Chapter 14: Mrs. Kendell, Again

Despite the fine warn weather, it was a somber ride on the way to the Horton residence. We all knew, in our own way, that our interview with Annie Kendell was likely to yield little. Even if it gave us useful information, both the passage of time, and the cumulative weakness of each of the other possible lines of investigation, would provide us the far more likely outcome of failure rather than success. Yet, simple decency and morality allowed no other course of action. I could not help but consider that yet again, the right path was not going to be the easy one. Looking at the other three faces in the cab, I could see that each of my companions was considering very similar thoughts.

The Horton residence was in an affluent neighborhood not far from Belgravia. I knew that the Hortons were well-to-do, but not quite like this. The houses were all either red or white brick, multi-story, stately affairs, each surrounded by well-maintained lawns, fine landscaping, and imposing trees. We pulled in through Dr. Sears' gated carriage drive, and he led the way to the formal front entrance. We had agreed that he would conduct the interview, at least initially, as he was the personal physician to both Mrs. Horton and Mrs. Kendell. The door was opened by a maid in an immaculate uniform, who politely let us in, told us we were expected, and then lead us to a parlor.

"Madam will be with you shortly," she said with a curtsy. She left us in the light, area, and well-appointed room. The space spoke of wealth but not any conscious sense of pretentiousness. The Hortons clearly had taste, but we're not willing to sacrifice personal comfort or convenience for fashion. Unlike many another grand parlors I have been entertained in, this room was obviously infrequently used. A small fire was burning in the grate, and a sideboard was already laid with a fine china tea set, ready for the interview ahead.

We were not kept waiting long before Mrs. Ellen Horton came to greet us. She was a tall, slender woman, with a soft smile and an abundance of chestnut coloured hair. Her quick blue eyes scanned us all before settling on Dr. Sears. She stepped forward and, greeting him warmly, treating him as a cherished friend she had imposed on by calling him to her home-rather than the other way around. Dr. Sears was equally gracious. It seemed that her relationship with him was not only quite long standing, but also occasionally social as well. He introduced each of us. Mrs. Horton treated us as well-known acquaintances rather than people there to conduct an important interview.

"Dr. Watson, how good to meet you at last. I must thank you for your kind care of Annie earlier this year in her time of need. Mr. Holmes, how good to meet you. I've read so much about you. My husband Joseph has read all of Dr. Watson's stories to me. (Here she flashed me a radiant smile.) It's a delight to meet you in person, both of you in person. I only wish it was under far less serious circumstances. My husband is at the office. I'm sure he will regret not meeting you."

"Another time, dear lady," said Holmes, in his most gracious, urbane best. "Unfortunately, the case-cases really-that we are investigating are quite urgent. We very much need to speak with Mrs. Kendell if she is available. Her help may be most critical."

Mrs. Horton agreed to get Mrs. Kendell. She left and returned a few minutes later with the woman herself. I was quite surprised by Annie Kendell's appearance. I had only seen her in a confused, frightened, and diminished state. The woman before us was far from that. Her manner was polite, courteous, and welcoming-but also confident, intelligent, and sharp- eyed – with a considerable presence of her own. 'This is a woman who misses little in her own space' I thought. Mrs. Horton made the preliminary introductions, then Dr. Sears took over, as we had agreed.

"Mrs. Kendell, you're looking so much better since last we met! Do you remember Dr. Watson? He helped me earlier this year when you were at Barts hospital." He then briefly re-introduced Holmes and Lestrade.

"Dr. Watson, I do indeed remember you and your immense kindness during my time of trouble," Mrs. Kendell said. She had a rather melodic voice, and a clear direct gaze that was so different from the woman I had met earlier in the year. I decided to tell her a little bit about both Holmes and Lestrade, as I as I recognized that I was the one best qualified to do so, given my long history with both men. I then explained briefly why we wanted to talk with her. Sears chimed in with both of us gently conveying our concerns about her recent disclosure regarding the one pill she had taken. Throughout our explanation, Holmes said nothing, but regarded Mrs. Kendell with a look, which told me he was noting every possible detail, deducing countless facts, many of which I almost certainly did not see. Eventually Mrs. Kendell turned to Holmes.

"Mr. Homes, I don't know what it is I can tell you, but based on my history with these two fine doctors, I trust you completely. Ask anything, and I will answer to the best of my ability and recollection."

"Thank you, Madam," said Holmes, smiling graciously. "Our focus and concern is the pill you took- the one you received from your dear friend Alice Roundtree. As you likely know, Mrs. Roundtree has been seriously ill, mentally ill, for quite some time. As a detective, I greatly mistrust coincidences. It is most telling that Mrs. Roundtree was struck down around the time you became ill. You took a pill, just one pill and were seriously incommoded for a few days. Mrs. Roundtree perhaps too more than necessary, and was hurt for some four months - and she still hasn't recovered, although we understand that there is some gradual improvement, slowly over time. At this point anything at all you can tell us about the pill, how you got it, how Mrs. Roundtree got it, how many she had, and why, would be very useful information indeed. Perhaps most importantly, if you have any information on where Mrs. Roundtree got them, who prescribed them, that would be beyond invaluable!"

"Unfortunately, Mr. Holmes, I do not have much information on who gave her the pills, but I will tell you the entire story from the beginning." She sat down opposite a fine tea table from Holmes, looked directly at him and began speaking. This was no diffident, shrinking violet, nor was she afraid to speak her mind. As she spoke, I noted numerous differences between this woman and the hesitant, confused, helpless woman I first met. She now spoke with clarity using language, vocabulary, and sentence structure which indicated a woman much better educated and well-spoken then her presentation at Barts had indicated. She gave a short account of her history with Alice Roundtree indicating that they had met years before through mutual friends of her late husband, Bill. Mrs. Roundtree was amicably separated from her husband, Wendell. "They care for each other, but just can't live together in peace," she said. Mr. Roundtree worked as a senior carpenter in Manchester, while Mrs. Roundtree worked two jobs: a part time housekeeper, and a waitress at a small diner specializing in breakfast and lunch only for early office workers. Recent stress and loneliness had been plaguing Mrs. Roundtree, and she was having problems sleeping. One of the semi-regulars at the diner ("Steve's Early People") was a medical chemist with "considerable, even great success with a new specialized medication." He had offered Mrs. Roundtree a few. "Just a sample you know." Mrs. Roundtree had given her one, "As it seemed only fitting to share the generosity."

At this revelation, Holmes and Lestrade leaned forward with great interest. "Is there anything at all you can tell us about the man, anything at all about who he is, or where he worked?" Asked Holmes. "This is most important!"

Mrs. Kendell paused and thought carefully. "I don't remember the man's full name; his first name was 'Martin.' I remember that because it's not that common a name, but a boy named Martin lived near me growing up. I played a chasing game with him when I was young. Always kept ahead of him." She smiled at the recollection.

It took everything I had not to physically react. I could tell that Holmes and Lestrade both were equally aware of the possible connection. "Anything on the last name - his surname?"

"I don't remember, sir. Sorry," said Mrs. Kendell sorrowfully. "I do remember that it was short, only one syllable."

Lestrade clearly wanted to say something, but Holmes stopped him. "A moment Lestrade if you will. Let me think for a second here." Holmes paused, with his eyes closed, then turned and gave Lestrade a long glance. "Mrs. Kendell, do you think you would remember the name if someone reminded you? My concern is accuracy. I can suggest names, but I don't want to feed you any words that might be misleading, nor do I want to coach you in any way."

She smiled. "I believe I would remember correctly, Sir, if I heard it. I can only try."

Home smiled warmly at her and said, "You have been a tremendous help already, dear lady." He turned to Lestrade and said, "A moment inspector." Holmes excused himself and both men stepped out of the room for a brief consultation, leaving everyone else looking at each other in puzzlement. I alone knew the significance of the name, "Martin." I could only hope that Holmes and Lestrade would come up with a reasonable way to maximize the value of what Mrs. Kendell had told us. After a few moments, both men returned. Their manner suggested they had arrived at a decision.

"I have a list of surnames, all one syllable in length," said Holmes. "I will read each of them to you, in groups of three. Please tell me if you recognize any of them." Mrs. Kendell agreed, then waited patiently.

"Stark, Jones, Smith," Mrs. Kendell shook her head no. "Doyle, Clark, Brill." Mrs. Kendell shook her head "no" again, but she hesitated a bit. "Why the slight hesitation?" asked Lestrade.

"I don't know, Sir. One of them was... close perhaps?" she replied.

"Let's hold onto that for a moment, at least until we get through the list," said Holmes. He paused, then continued, "Giles, Coal, Sykes." Again, Mrs. Kendell indicated "no." "James, Star, Cobb," again, a negative shake. "Sorry, Sir, no." "Wood, Bay, Black," said Holmes. Mrs. Kendell closed her eyes for a moment, opened them, and declared decisively, "It's Bay, Sir. Martin Bay"

Holmes, Lestrade, and I just looked at each other. "Are you sure Mrs. Kendell," said Holmes gently. "I have more names here."

"I am sure, Sir," she replied. "My previous hesitation was on the name 'Brill.' It reminded me that the name began with a 'B' something, but it wasn't "Brill." I think I would have remembered before if you had said, "Shore," but you didn't."

"It is on my list," said Holmes, with a broad smile.

"Does this help?" Mrs. Kendell asked.

Lestrade gave a short bark of laughter, while I could not help but grin. "We believe it does," said Holmes, giving Mrs. Kendell a look I rarely got to see from him: a look of absolute satisfaction. "You have been a far greater help than you know."

"I'm so glad. I am so worried about Alice, and Lord knows I have been such a bother, to the Horton's, and to the good doctors. It's the least I can do." She looked both relieved and crestfallen at the same time. "I wish I had a pill to give you, but there was only the one. Small, round, and pink, a rather odd pink it was," she stopped for a moment, considering, "I could show you," she said, a note of triumph in her voice.

"Come again?" said Lestrade. Simultaneously, Holmes asked, "How?"

"I can make you one," she said simply. She looked at Mrs. Horton. "It's easy enough, a sample almost. Something I can make in the kitchen."

Mrs. Horton looked at her fondly. "Oh, you are a dear! Mr. Holmes, inspector, would it help?"

Holmes chuckled, "it would indeed, especially if you can get the shape, colour and size down well enough."

Mrs. Kendell smiled shyly. "I can make you a small batch."

As a group we all arose at Mrs. Horton's invitation and walked through the house into the far back corner where a large, modern well-appointed kitchen was located. Our arrival startled the sole occupant, who was kneading some bread dough. "It's all fine, Miss Carter," said Mrs. Horton. "Greta, our regular cook, has the afternoon off. She will be back in a few hours." She paused for a moment. "Pity, really. She likes your stories, I believe, Dr. Watson." She explained to the flustered Miss Carter that a corner of the kitchen was going to be, "Borrowed for a bit - for an experiment by Annie."

Mrs. Kendell thought for a moment, considering her options, then started pulling ingredients out of cupboards and storage places. "It's a little sweetie that I intend to make. Sugar, simple syrup, a bit of flour. The challenge, if any is the colour, but a bit of food colouring, rose water, and probably some dye should work fine." She started moving about quickly, talking as she moved, clearly in her element and confident in what she was doing. She looked up at Holmes sharply. "You're not planning on eating these?" she asked. "I can get the colour much more accurate if I use ingredients not safe to eat."

Upon assurance that nobody was going to taste her "little bon-bons," she nodded, and said, "I don't think this will take too long." Sugar and water went into a small pot and were put on the stove to heat gently. Mrs. Horton's offer of help was met with a smile, and a request for a few ingredients, which also included some paints from the children's nursery.

"If you can remember," I said, "Do you have any recollection of how the pill tasted?"

"Bravo, Watson," said Holmes. "I should have thought to ask."

"Strange, Doctor, come to think of it," she said after thinking for a moment. "Odd it was. I would say sweet, but it's not really true. Bitter it was and bit metallic. However, there was a sweetness, as if the creation tried to disguise what would otherwise be something quite nasty." I was told not to chew it but ideally eat it whole – swallow it that way."

"Useful piece of information, that is," said Lestrade quietly.

The process continued as we all watched Mrs. Kendell perform her alchemy, with help from Mrs. Horton. As expected, getting the colour right proved to be the most challenging part to get right at last, Eventually, Mrs. Kendell declared herself satisfied with the result. She solemnly presented Holmes and Lestrade ten little pink round balls, all identical.

"Barring the actual pill, this is as close as I can get you to the real thing, Sirs. I truly hope they help. Please do what you can for poor Alice. She's a good soul. She certainly didn't intend to do me any harm." For the first time I saw signs of the distress from Barts.

"Your efforts: your story, the name you gave us, and these," Holmes gently waved the small bottle he held in his hand. "It's all been very useful indeed. If we catch up with these people, it will only be because of what you were able to give us."

We all gave the now blushing, embarrassed woman similar words of praise, and after offering Mrs. Horton many thanks for her hours of hospitality, we took our leave at last.

The ride back to Dr. Sears' house took place with a far greater sense of optimism and satisfaction than the grim-aired ride to the Horton residence had been. Dr. Sears was bursting with long-repressed questions regarding Martin Bay. We all took turns supplying Sears with the context he was missing - from the two violent deaths at "The Pheasant and Quail," and the related third death in its aftermath. The rest of us were used to the details as well as having familiarity with violent criminality and death. Charles Sears did not. He was left truly horrified, even shaken, by these new revelations.

"This is beyond monstrous! It's ghastly! Obscene! What can we do? The implications of this - that all these people could be impacted by the same pills - especially so differently!"

"It's not remotely certain that it's the same pills," Holmes said. "Actually, upon consideration, it almost certainly isn't. The symptoms from each group of victims are so similar to each other- and yet each group differs markedly from the others. It creates more questions than it answers, yes. However, I think we can now say that at last, after months, we are finally asking the right questions. It's the right questions, with a level of detail, a measure of commonality and solid ground we haven't had before."

"We've never had a solid nexus before, no certainty. It's very strange to work a case like this for so long, and not even know if you are asking the right questions" said Lestrade.

"Precisely, Lestrade," said Holmes. "The scope is wider, but our understanding is much enhanced. The greater the crime, the less our pool of possible suspects. Unique attributes are for are far easier to trace. And now we have something - a name at long last!"

"Confirmed, yes," said Lestrade. "I want this bastard! I wanted him yesterday. Last week!"

We all could not help but agree with him…

Please Review.