December 9: The Stakeout
(Another mulit-story arc.)
From goodpenmanship - textile factory
It had taken Holmes three frustrating weeks to determine where the highly professional gang of thieves would strike next. One day it was a jewelry store, the next a high-end tobacco reseller. Then a bespoke watchmaker, and later, a maker of some of the finest furniture in London. The thefts just kept on coming, one every two or three days, with no end in sight.
There was no rhyme or reason or discernable pattern to their next target, none that Scottland Yard could uncover anyway. The thefts were always at night, extraordinarily precise, well planned, very quick, quiet, even surgical. Only the best products were taken, with the rest left behind in utter disarray – or smashed and defiled in some way that left them completely unusable. A sign of contempt for lesser goods.
The only thing in common was their calling card: One origami red rose, folded with true skill, due to its exquisite complexity, tossed on the floor, or in the middle of the carnage.
The watchmaker was particularly troublesome, as the proprietor had just completed a custom example of his best: an ornate glorious little piece of gold, diamonds, and one stunning emerald, on commission for Princess Alexandra's Christmas. Edward, the Prince of Wales, would not be pleased…
Without an informant, or a clue left behind, there seemed no way to crack the case. With hundreds of possible targets across London, who could possibly predict where the thieves would strike next? The press was making open sport of Scottland Yard's lack of progress, as were the businessmen of the city. "Impossible Ineptitude!" had been the most damning in a long procession of negative headlines. Holmes was busy with two other important cases for the Queen herself, so he had been reluctant to get involved. It had taken a personal visit from the head of Special Branch to reluctantly break Holmes away – or at least get some of his attention focused on the case. It had taken some discrete negotiations with the palace, through Mycroft Holmes, to allow Holmes the necessary flexibility to take on these thefts. Now there were two members of the Royal Family less than happy with their current circumstances.
"In the end, it's an issue of family," Lord Stanton later explained to Holmes. "The Queen truly is most fond of Alexandra, even if she doesn't have particularly warm feelings towards her son. The loss of the watch is keenly felt. Anything that might be done to get the watch back in time for Christmas… You understand, I am sure."
Holmes did – as did Watson.
It didn't take Holmes long to uncover one fact that should have been obvious to Scottland Yard from the start. Every case had a precision that spoke to one other common factor between the thefts. There had to be an inside man, as that was the only way a gang of thieves could know exactly when to hit, what goods to take, and where they were located. From there, a substantial amount of legwork was necessary to peel back the cover on a system of vicious blackmail and extortion. Unfortunately, the leverage was always applied by proxy, with the true culprits hidden, and well enough removed from the nasty business, such as to make identification impossible.
Still, a few brilliant leaps of deduction from Holmes finally broke the case open. He was able to determine twenty-three hapless, unlucky employees of various manufacturers and firms who were currently being targeted by a person or persons known only as 'The Florist.' From there, it was only a small step to an active plan to bring the gang to book.
"It's all about selecting the right time to strike," Holmes explained to Lestrade and Watson over an evening brandy. "The gang is using their inside contacts to determine the best time for their attacks: the right time of night, the best day, right when the premium goods will be most available, and easiest to steal. We can use this to our considerable advantage. Knowing what we know now, our inside contacts can send the word out that the optimum moment for a hit at their location has arrived. The right goods are in stock, and the best pieces are available."
"It's not much different than tiger hunting in India," said Watson. "The hunting party ties a kid or a goat to a tree to lure in the tiger. The rest is relatively easy… as long as you get the drop on the tiger before he attacks."
"A rather accurate analogy, Watson," said Holmes. "I think I have the right goat in mind. Fred Sellings at 'Oriental Premium Textiles' is being hard pushed to betray his employer, and that's exactly what he is going to do. He will send out word that an extraordinary selection of silks is in stock – but only for two days. Tuesday night, the factory will be lightly guarded, with the fabrics due to be transferred elsewhere on Wednesday. A well-organized stakeout, with ourselves, and a few of the best constables you can muster Lestrade, for some action on Tuesday night into Wednesday morning, should give us the satisfactory ending we are hoping for."
"Are you sure you can make this their next target?" asked Lestrade. "A textile factory doesn't sound all that glamorous."
"But it is, Lestrade," Holmes replied. "This 'Florist' knew enough to put the squeeze on this one unfortunate man, so clearly he knew what type of high end, valuable products Sellings has access to. Whoever is running this gang knows their merchandise at least. Silk fabrics fit for the high aristocracy are very tempting targets indeed! Irresistible I would think. A well planted suggestion, and a night of patient waiting in the cold, should see us to the end of this."
"Well and good, Holmes, agreed Lestrade. "You've steered us right so far on this. You'll have your men. Six of my best constables, well-armed and ready, along with the three of us. Let's hope that Tuesday night isn't going to hand us up to the worst weather England has to offer!"
(To Be Continued.)
Author's note: The story continues in the next chapter. Thanks for all the reviews from so many of you!