"We still have to speak with his brother" said Holmes sitting in his arm chair with smoking pipe in hand.
"He wasn't at the saloon and neither was he at the scene when we arrived and the police were informed to tell the family." Watson said putting his gloves in his vest pocket. "Perhaps he's too overwhelmed by his brother's death to leave his home"
"Or perhaps this Amos McMillan knows more then he's willing to let on." Sherlock puffed on his pipe. "He seems to be the only living family Bartholomew had. I'm sure Amos knows a great deal about our victims temper. He could be the key to finding a suspect."
They weave through the crowd of vendors on Dudley St. and find themselves knocking at the front door of Amos's apartment.
"What?" the eye of a large man with a heavy cockney accent asks while hiding the rest of himself behind the door.
"Sir we're hear about the sad news of your brothers passing." Sherlock removes his hat. "May we please come inside? We have a few questions to ask"
"Ugh… sure….sure…" slowly Amos opens the door and lets the two men inside. It's a humble sort of home for what seemed like a humble sort of man. He shyly asked the men if they'd like any refreshments. They respectfully declined.
They sat across from Amos on the living room couch. "Now Mr. McMillan; we believe your brother was attacked after a serious altercation with another man. Was there any one you saw picking a fight with him recently or had your brother aggravated someone in any way that would have led to a knife fight?" Sherlock asked
"Well, Bartie was always hot headed." Amos began looking down at the ground. "I did my best to stay out of that sort of business."
"You wouldn't be the sort of man to engage in a fist fight" Sherlock said. "Even though I'm sure a man of your build could easily overcome an opponent." he added noting his hight and his hefty build. "What are you 6' 1"?"
"Yes I am" Amos said. "I've always been sort of a giant clumsy oaf" he added with a shy smirk.
"Did Bartie ever call you that?" Sherlock asked
Amos smirked again but this time looking a little less shy about it. "He said a lot, didn't he? Always a big mouth he was. It's no surprise he went and got himself killed"
"Were you close to your brother?" Sherlock noticed the slight tinge of anger in Amos' last sentence."
"Sure" Amos said looking at the ground again. "We ran the saloon together. We did everything together really. I was always two steps behind him"
"When did you see him last before his death, Mr. McMillan" Watson chimed in.
"Uh…right before he left work. He was …. just taking care of some last minute things before he left for home and I caught him on his way out. Is there anything else you need to know?"
"Just one last thing." said Watson. "What is your relationship to Harmya Rose Verma?"
"Oh, she works for us at the saloon. She's a real sweetheart." Amos smiles. "Too sweet for her own good."
"Was she ever involved in any of the altercations Bart was so famous for?" Watson asked trying to get an answer for her bruises.
"How do you mean?" he asked trying to hide the worry in his voice.
"Did Bart ever get into scuffles with Hermya?" Sherlock asked.
"Hermya would never hurt a fly. Now Bart on the other hand" Amos searched for words "I thought that he ought to have been kinder when addressing her. She looked to him like a father, y'know"
"Was he disrespectful to her?" Watson asked trying not to let his own anger get in the way.
"I'd say so. I always thought she was wonderful and she always did right by us but Bart would constantly start fights when other men tried to speak with her. And…" he trailed off.
"And?" Sherlock eyed Watson. Watson looked back at him knowing he'd figured it out already. He was just waiting to hear it from Amos' mouth.
Amos stands and walks towards the window "Now I.." he looks out the window as if he might find the right words in the street below. "Like I said before; he was far too rough and I thought he ought to just leave Harmya alone."
"So he fought with Harmya often?" Sherlock stood and walked towards Amos.
"Harmya never started any fights but she'd get upset whenever one of us got overprotective." Amos turned around to face Sherlock "But Bart's version of protective was different then mine. He wouldn't let her go anywhere without his permission and that got them into some arguments. But don't go thinking she had anything to do with this." Amos' tone grew more passionate. "She's a good girl and I wouldn't let nobody besmirch her reputation."
"Well, she is an exotic dancer" Sherlock said knowingly trying to push Amos.
"That don't mean she ain't a lady. Bart had no respect for her and she looked to him like a father. I'd do anything to keep her safe" Amos, noticing he'd had a bit of an outburst reverted to looking back to the floor again.
"Thanks very much for your time, Sir" Sherlock bowed and placed his hat back on. "Our deepest condolences"
Back in Holmes office they review what they have so far. "It seems Amos and his late brother although always together were two very different people. One a recluse, the other loud and overbearing"
"And violent" Watson added.
"I think Amos, although shy has a temper as well. It was just always outshined by Bart's." Sherlock added with a smile. "That's the key. Everything Bart did outshined Amos. You heard how he spoke about him. Amos was always in the background. Especially when it came to Harmya's affections."
"You think he has feelings for her?" Watson asked.
"Well, you'd be the expert on the subject, wouldn't you, old boy" Sherlock laughs lighting his pipe.
"And just what are you implying?" Watson scoffed as he sat on the leather arm chair.
"You were practically drooling over her at the saloon but not to worry I think she's interested in you" Sherlock smiles
"You think so?" Watson notes the eager tone in his voice and clears his throat. "Well, I was intrigued by her performance as I'm sure many people are. I'd be a fool not to notice"
"And a fool not to notice Amos was truly jealous of how close Bartholomew was to Harmya." Sherlock added "I suspect when Amos discovered Bartie had been laying his hands on her he snapped."
"Do you think he'd have what it takes to kill his own brother?" Watson inquired.
"He's the right hight and build and he has a good motive. He seems to look like a prime suspect." Sherlock twirls his cane. "But we need something more solid for evidence."
"Maybe if we can get Harmya to open up to us. She was clearly hiding the truth from us before" Watson suggested.
"I'm sure you'd love to get Harmya to open up" Holmes joked. Watson crossed his arms and rolled his eyes at Holmes.
"But you are right" Holmes added. "She didn't give us a lot of information. Think you're up for the challenge, Watson?"
"What?" John Watson raised an inquisitive eyebrow as he looked at Holmes.
"She won't talk to me but you on the other hand…" he pointed at Watson with his walking stick.
"Get that thing out of my face, Holmes" Watson pushes the stick out of his face. "You think if I talk to her she'll just divulge private information about her personal affairs?" Watson scoffs
"Don't act so naive" Sherlock puffs on his pipe as he leans against the desk by the arm chair. "You saw the way she smiled every time she said 'Doctor' " he initiated her voice.
"Fine I'll talk with her" Watson got up from his chair and began to put on his coat. "But only because of the information she might possess. Don't get any wild ideas, Holmes"