The Snake and The Rabbit

Run! Jack run.

Again there was silence from Jack.

“If you keep silent,” said the innkeeper, “I will talk. These fine gentlemen would like the real story, not my version.”

“All right,” Jack whimpered. “See, trouble I have for a long time. Mum was good bout gettin’ me out. Last time, I needed money or they’s gonna kill me. I not know where it came but mum gave me what I needed.”

“How much was that?” Inspector Hopkins asked.

“Nigh on L3,000.”

“That is a lot of money.”

“Have we been chasing the dragon?” I asked.

Jack rolled his eyes.

“That explains why the furniture is lacking in this house. She sold it all to support your habit.” I scolded.  

Holmes turned and looked at Jack. I had never seen his eyes so full of hatred and loathing. “Run,” he hissed.

Jack left the room in such a hurry that he knocked the chair over on his way out.

Holmes and I went back to the little cottage. I felt as if I should never get that smell out of my nose. Holmes was mournfully quiet. I knew he was in deep thought so I did not trouble him with all the questions rolling around in my brain. After several hours, I found Holmes sitting on the same block that Mrs. Brookstead has used to stand on to hang herself.

“Holmes, are you alright?”

There was a long pause from my friend. “I shall never be alright again.” He drew a deep breath. “This case Watson; this case. It grows darker instead of clearer.”

“Would you allow me to give you a sleeping draft? You need rest.”

“How can I sleep?” He put his face in his hand.

“What good will you be if you do not?”

Inspector Hopkins came in so we withdrew to the study; it took some time for the draft to work. In the meantime, we toyed with those questions he had asked Jack Brookstead.

“Why did Mrs. Brookstead hang herself here?” Asked Inspector Hopkins.

“This is the home of the person she had wronged.” Holmes answered then took a long draw from his pipe.

“But why not hang herself in that mess she left in her on home?”

“Penance,” I offered. “Perhaps she felt that her house would be searched first with her son being a criminal and all.

“Who is The Lady that lives here?”

Holmes offer no answer.

“The landlord refers to her as The Lady. Nothing more.” I spoke.

“Son Jack gets into trouble,” Holmes spoke through a cloud of smoke. “Mother, Mrs. Brookstead sells her secret knowledge of The Lady to someone for at least L3,000 to get Jack out of trouble. Mother realizes she has done The Lady a horrible injustice; one that might cost her her life. Something must have been delivered to Mrs. Brookstead to confirm her suspicions.”

“Or to push her over the edge of guilt,” I offered.

“Mr. Holmes, what did Mrs. Brookstead deliver to you?” Inspector Hopkins asked.

I looked at Holmes. It seemed to me that the sleeping draft was starting to take effect. The pipe slid out of his hand, his head fell forward, and finally his body slouched over in the chair. I rushed to his side and with the aid of the good inspector, we put him to bed.

The Snake and The Rabbit