Sherlock Holmes: Before Baker Street by David Marcum (warren buffett book recommendations TXT) 📕

“‘Yes,’ the inspector beamed. ‘He was at his new place of employment.’

“‘Which is?’ I asked.

“‘He is now a baker.’

“‘A baker!’ I snapped.

“‘Yes,’ Lestrade explained. ‘His uncle hired the man after he was released from the employment of Lord Mapleton. Good man, that uncle. He didn’t want to see his nephew suffer, and offered him a second chance, a way to find a new profession.’

“‘And this bakery,’ I growled. ‘Was the same bakery visited by Mrs. Hodges at the time of the Lady’s disappearance.’

“‘Why, um, yes,’ Lestrade responded with a tremor in his voice. He could see the rage in my face, a rage I could no longer contain.

“‘Ridiculous!’ I exploded. ‘Are you a complete fool? Is the Yard nothing more than a force of dunces?’

“‘Now really, Mr. Holmes, there is no need to lash out,’ Lestrade started, his face reddening as my insults continued.

“‘No reason! You are an idiot! Two innocent men have been held while the real criminals walk freely. You’ve sullied both men’s reputations. No doubt that the apothecary’s business has suffered with the proprietor away! And the Lady is in incredible danger!

“‘See here, Mr. Holmes, you attack the force, but have given no reason why we should have acted differently. Of course the Lady is in danger. That is why I came to you, to see if you can help us find her. If you are so certain of your superior skills to that of all of Scotland Yard then tell me, oh wise one, where is the Lady Marianne?’ Lestrade lifted his nose in disgust at me, and his snootiness was more than I could bare.

“‘Fine,’ I’ll do your work for you, yet again, though I believe any child could solve this dilemma for you.’ I threw my hands in the air out of frustration, for I could see the baffled expression on Lestrade’s face meant he did not deduce what was screaming at him from the facts of the case.

“‘Inspector, the letter was clearly written by a person trying to copy the handwriting of Mr. Able, the driver. Some of the handwriting differs from other parts of the letter. The very slight distortions in the lettering seems to indicate that some words have been traced. Others, which are more free flowing but not quite right, were done by someone attempting to mimic Mr. Able’s writing.

“‘That, my dear Inspector, is how I know that Mr. Able is innocent. Any man who is trying to disguise his writing would not make some of the words clear while others disguised. He would disguise them all!’

“All right, Mr. Holmes,’ Lestrade huffed. His temper was raised and his upper lip quivered at the indignity he had suffered from my verbal abuse. ‘Who wrote the letter, and where, pray tell, is the Lady Marianne?’

“‘My God, man,’ I said truly in shock, ‘you still don’t see it?’ I let out a long sigh and, with a shake of my head, I told the inspector all. ‘The letter was written either by Mr. Thorpe or his uncle. I admit to not having enough data to say with certainty which man wrote the letter, but I can tell you that they both were involved in the abduction of Lady Marianne.’

“‘If this is the case, then how did the letter get into the entryway, with all of the witnesses stating with certainty that the men were at the bakery during the kidnapping? Your facts do not appear to pan out.’

“‘Because, Lestrade,’ I explained slowly so that even his stupidity could comprehend my words, ‘Mr. Thorpe and his uncle were at the bakery.’

“‘Mr. Holmes, are you making fun of me?’ Lestrade sneered.

“‘Not at all, Inspector though I admit your lack of detective skills is truly disturbing. Clearly, Mrs. Hodges, the cook, is an accomplice. The letter has a slight bit of residue from nail lacquer, the aroma of which still graces the exterior of the envelope. Mrs. Hodges could easily discern the whereabouts of her ladyship simply by making conversation with members of the staff. She also knows the patterns of travel within the house throughout the day. I am certain that soon after Lady Marianne left for her shopping excursion, Mrs. Hodges placed the ransom note in the entryway, then left for her trip to the bakery. Most likely she told Mr. Thorne of the Lady’s destination, and then he went to the apothecary in the baker’s carriage. Tell me, does Thorne’s uncle have a wife?’

“Lestrade nodded his assent, though he did not say anything. He was using his full faculties to follow my explanation.

“‘I thought as much,’ I told Lestrade. ‘It explains how they were able to capture her ladyship. I am certain the two went to the apothecary and parked the carriage in the back alley. The uncle’s wife found some way to signal to Lady Marianne to leave the store through the rear exit. Perhaps she claimed there was an emergency back at the household. Perhaps she just struck up conversation and led the woman out the back door. That I do not know. I am certain that once the Lady Marianne exited the apothecary, a sack was thrown over her head and she was tossed into the awaiting carriage. The villains next shuffled the lady off to the bakery where they, again, used a rear entrance to get the woman inside, hiding her in some closet or in the basement.’

“‘A lively theory Mr. Holmes,’ Lestrade interrupted, sounding smug. ‘But you are ignoring vital evidence. We have multiple witnesses who claim they saw Mrs. Hodges, Thorn, his uncle, and the uncle’s wife at the bakery during the time of the kidnapping.’

“‘Of course you do. That was part of the plan all along. You have witnesses who claim they were at the bakery, but not at the same time! The three were careful to