The Cobra in the Monkey Cage: A Sherlock and Lucy Short Story (The Sherlock and Lucy Mystery Series Book 11) by Anna Elliott & Charles Veley

Author:Anna Elliott & Charles Veley [Elliott, Anna]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Wilton Press
Published: 2019-07-22T04:00:00+00:00

“Never thought you’d actually need protection from a snake today,” Jack said. Despite his tone, his dark eyes were serious.

“I’m fine.” Ordinarily when we met like this at a crime scene, I tried for the sake of Jack’s career to stay strictly professional. But in this case, I let myself lean against him for just a moment. We were alone together in the hallway outside the laboratory. Uncle John was escorting Becky back to Baker Street to stay with Mrs. Hudson. April Norman had finished having hysterics and been taken off by a police constable to find a cup of tea in the zoo’s canteen. Holmes and Inspector Lestrade were inside the laboratory, examining Rupert Bryce’s body. And despite the reptile house’s over-warm heating system, the chilled feeling inside me was so far refusing to be dispelled.

“Although if I never see another king cobra again, I won’t exactly be sorry,” I said.

I drew away from Jack as the laboratory door opened and Holmes emerged, with Lestrade following close on his heels.

“Cobras.” Lestrade’s narrow features were pinched with distaste, and he seemed to be repressing a shudder as he glanced over his shoulder, back at the glassed-in tanks. “How anyone spends day in and day out studying the beasts is beyond me.”

This was one of the rare occasions when Inspector Lestrade and I were in perfect agreement, if only I’d had enough attention to properly mark the occasion. “What will happen to the snake that bit Rupert Bryce?” I asked. “At least, I assume that that’s how he died?”

“A reptile handler in the zoo’s employ is being summoned to capture and contain the animal,” Holmes said. “At which time we shall be able to compare the span of the creature’s fangs to the wound on the deceased man’s leg and verify that it is indeed responsible for the unfortunate Mr. Bryce’s death. However, a preliminary examination makes it appear virtually certain that he did indeed die of the respiratory paralysis brought on by a cobra’s bite.”

Holmes—typically—sounded as calm as though he measured a king cobra’s fang span every day of the week. But I thought his gray eyes were more grim than usual as he rounded on Lestrade.

“Since Colonel Bryce is dead, it may well be too late. But it is imperative that we attempt to discover how exactly the rhesus monkey died. Tell your men to make inquiries among the rest of the zoo staff. Find out where a dead animal would have been disposed of.”

Lestrade looked taken aback. “But surely we know how the animal died. Snake bite, just like the dead man in there …” He faltered to a stop as Holmes continued to fix him with a steely gaze. “Yes, Mr. Holmes, I’ll see that it’s done.”

“Good.” Holmes turned to me. “Am I correct that Rupert Bryce was the one to discover the dead monkey—and that he told no one of his discovery?”

I was quite sure Holmes didn’t need my confirmation, but I nodded. “That’s right. According

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