December 10: "Lestrade has an unexpected role in a case" (from Book girl fan)
We arrived in due course at Sir Carter's home in Charlotte street once more. I saw the police wagon parked in the front, with constables at the ready to cart a perpetrator off to the jailhouse, and knew that Lestrade at least believed the mystery to be nearing its final chapter.
"Lestrade wished for my advice before he makes his arrest," Holmes said, responding to my thoughts, for I had said nothing aloud.
As we disembarked from the cab, Lestrade came around from the other side of the police wagon and approached us. "It is as you expected," said the Inspector. "Bromide, as I said in my telegram. The only question that remains is how it was administered."
Holmes glanced at the Inspector with some little surprise. "No question of who did the administering?"
Lestrade crossed his arms. "I would be a poor fool indeed if I engaged your assistance on cases for over a decade and managed to learn nothing of your methods. Once I saw that you were correct in your poison hypothesis, having eliminated the impossible—that anyone other than the victim was in the room at the time of her death—I concluded that the bromide was administered before she ever entered the room. But the hour was late when she died; therefore, she took some medication in the night which must have been laced or replaced with the powerful sedative which killed her. Who would have access to both a powerful sedative and the medical trust of Mrs. Carter? Dr. Wright. He was, as well as a family friend, physician to the whole of the family."
I looked to my friend, expecting him to tear apart Lestrade's theory in his usual way, but instead I saw an expression of absolute delight on my friend's features.
"Nicely done, Lestrade. The matter was elementary, but I should hazard to say you would not have been able to work it out for yourself even a year ago."
I clapped Lestrade on the back. "You came to the conclusion quicker than I did, even taking into account Holmes' theory of poison. Well done, Inspector. It's usually Holmes' role to give the little explanation lecture."
Lestrade laughed. "Thank you, Doctor."
"Now," said Holmes walking towards the house, "I am happy to supply my chain of reasoning as to the precise method of administration, but I believe we will be able to obtain a confession from Dr. Wright without full knowledge of his steps. He is here, I presume?"
"I inquired at his practice and learned he has been here since yesterday evening, to comfort Miss Carter in this time of distress."
"Ah, I see." Holmes cracked his knuckles. "Well, shall we go in and bring this case to its end, or continue chatting outside the door?"
Lestrade gave a curt nod and marched ahead of us into the house. Into the sitting room we went, where Dr. Wright sat on the settee, holding Miss Carter's hand and stroking gently. The lady's maid sat in a chair, knitting.
"Good morning, gentlemen," said the doctor. "Have you any new clues about this horrible business?"
"I am afraid we do," Lestrade replied. "Dr. Wright, you are under arrest for the murder of Mrs. Maria Carter. Come quietly, and tell us all, and you increase your likelihood of leniency."
Miss Carter sprang to her feet. "What is the meaning of this? My John could never do such a horrid thing. Why, he was not even here night before last!"'
Dr. Wright stood too and faced Miss Carter, grabbing her hand. "Of course not, darling. Pray, sit back down, I am sure this is all some sort of misunderstanding." He guided her back onto the settee.
Holmes spoke. "The game is up, Wright. All that remains unknown to us is whether you tampered with Mrs. Carter's medication on the day of her death or sometime sooner."
The doctor scowled as Lestrade strode toward him, cuffs in hand. "I did it for us, Elizabeth. Delaying our engagement twice would not have been enough for her. That hag would have convinced your father to never let you marry me. And where would we be then?"
"John, surely you don't mean that!" The girl's face was pale and horrified. Her maid rushed to her and laid a steadying hand on her shoulders.
Lestrade led the way out of the room, Dr. Wright behind, a constable on either side of him. Holmes followed after. I waited behind a moment and quietly offered my condolences to the poor girl, those beautiful blue eyes of hers overflowing now with tears.
"Well, Watson," said Holmes, when the police wagon was clattering down the street toward the jail, "that is another little problem behind us."
"It is sickening," I replied. "All these years and I can still be surprised by the baseness of mankind. For a doctor, a man who has sworn an oath to heal and to do no harm, to break the trust of his patient and his future family in such a way... utterly sickening. And he seemed such a kind and respectable gentleman, the way he was assisting the maid."
"Yes, indeed," Holmes replied darkly. "Of all those who go wrong in this world, doctors are perhaps the worst. But we cannot spend our days ruminating upon the sins of others. It is unseasonably warm for December, and all that stands between us and Regent's park is a twenty minute walk. I expect that a ramble there, and perhaps a lunch at Simpson's, will do much to improve our spirits."