Read Online Sherlock Holmes and The Scarlet Thread of Murder by Luke Benjamen Kuhns - Free Book Online Page B

Kipling. I took a seat at my desk and looked at him. His arm had been bandaged, but he still held his arms like a pouting child.
    â€œI told you, Jeffry,” I began, “you cooperate or we end your whore business. This is what happens when one does not heed my warning.”
    â€œYou’re busy busting those who make money off whores rather than finding the man who guts them like pigs!” Jeffry shouted. My face flashed with heat as my blood boiled at his remark.
    â€œSpeak not of what you do not know,” I said sternly. “Now, Lamech was at your establishment the night before the explosion, was he not?”
    â€œHe was, yes,” Jeffry reluctantly admitted.
    â€œWhat did he eat?”
    â€œCan’t remember,” Jeffry shrugged.
    â€œBut he ate,”
    â€œWell, yeah. He and that other chap,” Jeffry confirmed.
    â€œWhat other chap?” I pressed.
    â€œA whiskered man with a cut on his face.”
    â€œWho is he?”
    â€œI don’t rightly know. Never seen him before.”
    â€œNever? What did he look like? Did he engage with any other people?”
    â€œHe wore a flat cap that was pulled down low, I remember. So I never got a good look at his face,” said Jeffry.
    â€œWhat was his and Lamech’s demeanour?” I asked.
    â€œThey were quiet, sitting at a table in the corner away from people. Both sat with their backs to the wall. I supposed they wanted to see what people were doing.”
    â€œDid they leave together?”
    â€œNo, the other man left first.”
    â€œHow did the two depart? Peaceful or agitated?”
    â€œI don’t know. It was a busy night. I didn’t just watch them!” Jeffry was flushed.
    â€œWhy were you helping Lamech’s associate escape?”
    â€œWhat do you mean?”
    â€œWe caught him, Jeffry. Don’t treat me as the fool.”
    â€œWhat did he tell you?” Jeffry squirmed in his chair.
    â€œWho poisoned the food Lamech ate.”
    â€œPoisoned? I don’t know what you’re talking ‘bout.” His eyes shifted and he held his arm a little tighter.
    â€œHe told us everything. You’ll do well to tell me the truth.”
    â€œI don’t know what he told you about poison, but we, or I, had nothing to do with that! That wasn’t our plan!”
    â€œWhat was your plan then?”
    â€œErr, we... we didn’t have a plan.”
    â€œDon’t play games!” I shouted, smacking my fist on the desk.
    â€œI know nothing!” he yelled back.
    â€œWell, you better clear your story then.” Jeffry hung his head. “You’re going away, forever. I’ll make sure you never feel fresh air upon your face again. I’ll make sure you are buried so low sunlight will be nothing but a fairy tale to you.”
    â€œI didn’t poison him! I just helped Jacob, Lamech’s dead lanky associate, get his family out of the city.” I took the name down and looked back at Jeffery. “Why was Jacob at your inn?”
    â€œHe was seeing things through. Making sure everyone was gone and there was no trace. If he knew anything about the poisoning, he didn’t tell me. He simply paid me a good sum of money to help get the anarchists out before people like Myers came storming at them.”
    â€œTake him away,” I instructed exhausted.
    Kipling grabbed Jeffry and stood him up. I leaned back in my chair and gazed at the ceiling puffing my cheeks out.
    ***
    Kipling and White entered my office an hour later. White took a seat while Kipling remained standing. I leaned forward resting my elbows on my desk.
    â€œWhat can we do now, Reid?” White asked, crossing his legs and stroking his chin.
    â€œWe can only hope some clue crops up where the train was stationed the night before.”
    â€œOtherwise?” Kipling asked.
    â€œOtherwise we’re dead in the water!” I snapped. I paused a moment. Kipling was shocked at