Aurthor's note: To those of you who left reviews, thank you! All writer's love to get them.
Also, I have never been to Scotland. What I know about Scotland comes from movies and watching Outlander. I have tried to rsearch what I could on the internet to try to get most facts corrects. I am going for old Hollywood creepy castle, spooky moors, etc. If I mistake the terrain, or the area, please forgive my ignorance. I mean no disrespect to Scotland or it's people.
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Chapter 5-First Impressions
They spotted their driver right away. A chauffer and limo was waiting for them holding a sign that read "HOLMES".
"Mr. Holmes," the driver asked when Sherlock approached him.
"In the flesh," Sherlock replied.
"My name is Jackson and I will take you the rest of the way. I have a child seat for your little girl."
"Perfect," John said.
Soon the party was on the road. The landscape was so different from London. Gone were the concrete sidewalks, the tall buildings, and the busy streets. They were the only ones traveling on this long stretch of road. To the left and the right was nothing but darkness. About an hour later the sun began to rise, exposing the almost naked scenery. Rolling hills of grass was all there was. Once in a while they would pass a couple of trees, but not often. The sky was gray and heavy fog filled the air.
"I've never been this far north before," Molly said. "It's so barren."
"The land was deforested long ago. Here in the highlands it is mostly nothing but grassland and peat bogs," Sherlock explained. "It does make for a lonely landscape but then there are those who profess it to be beautiful. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder after all. Still, you are not seeing the Highlands at their best. It is beautiful out here in the summer, but November is the wettest month of the year for Scotland. I am afraid much of this trip will be dark, gray, and foggy."
"I spend most of my day in a cold windowless room. I will probably feel right at home," Molly replied. Sherlock gave her a smile.
After some time more and more trees started to be seen along the side of the road. Small white houses and other structures finally appeared. The lonely road kept going and finally they cut through the center of the village. There was a café, and bed and breakfast, an adorable florist shop as well as the post office. Further down after another long break of trees they saw a garage, a market, and a clothing boutique.
"It's all so quaint," Molly said. "Like stepping back in time."
The road rounded and there, set back a distance was the ancient cathedral Dickey had spoke of, and finally, ahead of them was Roane Hall. It was very large, but old. Molly had been expecting something along the lines of Downton Abbey or Pemberly, but this was nothing like that. This was a rough-cut stone castle with turrets, and even a stonewall surrounding the perimeter in the front. This castle had probably been under siege once upon a time.
"It looks like something from a movie set," John said. "I dare say one would expect Mel Gibson to show up right about now with half his face painted blue."
"John, flights of fancy will not help to solve the case," Sherlock said.
"No," John agreed. "Still, I can understand why this is a major wedding destination during the summer months."
The car pulled up to the front and Dickey and his wife stepped out to great the travelers as Sherlock and the others climbed out of the limo.
"Sherlock, welcome to Roane Hall," Dickey said. "Please let me introduce you to my wife, Ainsley Macauley Thurgood." Sherlock took in the appearance of Lady Thurgood. She was dressed in tailored wool tan trousers with a heavy Faire Isle sweater pulled over a crisp white button down. She wore brown leather riding boots similar to the ones he had purchased Molly, which she was currently wearing. Her long blonde hair had been pulled up into a chignon, which exposed the large diamond solitaire earrings she wore. Her makeup had been applied with an expert hand. The overall look could have been rather stiff if not for the genuine looking smile she wore on her face.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Lady Thurgood," Sherlock replied. Before he could reach out to take her hand another young lady came busting out the doors rushing towards them.
"Oh, and this is my wife's sister, Angelica, that I mentioned to you."
Angelica looked to be ten years younger than Lady Thurgood, which implied she was most likely an "oops" baby. She did not carry herself with the dignity and grace of her older sister, which also suggested that because the parents were older they had relaxed their discipline techniques significantly by the time Angelica was coming of age.
"Mr. Holmes, I am so excited to meet you," Angelica blurted out. "I have been reading your blog for years." Her long black bob shook with excitement. Angelica was the opposite of Lady Thurgood. Lady Thurgood was tall and fair with blond hair and blue eyes. Angelica was shorter with black hair and brown eyes. Still, they bore a similar bone structure in the face.
"It is a pleasure to meet you ladies," Sherlock replied with forced graciousness. "Please allow me to introduce my associate, Dr. Watson."
"The famous Dr. Watson," Lady Thurgood said, shaking his hand. "You write the blog."
"Yes, I do."
"This little one," Sherlock continued, "is his is daughter Rosie, and finally this is my fiancé, Dr. Molly Hooper."
Sherlock and John both caught the crest fallen look that crossed Angelica's young face.
"How do you do," Lady Thurgood said to Molly, shaking her hand in turn.
"It is a pleasure to be here, though I wish under less tragic circumstances. Your home is beautiful, like something out of a fairy tale," Molly said.
"Thank you," Lady Thurgood said. "It has been in the family for seven generations and I hope it stays for seven more. I can't imagine not having this place to come home to."
As Molly followed behind Sherlock into Roane Hall she was privately thankful of Sherlock's recent clothing purchases for her. Looking at Lady Thurgood and Angelica, they were dressed very elegantly, while still being practical. Molly felt every bit their equal in her outfit topped off with the creamy long wool button down coat Sherlock had gotten her. She truly felt like a lady.
Inside, Roane Hall was just as grand. It still looked ancient but it was clear the castle had undergone massive renovations over the years. For one, it was warm inside, and there was electricity and modern furnishings mixed in with the antiques.
Lady Thurgood led them to a sitting room where trays of tea and biscuits had been set up waiting for them. Rosie was set down on the floor where she began to crawl around and play with the few toys John put down for her.
"So, why don't you please begin by telling me everything that you know," Sherlock said.
"It has been simply horrible," Lady Thurgood started. "The first murder was mid August. Sarah had her wedding at the Cathedral and then she and her husband were staying here for their honeymoon night. The next morning when the groom woke up Sarah was missing. We called the constables and after several hours of her not returning to the cottage a search began. Her body was found about a kilometer and a half away from Roane Hall out on the moors."
"I will need to see the spot," Sherlock said.
"I don't know if you can right now. During the summer the moors are dry and walking is easy as long as you know what you are doing. Now it's the rainy season. It is highly likely the area her body was found is a quagmire of mud and water. You have to be careful out there. Mind you, it's not like quicksand, but you can drown if you fall into deep water and this time of year hypothermia is the biggest danger should one get stuck," Dickey warned.
"Still, I will need to get as close as possible," Sherlock replied. "It doesn't have to be right now but I will require a look at the scene of the crime."
"Of course," Lady Thurgood said.
"Did they suspect the husband?" John asked.
"Naturally, he was the number one suspect in the beginning. His alibi was that he was asleep. He had no explanation for why she would wander off in the middle of her wedding night. Not to mention, the poor girl had been strangled to death. They were preparing a case against him and he was even arrested when the next murder happened. This one was early September, and the crime was exactly the same. The bride and groom were staying in separate rooms at the Firefly B&B. The wedding was supposed to happen the next day here at the castle. They retired to their rooms for the night. The next morning the bride to be was missing. Initially it was assumed she had run off, changed her mind about the wedding. Two days later hikers found her body out on the moors about two kilometers behind the kirk.
"The poor girl had been strangled like the first, and her body was floating face down in the bog." Lady Thurgood shook her head, trying to get the visual out of her mind. "They released the man they arrested, since he was locked up during the second murder and couldn't possibly have done both. With the wedding season over everyone hoped the murders were over, until mid October when Veronica Marsh was found dead. She lived here in town. Her daughter goes to school with my daughter. The girls are friends." Lady Thurgood wiped at her eyes, emotions getting the better of her.
Dickey decided to continue the story. "Veronica is…was a single mother. She was devoted to her daughter. When Vicky, the little girl, woke up the next morning her mother was nowhere to be found. Later that day they found her on our property, on the moors, the events of her death matching the others."
"Then last week, Lorna, my personal assistant, and my dearest friend in the world, was also found strangled." Now Lady Thurgood was really falling apart. She buried her face in her hands and sobbed. Molly suddenly stood up, sat next to the grieving woman and placed a comforting hand on her.
"I am so sorry for your loss," Molly said sincerely. "I know talking about this must be abominable, but the more you can tell us the faster Sherlock can find the murderer."
Lady Thurgood looked up at Molly with tear filled eyes and placed a hand on top of Molly's. The grief stricken woman gave her a soft smile, took a deep breath, and then continued.
"That night we had been in town having a small celebration. Lorna had gotten engaged two weeks earlier. Her fiancé is a banker in London. She met him though our charitable work at a dinner party about a year ago. They had a long distance romance but it had really blossomed. Poor Henry is devastated."
"Was Henry here the night of the celebration?" Sherlock asked.
"No, he was in New York when Lorna was murdered," Lady Thurgood replied. "The entire village is terrified. People don't get murdered here. It's not that kind of a place. But now, after four in four months, women won't even leave their homes to do the grocery shopping. They are sending the men out to run all the errands, but even inside we don't truly feel safe. Several of these women were certainly taken right from their bedrooms!"
"From what I can see right now," Sherlock said, "the only thing these women have in common is Roane Hall. They either were here, worked here, or were found here, out on the moor. True, two were brides and one was newly engaged, but the single mother doesn't fit the pattern of a young woman in love. With two being tourists it is doubtful they would both have a local connection to someone in the village, and unfortunately the murderer is most definitely someone in this village. I am afraid you all probably know the murderer and he is hiding in plain sight."
"That's awful," Angelica said, wrapping her arms around herself.
"Did you know the two brides?" John asked. "Do they have a connection to the village in any way other than just coming here to be married?"
"I never knew the women personally," Lady Thurgood answered. "I met them only briefly, long enough to go over the events of their weddings, make sure they were pleased with the flowers, the décor, and trivial things like that. Their personal history, their backgrounds, I'm afraid I just don't know anything."
"That's to be understood," Molly comforted. "They were paying guests, nothing more. Where is Lorna now? I am a pathologist. I would very much like to examine the…her, I would like to examine her, see if I can find anything that might have been missed."
"She is currently at the funeral home," Dickey answered. "The constables were informed you were coming. We requested they not release her to her family until you had a chance to do your job."
"That is most helpful," Sherlock said.
"I promise to be thorough but quick," Molly said. "I know this must be hard on her family."
"Yes, but her parents agreed that everything must be done to ensure the murders stop," Lady Thurgood replied.
"Do you have a car for us to use while we are here?" John asked. "We will need a mode of transportation for our stay."
"Yes," Dickey replied. "You can use the grounds keepers' truck. It seats four."
"Do you have someone who can take us out on the moors?" Sherlock asked. "It would help if we could be shown the way. I imagine we will venture out there later today."
"Of course," Dickey said. "Our grounds keeper, Duncan, can show you where three of the women were found. The police will have to show you the location of the fourth, as it wasn't on our property. However, I don't recommend doing it today. This far north our days are very short this time of year. Going out on the moors during the wet season is tricky enough for people not used to it in the daylight. It would be very dangerous for you to go after dark."
"Fine, tomorrow at first light then," Sherlock said.
"I will inform Duncan to pick you up at your cottage," Angelica offered. "Just be sure to check the weather before you go out. You really don't want to be out there during a storm."
"Excuse me, but it was mentioned that you have a Nanny?" John interrupted.
"Yes, Angelica, will you please go fetch Nanny for me?"
"Sure thing," Angelica said, though her face clearly said she didn't want to leave the room.
"Bonnie is wonderful with children. She was actually my Nanny years ago. She is older now but I promise you little Rosie will be well looked after."
"Thank you," John said.
Angelica entered the room with a woman in her late fifties, trim, hair pulled back in a tidy bun and a pair of glasses on her nose. The woman was almost a cliché of a proper British nanny.
John picked up Rosie who was teething on one of her rattles. He extended his hand to the older woman.
"Hello, my name is John and this is Rosie."
"How do you do? Oh, isn't she just the sweetest." Nanny extended her arms to scoop up Rosie. "Do you want to spend some time with me and the children?" Bonnie asked Rosie. "I have a whole room full of toys upstairs." Rosie gave the woman a big smile. She then looked to John. "We have a crib all set for her."
"Perfect, Ms…"
"Oh, just call me Bonnie."
"Okay, Bonnie. Here is her schedule." John fished a folded paper from his coat pocket. "Unfortunately, she might be a little off because of traveling."
"That's to be expected," Bonnie replied. "Still, I think we will get along splendidly."
"Yes, well thank you," John said. "Oh, here is my mobile number should you need anything and here is Molly's as well."
"Thank you. I promise to take good care of her."
"Now that everything seems to be settled, why don't we have Duncan take you to your cottage. Your luggage is already there. The truck we mentioned will be delivered there shortly. There is only one main road that leads through town. You drove past all the main structures on your drive in. As you return to town just as you pass the post office you will see a road that heads west, follow that road and it will take you to a small medical clinic and the funeral home. You can't miss it," Dickey told them.
Sherlock, John and Molly followed Dickey back to the main entrance. Dickey pulled out his mobile to phone Duncan and someone named Mathew to make arrangements for them.
Sherlock slipped his Belstaff on and then held up Molly's new long ivory coat so she could slip her arms in.
"Thank you," she said. Molly liked this new Sherlock. He was still very much the man he always was, but he did little things, attentive things, that made her feel special. She pulled her hair free of the coat and then pulled on a pair of gloves. Outside it was bitter cold. It wasn't snowing here like it had been on the train ride up, but the ground was covered in icy frost.
Two trucks suddenly pulled up to the main entrance. A tall, well built man stepped out of the first car. An older man, weathered and grey haired, got out of the second.
""Hello, my name is Duncan and this here is Mathew," the tall man said, shaking John's, Sherlock's and finally Molly's hands. He had thick black hair, a well chiseled faced, and lines around his eyes that spoke of time spent working out doors. He may have only been a grounds keeper, but he stood tall and proud. Sherlock instantly deduced him to be a ladies man, a young buck looking for his next doe. Sherlock also saw the appreciative look Duncan gave Molly, his Molly. The young buck clearly approved of what he saw.
"Hello," John greeted. "I'm John Watson, this is Sherlock Holmes, and his fiancé, Molly Hooper." John had also noticed the appraising look in Duncan's eyes. He was staring quite intently at Molly. Molly had been oblivious at first but she finally realized he was staring too long, and she turned her head away, feeling self-conscious.
Duncan finally turned his head to look at John. "Nice to meet all of you. If you get in I will take all of you to the cottage."
Sherlock and Molly got in the backseat while John got in the front with Duncan.
"So do you think you can find the killer?" Duncan asked as he started the vehicle.
"Of course," Sherlock replied.
"That's good. A lot of the women here are scared."
"Did you know any of the women personally?" John asked.
"I knew Lorna," Duncan replied. "We both worked here. Our paths crossed several times a week. Also, I had seen Veronica Marsh about town. We never socialized or anything, but it's a small village. Everyone sort of knows everyone."
"Is there a reason you didn't socialize with Ms. Marsh?" John asked. "Was she, I don't know, not a nice person, that type of a thing."
"No, nothing like that. We just didn't travel in the same circles," Duncan replied.
"Yes, I don't imagine you had much in common with a single mother," Sherlock commented.
Duncan looked at Sherlock in the review mirror to address him. "True." He then used the review mirror to look Molly over once more. Molly was staring out the window taking in the scenery. Her cheeks were rosy from the cold.
"How long have you worked at Roane Hall?" John asked.
"I was born here. My father was grounds keeper before me, and my mother was a cook in the kitchen. My parents are down in Inverness now, both living in the senior home, but Roane Hall is the only home I have ever known."
They pulled up to a pretty row of cottages, each painted the same colors. The only real difference was the bronze numbers on the doors.
"You will be staying in number 4. It's the largest," Duncan told them.
Duncan got out of the truck and opened the back door for Molly. He extended a hand and she took it as she exited the vehicle.
"Thank you," Molly said politely.
"You're welcome," Duncan said with a flirtatious smirk. Duncan pointed out to the distance and engaged Molly in small talk about the property and just how far it extended.
Sherlock watched the interaction between Molly and Duncan closely. Duncan was a strong male, local, and had access to all the victims. At the moment Duncan was being extremely kind to Molly, flirting with her openly, despite the fact that he knew Molly was engaged to Sherlock. Sherlock needed to deduce if his motives were purely sexual, or if there could be a stronger emotion.
"We will need to do the morgue today and possibly squeeze in a meeting with the constable," John said.
"Yes, time is our enemy right now. It has already been too long since the last murder and our arrival on the scene. We will…" Sherlock stopped mid sentence. Duncan had placed his hand at the small of Molly's back as he turned her and pointed into a different direction. John quickly looked to see what had caught Sherlock's attention.
"So what do you make of that one?" John asked.
"He is definitely looking to make his next sexual conquest," Sherlock said. "But being attracted to Molly does not automatically make him a serial killer." John and Sherlock watched as Duncan's hand started to slide down her back and move towards Molly's posterior.
"Oh dear," John mumbled.
"Yes, I think our young buck has had enough." Sherlock walked over and quickly stepped between Molly and Duncan, all but giving the man a shove.