The Death of the Queen

The Death of the Queen, Part 2

THE DEATH OF THE QUEEN PART 2

   As they strode into the throne room in unison, Sherlock asked Detective Inspector Lestrade

   "What have you got?"

   "The only thing is a few drops of his blood, and three smeared footprints with the queens blood. So, nothing, really."

   "Yes, nothing except his shoe size, gait, type of shoes, whether its a male or female, any diseases they may have, and some of their DNA, which tells us an awful lot."

    "Whether its male or female?" John asked, puzzledly.

    "Yes, male shoe designs on the sole are generally more box-like in design."

    "Ah"

    "So, Lestrade, I am going to take the dried blood to the lab and extract what I can from it, and I would urge you to take blood samples from every staff member working in the Palace."

    As they were leaving, Sherlock said to John

    "Well, it has to be someone close to her, or else the guards would have stopped the break in."

    "And someone who knew her schedule, or they wouldnt know she was in the throne room." John added.

    "Yes. Did Sowerberry say if they found her dead or alive?"

    "He didn't say."

    "What kind of weapon?

    "He didn't say that either"

    "We need to find him. Now."

    As they took off to find Sgt. Sowerberry, one of his colleagues caught up with the pair and told them that they would find him at the morgue at St Barts.

    They ran out and caught a taxi and ran to find Molly.

    Breathless, Sherlock told her

    "I need... to examine.... the queen. I don't... have enough... details."

    "Follow me, she's in the cold lockers."

    "Thanks"

    As he unzipped the body bag, there were three clear knife wounds, all three within 4 inches of the others on her lower abdomen.

    He took out his examining kit and closely inspected each stab wound, and took swabs from each to study under his microscope. He searched the body for fingerprints, and then asked for the lab results.

    "They haven't come in just yet," Molly told him. "But I'll text them to you as soon as I do."

    Sherlock was already heading towards the door at that point to go to the lab.

    "Thank you, Molly!" John called over his shoulder as he rushed to catch up with Holmes' long strides

    He ran into Sowerberry at the door.

    "Sargeant!," Sherlock called after him "Before I can come to any conclusions, I have a few questions to ask you."

    "Of course, sir. How can I help?"

    "Was the queen dead or alive when you found her this morning, and what was the exact time?"

    "She was alive, but barely. I took her pulse and it was extremely low, around 35 beats per minute, and her breathing was extremely shallow."

    "Was there anybody in the room when you got there?"

    "Yes, some of my colleagues were there, that's how I found out, they phoned me."

    "And what are their names?" Sherlock asked with a subtle eyeroll

    "Sargeant Locklet, Commander Artice, and Sargeant Olander."

    "Thank you, thats all we'll be needing for now."

    "Wait, Sherlock, I believe there is one more question we need to ask." Watson reminded him.

   "And what would that be, Watson?" He said, turning back around.

   "Is there anybody, anyone at all, who was in charge of her schedule, or knew that she would be in the throne room at that time?"

    "Yes, that would be her personal butler, Maurice Johnson."

    "Thank you, and that is all we will be needing for now. Erm, is there a number we can reach you at in the future?"

    "Sure, here it is." Sowerberry handed Watson a slip of paper with a phone number on it. "That is my personal number, call me any time.

    "Thank you so much, Sergeant."

    Sherlock texted Lestrade, "I need Maurice Johnson, Sargeant Locklet, Sergeant Olander, and Commander Artice's blood samples. Now."

   "On it." Came the reply.

    Lestrade came into the lab with four labeled blood samples as Sherlock was examining the murderers.

    "Have you got anything?"

    "Yes, judging from the blood smear, the culprit is male, with green eyes and either red or blond hair. Did you notice any of those features when you were drawing the four blood samples?"

    "Well, I wasnt paying attention to their eyes, but Commander Olander was male with blond hair."

     "Well then smear a bit of his blood on a microscope slide with a cotton swab and I'll examine it and see if it checks out. Put gloves on, too. The last thing I need is me having to convict you of killing the queen."

    He swabbed a slide with his blood and handed it over to Sherlock.

    "It's not Olander. Give me Johnson."

    Lestrade swabbed another slide and handed it to him.

     He stared at it for a long while and finally said

     "Hand me the culprits again."

     He stared at that one for a long while, too.

    "Go tell Maurice Johnson that he is a prime suspect for the murder of the Queen of England, but do not arrest him. And bring me two more blood samples; Sargeant Sowerberry and another of Johnson's. And anyone else that you see, particularly male with either red or blond hair."

    "Holmes, that's probably more than two." Watson reminded him.

    "Yes John, I am aware of that."

    And with that, Lestrade got back into his car to retrieve more blood samples, and deliver the news to the butler.