The Final Flower

Why the Alyssum flowers? They had been delibratly placed at the first two murders. The piece that didn't fit into the puzzle.

Sending on DI Lestrade to wrap up the tedious matter of arresting the circus, I retraced my steps to the flower bed where this had all began.

Burried in the park were 2 throwing knives from the first murder and a phone.

M contacted me and gave me a choice. Save either John or Irene from the pain of drowning, by forcing me to choose which one to shoot one of them. From what I gather, M had stolen both John and Irene from the company of the police and was holding them at gunpoint, weighted and bound in a swimming pool.

Using what I could deduce over the phone I maganged to locate the position they were being held and alerted the police. Foul water, echoes, the faint sound of a freight train, the lack of concen over being heard. Conclusion: The disused Surrey Aquatic Center.

I arrived in time to confront M before the poice arrived. He escaped while I pulled the unconcious and bleeding Irene Alder from the waters and returned to rescue John from the bottom of the pool. During this time I also managed to get winged by a bullet ricochet.

Lestrade arrived armed with an army of EMT's and ambulances. Which is how I ended up with another blanket for 'shock' and eight stiches in my right arm. Apparently I'm not allowed to play the violin. We'll see about that.

Case and puzzle solved.

Perhaps next time M decideds to 'burn the heart of me' It might present more of a challenge.

Le Cirque d'Morte

This case had all the flair of an Agatha Christie. The third murder was a forgone conclusion.

The victim told me little I didn't know but confirmed all by suspicions. Emma Saunders, burnt alive, tied at a stake in plain sight with no witnesses. The fire would had to have burnt fast and hot to do that amount of damage to a corpse therefore an accelerant had been used. Traces were still detectable on the concrete, the same accelerant used by fire performers, most commonly, fire battons. Also the cord once again used to bind the victim was light fibres, silk most probably that perished in the fire. The locket found on the body immedaitly indicated the personal connection with the crime. Emma Saunders's ex-husband.

The method of the murder also answered motive. It was personal. Obviously revenge. Only that would be satisfied by such a violent and voyeristic death. Correlating the differing skills of the killers wasn't difficult.

• Simon Brown was killed by two knife throwers. (The marks left on the tiles)


• Lance Peterson was killed by the strong man an a trapeeze artist. (The strength required and the bindings.)


• Emma Saunders was killed by the Fire Performer. (The type of accelerant use on fire batons.)

It then became a matter of which travelling circus it was. Unsolved police reports follow Augustine's Greatest Circus and their movements for almost ten years.

Conclusion. The travelling circus troop that used each other for alibis while systematically murdering those that had wronged them.

The only loose end is the flower.

Act 2, Scene 1.

I am constantly intrigued by the delicate intricateness of this case. Nothing is random, each deduction is an element of the puzzle that I can't quite place together. He hasn't given me all the pieces yet.

The criminal ineptitude demonstrated by Scotland Yard forensic Officers had this case first laelled 'suicide'. It is in face cold, planned and perfectly executed murder. Lance Peterson, 56 year old, violent alcoholic. Discovered hanged inside his own house. Evidence suggests he was taken by suprise and couldn't put up a fight, as demonstrated by the light bruising aroudn his wrists from cloth restraints. Upon examining the rope used to hang him I discovered traces of silk fibre, also that the rope was powdered and it smelt of our illustrious alyssum flower.

So far I've uncovered at least three distinct individuals party to the murder. The lithe man who stalked Simon Brown, as its likely there were more than one involved in the actually stabbing. Impossible to single out individuals at this stage. The strong man that hoisted Lance Peterson and left his footprint behind. And the woman with a silk scarf who tied the knot around his neck. There is of course the fourth party that I know is involved, but I shan't go into him here.

These two cases are linked. I ask myself what motive would bring together two crimes that are different in every aspect: victim, murder weapon, killers etc. There is no apparent reason or motive as to why both men were killed in these ways. The only thing in common is the small alyssum flower. It is my belief that there is an element hidden in the past of the two victims that will justify such violent retribution.

I can but await the next piece of the puzzle.

-SH

Finding the Flower

I sometimes wonder how Scotland Yard manages to solve any crimes at all.

Security camera footage useless. The camera was dislodged previous and then bumped out of position this morning.
The tiles are chipped, not scored, suggesting the object was dull, not sharp.

Matinence logs point to 'Rob Minnows' which is of course an anogram of 'Simon Brown', our dead electrician. His coat smells of alcohol and cigarette smoke, overlaid with flower scent.

Recovered: One Hoary Alyssum blossem, tapped to the security camera.
M. is playing with me again. I didn't need the hint.
Alyssum is a common ground covering plant, however there are few parks that tend the flowers.
Find the flowers, find out where he was.

-SH

Red Rose

No longer bored, a new case at last. With the unmistakable flair of M.
Blood splatter in the shape of a rose. I'd be flattered, if I wasn't married to my work.
A 29 year old, recently engaged electrician. Engaged by the pressed state of his collar and hemmed trousers and electrican by the callouses on his hands.
A professional killer judging by the masterful strokes and stabs that severed the major arteries. No defensive wounds, so he knew his killer.
The body carries the smell of Alyssum.
I look forward to pursuing this case.

-Sherlock