4 Secrets and Lies

Chapter 4 Secrets and Lies On our way out of the dining room, Holmes spotted a pair of blood-stained slippers under a chair in the hall. "Whose are those?" he asked Ames, who was passing. "Mr. Barker's, sir. They got stained with blood, as did mine." "That's understandable, considering the state of the room." A moment later, we were back in the study. Holmes had taken the slippers with him and he placed one on the blood mark on the sill. It fit perfectly. MacDonald gasped with excitement. "Man, there's no doubt about it! Barker made this mark himself. But why?"

"Good question," said Holmes. By now it was lunchtime, and the three detectives headed for the inn. Feeling the need for some fresh air, I went for a stroll on the grounds of Birlstone Manor. Near the back of the lawn was a yew hedge. As I was approaching, I heard from behind it a male voice and a ripple of female laughter. I rounded the end of the hedge to see Mrs. Douglas and Mr. Barker seated together on a stone bench. I was shocked to see smiles of pleasure and amusement on their faces.

When they saw me, their expressions instantly became solemn. "Dr. Watson!" called Mrs. Douglas. "I fear you must think me very callous and hardhearted." "It's none of my business," I said coldly. "Sir," she said, "can you tell me if Mr. Holmes is acting for the police or if he's independent? What I mean is, if I were to tell him something in private, would he have to pass it on to them?" "Mr. Holmes is an independent detective," I said. "He can do as he pleases with your information. However, he wouldn't wish to conceal anything from the police that could help bring a criminal to justice."

On my return to the inn, I found Holmes demolishing some eggs and toast. I told him about my encounter, and he said: "No secrets, Watson. If they tell me secrets, it makes things very difficult for me with Mr. Mac, not to mention the judge if this comes to a trial. Besides, the case is almost solved." "It is?" I said, astonished. "It will be," he said, "once we've found the missing dumbbell." "The dumbbell?!" "Of course! Who ever heard of doing exercises with just one dumbbell? It would do terrible things to one's spine! So, where's the missing dumbbell? There lies the mystery." A waitress arrived and I ordered coffee and a sandwich.

Holmes said: "Barker and Mrs. Douglas are lying, that much we know. I've already shown how Barker made the blood mark on the windowsill to give a false clue to the police. They also lied about the time of the murder. According to their version of events, the assassin would have had less than a minute to steal the wedding ring, which was hidden under another ring, then replace the first ring and leave the card. I would say that's impossible. "So, the murder must have occurred earlier than Barker and Mrs. Douglas claimed, and I think I know when. Do you remember Mrs.

Allen saying she heard what sounded like a door slamming half an hour before the bell rang?" "That was the gunshot!" I cried. "I believe so," nodded Holmes. "MacDonald and I have tested how sound carries in that house, and the gunshot would definitely have been heard in Mrs. Allen's room, even through closed doors. That means the murder occurred at around quarter to eleven. So, what were Barker and Mrs. Douglas doing for the next thirty minutes?" "I've no idea," I said, "but I'm sure they killed Mr. Douglas because they're in love and he stood in their way. Look at how Mrs. Douglas behaved