Holmes stopped his narrative and took a long puff of his pipe whilst staring into the fire. “And this is when the readers of your tales think I’m infallible.”
“Why Holmes, what happened?” I asked.
“I told you these two had senses for danger like prey. We followed the Fat man almost until we almost reached The Bank of England when he suddenly jumped into a cab. There was no sign of the Thin man and Wiggins and I had no time to return to his cab. I shouted for Wiggins to leave me and I dashed for the nearest available cab. By the time we commenced, the other cab was about 200 feet in front and making haste. We kept this distance down past St. Paul’s, up past St. Bartholomew's Hospital and past Smithfield, however in Little Italy my quarry discharged from his cab, slipped down an alleyway and quickly became quite lost to me in the throng of people out in the evening London crowds. I curse my stupidity and can only hope Johnston was more successful than me.”
We had to wait about half an hour for our answer when there was a knock on the door and Mrs. Hudson came up the stairs. “Oh Mr. Holmes, there is a young boy to see you and he is quite a dreadful sight. I have him lying on my chaise lounge. Please bring down your medical bag Dr. Watson.” At this she scurried back down to her rooms and we quickly followed.
Upon arrival we found Johnston in quite the state described by Mrs. Hudson. He had a blackened eye and dried blood on his chin from a burst lip. Further examination thankfully showed nothing more serious than a missing incisor tooth and a few bruises that he would soon recover from.
Johnston cried at the sight of Holmes. “I’m sorry Mr. Holmes, I followed him to the end of the street and he turned into an alleyway. I hurried down the dark alley and suddenly there he was behind me and grabbed me. He demanded to know why I was following him. I didn’t answer and he bashed me proper, demanding answers. Luckily a workman came down the alley at that moment and he released his grasp on me. I took the opportunity and ran.”
It was quite the disappointing end to what had promised to be a very interesting case.
As for the Fat and Thin men they clearly knew someone was after them and simply vanished, no doubt leaving the Metropolis well behind. The next few days brought Inspector Hopkins with further bad news with a blank being drawn on the search for the violin maker.
I wrote up notes for the case and put it in my ever expanding folder of unsolved cases that myself and Holmes had been involved in. As Holmes said whilst watching me write up those notes, “You really should write up all those unsolved cases Watson, it would certainly burst that bubble of infallibility you have built around my exploits.”
Other cases came and went over the following year including the St. James Park kidnapping and the Greenwich Naval case which I may one day be allowed to publish. He didn’t mention them again but I knew my friend keenly scoured the papers every day for any news of his elusive conmen.
We were sitting by the cozy fireplace in our rooms in the late autumn of 1896, the first wintery tenderals creeping across London, when we had a visitor bringing Holmes the most welcome news. This was Wiggins and he burst into the rooms almost like the Wiggins of old. “Mr. Holmes…Mr. Holmes…..you will never guess who I picked up in my cab at Kings Cross Station this evening”
“A very Fat and Thin man,” replied Holmes.
I looked on astounded as I had almost forgotten that pair of rogues.
“Yes, and I have the address that I took them to” replied Wiggins. “In Dean Street, near Soho Square.”
Holmes looked as delighted as I had ever seen him, “By Jove, what extraordinary luck, Wiggins. We cannot let them get away again, there is no time to lose. The game is afoot. ”
With that Holmes retired to his chambers and within 10 minutes reappeared in front of us a stock and trade British tradesman. “Now Wiggins, take me to the address and we will do some reconnaissance, Watson my friend, sometimes your assistance is invaluable and other times a hindrance. In this case it is the latter. You are far too conspicuous.”
With that and a slight bow both he and Wiggins departed.
For the next three days Holmes did not return and I had heard nothing from him. I kept myself busy with some medical cases and spent the evenings reading and writing whilst awaiting word from my friend.
On the fourth day I received a telegram from him asking me to be available that evening at 6pm and to bring both my medical bag, a change of clothing for him and my revolver. This, I will admit, stirred my emotions and by 5:30pm found me watching the road in anticipation.
When Wiggins arrived and we commenced our journey I took the opportunity to grill Wiggins on the events since I had last seen Holmes.
Wiggins explained that Holmes had managed to rent a room on the opposite side of the street from the duo's address in Dean Street. From behind a curtain he was able to observe the comings and goings of the pair, but due to his previous experiences he did not actively follow them. He did however have the Irregulars placed outside every main junction and expensive restaurant in the West End.