Sherlock Holmes and the Great Detectives (The Great Detective Universe Book 3) Read online

  SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE GREAT DETECTIVES

  SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE GREAT DETECTIVES

  Edited by

  Derrick Belanger

  Belanger Books

  2020

  Sherlock Holmes and the Great Detectives

  © 2020 by Belanger Books, LLC

  Print and Digital Edition © 2020 by Belanger Books, LLC

  All Rights Reserved. No part of this book may be used or

  reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written

  permission except in case of brief quotations embodied

  in critical articles or reviews.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses,

  organizations, places, events, and incidents either are the

  products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead,

  events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  For information contact:

  Belanger Books, LLC

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  Manchester, NH 03103

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  www.belangerbooks.com

  Cover and Back design by Brian Belanger

  www.belangerbooks.com and www.redbubble.com/people/zhahadun

  Table of Contents

  An Introduction to the Great Detectives by Derrick Belanger

  The Adventure of the Grey Seal by Will Murray

  The Wilhelm House Curse by Derrick Belanger

  Done With Mirrors by Dan Andriacco

  Pipes, Bonnets and Pieces of String by Robert Stapleton

  The Case of the Watery Wife by Lorraine Sharma Nelson

  The Esau Ladies by Robert Perret

  The Adventure of the Edinburgh Professor by Stephen Herczeg

  The Chapel of the Holy Blood by Chris Chan

  The Adventure of the Philanthropic Crook by D.K. Latta

  The Wet-Nosed Irregular by Harry DeMaio

  The Stanforth Mystery or The Adventure of the Felonious Fiancé by Paul Hiscock

  The Inner Temple Intruder by David Marcum

  The Curate’s Curious Egg by John Linwood Grant

  The Case of William Wilson by Richard Zwicker

  The Case of the Spanish Bride by Brenda Seabrooke

  Special Thanks to Our Kickstarter Backers

  COPYRIGHT INFORMATION

  All of the contributions in this collection are copyrighted by the authors listed below, except as noted. Grateful acknowledgement is given to the authors and/or their agents for the kind permission to use their work.

  “The Adventure of the Grey Seal” ©2020 by Will Murray. All Rights Reserved. First publication, original to this collection. Printed by permission of the author.

  “The Wilhelm House Curse” ©2020 by Derrick Belanger. All Rights Reserved. First publication, original to this collection. Printed by permission of the author.

  “Done With Mirrors” ©2020 by Dan Andriacco. All Rights Reserved. First publication, original to this collection. Printed by permission of the author.

  “Pipes, Bonnets and Pieces of String” ©2020 by Robert Stapleton. All Rights Reserved. First publication, original to this collection. Printed by permission of the author.

  “The Case of the Watery Wife” ©2020 by Lorraine Sharma Nelson. All Rights Reserved. First publication, original to this collection. Printed by permission of the author.

  “The Esau Ladies” ©2020 by Robert Perret. All Rights Reserved. First publication, original to this collection. Printed by permission of the author.

  “The Adventure of the Edinburgh Professor” ©2020 by Stephen Herczeg. All Rights Reserved. First publication, original to this collection. Printed by permission of the author.

  “The Chapel of the Holy Blood” ©2020 by Chris Chan. All Rights Reserved. First publication, original to this collection. Printed by permission of the author.

  “The Adventure of the Philanthropic Crook” ©2020 by D.K. Latta. All Rights Reserved. First publication, original to this collection. Printed by permission of the author.

  “The Wet-Nosed Irregular” ©2020 by Harry DeMaio. All Rights Reserved. First publication, original to this collection. Printed by permission of the author.

  “The Stanforth Mystery or The Adventure of the Felonious Fiancé” ©2020 by Paul Hiscock. All Rights Reserved. First publication, original to this collection. Printed by permission of the author.

  “The Inner Temple Intruder” ©2020 by David Marcum. All Rights Reserved. First publication, original to this collection. Printed by permission of the author.

  “The Curate’s Curious Egg” ©2020 by John Linwood Grant. All Rights Reserved. First publication, original to this collection. Printed by permission of the author.

  “The Case of William Wilson” ©2020 by Richard Zwicker. All Rights Reserved. First publication, original to this collection. Printed by permission of the author.

  “The Case of the Spanish Bride” ©2020 by Brenda Seabrooke. All Rights Reserved. First publication, original to this collection. Printed by permission of the author.

  An Introduction to the Great Detectives

  by Derrick Belanger

  Sherlock Holmes —the name immediately brings to mind an image of the great detective sitting in his rooms in 221B Baker street, his fingers steepled before his hawkish nose, his sharp grey eyes focused on the client who has brought a little puzzle for him to solve. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said when one reads the names of the other literary detectives of the time period, sometimes referred to as the rivals of Sherlock Holmes. Sadly, names like Lois Cayley, Professor Augustus S. F. X. Van Dusen, The Old Man in the Corner, or Dr. Thorndyke are meaningless to all but the most ardent admirers of Victorian and Edwardian mysteries.

  The Great Detective Universe series hopes to rectify this problem and expand the world of Sherlock Holmes by bringing the consulting detective and his purported rivals into a shared universe, in other words, a universe where not just Holmes and Watson lived but also Carnacki, Father Brown, The Grey Seal, and many other great detectives. This expansive universe also includes “new” traditional sleuths such as Professor Carlo Stuarti, Augustine Dalrymple, and Marcel Berengar. They all join Holmes and Watson on the foggy, cobblestone streets of London, solving troubling problems, righting wrongs, and bending chaos into order

  With this being a shared universe, not every story has Holmes working closely with his fellow great detectives. In Dan Andriacco’s “Done with Mirrors”, Holmes is only mentioned. It is his associate, Inspector Tobias Gregson who is more involved with the case. Also, we felt that we could play a bit loose with strict rules and have two stories in which Sherlock Holmes meets Jimmie Dale, the Grey Seal. Both stories are excellent, and in a multiverse of opportunities, there’s no reason why we can’t have two different first encounters. Just think of how many first meetings Batman and Superman have had.

  Sherlock Holmes and the Great Detectives is the third book in The Great Detective Universe series; however, it is the first that is fully traditional. The previous two books, Sherlock Holmes and the Occult Detectives Volume One and Sherlock Holmes and the Occult Detectives Volume Two, had Holmes sharing his world with sleuths such as Professor Van Helsing and John Silence, great minds studying worlds beyond our own. The stories in Sherlock Holmes and the Great Detectives follow Holmes’s
mantra that ghosts need not apply. These mysteries follow the standard formulas and are grounded in our Earthly realm. The next book in the series will have Holmes teaming up with his Praed Street successor, Solar Pons.

  We hope to have several of The Great Detective Universe books published each year. Plans are already in place for a third collection of Sherlock Holmes and the Occult Detectives. A collection of Carnacki, the Ghost Finder stories in 2021 will be our first in the series which does not have a specific connection to Sherlock Holmes. There are also ideas for new collections featuring Professor Carlo Stuarti, the Thinking Machine, Lois Cayley, and The Old Man in the Corner. Of course, there will continue to be many more featuring Sherlock Holmes and his dear friend, Dr. John H. Watson.

  Until next time, dear reader. Many games are afoot!

  Derrick Belanger

  June, 2020

  The Adventure of the Grey Seal

  by Will Murray

  Millionaire Clubman Jimmie Dale entered the exclusive St. James Club on Fifth Avenue and went directly to the reading room, where he sat down with a fresh copy of the Morning News-Argus he plucked from the wooden rack.

  Engrossed in the front page, he failed to notice the lean gentleman seated in a wing-chair not very far distant. This individual, too, was also perusing the News-Argus.

  Not recognizing the man, Jimmie put down his paper and said, “Pardon me, I did not notice you. My name is James Dale.”

  “I find that not being noticed has its advantages,” said the other fellow in a distant voice. He did not put down his paper.

  Jimmie laughed shortly, reflecting to himself that this had often been true in the course of his peculiar existence.

  “I will not disagree with you on that point,” he returned lightly. “I do not recall ever seeing you at the St. James Club prior to today.”

  “That is because I am a guest,” the other said in a cool tone. The newspaper dropped, and the man turned his head to reveal a mature face dominated by penetrating grey eyes.

  “You may call me Mr. Altamont,” he stated.

  “No first name?”

  “I do not find first names necessary when I am not on intimate terms.”

  Jimmie frowned. The man had a trace of an accent. But he could not place it. His dark eyes grew thoughtful.

  Jimmie offered, “I have the impression that you come from the Continent. Am I mistaken?”

  “Yes, you are. But no matter. I am very glad to meet you.”

  Jimmie nodded politely. “And I, you.”

  The young clubman gave Altamont a thorough visual examination. He was a hawk-nosed individual with lean features surmounted by a high forehead, suggesting a great intellect. His age was difficult to judge. Jimmie thought that he could land comfortably on either side of sixty. The St. James Club was so difficult to get into, he could not imagine who this man could be. Guest cards issued by the club were rare. Rarer than memberships, in fact. He was on the point of asking Altamont who sponsored him, but decided the question impolite.

  “What is your line, Mr. Altamont?” Jimmie asked instead.

  “Presently, I am a traveler. My destination is Chicago. I have only lately arrived in New York City. I do not expect to remain here more than a fortnight.”

  “Chicago is an interesting city. What attracts you to it?”

  “Only that I have never before visited the windy city.”

  “I see,” said Jimmie. But he failed to truly understand. There was something odd or perhaps amiss about this man. He could not put his finger on what, but concern caused his interested expression to turn pensive.

  While Jimmie was contemplating the fellow, Altamont’s penetrating gaze went to his hands.

  “You have remarkably sensitive hands,” Altamont pointed out.

  Jimmie smiled politely. “I am a man of leisure. I do not work with my hands.”

  “And yet they appear to my eyes to possess dexterous fingers that turn to specialized work from time to time.”

  “What makes you think so?”

  “They have a certain sensitivity. I might call them artist’s hands, but scrutinizing your features, I do not sense or detect an artistic soul. I notice that your fingernails show signs of having come into recent contact with paint, I would venture to say oils of the type used by portrait artists.”

  “That is a remarkable observation,” said Jimmie, growing tense, “if erroneous. I am not a portrait artist.”

  “And yet you paint,” the other murmured. “I also note traces of wax under two of your fingernails and one thumb. It is the left thumb, and yet you appear to be right-handed. Also, your manner is rather brisk, which runs contrary to your assertion that you are a man of leisure.”

  “Are you a detective, Mr. Altamont?”

  “Why do you ask?” countered the other.

  “You appear to be very observant.”

  The other nodded without replying directly.

  Instead, he said, “I would have to examine your fingertips to be certain, but I fail to notice abrasions upon the tips of your fingers of the kind found in certain specialists who habitually sandpaper their digits.”

  Jimmie forced out a ragged laugh. Inside, he was hardly laughing.

  “Whoever would apply sandpaper to their fingertips?”

  “That is a common practice among professional safecrackers,” the other said pointedly. “I understand that it makes the fingertips raw but sensitive, the better to feel the tumblers drop into place.”

  Altamont’s intelligent eyes bored into Jimmie’s own. For a moment neither man spoke.

  Jimmie’s heart skipped a beat. He forced himself to be calm. “I believe I asked you a direct question a moment ago.”

  “I am not a Headquarters man, if that is what you are thinking. Far from it.”

  “Yet you are very observant for a tourist passing through New York City on his way to Chicago.”

  “I have followed your career for some time, Mr. …Seal.”

  Now Jimmie could feel his mouth drying up.

  “I beg your pardon. I believe I told you that my name was Dale.”

  “Ah, yes. The moneyed scion of the Dale safe manufacturing company, one of the largest in America. No doubt you learned a great deal of the trade, being the son of your illustrious father.”

  “I fail to see your point,” Jimmie returned thinly, “for a man always learns from his father. It is only natural.”

  “Yet you did not go into your father’s business.”

  “It was not to my taste. May I ask why so many personal questions from a perfect stranger?”

  “As I informed you, I have been following your career from afar. Useful data need not be collected in person, for a great deal of insight can be gleaned at a distance — if one possesses the correct reports and the perspicacity to sift through them and glean facts from those reports.”

  “I do not believe I am following your trend of thought,” said Jimmie, carefully choosing his words.

  “Allow me to enlighten you,” said Altamont, folding his newspaper and standing up. He strode over. Jimmie came to his feet, bracing his athletic body against the necessity of defending himself.

  Instead, the man merely offered an open palm to Jimmie’s scrutiny. In the center lay a small diamond-shaped piece of paper. It was grey in color.

  “This is not an original, of course,” stated Altamont calmly. “Merely one cut from grey construction paper in order to make my meaning plain. For there is no need to speak of deep secrets here, even though we are perfectly alone.”

  Now Jimmie felt as if he could not — dared not — speak. His heart was pounding. The man’s gesture was unmistakable.

  Returning to his chair, Altamont continued casually.

  “I became interested in the daredevil doings of the Grey Seal when news of his existence first reached London. This audacious rascal intrigued me, and so I set my mind to deducing the reasons why a seemingly sane man would undertake such Robin Hood exploits.”


  Jimmie said nothing. He simply listened.

  “When the Grey Seal first made himself known, cracking difficult safes and leaving behind his gummed paper seals, he did so without taking anything from the boxes he had penetrated. I realized immediately this man was no common crook. But who would perpetrate such outrages? Someone with a knowledge of safe construction and their mechanisms, surely. A charming rogue with the most up-to-date knowledge of the new combination locks coming into use.”

  Altamont’s keen eyed glittered.

  “Actually, this narrowed down the suspects to a tender few. That is when my attention went in your direction, Dale, given your unique background. You were in the perfect position to understand the inner workings of the latest in safe design. Your failure to steal also pointed an accusing finger, although a polite one. For you enjoy the unsullied reputation of a gentleman.”

  Jimmie examined his fingernails and saw minute bits of wax left there when he removed the disguise of his alter ego, the down-and-out painter, Smarlinghue. He was amazed that these bits could be detected at such a distance.

  Altamont continued casually.

  “Then the exploits of the Grey Seal changed character. After a pause of a year, he resumed his gentlemanly depredations. His modus operandi altered. At first, I suspected that a copycat was stealing his thunder, as it were. But these crimes were too perfect. This could only be the same individual. Now he was a modern Robin Hood, preying on criminals and exposing them.

  “I asked myself what could have wrought such a change, and while I considered many theories, I rejected most of them and came up with only one possibility: Blackmail. The plucky fellow was being coerced into doing their dirty work for someone else. Even if the dirty work was in the cause of right. That these new crimes were directed against evil men did not change my original conclusion.”