Part 6 (1/2)
”Then you will be aware that preternatural phenomena has no place in h for us No ghosts need apply'” I sta a line from one of the recent editions of The Strand ”Where is Dr Watson, by the way?”
”Sadly, the good doctor had business of his own to attend to”
If Holmes had been kinder to me, then I would have tried to hide my disappointment
”That's a shame I would have loved to meet the man behind the stories”
”You already have,” Hol his attention to my friend ”Miss Stead, after you introducedyou said you would do anything to make amends”
I didn't like the sound of that
”Of course, anything,” Hettie replied
”Excellent,” said Holenuine affection this time ”I would like to make the acquaintance of Mrs Beatrice Kelly”
At first Beatrice hadn't been pleased to see us
”Our Henry's paid what he owed,” she'd screa on her doorstep ”Why can't you people leave us be?” Then she'd spotted Hettie and her deed The woman beckoned us in to her distinctlythe kettle However, when Hettie revealed the identity of our cori from a battered sideboard
”Sherlock Holmes,” she shrieked ”In oodsort, always 'as Very easily led,our short acquaintance He cal that he just wanted to ask a few questions about the Slasher At the very name of the fiend, Beatrice's lined face became positively electrified This was a subject that she was more than happy to talk about After all, as she explained, it had h it had been ”a terrible ordeal” of course
”'Orrible it was, Mr Holht my time had come, so I did”
Holmes turned over Beatrice's dirty woollen jacket in his hands ”And this is where his blade struck hoh the sleeve, it did” Beatrice indicated where the fabric had been sliced ”Ruined arenerously referred to as ”off-white” If this was Beatrice's Sunday best, I'd hate to see the rest of her wardrobe
”So I see,” Hol cut yourself”
”Oh I felt the blade against h Cold as ice it was Left a nasty scratch although it didn't break the skin, thank God Me guardian angel ht, Mr Holrin
”May I see?”
”Of course” Beatrice was already rolling up an equally grubby sleeve We all peered closer, but could see nothing of note on the wo more than a scratch really Healed up nicely, it has I'm one of the lucky ones”
”Compared to the Slasher's other victims, you mean?”
”I've been too scared to leave the house, but Henry's been bringing the papers 'os it all flooding back it does, especially that 'orrible picture Gave ht funny turn that did”
”The police sketch, you mean?” asked Hettie
Beatrice pushed herself up from the table
”No, dear, the one on the front of that dreadful azine Where did Henry put it? That an shuffling through the detritus of the cra to herself
”You mean The Adventure Weekly?” I offered, ”The story paper?”
”That's the one, love,” Beatrice replied, finally finding the paper under a pile of cloths ”'Ere it is Yeah, that's the geezer who tried to do ly”
She passed the periodical to Holarded it with interest
”I had no idea the Slasher's exploits had found their way into the penny dreadfuls,” he coes ”A five-part story by Mr Marcus Riggs Fascinating”
”Does Mr Kelly regularly buy The Weekly, Beatrice?” asked Hettie, drawing a cackle from our hostess
”Mercy me, dear, no I didn't even know he could read”
”Where is your husband elue factory, up Wilcox Street,” came the reply ”Ever since he was a boy”
”But he had built up debts in the past” It was not a question, more a statement of fact Beatrice visibly stiffened
”Whatpalies, madareeted us”
”He used to gauished from her voice ”Got 'imself in trouble”
”But he's paid his debts now”
”That he has,” she snapped ”Caot to do with the Slasher, I don't know”
”Nothing at all,” Hol to his feet Apparently he'd decided ere leaving ”Thank you for your hospitality”
”What was all that about,” I asked as ere all but bundled out of the Kelly household