Free Sherlock Holmes in Something the Cat Dragged In by Lyn McConchie

information to go with it. Would you care for tea before we talk?”
    I glared at his easy manner, unable to repress my simmering impatience, although Holmes accepted a cup, took a sip, and put the cup down again.
    Western grinned. “Not the quality you’re used to, I’ll be bound. Never mind, I can maybe put a bit of sugar in it for you. I passed word that I’d be interested in any man being held, and also if anyone heard of any holdup on people coming or going between England, and, well, the country you mentioned. Those who didn’t want any official notice, so to say. I got nibbles on both lines, gentlemen.”
    I leaned forward. “You know where Northgate is?”
    â€œNot exactly, but I know the general area. Let me tell it in order. That was a difficult inquiry, for at any time there may be a dozen men being held somewhere.”
    â€œWhy?” I asked baldly.
    Western eyed me with some amusement. “Debtors being held under threat of unpleasantness until their family pay what’s owed. Sailors being held, no…” as I would have spoken. “Not pressed men, just those who have stayed on leave too long, decided to be hung for a sheep instead of a lamb, and aren’t intending to go back. Ships will often pay a sum to have them returned. Then there are those held for personal reasons. While I was looking about, I found one lad being held for a wedding he wasn’t keen to attend, and another who was trying to escape his apprenticeship and was kept in a cellar until his family bought him out from his master.”
    â€œYou said…”
    â€œI said I think I have a direction for Northgate. There’s word that a toff is being held over Metcalf tenements way. I’m told that he’s with a caretaker in a cellar, and that he’s not badly treated, but he isn’t going anywhere. There are several streets of tenements there, and a friend is trying to narrow it down to a single building. Now, there’s the other matter.” He leaned his elbows on the table.
    â€œSeems that Customs ran into trouble last week. They hit on a shipment of something nasty, and those who owned it got rough and two officers were hurt. Customs didn’t approve, and to make that clear they’re putting every ship to or from that country through the mincer for a while. It’s all unofficial and their own officers would know, but because it isn’t on the police sheet, the coppers mightn’t have heard. However, if I were trying to smuggle a man overseas I wouldn’t be doing it until the heat’s off, which should be in another day or two but not before. By then I should know the address where your man is being held.”
    I let out a long slow breath. “And once we know that we can rescue Northgate, retrieve the papers…” A thought occurred. “Mr. Western, what about the papers?”
    He shrugged. “I haven’t heard anything about them at all. They could be with Northgate, as it would be more convenient to keep them together. Still, it isn’t impossible they’re already been sent on. Customs might not recognize their value if they saw them, and the papers aren’t contraband.”
    Holmes shook his head. “No, I think that if they’d reached someone who knew their value we’d have heard. I believe them to be still in England. And Liebowitcz has a weakness: he likes recognition. He wouldn’t part with the most important half of his achievement and let someone else reap the praise and rewards. No, he’ll hold both until he can get them away, himself with them. If you’re right, Western, we have a day or even two. I’ll alert the police to be ready, and let us know the moment you hear from your friend. Here is the ivory cat. Do you require—anything else?”
    That last word was uttered in a politely diffident tone, and Western flushed. “No, you provided ample.”
    He held out