Four Racehorses

Chapter Two

"I need to speak with Sherlock Holmes please," said a tall man with a deep voice. Sherlock welcomed him in. 

"How can I help you?" 

"Some of my most valuable racehorses seem to have disappeared,"

"I see, when did this happen?"

"Early this morning. My handlers went down to my stables and discovered that my four priceless race horses weren't there. They looked all through the land surrounding my house, but couldn't find them. Please help me Sherlock!"

"My assistant and I will come to your grounds later this day and investigate. Now, I need you to tell me if there that could relate to the theft of your horses?"

"I know that there has been other horses disappearing lately, but my grounds are very secure, and no-one would be able to get in unless you knew the code to the gates."

"So it must've been one of your workers?"

"Yes, but I trust all of them. Apart from one, I only began employing him last week, because one of my eldest friends told me about him. He said he had a way with horses, and IO believed him. His name is James Seddon, but people all call him Seddon."

"Please can you describe him,"

"He's a tall man who wears mainly black. He lives somewhere in the moores, I don't think he has any family. He has icy blue eyes and short black hair going bald in the centre, mid-thirties, I think. He doesn't have any front teeth, he got kicked by a horse. When he arrives each morning there's a fragrance of alcohol following him. Oh; he also has a strong Scottish accent." 

"That's great! Do you have any more little details about him?"                      

"He has dry, pale lips, with a tongue sharp enough to kill a man and a dark moustache that covers his top lip. I don't know anything about his past, it's all unknown. His hands are stained brown with mud and dirt, and his nails are very short."

"What does he do for you?" 

"He trains my younger horses, and he's very good at it. He works 6 .A.M. to 7 .P.M., five days a week, although he seems to spend most of his time working at my yard, working with my horses."

"If my assistant and I come to you house in four hours, at two o'clock, will Seddon be there?"

"Yes,"

"If it is possible can you find Seddon's address, and we will take a cart and visit his house in the moores and see if you missing horses are there. Does this sound like a plan?"

"Definitely! I should be able to get his address. I must be going, thank you for all your help Sherlock!"

And with that the mysterious man left, gently closing the door behind him.