“Thank you is ‘Xie Xie’ and goodbye is ‘Zāi jiān.’”
I repeated the words and Zhèng bowed to me several times and gave me a broad smile as I left.
I grabbed Archibald’s arm and hurriedly guided him out of the museum. “That was the man you saw?” I asked as he scrambled down the steps. “You are certain?”
Archibald said, “Dead sure.”
“All right. You run along and find Sherlock and tell him. Tell him everything that just transpired at the museum. Try St. Bart’s and if he isn’t there, then go to his residence on Montague Street. Do you know where he lives?”
Archibald nodded.
“I’m going to talk to Detective Inspector Lestrade... and visit my uncle.” I turned to hail a hansom and Archibald called out to me.
“Miss... Doctor Stamford?”
“Yes, Archibald?”
“Fanks. I’m ‘umbly fankful, for ever’thin’.”
I smiled and waved as he took off running in the other direction.
40
I told the cabbie I would pay him thrice his fare if he got me to the Yard in record time. He raced through the streets, and I had visions of joining the litany of victims I had treated after carriage accidents. Sherlock had told me his mother had died in one... my mind went back to the conversation on the day I’d gone to Oxford to attend to his injuries as he was still recovering from his nasty fall and the dog bite. He’d played his violin, something from the Lieder. He had told me about his parents, his brothers, his Uncle Charles, who could choose a stranger and by observing him for moments only, deduce his occupation and recent activities. That day seemed so long ago, a lifetime ago.
We arrived at the Yard minutes later. I paid the cabbie, jumped out of the cab and ran up the steps and inside. I sought out Detective Inspector Lestrade.
“Detective Inspector, I have some information for you. There’s a man who works for the British Museum. I just saw him. He makes the tiny Buddha statues. He makes them for-”
He cut me off, took me by the elbow, and escorted me to a quiet corner down the hall.
“Detective Inspector, this man, this Chinese man, he makes the replicas for Mr. Brown, an apothecary at St. Bart’s. An apothecary, sir. Mr. Brown has access to the poison that has taken the lives of these men. He is a member of an ornithological society. Birds, sir. Like the ones left at the scene. You need to-”
“Who told you to go and talk to this man at the museum?”
“What? Did you hear what I said? It’s Mr. Brown, the apothecary at St. Bart’s.”
“Quiet!” he hissed. “Dr. Stamford, please keep your voice down. Why are you meddling in this case?”
“Meddling! Aren’t you listening to me? You must let my uncle go and arrest Mr. Brown. It’s obvious-”
Just then I heard heavy footsteps coming up behind us. I turned. Suddenly I was facing Mycroft Holmes.
“Detective Inspector, I’ll have a word with Dr. Stamford, if you please.”
“Of course, sir,” Lestrade said and hurried down the hall.
“Dr. Stamford, did my brother put you up to this?”
“Did you hear what I said? You must do something. Go arrest Mr. Brown and let my uncle out of here.”
“Did your aunt not tell you? Your uncle has been taken to Newgate. Just a few hours ago.”
“What!” I gasped. “But he has not even been charged. He-”
“He has been, Dr. Stamford. That’s the reason for the transfer.”
“No, this is not possible!” I yelled. I collected myself for I refused to behave like a whining fool and paced for a few moments. “The man at the museum, the Asian man. You have to listen to what I’m saying. He told me he has made statues for Mr. Brown. Surely now you will listen to reason.”
His lips pursed and he glowered at me. “We are speaking to all persons of interest in the matter. I suppose it was Sherlock who has involved you yet again.”
“Last time I worked with Sherlock on an investigation, you involved us.”
He grimaced again.
“Both of you must cease and desist. Let the authorities do their job.”
“But-”
Fixed on holding back my tears, I pulled my shoulders back. “Mr. Holmes, can you at least assure me that you will... that you will process this information and proceed accordingly?”
“I assure you we are doing everything possible to solve these murders, Dr. Stamford.”
“But you won’t let my uncle go.”
“No. We won’t.”
I thought about his words for a moment as I paced again. Obviously, he did not consider this case solved, and that meant he did not think Uncle was the perpetrator of the crimes. What game was Mycroft playing?
I turned and asked, “Then can I see him? Will you let me visit my uncle?”
“Your aunt asked to accompany him, but I was able to reason with her. I just sent her home. You do not want to go to the prison.”
“I most certainly do. Please, Mr. Holmes. I just need to know... He probably will not speak to me about any of this either, but I need to see him with my own eyes. To know that he is all right.”
He fidgeted for a moment. “Well, given your help to us in the past-”
“Yes, do I need to remind you again that you yourself involved me in the Angel Maker investigation and nearly got me killed?”
“And you were of great service to Her Majesty. But you - and my brother - have no business in this matter.”
“I-”
“However-”
I opened my mouth to speak again and he gently placed his forefinger briefly against my lips. “However, under the circumstances, with you being a respectable doctor and all-”
“As is my uncle.”
“Well, I might be able to arrange for a short visit. We shall tell the Warder that you are a doctor and that you wish to attend to his health and well-being.”
I nodded, holding back the tears. I
