Sherlock Holmes 14 The Adventure of the Beryl Anarchists: A New Sherlock Holmes Mystery by Craig Stephen Copland

Author:Craig Stephen Copland [Copland, Craig Stephen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2015-08-18T22:00:00+00:00

Should you ever wish to see your daughter alive again you must pay us £8,842 by tomorrow evening. Confirm that you will do so by a notice in the agony column of The Telegraph. Designate for May-Bel. Then await further instructions.

“Speak up, Holmes,” said Lestrade. “I did not call you over here to sit and cogitate. Before you ask, I can tell you that the sum demanded corresponds exactly to the balance in the Atherley account at Holder and Stevenson.”

“Such a curious coincidence,” said Holmes. “You have, I am sure, some standard procedures for responding to kidnappers. We need time and some way to force continuing communication. A notice stating that the terms are agreeable but that two days are needed to secure the funds would be a normal place to start.”

“Out of the question.” This response came not from Lestrade but from the girl’s father.

All of us turned and looked at Mr. Atherley.

“Really, sir,” said Lestrade, “what Mr. Holmes has said is indeed our standard practice. Right now, time is not on our side and we need to negotiate for more of it. Saying that the demands will be met and then stalling is the only way we have of making sure that your daughter remains alive. An outright refusal is likely to bring unpleasant results. Unless, of course, you are in a position to pay the ransom.”

Now Mr. Holder spoke. “Sufficient funds are immediately available. I cannot avoid my responsibility in this matter and the Bank shall accept whatever financial burden we have to bear.”

“Sir,” said Lestrade. “That is very honorable of you. However, we advise you not to follow that course. Doing so will not bring an end to crimes like this. It will only prove to these criminals that their scheme has worked and they will do it again and again. No child will be safe afterward. So again, I suggest that we find a way to extend the deadline.”

Mr. Atherley spoke again in a sharp tone. “There will not be one farthing of ransom paid, and there will be no negotiations.”

I looked at the man in surprise. He was not looking at any of us when he spoke. His gaze was elevated and fixed at some point on his wall, part way between Queen Victoria and the horn of the Black Rhino.

“Pardon me, Mr. Atherley,” said Lestrade. “We are not asking you to give into their demands, only to agree to negotiate for time so that we have some chance of rescuing your daughter.”

“I said there will be no negotiations.”

“I am sorry sir,” said Lestrade quite forcefully. “I must ask you to explain yourself. We have had to handle similar situations in the past and I can assure you that negotiating for more time has proven to be an absolutely necessary response.”

Again the reply was addressed to the Queen and the Rhino. “The British Empire did not become the great force for good in the world by negotiating with criminals. There is never a necessary response other than standing your ground and fighting.

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