Thank you for all the reviews. I find them all instructive in some
way, if only to tell me that someone finds my 'poor scribblings' as
much fun to read as they are to write. Please enjoy Chapter the
Fourth.
" Lestrade, did you just say that the victims were corpses?"
"Yes, I did, Holmes. There is a lot of pressure being brought to
bear to solve this case, since the people involved are rather well-to-
do. They are breathing down the commissioner's neck, and he is
breathing down mine. This is what we know-- a group of thugs are
watching the papers. When they see that someone wealthy or
politically connected dies, they steal the body after it is buried. Then
they hold it for ransom. If the body is ransomed, the people who
have ransomed it are told where to find the body. It is always at
midnight in a crypt. When the people go to get the body, it looks
like it is set up for a funeral. There are candles burning, and there
are even flowers. The body is in an open casket, just as if someone
from the funeral parlor had placed it there. If the ransom is not
paid, there is a pile of ashes on the sofa in the house of the person
who did not pay the ransom."
"How many times has this occurred, and with what results?"
Holmes asked, very interested.
"Well,{at this, the shamefaced Inspector looked at his shoes. He
knew that Holmes would want to know why he had not come to him
before. He felt like the proverbial kid in the cookie jar.} it has only
happened three times. Twice the ransoms were paid, but in the third
case, it was not."
"When can you show me the place where the bodies were picked
up, and the place where the ashes were found?"
"Would tomorrow be alright?"
"Watson, do you feel you can …..."
Before the sentence was out of Holmes' mouth, Watson assured
him that he would be alright for a few hours on his own. He knew
Holmes was very interested in this case, and he really didn't have the
heart to tell him otherwise. And there was that novel that he had
been meaning to read......
"I'll pick you up tomorrow, then."
Holmes was sure that he heard a tone of relief in the Inspector's
voice.
"Inspector, I think that you have been run a bit ragged. Why
don't you get home and rest for a while. And I am sure that the
worthy Mrs. Lestrade will have a hot meal for you, even at such an
hour, for I see that you have not been home yet. Tomorrow we shall
see what we shall see."
" I think that that is very sound {and welcome} advice, sir.
Thank you. Doctor, do you feel well enough to give me your
statement tomorrow, when I come to pick up Mr. Holmes?"
" Oh, yes. If the hour were not so late, I could give it to you
now, but it can keep. You look practically run off your legs. Go
home, and get some rest."
Holmes walked to the door with the little official. As he was
coming back, I gave vent to the yawn I had been stifling while the
Inspector and Holmes were talking.
"Good Lord, Watson, you nearly unhooked your jaw!"
"I'm rather tired. Would you help me to bed?"
"Of course. I'm tired, too, now that you mention it. Come on,
old boy,....."
"Don't call me that...he called me that!" Tears ran freely down
my face. The storm was over as quickly as it had begun. I wiped
my face and looked up at a very surprised Holmes looking down at
me. I felt quite sheepish. "Holmes.......do you think it will ever be
over?"
"Dear fellow, I am so sorry. Yes,it will be over. You will get over
this, but please remember that you don't have to be alone." He
knelt down by my chair. "I have every faith in you."
"Thank you. That means more to me than I can tell you."
After he had helped me to bed, I heard him making himself a bed
in the other room. I think that that closeness helped me to sleep that
night.