Free Sherlock Holmes and The Scarlet Thread of Murder by Luke Benjamen Kuhns Page B

explosive powder, but it vanished after it arrived at the factory. The other shipments were of a vegetated nature from Afghanistan. This is where we were lucky - someone had scribbled down ‘flowers’. It seems no harm to speculate that these flowers were the fire flowers. However, where these shipments went after arriving is a mystery.”
    â€œHow does this help us?” I asked.
    â€œIt’s quite obvious,” said Holmes with a grin. “All of these shipments stopped once Jackson was fired. Daniels cancelled all shipments post-Jackson.”
    â€œSo, Jackson used the trade with Afghanistan to bring in the poisonous flowers while he also acquired powder from Burkum and Lynn. He surely is responsible for poisoning Daniels!” I declared.
    â€œUnfortunately, he’s dead.”
    â€œDead!” I cried.
    â€œI went to see Inspector Lestrade. I found him sitting in his office going over paperwork. I asked him if they questioned Jackson, or anyone in Daniels’ and Thomas’ employee after Thomas’ death.
    â€œâ€˜Why would we do that?’ Lestrade asked me. My irritation was no secret. ‘Don’t hang your head like a disappointed parent, Holmes!’ he snapped.
    â€œâ€˜It is not your fault,” I comforted the Inspector. “It is reasons like these the Yard comes to me for aid. I have reason to believe he is behind the murder of Daniels and Thomas.’
    â€œâ€˜We’ve no proof that Daniels was murdered,” Lestrade stammered. “He clearly hanged himself, and that Thomas fellow was just on the wrong train at the wrong time. The explosion was caused by a Jewish anarchist. D.I. Reid has been on the case, I’m sure he’ll hunt them down.’
    â€œâ€˜Don’t you see, Lestrade? It’s all there in the shipments.’ I told him of the fire flower and missing powder shipments. ‘Get me a report; the powder from the explosion will be from Burkum and Lynn.’
    â€œâ€˜You’ll have to see Reid about that, Mr. Holmes. I know he’s got a man working on the explosion, and they’ve come up with nothing. You’re just offering a stab in the dark here. Now, I’m knee deep with this Daniels case. I’ll follow up with our surgeon, see if he thinks Daniels was poisoned. But I’m not sure Jackson is your man.’
    â€œâ€˜Why is this?’
    â€˜His body washed up near the Tower of London this morning. His face was severely mutilated, but the mole confirmed it was him, on the right side of his face.’
    â€œâ€˜Where did he live?’
    Lestrade gave me the address and I came to collect you before going out there.”
    â€œCould there be a fourth man?” I asked.
    â€œI believe there may be. Daniels, it seems, isn’t a wholly honest man.”
    â€œWhat else do you know, Holmes?”
    He did not respond to my question, and remained quiet for the rest of our journey to Davenport House.
    Chapter 12
    Doctor Watson
    The Detective and the Investigator
    Autumn 1890
    Holmes and I stepped into the small shed where the landlord had informed us another group of detectives were investigating. Holmes and I were both curious as to who it was that was following a similar trail to us and why. We opened the door to see two men, both fairly tall, one thin, the other slightly older round.
    â€œWho are you?” the thin man pressed.
    â€œMy name is Sherlock Holmes and this is my friend and colleague Doctor Watson.” Holmes turned and smiled at the round man. “Mr. Hewitt, I should thank you for looking after things while I was in America some time ago.”
    â€œIt was my pleasure,” said Hewitt, walking over and shaking Holmes’s hand. “But you really must explain what you are doing here. Did Mrs. Goodtree come and see you as well?”
    â€œOur role in this narrative began when a Mr. David Daniels came to see me about a strange haunting by the ‘Goblin