The Devil's Due Page 26
‘And you did rather threaten us, sir,’ said Andrew, as if that answered the question.
‘We shall simply leave it there,’ said Mycroft in a tone which brooked no dispute.
How foolish, I thought, for the Goodwins to try to take on Mycroft Holmes!
Holmes laughed. ‘Ah, Mycroft, how you dislike the lens turned upon yourself. But gentlemen, a toast, at least, to the end of the Alphabet Killings!’
As if on cue, Mrs Hudson entered with a silver tray and champagne.
A few minutes later, as we sat around the fire enjoying our drinks, a philosophical question of my own bubbled to the surface and I could not help but pose it.
‘Can one actually atone for a sin?’ I asked. ‘You gentlemen made a bargain with the Devil – or rather a bunch of devils – so do you come out on the side of the angels?’
‘Does that matter?’ said James Goodwin. ‘It seemed a piquant thing to acknowledge the sins of our honourees while simultaneously celebrating their restitution, and then forcing them to do more good.’
‘The world benefits. The net result is for the good,’ said Andrew Goodwin. ‘So, Dr Watson, I would say yes.’
The moral ambiguity of this case did not sit well with me. While arguably manoeuvring for ultimate good, the Goodwins nevertheless, through delay or lack of cooperation, allowed these people to be picked off. And one must also consider the peripheral deaths of people who were not involved in any way with the original crimes.
‘But gentlemen,’ I continued. ‘Your delays, and your—’
‘Dr Watson, if you please. The case is solved. Let us leave it at that,’ said Mycroft Holmes. I was about to continue when I felt Holmes’s light touch on my shoulder. His look suggested that this was something we might discuss further in private.
The moment passed, because precisely then, Miss Heffie O’Malley was heard at the front door and shortly flew into the room, charged with confidence and on a mission. Her hair was tamed into a respectable chignon, and she was dressed in a conservative but flattering bright green dress, a far cry from her Spitalfields appearance.
‘Why lookit all o’ you!’ she called out upon seeing the assemblage of serious men in the room. ‘It’s a regular gentlemen’s club in ’ere? May a lady join in?’
Holmes had risen to his feet and welcomed her with a wave of his arm and a smile. James Goodwin, also standing, indicated a seat next to him on the settee.
‘Delighted, Miss O’Malley,’ said he with a broad smile. He placed a glass of champagne in her hand.
She set it on the table, and stayed standing, with a wink to Holmes. ‘I’ve got news, she said, ‘if I ain’t interruptin’ anything important ’ere.’ We resumed our seats.
‘You are not,’ said Holmes. ‘I think we have moved on from philosophy and into celebration.’
‘Good. Then … there’s madness over at the Yard,’ said she. ‘There’s a kind of bonfire in the alley out back. A bunch o’ pamphlets burnin’. There’s men arguin’ quite loud over various, and something about uniforms and ’andcuffs and proper procedure. But in all this mess, it seems I got a real job at the police station! On a regular wage, so’s I can ’ave a roof and a dress and, well, Mr ’olmes, a life. I think I ’as you to thank.’
‘Well, that is wonderful news, Miss O’Malley,’ said Holmes, using Heffie’s surname for the first time. ‘You will be a valuable addition to the force.’
‘Oh, please join us, Miss O’Malley,’ entreated James, once again gesturing to a seat next to himself.
‘Watch out for my brother, young lady,’ said Andrew with a grin.
Heffie laughed. ‘My eyes work fine, thank you.’ She turned to face Holmes. ‘Oh, but ’ere’s my business! Are you free Mr ’olmes? Mr Lestrade has asked for you.’
‘Now?’ asked Holmes.
‘Right away. Seems there’s been double murder down at Borough Market. Pig seller. Trap door. Duchess. And twins.’ She shrugged.
He hesitated, then flexed the fingers of his recovering hand.
‘Some French detective is already down there. Says you know him,’ added Heffie. ‘Calls ’imself “the doc”.’
‘Vidocq?’ I said incredulously. ‘He is alive?’
Holmes laughed. ‘Does it surprise you?’
‘You comin’, sir?’ said Heffie.
‘I am indeed,’ said Holmes, springing to his feet. ‘Watson?’
I was already standing. ‘I am your man!’
For annotations with interesting facts about the people, places, and things in this novel, visit www.macbird.com/devilsdue/notes
Acknowledgements
As always, there are many to thank.
Firstly, my husband Alan Kay, the love of my life, who bore me up during some dark times that shadowed the writing of this book.
Equally, the brilliant publisher and gentleman David Brawn, without whom there’d be no Sherlock Holmes Adventure series.
A debt of gratitude to Sherlockian friends, particularly Les Klinger, Catherine Cooke, and Leah Cummins Guinn – and also Marina Stasic, E.J. Wagner, Dan Stashower, Monica Schmidt, Glen Miranker, Andrew Gulli, Tamara Reynolds Bower, Resa Haile, Luke Benjamen Kuhns, Steve Emecz, and Julie McKuras.
Medical angels Dr Art Kowell, Dr David Reuben, Dr Jonathan Weaver, Dr Michael Broukhim, Dr Harvey Sternbach, and Dr Tony Hughes in London – for advice both fictional and real; Miranda Andrews, my hero; Christine Sofiane, Anke Lecher, and Liz Poppert who kept the transport working.
Thanks to London experts Elliott Wragg (with whom I went slip-sliding on mud at the Thames foreshore), police Historian Keith Skinner, and Isle of Dogs expert Adam Kean, all knowledgeable and generous. And especially to the deep Sherlockian and London map expert Thomas Wheeler.
Special gratitude to the literary lights Dana Isaacson, Dennis Palumbo and Lynn Hightower, who, each in their own way, make me better than I am. Also to Linda Langton and Jane Acton, who remind the person who spends days typing in her pyjamas that, yes, this is a real thing.
My Oxnardian writing buds Matt, Harley, Patty, Craig, Jamie, JB, and Bob, for sharp critiques and moral support; Ryan, Freya, Dora, and Pauline, for keeping the home fires burning; and Luke, Jaz, Kirstin, Ann C. and Ann K., Robert, Miguel, Nancy, Faye, Margo, and Lisa, for moral support and fun.
A special thank you to Carla Kaessinger Coupe and Dana Cameron for inspiring the Goodwins, and me as well.
Thank you to the gifted artist Mark Mázers who designed the beautiful drop caps, Andrew Davis for the cover, and Stuart Bache for the original design concept of the series; also to Jean Marie Kelly, Affiliate Publisher at HarperCollins US, and to Natasha Bache for her initial inspiration and her continued work on the series.
Lighting a candle for several who passed during the writing of this book, I acknowledge my mother Rosemary MacBird, my former business partner Jim Shasky, my dear friend Paul Annett (director of the original Sherlock Holmes episodes for Granada and for whom I promised Oliver Flynn), first love Bill Kennedy, and best friend Dennis Krausnick, who gave me the honour of spending some meaningful time with him during his last weeks, talking books, poetry and Shakespeare, a world which he opened up to me twenty years ago and which directly helped me get to here.
For sustenance and inspiration, I thank my beautiful actor friends Jonathan LeBillon whose London Shakespeare readings buoyed my spirits immeasurably, Rob Arbogast, who modelled for the Holmes of this cover and inspires me, and especially Paul Denniston, who is not only my Watson but has turned himself into a genius ‘grief yoga’ coach and helped me with the loss of so many people I dearly loved during the writing of this book.
And finally, a special thank you to my cousin Chris Simpson, a constant inspiration, friend and helpmate, to whom this book is dedicated.
Also available
Art in the Blood
BONNIE MacBIRD
A missing child, a deadly art theft, an unstoppable killer …
Sherlock Holmes is languishing and back on cocaine after
a disastrous Ripper investigation. Even Dr Watson cannot rouse him, until a strangely encoded letter arrives from Paris. A beautiful French singer writes that her little boy has disappeared, and she’s been attacked in the streets.
Racing between London, Paris and the wintry wilds of Lancashire, Holmes and Watson discover the case is linked to the theft of a priceless statue and deaths of several children. The pair must confront a rival detective, Holmes’s interfering brother Mycroft and an untouchable suspect if they are to stop a rising tide of murders. The game is afoot!
‘Dark, stylish, ingeniously plotted. Holmes and Watson live again.’
HUGH FRASER
Also available
Unquiet Spirits
BONNIE MacBIRD
An attempted murder, a haunted castle, a terrible discovery …
Sherlock Holmes has found himself the target of a deadly vendetta in London, but is distracted when beautiful Scotswoman Isla MacLaren arrives at 221B with a tale of kidnapping, ghosts, and dynamite in her family’s Highland estate. To Watson’s surprise, however, he walks away in favour of a mission for Mycroft in the South of France.
On the Riviera, a horrific revelation draws Holmes and Watson up to the McLaren castle after all, and Holmes discovers that all three cases have blended into a single, deadly conundrum. To solve the mystery, the ultimate rational thinker must confront a ghost from his own past. But Sherlock Holmes does not believe in ghosts … or does he?
‘A rollicking tale worthy of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle himself.’
HISTORICAL NOVELS SOCIETY
Holmes and Watson will return
in THE THREE LOCKS,
2020
Also by Bonnie MacBird
Art in the Blood
Unquiet Spirits
About the Publisher
Australia
HarperCollins Publishers Australia Pty. Ltd.
Level 13, 201 Elizabeth Street
Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia
www.harpercollins.com.au
Canada
HarperCollins Canada
Bay Adelaide Centre, East Tower
22 Adelaide Street West, 41st Floor
Toronto, Ontario M5H 4E3, Canada
www.harpercollins.ca
India
HarperCollins India
A 75, Sector 57
Noida, Uttar Pradesh 201 301, India
www.harpercollins.co.in
New Zealand
HarperCollins Publishers New Zealand
Unit D1, 63 Apollo Drive
Rosedale 0632
Auckland, New Zealand
www.harpercollins.co.nz
United Kingdom
HarperCollins Publishers Ltd.
1 London Bridge Street
London SE1 9GF, UK
www.harpercollins.co.uk
United States
HarperCollins Publishers Inc.
195 Broadway
New York, NY 10007
www.harpercollins.com