Chapter 7

The room became silent as the new Lestrade had lain upon us. Gregson paled to a similar color of Lestrade's face, I looked to Holmes, and he sat there, looking serious but not looking forward at anything. "And the plot just keeps getting thicker doesn't it?" Holmes mumbled out loud, "Can't wait to see what our murderer does for an encore."

"Are you sure Lestrade?" Gregson asked quickly, "I mean are you sure it was-"

"I just got back from his room," Lestrade answered, cutting Gregson off, "I was the one to discover the body."

"Well, we've heard Gregson's view on the matter," Holmes said, grinning slightly, "I think this would be a good time to hear your side of the matter Lestrade..."

"I thought that Strangerson was the murderer, but I doubt that there is a person in this room that doesn't know that. So my first instinct was to track down Strangerson. I knew the two had parted company in Euston Station about half past eight the evening of the murder and then Drebber's body was found around 2 in the morning. I had to find out what the secretary had been doing since 8:30 to the time of the murder and what had he been doing afterwards. I sent a message to Liverpool with a description of the man and a warning the police department to look out for him around any ships going to America. I then started calling the hotels and other lodgings in hopes to find out where he was staying. I also looked for a meeting place in which Debber and Strangerson would meet before traveling back to America. After I investigated further, I got the information that the man I was looking for was staying at the Halliday's Hotel. I got there at around 8 o'clock and the bellboys directed me up stairs to where I would find Strangerson. I knocked at the door and waited in silence for an answer. It wasn't till I felt something wet on my shoe that I looked down and discovered the horrifying sight. A red sticky liquid was nearly flowing from under the door. I instantly called back the bellboys, and after we put some pressure to it, we got the door open. Strangerson's body was huddled under the window, his limbs rigid and cold. A stab wound to the chest, penetrating the heart, is what must have killed him. The bellboys recognized him as we turned him over, but that's not the worse of it..." I felt sick just hearing the story as Holmes sat back, fingers in a pyramid.

"I figure the word RACHE printed in blood on the wall?" my roommate answered softly.

"Correct," Lestrade answered with no surprise, "The murderer was seen, by a boy walking by. He used a ladder to get up through the second floor window but the boy assumed he was a carpenter or roofer at work so he didn't report it. From the description he gave, the man was tall, reddish face, and was dressed in a long brownish coat. The murderer must have washed his hands in the bathroom sink because there were marks of the blood stain water left over. He must have washed his hands and the knife. But even with this evidence we have nothing we can use to discover the identity of this 'madman' so it seems."

"Was there nothing else in the room to suggest the murderer's identity?" Holmes asked. Lestrade shook his head.

"Nothing that is any use to either you or me. Strangerson had Drebber's wallet on him, most likely keeping track of the money and do all the paying. But what I can't figure out is the reason for these crimes! It can't be robbery, because nothing was taken off of either of the bodies and there were no papers on Strangerson's body except a telegram from a month ago with the words- "J.H. is in Europe." There was no name on the message to tell us who sent it."

"Nothing else?" Holmes asked again.

"A novel that Strangerson had most likely used to go to sleep and his pipe sitting on the bedside table...There was a small medicine bottle on the window sill, filled with little white pills..."

"That's it!" Holmes cried suddenly, jumping from his chair. The two older men looked at him in great surprise as Holmes smiled triumphantly. "I now have all the connections I need to undo this tangle of a case. There are details that will be filled in but I now have some of the major problems solved. Tell me you got your hands on those pills Lestrade!"

"I did," Lestrade answered, producing the item in question, "But I don't understand why they are of such importance to you..."

"Miss Galahad," Holmes said turning to me, "You remembered that poor little dog you were so fawning over in the alleyway a while back, the one near to death. Would you please go get him for me?"

"What are you planning to do Holmes?!" I asked getting to my feet, my concern for the dog of course. Holmes just waved his hand.

"Don't worry about that now! We have other things to worry about! Now just go and get the dog!" I sighed in defeat and returned shortly with the little dog in my arms. I don't think the dog had any more will to fight as it just laid in my arms, breath coming out in gasps and glazed over eyes. This dog was defiantly about to die as I lay it down gently on the floor. "Good," Holmes said, his smile still plastered on his face, "Now Laura since you've had a bit more experience in this field what do you say about these pills?" Holmes held up the pills for me to see. Through the plastic container I looked and nodded.

"They kind of look like the pills my dad would use, their lightness and transparency suggest that they are soluble in water I think."

"I guess you are good for something then," Holmes joked pulling away the container. I grew annoyed by his attitude but he just continued on the trail he was on. "Now I will break one of these pills in too," Holmes said pulling out a pen knife and doing just that. I couldn't help but raise an eye brow.

"So you have a knife and a gun?" Lestrade looked at Holmes in shock.

"You have a gun?!" Holmes sighed as he looked at me with warning in his eyes.

"Laura, get a dish and the milk from the kitchen."

"Get it yourself if you are so intent on doing what ever you plan on doing! I'm not your servant in any-"Holmes reached out, pinching my cheeks to make my lips bulge out.

"Get the Milk and the dish!" he told me softly but firmly as he let go. I did it instantly and Holmes laid the dish in front of the dog with a bit of the milk in it. He then put the pill in the milk and it dissolved rapidly. The poor little dog, smelling the food the best he could, lapped at the milk. We waited a while watching for some change in the dog. The dog continued to lay there slowly inch closer to death, but no major change. Holmes began to pace as the minuets ticked on. "It can't be just a coincidence..." he mumbled softly to himself, although we all could hear it, "I know that these pills have to do with Drebber's death and to have them found after the death of Stangerson must mean something...but what? Wait! I have it!" Holmes once again cut another pill in half and fed it to the dog through milk. We watched intently as this time there was a change. Just as the dog had once again wet it's tongue, it shivered and then let out it's last living breath. Holmes's smile grew wider as he sighed in relief. "I should have known that half the pills were a deadly poison and the other half was a harmless. Of course you boys couldn't see the real clue that was right in front of you face. Unfortunately you have made this murder more complex then it really is. I think that your not looking at the small details, that although making the case more difficult, have the power to make it less so as well..."

"Come on Holmes!" Gregson sighed, frustrated, "I know that you have your ways of taking clues and that you a man that is above and beyond in your field. But we need something more then theory to catch a criminal! No we know that Charpentier couldn't have been apart of this second murder and Lestrade's man is now dead. So if you know what we don't know, just say it now and save us all the frustration and trouble!"

"If we wait any longer," I put in, "Who ever is doing these murders is going to have another chance to harm another innocent person..."

"I think we can rest on that account my dear Miss Galahad, because there will be no more murders," Holmes answered, "And as for you other questions, the mere knowing of his name is a small thing to catching this man. I hope to do this shortly but of course we need to deal with this softly. We can't alert this man to what were are going to do or we may have a mess on our hands. So far, he doesn't know that anyone is on to him and if he had any idea he may try to escape. Not to embarrass you in anyway gentlemen but I think that I'd better do this on my own as I think this man is a match for any man on the force..." Lestrade and Gregson didn't look satisfied but a knock at the door interrupted the conversation. Once again Holmes turned to me.

"Answer the door," was all he said. I was annoyed but I did turn towards the door.

"You know, I'm a human being not just a dog you can or- WOAH!" I let out a cry as I was dipped into two arms just as I opened the door. I looked up at Wiggins who smiled down at me.

"'ello lovely," he said with a grin.

"Wiggins!" Holmes's voice warned. Wiggins instantly put me back on my feet and tipped his hat.

"The cab you wanted is down stairs Mister Holmes."

"Good, tell him to come up and help me with my bags please" Holmes answered as Wiggins vanished back down the hallway. He then turned and pulled out a pair of handcuffs from the table near the door. "Now all we have to do is wait, and you will wait in the kitchen Galahad" I pursed my lips in annoyance.

"I can take care of myself Holmes!" I answered. But he just chuckled. That is when another form entered the door way. The cabby-man stepped into the room holding his hat in his hands.

"Your bellboy told me to pick up the bags?"

"Yes, but first may I see you hands?" Holmes asked innocently. The cabby-man was surprised but held out his hands. There was the sound of a metal clink as Holmes's cuffs went around the man's wrists. In a second the cuffs went on, the man began to struggle. Holmes, Lestrade, and Gregson tried to hold the man down but he threw them off. The shattering of glass was heard through out the room as the man shattered the large window with his fists as he struck out at his attackers, sending glass all over the room and down into the street. Once he was able to break away from the guys, the man made a break for it but spotting me thought of another idea. Using his large hands he pulled me around and held me with one large arm around my neck. Feeling his breathing on my neck I went into defensive mode and all the years of women's defense lessons finally were put to good use. I took his arm in my hands and with great force flipped the larger man on to his back, then taking a jab to his crotch with my foot. The man groaned as he rolled on his side, both in shock and in pain. The others in the room just looked at me with wide eyes of surprise. I can't say I wasn't a little surprised myself.

"And that gentlemen," I said defiantly, "is how you win!" For a moment they sat in silence letting me stand there over the man I had just conquered. They finally got to their feet, and after dusting themselves off, Holmes spoke.

"Well we have his cab, I suggest we use it. We have reached the end of our mystery and any questions you all have I will be happy to answer them. Now let us leave before Miss Galahad decides to do the same to us..."