Chapter 3
10:31 AM - Pentonville - Detention Center - Visitors' Room
"Jeremy Cross...n-nice to meet you," the suspect introduced himself after meeting Sherlock and John.
He was an average man, late 30s, with nothing unusual about him. Sherlock noted that he seemed very nervous, which was understandable, given his situation. His eyes were red and bloodshot, however, as though he had been crying.
"Mr. Cross," Lestrade began, "we're from NSY, currently working on your case. We're going to need you to tell us everything you know."
Cross nodded, "I-I'll do my best…"
Lestrade excused himself to find any other witnesses, allowing Sherlock to begin his interrogation.
"Now, I need you to be completely honest...did you, in fact, murder Marcus Wagner?"
"No!" he yelped, his eyes now wide, "I would never kill him…"
"Oh? 'Him'? Did you know the victim?"
"Yeah...Marcus was my best friend."
"You were friends with an accused assassinator?"
"...It wasn't like him...I never would have imagined he would do something like that. But, that was the only reason I was here. After he was arrested, I came to visit him. He had asked me to give him his chessboard, I guess to keep himself entertained."
That's where the chessboard came from...it was lying next to the body.
"Is this the only justification behind your arrest?" John asked.
Cross shrugged, "They didn't tell me much."
"We need more information before we can proceed," Sherlock said to John. "Thank you for talking with us, Mr. Cross. We'll be back."
10:35 AM - Pentonville - Detention Center - Hallway
"That was...brief," John muttered as they left the Visitor's Center.
At the end of the hall, they saw Lestrade talking to a woman, who Sherlock assumed was some sort of prison guard, based on her uniform.
Middle-aged, hair dyed blonde, warden's uniform?...Two...no, three cats, low self-esteem, habitual liar.
"Sherlock, John, I'd like to introduce you to Pentonville's warden, Ms. Jane Killian. Ms. Killian, this is Sherlock Holmes and his assistant, Dr. John Watson."
"I've heard all about you, Mr. Holmes," she greeted them, "It's a pleasure to finally meet you."
"Thank you," Sherlock said, "Would you mind answering a few questions regarding the investigation?"
"B-But I already spoke with the Dimmock-"
"We're...working independently," Lestrade said cautiously.
"Oh…" Killian seemed skeptical, "A-Alright, then. What would you like to know?"
"Where were you this morning when the crime took place?"
"I was attending the play in the courtyard...where else?"
Sherlock paused, "A...play?"
"You didn't know? A local theatre group put on a small play in the courtyard this morning from about 8 to 10. Most of the prisoners were there, save a few."
Sherlock wasn't sure what to say. This was a critical point he was unaware of.
If the murder took place inside, everyone who attended the play has an alibi…
"Is there anything else, Mr. Holmes?"
"What? Oh, er...no, thank you."
Killian nodded, "Well, I'll let you get back to your investigation. It was nice to meet you both." And with that, she left down another corridor.
"Now what?" John asked.
"This play could narrow down the suspects," Sherlock said. "We need to find out who didn't attend."
"What about the prisoner who screamed? We should figure out who that was," Lestrade suggested.
"Wait, I thought it came from the victim? He could have screamed before he was stabbed," John mused.
"It's not impossible," Sherlock said, "But we can't prove that unless this screaming prisoner doesn't exist.
"It must have been coming from the rec room, if they assumed it was the victim."
10:39 AM - Pentonville - Prison - Hallway
The trio proceeded to the recreational room, the crime scene, but to the right, there was another door. Above it, there was a label that read, 'Workroom B'. The label above the crime scene read, 'Workroom A'. Sherlock caught the attention of a nearby guard.
"What is the purpose of two recreational rooms?"
"Oh, er, Room A is specifically for the prisoners...books, drawing, stuff like that. Room B is for the prisoners and the animals. They like to play with them in there, or something."
"Is there anyone in Workroom B?" Sherlock asked.
"Yes, sir, just one prisoner and his dog. Would you like to speak with him?"
They allow prisoners outside of their cells during a murder investigation?! First the animals, now this...this prison is more lax about their security than I thought.
Sherlock nodded, and the guard opened the door. He ushered out a prisoner with his dog close behind.
If he had not had on a uniform, Sherlock would not have guessed that he was a prisoner. When he walked, he had a sort of skip in his step, and an enthusiastic smile was etched onto his cleanly-shaven face, so much so that it seemed fake. But Sherlock could not tell whether or not this was some sort of elaborate façade.
"Hello," he chirped, "can I help you?"
Sherlock proceeded with caution, "Sherlock Holmes. We're investigating the murder that took place thi-"
"Oh, I know...what a tragedy," his face drooped suddenly in despair. "A murder...in a prison of all places!"
They remained silent.
"My name is Jack Frazier," he shook a reluctant Sherlock's hand. "I'm afraid I won't be of much help...I didn't see anything," he said quickly.
Is this guy for real? John thought.
Sherlock narrowed his eyes.
Mid-thirties, fair personal hygiene, possible anxiety disorder, though in denial...kleptomaniac.
Frazier laughed to himself, "Really...I can't help you."
"I never asked if you could help us," Sherlock said calmly.
"...Well, I just assumed…"
"Where were you at 9 o'clock this morning?"
Frazier seemed to think for a moment, "I...I was in here, actually," he motioned towards Workroom B. "I was playing with this little guy," he reached down to pet the small brown dog at this feet. Sherlock noticed the electronic bracelet around Frazier's wrist.
"Did you see or hear anything unusual?"
"I heard something...it could have been someone from Workroom A, but I can't be sure."
"Was it, perhaps, a scream?"
Frazier nodded slowly, "Yes...that could have been it."
A scream would be quite distinct…
"Are you good with the animals?" Sherlock asked.
Frazier's eyes seemed to light up, "Yes, very much so. I find them to be quite calming...even when they're frightened, I can still manage them."
"Were they frightened this morning?"
"No, I don't think so."
"But you just admitted there was a scream. Other witnesses claimed that the animals were startled," John said.
Frazier was growing anxious, "W-Well…"
Sherlock was silent.
"Look...the scream...it-it belonged to whoever discovered the body, right? So-"
"We never said it belonged to the discoverer," Sherlock said. "I would have assumed it was the victim."
It looks like Frazier was the one who screamed.
"You were the one who discovered the body, weren't you?"
Frazier deflated, "...Yes."
"Hiding this was pointless. But regardless, are you willing to tell us what actually happened?"
Frazier sighed. His façade was slowly deteriorating. "I was finished in Workroom B. As I left to go back to my cell, I looked through the window into Workroom A."
"What window?"
"There's a little window on the door that looks into the room."
"Why did you look through the window?" Lestrade asked.
"I had heard some odd noises inside. That was when I saw the body-"
"So you say that you had to leave Workroom B in order to look through the window. However, you're bracelet would have triggered an alarm if you passed through the doorway," Sherlock said.
"Oh...well, you see, if you keep the wrist with the bracelet inside the doorway, you can lean out and see through the window, which doesn't set off the alarm."
"Then did you see what was causing these 'odd noises' in the room?"
Frazier paused.
"Do not try to hide anything from us," Sherlock insisted, "Now tell us...what did you see? The murderer?"
"This is why I was trying to hide it. You're probably not going to believe me."
Sherlock rolled his eyes. "Trust me, I've seen some incredible things during my career. I think I can handle it."
Frazier sighed, "I saw the murderer," his voice started shaking. "It was biting the victim's neck."
He took a deep breath. "It was a dog, Mr. Holmes...a giant, black dog."