‘Mr Hadley! You saw it yourself with me this morning. My daughter had been living there on and off for some time,’ said Wyndham. ‘This man Holmes knew where she was, and few others did.’

‘By the way, sir, we have new information,’ offered Hadley. ‘A man by the name of “Leo” was heard just outside the Cross and Anchor at two in the morning last night, having a violent argument with your daughter. Something about wanting the return of his ring. The neighbour said the man skulked about for a bit after.’

Wyndham looked aghast.

‘That would be Leo Vitale,’ came a voice over my left shoulder. Atalanta Wyndham was more than happy to add to the scene. ‘St Cedd’s. Cambridge Laboratory. Besotted with her. Gave her a ring as well.’

‘A ring? Why did you not say this sooner?’ bellowed Wyndham to his daughter.

‘She threatened me,’ said Atalanta in her best approximation of a wounded deer.

Holmes tore his eyes away from this treacherous sister.

‘Inspector Hadley, you saw the room, then, before Mr Wyndham emptied it?’ asked Holmes. ‘Did you note any signs of a struggle?’

‘A struggle? No, not exactly.’ The man caught himself. ‘But I will not discuss this with you. Come along, now, Mr Holmes.’

Holmes did not move. ‘Sir, I expect better of you. Why would I harm that young lady? What would be my motive?’

‘Why, to get yourself hired to find her, of course,’ snarled Pickering.

‘I believe you know better, Inspector,’ said Holmes, addressing the older man. ‘And you may easily ascertain that I have been in London the last three days.’

‘We will be checking on that, Mr Holmes,’ said Hadley. ‘But for now, you’ll need to come with me, sir. You too, Dr Watson.’

‘Surely you don’t think Watson—’

‘Just a formality. He is coming for questioning, that is all.’

Pickering moved towards Holmes with his handcuffs at the ready.

‘No need for those,’ said Holmes, calmly. ‘I will not resist.’

But Pickering could not. He fastened Holmes’s hands behind his back and pushed him roughly out the door.

Hadley shook his head at this action but did not stop him. ‘Come along, Doctor.’

‘Good riddance,’ I heard Wyndham say as we exited the room. Atalanta giggled.

PART SIX

THE SETUP

An object is frequently not seen, from not knowing how to see it,

rather than from any defect of the organ of vision.

—Charles Babbage

CHAPTER 28

The Spinning House

Once at the local police station on St Andrews Street, we were questioned at length. I was released, but Holmes was taken to a cell, alone. As we parted, he called out to me, ‘Find Polly, Watson! I shall be out shortly.’

Pickering laughed. ‘We will see about that.’