The Case of the Nurse's Bed

...

I studied the intricate weave on the rug at my feet, attempting to determine how the loose threads had started to unravel and the exact time of the deterioration. Indeed, was I actually responsible for this current unhappy state, certainly my size, weight and light tread excluded such blatant destruction? There was a large area of red boarder that needed urgent patching, perhaps one or two of the little blue flowers also needed-

"Miss Watson, are you listening?"

"Yes, yes, sorry. I do apologise Inspector, you are about to arrest me for murder." I briefly contemplated resistance and then held out my hands, wrists together.

His voice was kind as he gently pushed my arms downward, "oye-now, keep'im respectable." He breathed out a long sigh, "to my reckoning miss you still have a few questions to answer an I've not asked them." Then he glanced again at the doorway, "I'm sure we will have it all cleared up presently, if he ever gets ere."

"I have it cleared already Lestrade, there was no need to send for help and I'll thank you for not annoying him either, I need him for something far more imperative and you know how his royal highness gets if he's bothered with trivialities."

The little inspectors back went ridged, "this ere murder is bloody imperative. As I said, we will wait until he arrives, I'll not shift her beforehand and that's final."

"Come along Gregory, you have been seduced by a pretty face again, but the fact is clear; the door was locked and no one else could have done it."

"I'll keep an open mind thank you. We both know she's a good friend, an if you think you'll have one over me by carting her off before he arrives then you're mistaken."

I looked upwards but it took me a moment to find him, my vision was decidedly unsteady, no doubt I was still lightheaded due to the severity of the fright, "who arrives?" I also gazed somewhat blankly at the door. "Do I have a friend?"

"Well now, there's me miss," he looked defensively at his colleague, "and then there's Mr H-" but before the inspector had time to finish the door literally burst open.

"This had better be worth my while Lestrade!" The new arrival almost fell into the room, just missing the body, but managing to hit my small washstand quite forcibly and consequently began to hop about cursing and swearing on one foot. My first thoughts were for the poor man's health, he looked exhausted and disorientated, his face deathly ashen and his eyes quite bloodshot. My second struggled to translate the profanities and colourful adjectives that he muttered, quite a few were French and at least one was Russian.

"Now, now Mr Holmes, I'll not have you speaking like that in front of a lady."

"A lady?" His attention moved from his bruised knee to me, "Miss Watson-what the devil..." then his eyes darted from where I sat to the dead body on the floor, across my room and eventually to Inspector Gregson. "Oh for pity-sake, you are not about to arrest this women for that," his hand swept sideways encapsulating everything, "such an action would bring the yards facility for incompetence to a whole new level."

Inspector Gregson shifted uneasily and made a show of examining his notebook, "I suspect this women is not as she seems, I have not yet ruled out an accomplice, perhaps this unfortunate nurse caught Miss Watson in bed with a lover? However the locked door puts water on that theory. Either way I'll get the truth out of her at the station. A carriage has been called for."

"An I've yet to make a decision," Lestrade moved forward stepping neatly over the corpse despite the obvious limp in this right leg.

(I pulled my thoughts together and made an effort to watch that leg, the foot was definitely twisting inwards, perhaps an issue with that Abductor Hallucis muscle?)

"You have yet to examine the scene of the crime Mr Holmes, we would all be most grateful for your opinion;" the little Inspector thrust his thumb backwards, nodding and inclining his head in my direction.

"It appears I have no choice, you have had me dragged here by this burly fellow, who are you?" he glared pointedly at the constable that had accompanied him.

"Peterson sir. I believe I did mention my name back at your ouse in Baker Street. However we seem a wee bit worse for the wear this mornin ... sir."

"Yes, this impertinent policeman and not quite your bottomless well of information either, he did nothing on our way over except refuse my request to stop for tobacco." Then he fixed his eyes quickly back to the body on the floor, "I assume you are paying me?"

Inspector Gregson shrugged, but Lestrade straightened, "you need not worry about money Mr Holmes if that's stopping you, I will pay myself. Dear Miss Watson ere-"

"Yes, yes, I'm sure that's jolly decent of you Inspector and the good nurse appreciates it." Mr Holmes was now on his knees and had pulled out a magnifying glass to examine the floor next to the door. "You do realise that you are standing on the most decisive part of the evidence."

"Bugger!" Lestrade stepped backwards and almost knocked over Constable Peterson, "pardon me. Av I-" he searched for the right word, "obliterated anything crucial Mr Holmes?"

"No, but do keep those big boots away from that rather edifying rug. I assume you have touched nothing?"

"No, nothing has been touched, I can vouch for that."

"The curtains?"

"The curtains? Everything is how it was when we arrived less than an hour ago."

He looked up at me, "you have not moved from that bed Miss Watson?"

"Absolutely not, but believe me Mr Holmes it has not been through choice. I have not moved as I may have felt a little light-headed," I raised my chin, "and quite rightly, it is not everyday that one wakes to find a dead person at the foot of the bed."

"Are you sure about that miss?" Inspector Gregson looked at me doubtfully.

I ignored him, "my subsequently weak legs, a desire to retain some decency and the inclination not to further incriminate myself has kept me sitting right here." I shuffled further back into my little headboard.

Mr Holmes stood, "tell me what happened, include your movements before you slept," he then dashed outside and quite disappeared. For a moment we thought he had simply escaped and just looked at each other blankly. Eventually his head popped around the door, "I am waiting Miss Watson!"

"There is little to tell!"

"You need not shout, my hearing is quite efficient."

"Well, it is all rather dull; I was the emergency cover for the late shift. I saw only two rather trying gentlemen; they had been drinking far too much Gin and one needed to be induced to vomit as we feared for his kidneys. Then I returned here at about eight o'clock, sometime thereafter I went to bed, I did not take note of the hour. When I awoke things took a turn for the worse, I saw this, cried out for help and then found myself unable to move in fear. Billy our porter arrived, but the door was locked, we spoke behind the door as he did not have a key. He then sent a runner for the police, I told him to ask especially for you Inspector Lestrade. I am sorry to trouble you so, but if I must face anyone in my nightgown I would rather it be someone I vaguely know."

Mr Holmes was now back in the room carefully checking the furniture and floor, "that night-coat was given to you after you discovered the body?"

"Of course, Billy was kind enough.

"Yes, his large square toes are present here and the wardrobe has been rummaged through by someone not familiar with its contents; no doubt he eventually found a duplicate key and made himself useful. Show me precisely how you slept; the position of your head is most important, be exact."

"Well, let me see, I usually sleep like so."

"All night, facing away from the door?"

I attempted to control my frustration, "I have absolutely no idea, one does not usually take note of such things Mr Holmes."

"No, you are lying, you have been all over this mattress and you have also spent time under it," he was now peering under my blankets and for some reason lifted them and examined the inside of my bed. When he bent forward and smelt them I began to feel slightly violated.

"Is it absolutely necessary that my sleeping habits are examined so?"

"If you wish to avoid the gallows madam," his long delicate fingers moved across the surface of the sheets and to the edge of my nightgown, I tried to stop myself from visibly flinching, his quick eyes darted upwards and searched my face. Then his attention abruptly shifted and he turned to the dead body. "Do you know this woman?"

"Yes she is-was Nurse Finley, she works nights in ward three."

He had kneeled beside the corpse and was slowly moving his spyglass across her, stopping occasionally to lay a finger on the crumpled uniform. "She is unmarried. You differ in age, she is perhaps five and forty years, you are not yet twenty. Did she ever engage you in conversation?"

"Susan Finley was friendly, as are all the nurses here." My mind raced over multiple conversations, "yes, she offered to help me search for diggings this Sunday, she sounded quite interested and for some reason I did think about asking her to share if we found something, but I never pursued it," I glared at Holmes and turned to Inspector Lestrade, "you never know how people will react when you offer to share."

"Was it always thus with you, she was overly helpful in a mothering manner?" For some obscure reason he was running his finger along the dead women's hair, following the patterns of displaced gray curls.

"Motherly, yes I suppose so, but most people are kind to me, I do suppose it was all probably just pity."

He stood, stopped himself and then wavered a little. My brain instinctively told me all was not well, the fellow was certainly unsure on his feet. It had been well over a month since we had last met, but he looked considerably thinner.

"What has transpired here is blatantly obvious, even as I first entered the room and a careful examination of details has only confirmed my initial findings." Then much to my horror he sat firmly on the edge of my bed, "Miss Watson keeps a very tidy and orderly bedroom, it is in her nature to do so, however I believe this excessive neatness also stems from a desire to stay in these rooms without complaint. Consequently she has moved very little about the room, the areas she does use are clearly marked with her presence, as are the places disturbed by others. However it is this huge heavy rug that has been most obliging. It has been brushed and shaken somewhat compulsively every night and therefore reveals events easily across it." He pointed downwards and abruptly slumped forward, turning an ever whiter shade."

"Mr Holmes..."

"I am quite fine, just a slight chill. Where was I? Yes, a canvas that clearly paints a picture of events. The time of death transpired roughly between 12 O'clock midnight and 2 O'clock of this morning. Miss Watson retired to bed early, at about 9 o'clock. She has not used a candle or removed a lamp from the wards; instead the curtains are pulled into a position that would suggest she relies on the outside lighting to guide herself around the room and also to read. The external gas lamps at Bart's dim at five minutes to nine in late spring, she has left that medical journal next to the window unfinished, so we assume she read and when the lights dimmed she undressed and retired to bed. The light from that window lends the room sufficient brightness to see clearly but not so well as to read when dimed, that is of significance. There has been no attempt to prepare for a visitor, she did not expect company. She has spent most of the night on here," he patted the surface of the bed, "there has been no-one else in this bed, which conclusively excludes a lover and accomplice, however there have been several people in this room," he scowled at Lestrade, "mostly policemen, the porter and another person. She did however remove herself once and that was to crawl under the bed, I believe that occurrence relates to frequent nightmares connected to her experiences in Afghanistan. The rug has been deliberately placed partly under the bed; I thought that peculiar at first, as is her manner of obsessively brushing it and then it occurred to me that she often sleeps under there."

Inspector Gregson's pen stopped writing, "under the bed eh? So what are these 'experiences in Afghanistan'?"

"They are irrelevant as they have no bearing on this case, except in that her dreams are quite vocal. The noise from her room has drawn attention." He attempted to stand, but thought better of it and pointed to the door, "that keyhole has been left uncovered, that was very unwise of her, it is a means by which an outsider can see into this room, especially when there is light from the window."

"Would you please refer to me directly Mr Holmes, it is most disconcerting to be spoken of in third person."

"Why have you no cover for that keyhole madam?"

"Because for some reason it kept falling off and then it must have disappeared completely. I do have more immediate concerns than a keyhole cover and I do leave a key in the door!"

"Yes, it has been pushed out and is currently below that washstand." As he pointed Lestrade dashed forward, knelt and picked the key from the floor, holding it in the air."The key often falls so?"

"Well yes, it has happened before, I had supposed it was my carelessness."

"Very careless indeed. You have had a voyeur," he pointed to the dead women, "someone whom took great pleasure in watching you sleep. No doubt your sleep is restless; this presents an opportunity for a greater display of your entire body, as does the light from the open curtains. You are in the habit of casting off these bed sheets and your body will often..." his eyes darted to mine "writhe about the bed." I immediately felt myself burn crimson and when he pointed to the noticeably bedraggled sheets the young constable behind him took off his helmet, learned back against the washstand and started fanning himself. "Indeed last night was warm, your dreams must have been especially vivid, for you to find yourself cowering under the bed suggests your brain did indeed register an initial noise, the key dropping to the floor perhaps? You mistook it for rifle fire and took cover. After that you returned to bed and fell almost immediately into a deep sleep were you continued to dream. When you are in such a state you are quite unaware of loud noises; I myself can vouch for that as I have already attempted to awaken you during such a nightmare."

"Mr Holmes, informing everyone of that fact will do little but damage my character!"

"Yes, as I was stating, you can sleep though considerable noise, therefore you did not hear the loud thud that would have occurred when this women struck the door. The preliminary fatal blow was done quite clinically, a sudden impact to the skull, crushing the bone inwards and causing damage to the brain, the shock, trauma and the severity of damage would indicate instantaneous death and would have certainly resulted in some initial bleeding." His slim fingers pointed to the smeared blood against the grey hair, "see here, there are traces of haemorrhage and indeed fragments of the skull, with some missing. The bleeding you now see on the floor is residual and occurred after death, however one would assume a wound of that size would cause a considerable flow. As you can see there is no pool, I am no expert but I would have assumed the decreasing pressure built up from the previously strong heartbeat to cause bleeding from that lesion for at least three seconds after the brain had died, if not more. Indeed as this woman had been rather excited, one would assume an accelerated heartbeat, therefore greater pressure of blood flow and therefore more bleeding. As you can see there is almost none. One can consider that the heart may have stopped instantly or the victim had very poor blood circulation, but that would still give us something, here we have nothing."

Both the inspectors peered at the dead women's head. "Where's it gone then?" Lestrade made a spectacular display of looking about the room for missing blood.

"Arh, there is a little smear further back on the floor where you yourself have foolishly trodden, see it? I suspect that leaked from the towel or item of clothing which was placed under the women's head and has since been removed. The rest was elsewhere." His hand pointed to the foot of the door then came back up to his own head, "but the wound is not as expected, it has impacted the Occipital bone quite low, suggesting it happened while the lady was stooped and bent forward, the bruising on her forehead occurred as she struck her head against the door whilst falling further forward, thus confirming that the door was indeed closed and she was still behind it and outside in the hallway. From the size and shape of the puncture, I would suggest a sharp steel weapon used with considerable force."

Inspector Gregson raised his hand and flapped his notebook in the air like an irritated schoolboy, "but the body was in here and not outside, that door was locked, these are hard facts Mr Holmes and the porter can confirm them."

Mr Holmes looked upwards, "will you cease these interruptions!" He took a handkerchief from his pocket and with a slightly shaking hand slowly wiped the back of his neck and along his forehead. "At the time of this women's death the door was firmly closed, whoever killed her also looked through the keyhole to confirm that Miss Watson was soundly asleep and not a witness. Observing this they saw an opportunity, indeed with very little effort they could arrange for Miss Watson to take the blame. Quietly unlocking the door, and mark that this indicates the murderer possesses a duplicate key at hand, they pulled the body into the room. Do observe the placement of the hair and the clothes on the victim, they show signs of drag. Then there is also the placement of the arm, indicating it was used to manoeuvre her up and across the rug. Note the marks on the rug, see the regular displacement of these fibres there, suggesting a heavy object was indeed pulled across them. Now also observe," he pulled himself from the bed and dashed for the door, "immediately outside the door there is a series of small blood spots, this was the residue splatter from the initial crushing blow. It was indeed quite sudden and violent." He was now examining the wall with the small magnifying glass, "look yourself."

Inspector Lestrade almost snatched the glass from his hand and disappeared from view, "you're right Mr Holmes!"

"Here is a mark lower down in the door where her head struck as the body fell and I do believe that this is the victim's hair. Now observe the discolouration in the crevices of the floor tiles, there has been some attempt to clean a large area around here in the last nine hours, but not successfully enough as the water and blood have left a mark."

Inspector Lestrade was now on his hands and knees outside the door following an invisible path with the magnifying glass. Mr Holmes moved back into the room.

"The murderer was indeed bold and self-assured, this would indicate someone in authority. They were probably under the assumption that if discovered, they could still easily blame Miss Watson. The mere fact that the body was near Miss Watson's bed would incriminate her, should the murderer have been discovered they may have claimed that they were simply investigating a disturbance and innocently stumbled across the body, a very clever individual indeed. Someone who knew a good deal about how to remain quiet around sleeping patients, a very strong person, able to wield a object with enough power to smash a skull, but also light-footed and sure."

"A Doctor?"

"No, a Doctor could not clean that floor without some difficulty, a nurse holding a bucket and mop is not unusual, for a doctor to be seen fetching such implements would have aroused suspicion. Indeed, a Doctor would not automatically possess a key, unless access to Miss Watson's bedroom had been given on previous occasions?" He looked at me pointedly.

"As you have no-doubt observed, I am not in the habit of inviting Doctors or indeed anyone into my room Mr Holmes."

"Yes, you are quite an innocent, you still consider sharing a bed to be a shocking prospect," he deliberately sat back on the bed to successfully prove his point. "There is of course the possibility that the murderer intended to enter this room to violate and kill Miss Watson and this dead nurse was an unfortunate impediment, however that is remote. I am certain that if murder was the intension then the weapon selected for the job would have been soundless and less brutal. No I deduce this was a crime of passion, sudden, frantic and almost certainly committed by a female, either a female or a fellow with small feet and an extraordinarily dainty step. I would suggest the motive was resentment Miss Watson. This nurse had been spying on you, no doubt over a period of time. She was caught by an admirer or perhaps her lover and..." he seemed to run out of steam here, "and was coshed over the head in a fit of jealousy. As to the weapon, not sharp but of narrow edged steal, perhaps similar in shape and size to the device one uses to open the upper windows for ventilation; I noticed this particular corridor lacks such an implement. Other than that I have no idea, perhaps with a more careful study of that skull I may be able to further enlighten you."

"She was spying on me?"

"My-god a women?"

"'Coshed'?"

Constable Peterson had straightened and was now peering with interest at the body, "lady lovers you say?"

Mr Holmes looked at all four of us and slowly shook his head.

"That's all well and good Mr Holmes, but can you prove it."

"Inspector Gregson, I have just done so and in some detail."

"No, wait a minute. I don't like it, it's far too fancy. I prefer more simple explanations."

"Now, now Gregson, Mr Holmes ere has been clear in his account, as far as I can see it does sound a little fancy but it's worth serious consideration."

"I have just told you what happened, there is nothing 'fancy' or worth considering about the case."

"That as well may be, but I suggest Inspector Gregson and I have a little talk outside," he was nodding his head in my direction again, then he suddenly stopped and looked suspiciously at the young constable, "Peterson, best you go to the front of the building and see all is well."

"Aye sir."

Sherlock Holmes not only wiped his forehead, but now buried it in the handkerchief, "very well Inspector do as you must, but I do not have all day."

"We will be outside miss."

"Yes, yes I heard you. Thank you Inspector."

As they left Mr Holmes dutifully rose from the bed, but his knees were unsteady.

"That is not a 'slight chill' sir, I have seen those symptoms before. Sweating, shaking of limbs, pale skin, bloodshot eyes and sudden nervous energy. As Constable Peterson has suggested, I would normally consider a recovery from alcoholic abuse, but there is a clear lack of odour associated with such cases. You have been holding and rubbing your left arm, that may indicate cramping or perhaps the agitation of a recent wound. Either way I think you have a slight fever sir and should be in bed."

He looked at me with interest, "you are quite observant Miss Watson, however your interpretations are also quite incorrect."

"I have eyes just as you Mr Holmes, though admittedly not half as keen. I am not wrong, you are ill, perhaps from over-working?"

He laughed, it was an odd little noise and almost like a bark, "now you are totally erroneous. It is boredom that ails me madam, boredom and being surrounded by fools."

"Never-the-less you need some rest."

"Agreed." He raised his voice, "Inspector Lestrade, will you please see some sense and assure Miss Watson she is not about to be arrested for murder, then I can go."

"What about the real murderer?" He shouted back.

"No doubt you can solve that, I suggest you start with the senior nursing staff on duty last night, especially those whom would patrol the corridors and have keys."

The inspector returned looking a little sheepish, "that's not what I meant. What about the threat to Miss Watson, she cannot stay ere, not with a-a head-cosher on the loose. No she is far better off down the station, locked up and safe."

"You're right Lestrade, if she is innocent then she is safe and if she's guilty then it would stop her making good her escape."

"I am not about to escape anywhere Inspector Gregson, I quite assure you."

"That's all well and good miss, but polite assurances do not hold tight with my super."

Mr Holmes looked unusually concerned, "surely gentlemen you are not going to throw this young lady into a prison cell?"

"What else are we to do?"

"Miss Watson's constitution is not yet equal to accommodation at the yard, I have spent a night in one of those cells and can vouch for its dampness. Her inability to find a suitable bed is mostly due to her need for a dry warm environment, she has not yet fully recovered from a recent fever. I warn you both, should you throw this crippled female into your basement she could quite possibly be dead sometime thereafter."

"Look ere Mr Holmes, no-one wants to see the young lady behind bars, but she's not safe. Unless we find out who did this sharply, she may well be 'coshed' before the morning. You said yourself about her being a possible victim. No unless someone volunteers to personally keep an eye on her she goes straight to Scotland Yard."

Holmes looked sharply upwards and fixed the inspector with a deadly stare, "now wait here, you are not suggesting that I look after her?" He started to slowly shift towards the door, "if this is a trick to make me feel responsible for this young lady then you are sadly mistaken. I will not be held accountable for any female, especially this one."

Inspector Lestrade deliberately stretched himself across the door frame, "oh I know it's all about solving a case and walking away with you Mr Olmes, but we have ourselves a causality, yes a live body as well as a dead one!" He had become quite agitated but stopped himself by taking a deep breath, "I know you are not particular about dealing with them alive, but I seem to remember you owe this young lady a favour." Then when Mr Holmes turned a shade whiter still he added, "come along sir, there is no need for a fuss, it will only be for a few days."

"Absolutely not and I can find that murderer in less than forty eight hours. The most obvious suspect is the ward matron; however I will need time to disprove her alibi, I seriously doubt she will conveniently confess."

"I'd say that that's a bargain Mr Holmes, you find us a murderer, Miss Watson can assist and tonight she stays at Baker Street. There must be another room for lodgings in that big house, I'll wager it's a nice dry one too. Of course I would offer myself, only my missus won't av it and with the nippers there's precious little space."

"I will not spend a single night in the same building as this gentlemen Inspector and that's final!" I was fully aware of an element of hypocrisy, indeed I had once desired such an arrangement, however that was long before I had the measure of the fellow that currently resides there.

Lestrade sounded curiously blunt, "then it's either ere after we have cleared up madam, I can have a constable stand at the door, or it's a cell down at the yard. Make your choice."

I looked about my little room in dismay, "I have no choice; they will want me to go, if not under my own steam they will have me immediately removed. My presence here is unofficial and so far largely unnoticed, no doubt that will change when my name appears in the papers tomorrow."

It was just then that Constable Peterson re-appeared in the doorway looking somewhat dishevelled, "there are reporters outside already miss." He straightened his helmet and looked determinedly at Inspector Lestrade, "the porter as been talking to em sir. The carriage as arrived, but I sent it around the back as they wos all over it. We've locked all the doors on im sir, exceptin the ones in the main reception of course. I'd say it will most likely make the evening papers, an bad for the young lady too, no matter wot this ere gentleman says."

Mr Holmes suddenly straightened and towering above us all he announced with an air of resigned authority, " very well, I will send a runner to enquire wither there is emergency accommodation at the municipal lodgings in Spitalfields, no doubt you can spare a constable outside that building tonight and keep away the hounds. Meanwhile I suggest we begin to interview the senior staff starting with the ward matron, the sooner we have this case settled the less we need concern ourselves with Miss Watson's welfare."

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I just thought that I'd update this story since I did the other one.

This Sherlock Holmes has not had all those sharp edges smoothed by a Watson, so he is still essentially both selfish and insensible and I rather hate him for it... but then again I rather like the bastard too.

Please, please tell me if this works as it is my first ever proper detailed 'crime scene' and I may have got all that observation and deduction higgledy-piggildy... blood on carpet stuff is not my forte!

BIG thanks to Arty Diane for the beta on this and on all my 'stuff'... but please do not blame her for any typos as I have changed it again this morning. However it is now a better story only because she pointed out one or two massive inaccuracies. I do need to keep her, she is rather wonderful!

I do indeed also realise that I'm a hopeless task and my Victorian cockney slang does in reality probably contain the odd bit of 1970's scouse.

Will try to finish 'Time and Tide' soon, thank you to all who reviewed that story, you keep me going out of pure guilt :) Special thanks goes to the self confessed 'lurker' in my last review ... I am glad you came out of lurking to say hello :D

Bravehearttegan