murder was James Lordwell, died of the stab he received on the back of his head. On his chest a big "B" in a circle was painted in blood, what Doctor Watson tells me is the symbol of the Black Group, organization which I didn't know. I'll investigate further into them to see what we are dealing with, if we are actually dealing with them."

"Good. Now, Lestrade, who is at the bank right now?"

"Of the force? Gregson is there."

Holmes gave a low chuckle. It amused him the passive rivalry between Lestrade and Gregson. It would be interesting to see them in a discussion in such acase, or that was Holmes thought.

"Will we be arriving soon?" asked Holmes to the caby.

"Soon we will, sir." answered the caby.

"Good."

We were at the bank in ten minutes. The place was closed, surrounded by police officers. According to other details that Lestrade had told us the banks had been closed for the investigation. In between the officers I saw Tobias Gregson. We walked towards him at the same time he did towards us. He met us then.

"Its good you have come, Holmes. We hope you'll be of good help." said inspector Gregson as he met us.

"Is this the first bank?" was Holmes's cold answer.

"Yes." answered Gregson and Lestrade at the same time.

"Very well. Now, gentlemen, lets go inside."

We entered the bank. Inside were a couple of police officers from the Scotland Yard. They didn't seem to have done much. Lestrade had told us the vault had been left open, it still was. I guessed they had left it that way to investigate. It had been three weeks and the vault was still open. What else could they get if they hadn't gotten it? Holmes would answer this. We entered the vault, it was empty. It seemed that the police hadn't entered the place again after the first day of investigation: everything remained as it would have in a normal day on a bank.

"You say they took 50 thousnad?" said Holmes.

"Yes." answered Lestrade.

"And you say nothing else was found in here? No symbol?"

"No, Mr. Holmes, no symbol."

I could hear Gregson question Lestrade with questions like "Symbol? What symbol?".

"Humph."

Holmes did his observations around the place, staring at the empty safes and at the open door, feeling the floor and walls, smelling some of the objects in the place. I saw him then trying to move one big crate while saying "No symbol, Lestrade?". He pushed the crate aside and, painted in red (possibly blood) on the wall, a "B" surrounded by a circle.

"The Black Group." said Holmes.

"Why in the world would the one who did this put the symbol hidden?" said Gregson.

"Is it painted in blood?" I asked.

Holmes touched with the tip of his fingers the painting and retrieved it in a few seconds. He rubbed his index finger against his thumb.

"I think so." he said.

"Whose blood?" said Lestrade.

"I would dare to say that it was his own," answered Holmes, "but why he did it, I don't know."

"Its their signature." I said. "The Black Group's signature was the B in a circle in blood. It can't be their symbol if it isn't in blood."

"Who are these Black Group you are talking about?" cried Gregson.

"A criminal organization." answered Holmes. "We believe they are behind this."

"They're responsible for this? And for the murder too? God!"

"Yes, and I believe in the other bank their symbol is drawn on the wall too. If you may take me there I..."

"Yeah sure." said Lestrade.

We reached the second bank where Holmes did his observations and, behind another crate which we four moved, the Black Group's signature was painted in the wall.

"I'll have to investigate further." said Holmes. "Can you take me to the dead man?"