Holmes and Marion left the chapel and rushed to the Watson's home. In hopes, that no one had noted Marion's absence. They arrived at the front door, and Holmes opened it as quietly as he could. They were relieved to find that all the lights were off, and there was no one around.
"It seems everyone is still asleep." said Marion.
"Remove your shoes before walking up the stairs. They could alert the entire household." said Holmes.
"I fear that she's already been discovered, Holmes." said a voice.
Suddenly, the lamp at the top of the stairs was turned on, and there stood Doctor Watson; along with Mary, Mrs. Poulton, Mrs. Hamilton, and Inspector Lestrade from Scotland Yard. Mrs. Poulton rushed down the stairs and hugged Marion.
"Are you all right, my dear?" asked Mrs. Poulton.
"Yes, mother, I'm all right." said Marion.
Inspector Lestrade walked downstairs and placed handcuffs around Holmes' wrists. "Sherlock Holmes, you are hereby charged with the crime of abduction. Until you are able to stand trial, you are to be placed in the custody of Scotland Yard."
Just as Inspector Lestrade was about to haul Holmes away; Marion stepped in front of him, blocking his path.
"Ms. Poulton, I must take Mr. Holmes to Scotland Yard." said Inspector Lestrade.
"There's been no crime, Inspector." argued Marion.
"If he's taken you from this house, then he must be charged with abduction." explained Inspector Lestrade.
"Let him go, Marion." said Mrs. Poulton.
"If my assumption is correct, Inspector, then abduction is only considered a crime if the person is taken from their home against their own will?" asked Marion.
"Yes, that's right." said Inspector Lestrade.
"Then there's no need to charge Mr. Holmes with a crime he didn't commit. He never forced me to leave, I went willingly. Infact, it was me who persuaded him to allow me to be his companion during his visit to the chapel." explained Marion.
Inspector Lestrade sighed. "If you say so, Ms. Poulton."
Inspector Lestrade removed the handcuffs from Holmes' wrists. "Well, if there is nothing else, then I'll be leaving." he said.
Inspector Lestrade tipped his hat and left the house. Everyone, save Mrs. Hamilton, retreated to the parlor. It was obvious that Holmes and Marion were in trouble.
"Do either one of you have any idea what could have happened if you were found at the chapel?" asked Doctor Watson, his voice raised slightly.
"We are aware of the consquences, Doctor Watson, but it was the only way to prove my sanity." said Marion.
"My god, you still believe that you saw Lord Blackwood." said Doctor Watson.
"It's no longer a belief, Doctor Watson. It's a founded fact." said Marion.
"What are you talking about?" asked Mary.
Holmes reached into his coat pocket and pulled out the two rose petals. Doctor Watson, Mary, and Mrs. Poulton exchanged looks of confusion.
"Before I fainted, I saw that Lord Blackwood was holding a rose in his hand and that he had dropped two petals. We were able to recover them by the large tree at the chapel." said Marion.
"Then you were telling the truth." said Doctor Watson, Marion nodded.
"He should leave us be. Me and my daughter should be allowed to grieve in peace." said Mrs. Poulton.
"He won't allow peace, Mrs. Poulton, until he's been able to finish what he started." said Holmes.
"What do you mean?" asked Doctor Watson.
"Black often symbolizes grief but, on a rare occasion, it can symbolize death." said Holmes.
"Death? He wants to kill us?" asked Mrs. Poulton.
"When Lord Blackwood was unable to complete the sacrifical ritual on Ms. Nolan, due to me and Watson, it had obviously angered him more than I had originally suspected. It seems now he is set on murdering those connected to Ms. Nolan, including you and Marion, and possibly Mrs. Hamilton." explained Holmes.
"Eight petals." mumbled Marion.
"Did you say something, Marion?" asked Mary.
"The rose, it had eight petals on it." said Marion.
"Roses often have five." noted Holmes.
"Perhaps he used his parlor tricks to create the other three." said Doctor Watson.
"Then the rose is a message of sorts." said Holmes.
"What sort of message?" asked Mrs. Poulton.
"Ms. Poulton, this is of great importance; was there eight petals on the rose before or after two of them were removed?"
"Before, I believe." said Marion.
"Then there were six afterwards." said Doctor Watson.
"Could the number of petals be a symbol, of sorts?" asked Mary.
Holmes looked down at the rose petals, and then began to turn pale. No doubt, he had come to realize something.
"What is it, Holmes?" asked Doctor Watson.
"Two petals...Two victims." said Holmes, partially to himself.
"My father and cousin." said Marion.
Holmes nodded. "Yes. The petals symbolize the number of victims. The two petals that were removed could only have symbolized Mr. Poulton and Ms. Nolan."
"You've forgotten one thing: if you subtract two from eight, than that leaves six. Now, if your theory is correct, and he only intends to murder Mrs. Hamilton, Marion, and Mrs. Poulton; he still has three petals left. Who could they possibly symbolize?" said Doctor Watson.
Holmes let out a sigh, and Mary could tell by the look on his face, exactly what he was thinking.
"It's us." said Mary, and Holmes nodded.
Suddenly, everyone heard a noise from the kitchen and rushed to see what had happened. It didn't take them long to find Mrs. Hamilton laying pale and lifeless on a table in the kitchen; a rope was wrapped around her neck. Doctor Watson quickly removed the rope and checked Mrs. Hamilton for a pulse: he found none.
"She was a good soul." said Mrs. Poulton.
"Doctor Watson, is she holding something?" asked Marion.
Doctor Watson looked and saw that Mrs. Hamilton's right hand was clutched in a fist. He opened it and saw a black rose petal. Holmes took it and compared it to the other two rose petals; he wasn't surprised to find that it was a perfect match.
"It's from the same rose." said Holmes.
"Three murders. Five petals are left." said Marion.
"Five victims left to kill." added Doctor Watson.
