Free The Last Confession of Sherlock Holmes by Kieran Lyne Page B

doubt for a second that it was he who was responsible for the terrible crimes all those years ago. He knew such a horrifying public taunt would haunt you more than any other; now, he is surely doing the same, before his design reaches its truly terrible conclusion. Though the most dangerous criminal has been vanquished, the most infamous still roams free. Surely you can see the web he has formed around you.”
    â€œIt would seem that you are indeed upon the correct path,” I conceded. “Perhaps you can inform me of whatever it is the Colonel has been scheming, as this is the topic which clearly you are most keen to discuss; though if Moran has indeed inherited a design crafted by the hand of Moriarty, I am sceptical as to the likelihood of any tangible evidence.”
    â€œWell, quite,” replied he, lighting a second cigar rather than suffering the embarrassment of acknowledging the minor blemish in temperament which had caused unsalvageable damage to the first. “As I believe you once so eloquently told Dr Watson, I am effectively the broom-cupboard of Government: I know who should be privy to certain information, but more importantly I know who should not. You may believe me paranoid, but you at least should appreciate the cunning of the men we are up against, so I hope you trust my judgment when I tell you that minor snippets of inconsequential information are leaking out of Departments.”
    â€œMinor details are often the most important, dear brother. Have you not approached any of these suspicious individuals?”
    â€œThey merely state they have heard such things in passing, or at a function where someone has had one too many sherries. Though I know them to be lying, Sherlock, it is a regrettably adequate excuse, and I can hardly interrogate them further upon such matters without sufficient cause. I am not at liberty to harass Ministers or Government employees; nor do I wish to place our adversaries upon their guard unnecessarily.”
    â€œYou intrigue me, but I fail to see any connection between your faulty Governmental plumbing and Colonel Moran.”
    â€œUntil recently, nor could I; that is, until I discovered the existence of a rather disturbing card-club. Every week, a group of gentlemen play at the Baldwin and the Cavendish. The regular attendants are the Honourable Ronald Adair of the Foreign Office; Sir John Hardy of the War Office; and a Mr Benjamin Murray, assistant to the formidable and rather dangerous lieutenant-general of the Intelligence Division, Henry Brackenbury. At these two venues only, this trio are joined by Lord Balmoral, owner of the Central News Ltd, and Godfrey Milner, an insignificant Conservative backbencher. Now this appears to be all rather innocent, but for one peculiarity; the latter two gentlemen, for no decipherable reason, never receive invitation to play with the original trio when they intermittently visit the Bagatelle Club. One man, however, does.”
    â€œColonel Moran,” said I.
    â€œMoran indeed,” he continued at length. “I have contemplated this information for days and I can come up with no theory, other than the most sinister, which accounts for these regular players to be excluded. From what I hear, there has been no quarrel, and indeed it seems likely that neither gentleman has even been acquainted with Moran. This singularity, accompanied with the Governmental leaks and Moran’s connections to some of our innermost Offices has me quite at my wit’s end. I can scarcely imagine the terrible scheme that awaits this country if he is desperate enough to use Jack the Ripper simply to ensure whether or not you are in fact dead! I am in great unease; you must help me break this chain!”
    â€œThis certainly is a most disturbing turn of events, and I shall be more than cheerful to accept your offer, dear brother. Have you no further information regarding the meeting of this unsavoury group?”
    â€œI am