Sherlock Holmes and The Julia Moriarty Trilogy by Dick Gillman

Author:Dick Gillman
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Sherlock Holmes, mystery, crime, british crime, sherlock holmes novels, sherlock holmes fiction, moriarty
ISBN: 9781780927657
Publisher: Andrews UK Limited
Published: 2015-07-21T00:00:00+00:00

The Inspector paused, “None that I am aware of. Mr Holmes, but some strong cleaning products are used here and part of this man’s duties was that of a cleaner.”

Holmes frowned for a moment. “Inspector, would you be so kind as to ask one of your constables to bring me a bar of soap, a piece of blotting paper and a glass of red wine?”

Inspector Warren eyed Holmes warily and rubbed his chin, saying, “I hardly think that this is an appropriate time to be drinking alcohol, Mr Holmes.”

A wry smile spread across Holmes’s face. “Please humour me in this, Inspector. It may be very important.”

The Inspector did not appear to be convinced but dispatched one of his constables to fetch what Holmes had requested. Within five minutes there was a knock at the door and a constable placed the three items on the table.

Holmes rubbed his hands. “Now gentlemen, let us embark on a little chemistry.” Holmes tore from the blotting paper two thin strips approximately a quarter of an inch wide and dipped each of them in the red wine. “This is to be our very simple Litmus paper so let us begin with the soap. I moisten the bar with a little water from the tap and let a drop of the liquid touch the wine-soaked blotting paper.” As we watched, the first wine-soaked blotting paper strip changed colour from red to a strong blue.

Smiling, Holmes continued, “This is our alkaline colour, let us then test the victim’s burns.” Holmes repeated the test, placing the second piece of blotting paper on the dead man’s fingertips. This time the colour remained red. “So, gentlemen, our simple test eliminates any strong alkaline cleaning product. Whilst both acidic and neutral substances do not cause the wine to change colour, a neutral substance could not be responsible for such skin damage. Therefore, I suggest we need to look for a strongly acidic substance... and I very much doubt that there is a store of such within the theatre!”

The Inspector was clearly intrigued. “So, you believe that the acid had been brought into the theatre and somehow the victim has placed his hands upon a surface treated with acid?”

Holmes nodded. “Exactly, but why and how remains, for the moment, a mystery... and we are no nearer finding the cause of death. Was this man working alone when he became ill, Inspector?”

Inspector Warren shook his head. “No sir. He was working with another man, Harry Small. I have interviewed him but I admit I obtained little information of any value from him. Would you care to speak to him?”

Holmes looked around him, saying, “Yes, I would be most obliged, Inspector... but not here, I think.”

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