Sherlock Holmes: The Dark Reckoning by Ian Wright Page B

accomplice to attack the policemen, on his
behalf, with the shovel to make certain they would be rendered unconscious. 
After that, both were injected with strychnine to ensure that they were dead,
before their limbs were removed.  May I see their clothing please, Dr. Death?”
    Dr. Death showed the clothing to Holmes.  As with the
clothing of the other victims, nothing was damaged except for the blood stains. 
Holmes examined the garments, but didn’t discover anything of use.
    He turned to Lestrade and asked, “May we return with you to
Scotland Yard to find out where the bodies were found?”
    “Of course you can, Holmes.  Would you like to go there
now?”
    “Unless Dr. Death has any further information to share, then
I should like to go now.”
    Dr. Death shook his head and said, “At this point, I can’t
tell you anymore than you already know.  I may be in a position to give you
more information later.  Good day, gentlemen.”
    The three men bid the doctor farewell as they left, and
returned to Scotland Yard.  Just inside the entrance, a group of policemen were
discussing their dead colleagues.  They stopped talking when they saw Inspector
Lestrade enter, with Holmes and Watson.
    The three men walked over to the group and Lestrade asked,
“Were you just talking about the murders of Sergeant Baxter and P.C. Roach last
night?”
    “Yes, Sir,” replied one of the officers.  “It’s terrible,
Sir!  Things like that just shouldn’t happen.  It could be one of us next!”
    The inspector addressed the group.  “Listen men.  It is
important that we continue to uphold the law.  We can’t let something
like this distract us from our duty.  It’s a difficult time for all of us and
we have to stick together.  Can I count on you all?”
    The men all nodded in agreement.
    Holmes then addressed them.  “May I ask where the policemen
were found?”
    “They were both in a field, Sir.  Sardinia Fields, just by Lincoln’s Inn,” answered one of the officers.
    “Yes, I know where that is.  It’s about 4 miles to the west
of Holborn Viaduct,” said Holmes.
    “That’s right,” commented Lestrade.  “The men hold a weekly
card game near there, and I expect that Baxter and Roach would have been there
last night.”
    “Does this card game take place every week?” asked
Watson.
    “It does, and it’s normally the same group that play, except
for those on duty.”
    “Whereabouts do these card games take place?” enquired
Holmes.
    “In Red Lion Street.  It’s about half a mile from where the
bodies were found.  I’ve been a couple of times in the past, but not for over a
year.  The games normally go on until past one in the morning.  That’s too late
for me,” replied Lestrade.
    “Watson and I must leave now, Lestrade.  We will try to
establish what we can about the girl’s death, and will be in touch later.”
    “Very well, Holmes.  I’ll go and speak to the Chief about Baxter
and Roach.  I will let him know about the connection between their deaths and
those of Sir Charles Grey and Miss Spencer.”
    Holmes and Watson left Scotland Yard and walked under the
archway, where Holmes suddenly stopped and looked at the pool of blood.
    “The girl has been dragged from that direction,” he said, pointing
towards Whitehall.
    He stepped under the barrier, followed by Watson, and walked
through the crowd.  When he got to a point where there were fewer people, he
started walking much more slowly, whilst looking around on the ground.
    After several minutes of this, he turned to Watson and said,
“A carriage stopped just here, Watson.”  He pointed out the tracks, still
visible in the morning frost, and continued, “The carriage had four wheels,
indicated by these tracks.  Furthermore, the distance between the left and
right tracks shows it was a large carriage.  Note the markings in the tracks
themselves.  We may find similar tracks at the scene where Miss Spencer was