The MX Book of New Sherlock Holmes Stories Part II by David Marcum

“Don’t do anything stupid, Mr. Collier. I’m a quick shot, I can assure you of that. In fact, I’ll have the piece in your pocket,” he said as he gently pulled the gun out. Once we were ensconced in a private room, courtesy of the hotel proprietor, the Inspector shoved Collier into a seat and turned to Holmes. “Now, Mr. Holmes, what is the meaning of all of this?”
    â€œGentlemen, let me start by saying that Jacob is the poor soul who was murdered in Harrow,” Holmes began. “He was mistaken for his brother Jack here and lost his life as a result. This killer had discovered the whereabouts of Jack and went to his home to exact revenge for a past crime. He mistakenly killed the brother. Jack was at work and was not aware of the situation until the mysterious package arrived at his shop. That package was a signal that something was amiss.”
    Collier shifted in his seat and glared up at Holmes. Chamberlain’s grip tightened on the man’s shoulder.
    â€œJack is the identical twin of Jacob,” Holmes continued. “Thus the mistaken identity. The only true way to tell them apart quickly was the scar on Jacob’s cheek. The painting in the house in Harrow was of your brother. Is that correct, Jack?” Holmes looked down at the man. Collier stared straight ahead and said nothing.
    â€œI first began to suspect the existence of a twin when I spoke to your butcher, Mr. Stevens. I made a passing mention of the scar, but he had no knowledge of one. It was also impossible for someone to send a runner with an order an hour after he was dead. The thought of a twin had not occurred to me before then, but it seemed a plausible theory after that. By using this possibility, I was able to construct a timeline of events. At ten a.m. the postman entered your shop with the package. You recognized it immediately, cut your hand forcing it open, removed the contents, and were so shaken that you left the shop without even locking the door. From there you put into motion a plan already conceived.”
    â€œWhat was in the box, Mr. Holmes?” asked Chamberlain.
    â€œMoney, Inspector. Enough to disappear again if necessary. It had been stolen from Jack’s old boss, Mr. Benjamin Tower.”
    Collier looked at Holmes, his mouth hanging slightly open.
    â€œJack here found it necessary to use Jacob’s name in place of his own because he had declared, just before they disappeared into London, that Jacob had died. There was even a funeral. All this was necessary to fool the Tower family into believing they no longer needed to hunt Jacob. If they saw that name they wouldn’t think twice about it. Jack was the name they would be looking for.”
    â€œMy gracious, Holmes. Why?” I asked in astonishment.
    â€œMr. Tower is a well-known criminal. His power and money have maddeningly allowed him to slip the bonds of justice. Politicians and judges may be swayed, you see, and as a result of some of his more monstrous crimes. I have kept a file on him. A number of things associated with this case seemed familiar, so I sent a message to a colleague in Manchester, asking him to look into the facts of a three-year-old case.”
    Collier’s shoulders sagged.
    â€œYour brother killed one of Tower’s sons in a heated exchange - an exchange about missing money that you were suspected of taking. It got out of control and Jacob stepped in and beat the man to death. For his protection, you faked his death, and then you both disappeared into London. When you arrived, you changed your name to your brother’s. Shortly thereafter, you bought a bookshop. Meanwhile, Jacob led a hidden life in Harrow. No one knew he existed anymore.”
    â€œI’ll ask you not to think ill of my brother, Mr. Holmes. He did what he did out of loyalty. He was merely protecting me. The only sin he ever committed was being born a little slow in the mind, and without the ability to stop