Sherlock Holmes and the Missing Shakespeare by J.R. Rain, Chanel Smith Read Free Book Online Page B

and went out again after Holmes told her to add it to his tab.
    Holmes sat down and pulled a folder from the inner pocket of his coat. “Some subterfuge allowed me to obtain this from the local pathologist.”
    “What is it?”
    “The report he gave to the coroner investigating the deaths at Galham House.”
    I balked at that comment. “But, Holmes, why are you looking into that?”
    “In due course, Watson, in due course.”
    “But, by Jove, Holmes!” I ejaculated. “Surely you do not think the tragedy at Galham House is related to the manuscript’s theft?”
    “I am of that mind.”
    I did not know how to respond to that, so instead I took the folder from him. I opened it and began to leaf through the pages contained within. “I will need some time to read through these, Holmes.”
    “Take as much time as you need, Watson. I am quite patient.”
    “You are? Am I still really speaking to the great and honorable Sherlock Holmes?” I teased him.
    Holmes grinned and waved the comment away. “We are getting closer to the truth of this case, Watson. I feel it.”
    I held up the folder. “And you think my opinion on the pathologist’s report will get us even closer?”
    “It is a piece of this puzzle, my dear Watson. The more pieces I manage to place in the right position, the clearer the picture will get.” Holmes sat down, too and began stuffing his pipe. “I doubt any single piece that is missing will cause me to be unable to see what the puzzle depicts, but every piece I can put into place is one step closer to the goal.”
    “Normally you are keen to determine every detail, Holmes.”
    “As many as possible, Watson. Deduction can uncover many other details that remain hidden from us. As long as we have the details in place to come to the right conclusion.”
    I took up the first page of the report and began to read as Holmes lit his pipe and began contentedly puffing away.
    The first pages contained the details on Sir Roger, Earl Galham. The pages were held together by a wire slipped through a round hole punched into the top left-hand corner of each sheet. The next pages concerned his wife, the Lady Mary, Countess Galham. The names of their children were written on a separate pathology report, of which was not included.
    I scanned the details and found the pathologist had been very thorough, which caused me to have an acute sense of admiration for his work. Yet it had been a long day and the brandy was taking a stronger hold over me than the coffee was. I felt my eyes slowly closing and I had to shake myself awake.
    “I say, Holmes, perhaps I should read these over breakfast.”
    Holmes took a sip of brandy and then continued smoking his pipe. “I dare say it is best left to a moment when your mind is capable of processing the data, as you rightly determine. But I trust you will stay for another few moments?”
    “Though the brandy is excellent, I must confess I am rather tired.”
    “Then perhaps I can persuade you to stay by telling you something about my exploits of the day?”
    “I thought you were not going to recount those?”
    “No, Watson, I said I would not say anything regarding why I am looking into the tragedy at Galham House.”
    “Though of course, Galham House is where the manuscript was found.”
    “Indeed.”
    “But you think those deaths are related to the manuscript’s discovery and subsequent theft from your rooms?”
    Holmes gestured with his pipe. “You know the answer to that question already, Watson. You need not ask it, for that is the question to which you will not receive an answer. Not yet.”
    I held my tongue for a moment, taking some brandy. “Well then, Holmes, of what did you undertake this day?”
    So Holmes began his recount of the day’s events.

 
    Chapter Eight:
    Hot on the Trail
     
    “The one person we have ruled out as being the perpetrator in the theft of the missing Shakespeare manuscript is, of course, the Honorable Sir Gerald Fitzwilliam. Yet he