The Detective and the Woman Page 14

  ‘I’m afraid the logic of this situation escapes me, Irene,’ he finally managed, which caused me to laugh uproariously for some time, while he stared at me as if I’d gone mad.

  ‘Please continue your tale, Holmes,’ I finally sputtered. I breathed deeply for a moment and gathered my wits again. ‘I simply wished to express my thanks for your rescue and my lack of anger all at once. That seemed the simplest way.’ I gave him what can only be described as a coy look, which he received with a raised eyebrow.

  ‘Very well,’ he said, looking at his hands. ‘While you were living the somewhat frustrating life of Lavinia James, abandoned by her business-bound husband, I was busy. I visited Sanchez’s grove office, his town office, and his home.’ I looked up in surprise. This I had certainly not expected.

  ‘I left the man three items: a handkerchief embroidered with IN, a lady’s powder box, and a calling card. These things, of course, were meant to make him believe that Irene Adler was indeed in Fort Myers and was on to him. My additional hope was that if he thought you responsible for these tokens, he would not realise the two of us were working in unison, as he apparently did not.’

  ‘Well, that explains one of the mysteries,’ I said, remembering Barnett’s comments about my helpful calling cards. ‘Nicely done, Holmes. I’d not have thought to taunt him in that way.’

  ‘It was expedient,’ Holmes answered quickly, ‘an irresistible temptation to act, but it allowed him time to contact his associates and arrange the dropoff. He was most likely aware that Bernard James had disappeared, but he is not a stupid man, and his familiarity with me no doubt kept him from assuming I’d actually gone.’

  ‘Now we reach movements of mine that you do not know. The day you visited Tootie and Ambrose McGregor, I followed you. I will readily admit that I wanted to make sure you were following the plan, but,’ he looked at me steadily, ‘I was also concerned for your safety. Satisfied that you were with the McGregors, whom I did not believe to be part of the plot in spite of all of Ambrose’s quiet discomfort, I continued my errands. I believe you may have seen me, hidden behind a copy of the Ft. Myers Press.’

  I shook my head in annoyance at myself. Sure enough, I had seen the man, but since he’d made no effort to follow me, or so I thought, I’d dismissed him. ‘Expertly carried out,’ I said with a wry laugh.

  ‘That afternoon,’ Holmes continued, ‘I returned to the store to wait for the evening, at which time I planned to pay Barnett’s home a visit, which I later did. Before that, however, I received a visitor.’

  ‘Bill,’ I put in. I wanted to remind Holmes that I wasn’t a complete fool, whatever my lack of observation of him might have suggested. He smiled appreciatively.

  ‘Exactly so. It had taken him my two visits and a critical look at the photograph his boss possessed to understand who I was. Our disguises fooled Barnett, but Bill, or whatever his real name is, figured us out after we had made our exit. I was not entirely surprised to see him, or, rather, to see an emissary of my brother. Mycroft had sent him here as soon as he’d first received Barnett’s letter to Sanchez—strange to contemplate now—and Bill had insinuated himself into Sanchez’s organization. He had been told to expect me, but since he didn’t move in the polite circles of his boss, he was not able to find me as quickly as the solicitor was fortunate enough to do. Barnett never mentioned that he’d met me at the Edisons’ party, so Bill was left on his own. Fortunately, he put the pieces together and finally approached me that day, meeting me at the store on the pretext of doing an errand for his boss in town. He showed me identification that proved his claims, and I explained the situation to him. We agreed that Barnett was unlikely to wait long to act once he realised you were taunting him. Bill promised to help me, but we could not make firm plans without knowing how the solicitor would act.’

  ‘That night, you came to see me.’ I looked away from him then. The memory was painful. Thinking back, I couldn’t fault myself for my anger, but I also couldn’t praise myself. I had acted according to my understanding at the time; that was all. ‘Don’t trouble yourself,’ he continued, correctly interpreting my expression. ‘Your distress made me strongly consider the downside of the plan, but I still considered it essential that you be as innocent as possible. When one is aware of such an operation, it is nearly impossible to act completely normally. Forgive me for the observation, but your relative lack of experience in these matters also made me wary of giving you more information that would require you to be deceptive. You had shown yourself to be an admirable actress, but I didn’t want to tax your powers any more than necessary. I needed Barnett to think he had taken you completely by surprise, and the best way to accomplish it was for you to feel the part you had to play.’ The detective spoke quickly and avoided my eyes again, as if he was afraid of the response he might receive.

  ‘I agree with you,’ I said quickly, to put his discomfort to an end. ‘I was afraid, as afraid as Godfrey ever made me, but I see now the value of that fear. It was like a lullaby to soothe Barnett into thinking everything had gone as he expected. Had I known you were already in place, I doubt I’d have been able to act so convincingly.’ I nodded to Holmes, and he nodded back, relieved.

  ‘At the theatre that night—’

  ‘—You stole my pistol,’ I interrupted, smiling. ‘You can imagine what a turn that gave me.’

  ‘Indeed,’ Holmes replied. ‘I knew it would severely risk our ability to thwart the whole operation if you succeeded in getting yourself and the McGregors away from Barnett prematurely. I didn’t yet know if he planned to act that night, but I expected it. I apologise for the theft. It felt ungentlemanly at the time and still seems so now, though I consider it to have been necessary.’

  ‘Not at all,’ I answered, ‘though I did curse the thief roundly to myself.’

  ‘If curses had power, one would think I’d be dead from all the lurid ones that have been directed at me by various persons,’ Holmes said absently.

  ‘Let me tell you something for a moment, Holmes,’ I said, suddenly remembering that I, too, knew the solution to a small mystery. ‘You were right about Marion Edison.’

  ‘Oh?’

  ‘She met the German lieutenant during an apparently heinous trip to Europe, but the attachment endured. He’s here visiting, and now the young lady is trying to figure out how to break the news that they’d like to marry.’ After a moment I added, ‘She came to see me yesterday morning.’

  ‘I know,’ said Holmes quietly.

  ‘Indeed?’ I was intrigued.

  ‘I am aware of all of your movements of that day,’ he said, which was enough of an explanation for me to understand what he meant.

  ‘Thank you,’ I said simply.

  ‘Not at all.’ He coughed quietly, as if to change the subject, and continued. ‘I considered the theatre a likely place for Barnett to act for a number of reasons, but I saw nothing amiss until after the interval. You noticed, I believe, that he was not in the audience before that.’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘After I had relieved you of your weapon, I realised Barnett had joined us at the beginning of the second half, though I believe that fact eluded you. My subsequent movements made me nearly unable to keep myself from being seen by you. You have a very vigilant eye, Irene. Barnett would not have escaped it if you had been unencumbered by your hostess.’ I grinned inadvertently as he went on. ‘I thought I had been mistaken when it appeared that you and the McGregors would be safely conducted home in your carriage, but just before you left, I recognised that Bill was the driver, as he intended me to do. He gave me a nod, and I knew that his boss’s plan was fully in motion. That nod also signaled that he had summoned the police, as he had promised he would do during our previous meeting. I had put a large store of trust in the man, but my brother’s operatives are as trustworthy as he is.’

  Even though I knew the order
of events after that, I found myself eager to hear them. In my mind, I could see myself and the McGregors entering the carriage and losing hope, but now I could also see Holmes, watching over us. It seemed silly now to remember how sure I’d been that he’d failed.

  ‘I followed your carriage in my cart for as long as I could without attracting attention, until I was sure Bill was making for the citrus grove. Then I made my way there as fast as I could, staying off the main roads. I arrived several moments before you did and took my place under Sanchez’s desk, grateful for the sense of grandiosity that had prompted him to purchase such a large one. I still considered that you and the McGregors might have managed to overpower Barnett, but Bill was sworn to his role and had promised to help his boss if you began to succeed in taking him down. I needed his plan to remain intact in order to hear enough information to convict the man and lead us to his associates.’

  ‘You played your part brilliantly, as did the McGregors, and I waited, hoping to hear enough to bring Barnett down without waiting long enough to endanger you or your companions. Bill stood by to assist if anything began to go wrong. A very useful man, I must say. I also hoped the police would not arrive too early. Bill had instructed Sheriff Morris to take his time, and he had agreed, though not without some concern. Thankfully, by the time Barnett decided to force you to sign his very unfortunate papers, I had heard plenty. That, of course, was when I emerged.’

  Chapter 18: Holmes

  The detective couldn’t help his enjoyment of the delight on Irene’s face when he said the word emerged. He knew she was remembering the moment and probably experiencing once again the relief of knowing she hadn’t been abandoned to a nasty fate. She had surprised him many times during their long conversation. He’d expected to have to explain himself, to have to apologise, but instead, she understood. She didn’t even act as if she’d forgiven him; she acted as if she found nothing to forgive. He found it comforting to know that The Woman was so eminently reasonable, even when she’d been through so much.

  He stopped speaking, his part of the tale concluded, and the two associates sat looking at each other in silence, enjoying one another’s company and understanding. ‘For the most part, a very successful case, Irene,’ he said at last.

  ‘Yes,’ she answered, ‘though it’s a pity about Burroughs and the dead man and Sammy, whoever he is.’

  ‘True,’ he replied.

  ‘You couldn’t have done it without me.’ Irene’s expression was teasing and playful.

  ‘That, Miss Adler,’ he answered, leaning toward her, ‘is most certainly true.’

  * * *

  The middle part of the day was spent in sending a telegram to Mycroft, using the shorthand code the brothers had worked out years before, and taking tea while waiting for a response, which came promptly. It contained a set of words and names Holmes didn’t recognise but assumed Sheriff Morris would, since its function was to convince him to expunge all mention of Sherlock Holmes from his record of the case.

  ‘You intend to cooperate with Morris, then?’ Irene asked, as the two left the telegraph office with the message in hand.

  ‘Of course,’ said Holmes.

  ‘I thought perhaps you meant to leave without a trace, or something equally dramatic,’ said The Woman mischievously.

  ‘Certainly not,’ said Holmes, ‘the weather’s far too nice not to enjoy it to the fullest.’ He was glad to hear her laugh, such a contrast from the anxiety of the previous day.

  Upon returning to the Keystone Hotel, the two were met with a note from Mina Edison, asking them to dinner once again and explaining that the McGregors would be guests as well. Irene shook her head. ‘I can’t believe the poor woman even wants us after all this. I’d have thought we were pariahs by now.’

  Holmes smiled. ‘No reason not to make our thanks in person, especially to Ambrose McGregor, who, it seems to me, has been particularly unfortunate throughout the case.’

  ‘Yes,’ said The Woman, ‘though I admit I’m not looking forward to seeing everyone I’ve deceived, good reason or not.’

  ‘Not a compunction that seems to affect you in connection with deceiving me, however,’ said the detective drily. Irene gave him a quick look and burst out laughing again, not stopping until they parted at the door to her room.

  Holmes dressed elegantly, in the clothing he would have worn for an evening out in London. He was relieved to be himself again, not that he minded playing a part. The end of a case was always pleasant, before the monotony seized him, and he planned to enjoy himself. Irene, too, seemed pleased as she emerged to join him, dressed in a turquoise gown that set off her brown hair and made her look far more like Irene Adler than Lavinia James. He proffered his arm, and the companions went down to catch their cab.

  Seminole Lodge was beautiful in the moonlight as they arrived, the grounds lit by paper lanterns that Mina Edison had purchased for the occasion. Holmes led Irene to the door of the white mansion, and she seemed nervous, even more so than she had when she was in the guise of Lavinia James. He lightly squeezed the small hand that held his arm. ‘Steady,’ he whispered. She was capable of more timidity than he’d expected.

  ‘Good evening, Mr Holmes and Miss Adler,’ said Mina Edison without hesitation. She was smiling and radiant.

  ‘Good evening,’ said Holmes, smiling down at her kindly.

  Irene blushed and nodded as the other woman motioned her inside. ‘Marion’s wild to see you.’ Holmes watched The Woman walk away with the hostess, her confidence obviously rising.

  As he entered the piano room, Holmes saw that the dinner party was the same as that of the previous occasion, except that the Montanan cattle rancher had been replaced by the German officer with whom he had seen Marion Edison. The inventor was speaking to the lieutenant, and timid Burroughs was engaged in conversation with Tootie McGregor, whose spirits appeared to be completely restored. As usual, her husband hung back slightly, listening.

  Holmes approached Burroughs and held out his hand. ‘I must thank you, Sir, for your assistance.’

  ‘I’m grateful I could help,’ said the young man. ‘The deputies were away from town until morning, so Mr Edison and I figured we could do our part, Mr Holmes.’ He stumbled slightly over the name.

  Holmes smiled warmly and looked around the group. ‘My name is Sherlock Holmes, and my companion is Miss Irene Adler.’ He didn’t elaborate further, but since he seemed to expect everyone to accept the names, everyone did, out of respect for the detective and his companion. He watched Irene in the corner of the room, engaged in conversation with Marion, and she seemed herself once again.

  Dinner was a subdued meal, and no one seemed inclined to mention the case, except for Edison, who asked Irene, seated next to him, whether or not the criminals were in custody. Holmes had noticed that Marion seemed especially nervous and looked often at the German, whose name was Karl Oeser. Finally, she spoke. ‘Mr Oeser and I have an announcement.’ When all eyes turned toward her, she blushed bright red and took Oeser’s hand. ‘Mr Oeser—Karl—has asked me to marry him, and I’ve accepted.’

  Holmes looked quickly at Edison and Mina, but neither seemed surprised by the news and both appeared genuinely pleased. Irene beamed across the table. ‘I’ll sing for you after dinner,’ she said to Marion, who couldn’t stop smiling. The Woman’s equilibrium had returned.

  The good feelings remained through dessert, which was a new French recipe called Crepes Suzette that Mina had ordered to accompany her stepdaughter’s announcement. After many compliments, the party finally made its way to the living room, and Irene sat down at the piano. Holmes wondered what sort of song she would choose, if she would again sing the bittersweet anthem that had captivated her audience before. But her fingers began a different tune:

  At Clapham Town end lived an Old Yorkshire tyke

  Who i dealing i horsefl
esh had ne’er met his like.

  ’Twas his pride that i aw the hard bargains he’d hit

  He’d bit a good mony but but nivver been bit.

  Chorus: Wi’ me dum a dum dary,

  Dum a dum dary,

  Dum a dum dary,

  Dum a dum day.

  By the beginning of the second verse, everyone in the room was laughing, and Marion had grabbed Oeser’s hand and started to dance. Holmes watched them all is if he were seeing one of Edison’s moving pictures, but his eyes were drawn back to The Woman in her element, singing as if nothing else in the world existed. She looked up and smiled at him, and her eyes were warm.

  The evening continued with other songs and impromptu dances, and the members of the party tried to laugh away the darkness as the detective looked on, finally forced to participate by the persistent Tootie, who seized him in her arms and forced him to dance a waltz with her. Marion, alive with joy, played the piano and laughed with the abandon of the young and engaged. Weariness eventually forced the guests to consider leaving, and Irene came to Holmes’s side. In spite of the fact that they were no longer portraying a married couple, the proximity seemed normal to both of them, and he gave her his arm once more.

  ‘Thank you for everything!’ said Marion, taking Irene’s hand. ‘I’ll miss you.’ Her voice was sweet, but she had eyes only for her fiancé, who was quiet and polite and appeared to dote on the girl. He led her away to her father, and the McGregors took her place.

  Holmes felt Irene’s hand on his arm tense, and he saw that her nervousness had returned when she was confronted with the large woman and the quiet man. He cleared his throat, ‘Please accept my apologies for everything that has occurred over these past few days, Mr and Mrs McGregor.’ Tootie smiled instantly and gave Holmes a loud kiss on the cheek, which took him aback considerably.

  ‘Don’t worry, dear,’ she said, ‘we’re ever so grateful for all you’ve done. We’d love to read it in a story some time, if Dr Watson has a notion to write it up, of course.’ Holmes could feel Irene laughing noiselessly at this, but she gathered herself quickly and turned to Ambrose.