Mary Watson And The Departed Doctor

by Fred Thursfield

  This final medical procedure is performed for either legal or medical purposes. For example, a forensic autopsy is carried out when the cause of death may be a criminal matter, while a clinical or academic autopsy is performed to find the medical cause of death and is used in cases of unknown or uncertain death, or for research purposes.

  Chapter 3

  My final thought before filing this last document away was that it would be prudent for me to pay a visit to Dr. Norman Lewis on the possibility that he was still in residence at the hospital.

  Going back to what I had come to understand and know about autopsies or post mortem examinations was that although he may or may not have performed the procedure this was after all the doctor who had originally given me the document. He there for would be the best person to begin my investigation with.

  ***

  The next morning I telephoned the Fawcett Society... to explain this is an organisation in the United Kingdom (that I am a member of) that campaigns for women’s rights. Its roots date back to 1866, when Millicent Garrett Fawcett dedicated her life to the peaceful campaign for women’s suffrage... being where I spend my week day’s volunteering to inform them I would not be available to help that day due to a prior appointment.

  Travelling some time and distance from my home by motor taxi I wasn’t really appreciating or for that matter even noticing the usual familiar sites passing by as I was being taken to my destination but rather instead I found myself focusing on how best to begin this investigation.

  My concentration in this matter was interrupted only by the driver announcing (“St. Bartholomew’s hospital Miss”) indicating that I had finally arrived at the muted brown sand stone main entrance of a large metropolitan hospital.

  This was a location I had not set foot inside of for three years and never imagined I would have any reason to do so again. First paying the fare I then entered the very busy hospital foyer (with patients’ doctors and visitors moving about) and made my way to the reception desk to inquire about the doctor.

  Preparing myself I confidently inquired “May I please speak with a Doctor Lewis if he is on duty today?” The attendant appeared to gauge me for a moment then responded “I believe he is... may I ask who wishes to speak with him?”

  Suddenly feeling what I thought Sherlock might have felt when asked this question for the first time, I confidently answered the attendant with “Mrs. Watson... Mrs. Mary Watson.”

  As the doctor (whose appearance to me at first glance had changed little since I had last seen him) approached me he wore an expression of puzzlement.

  No doubt wondering to himself, with the distance between us closing as to why the widow of a deceased medical doctor after all this time would want to speak with him.

  Stopping in front of me and acknowledging me in a professional manner he began the conversation with “Mrs. Watson... this is certainly an unexpected visit.” he then quickly followed with “How may I assist you?”

  Reaching into my hand bag I brought out the same piece of paper (now creased) that he had originally given to me. “Doctor Lewis, it is about this” I began as I moved to stand next to him and at the same time I unfolded it then bringing his attention to the section concerning the cause of death. I finished with (while drawing his attention to that particular section) “more specifically it is about this.”

  Taking it from my hand the doctor (who gave the piece of paper he was now holding a look of recognition) carefully studied it for a moment as if it might (even after all this time) contain some as of yet undiscovered clue.

  As he returned it to me I hoped he was about to say the words I had expected to hear but instead (and much to my dismay) replied with only “I’m sorry Mrs. Watson but the cause of your husband’s passing away is as much of a mystery now as it was when it occurred three years ago.”

  Noticing obvious disappointment starting to play across my face Doctor Lewis offered me what he thought might be some spark of hope. Beginning a little uncertainly he said “However... as it happens I do have something from the autopsy which may assist you in solving the cause of his death.”

  “It is at best a small and probably an insignificant clue that I almost overlooked but decided to keep.” With me showing an attentiveness to his forensic contribution he continued “It was found just under the skin in your husband’s right hip.”

  Seeing my expression grow more hopeful he continued “The only reason I took any notice of it in the first place was the bruise that was created where it had entered his body and I wanted to see what may have caused this so I surgically removed it. If you would please wait here Mrs. Watson while I return to my office and I will bring it for you to keep.”

  Watching as the doctor departed I could only speculate as to what this minor and apparently inconsequential surgical clue was to be.

  Shortly as he was returning to me I noticed he was holding in his right hand what appeared to be a small clear cylindrical glass medical vial which (as he got closer) I could see contained a miniature light blue but slightly rusty looking coloured pellet.

  Carefully passing it to me like some rare treasure... his face indicating that he was not sure if it was to be of any real assistance I received it sharing much the same thought.

  While closely examining the mysterious contents of the glass container and knowing from experience that as a doctor with rounds to attend to my time with him was almost at an end I asked him the obvious question. “Do you believe this may have contributed to John’s death?”

  The doctor replied “I am not sure... The pellet you are presently holding that was surgically removed from Doctor Watson showed no residual traces of any poison that might have ended his life neither was there any trace evidence recovered from his body.

  There were however puzzling symptoms of a high white blood cell count, damage to the lymph nodes and the haemorrhaging of internal organs and a sore at the site of the bruise.”

  Placing this somewhat morbid and final remnant of my departed husband along with the medical certificate of death into my handbag I thanked Doctor Lewis for his time and help.

  As I was leaving the hospital to hail a motor taxi to return home I realized that I would not be able to immediately make any connection between the pellet I had just received and the cause of John’s death on my own. I would have to seek out someone who might have expert knowledge of poisons and the various ways they may be delivered.

  Chapter 4

  Not sure as to where or even how to begin the investigation... it was during my return journey that I found myself going back in my memory to a time when I had travelled to Gravesend and one possible name and authoritative source of information came to mind.

  When I first heard of Mycroft (through John) I was told that the older brother (of Sherlock) audits books for some government departments, it is later revealed that Mycroft’s true role was more substantial. I was never sure of what the brother’s exact position was in the British government; it was only commented that “Occasionally he is to the British government the most indispensable man in the country.”

  ***

  “Three” and Sherlock’s third and final finger was raised “I will leave you both (being Winifred and myself) with Mycroft’s private office address and his club where he can be contacted and a priority message may be delivered to him immediately should a situation arise that requires my attention here in Gravesend. “If” Winifred gasped... Sherlock continued “If I have gone on to Doncaster, my older brother although an arm chair expert in the arts and skills of detective work will immediately contact me then proceed in my place to expertly assist you (both) until my return.”

  As I had found myself returning to a hospital that held bitter sweet memories the next afternoon (again excusing myself from my volunteer duties) I was now returning to a well-remembered government address in another part of the cit
y.

  There I hoped to seek the assistance of the one man who had been of great aid to me and to my mystery writer friend when we had needed it most.

  Entering the impressive building and after walking a short distance down a green and white linoleum tiled common corridor then turning to my left I opened an office door (which gave no indication of the occupant within) and then made my way into a familiar setting.

  It could best be described the most part as an incandescent lit sparsely furnished area with a sturdy office desk and office chair in the foreground.

  In the back ground of the room located below a hanging portrait of King George the 5th were five dark green mid-sized metal filing cabinets that were flush to the rear wall and with their backs against the right wall of the outer office were located three plain functional wooden chairs for waiting visitors.

  The only distinctive feature of the otherwise austere outer office was a set of polished double oak doors to my left (when facing the rear wall) that lead to an inner office.

  As I quietly made my way inside and while looking around I noticed that the only other person present at the moment other than myself was an industrious looking male secretary.

  He was seated at the desk (and for the moment unaware of my presence) concentrating on composing a document employing a typewriter.

  Looking up and witnessing me now standing directly in front of him the secretary momentarily stopped his task and quietly asked my name and the purpose of my visit. When I answered with both he responded with “Thank you Mrs Watson I will inform Mr Holmes that you have arrived.” I was then politely directed to take a seat and asked to wait

  As I sat in contemplative silence while studying the afternoon sun light coming in from the office windows that was playing across the unadorned plain pale cream coloured plaster walls I wondered what if any help I might receive this time from Sherlock’s older brother concerning my personal matter.

  When it seemed that all I would have for company was the constant echoing clatter of a document in progress while I waited the telephone on the desk (to my surprise) suddenly and sharply rang once momentarily stopping the action of type writer keys striking paper.

  In response the receiver was briskly picked up by the secretary and placed to his ear... all I heard of the conversation (from him) was a brisk “yes, right away sir.”

  Returning the receiver back down in its cradle and getting up from behind his desk he stated “please if you will follow me Mrs. Watson, Mr. Holmes will see you now.” I was then directed towards the polished double oak doors leading to the inner office.

  Chapter 5

  While being escorted from the somewhat plain outer office through the now opened remarkable portals and into a furnished, warm and well-appointed inner office I was again astounded as to the scale of the room of the occupant I was entering.

  This indicated to me that the elder Holmes, even after all this time must still be a person of great power, influence and importance.

  ***

  Seeing Sherlock’s older brother (smartly attired much as I had remembered him from previous visits) standing beside his commanding desk waiting for me as I entered I was momentarily taken back to earlier times and visits to this same office.

  As I approached Mycroft... noticing his distinctive silver grey hair and his perceptive eyes... he warmly smiled at me in recognition, extended his hand in greeting and commented in his familiar gruff voice

  “So here we are again Mrs Watson and I understand from your telephone call you have come to see me about something of a personal matter.”

  Dismissing his secretary (“thank you Jenkins”) Mycroft graciously indicated for me to sit in one of the two upholstered chairs that were placed at the front of his desk while he returned to his chair behind the desk.

  After seating myself and without displaying any hesitation I started straight away by answering him with “Yes... it concerns my husband and the manner of his death.”

  Seeing a puzzled look starting to appear on Mycroft’s face I silently reached into my hand bag and removed by now two very familiar items. Momentarily standing up from my chair I placed both within his reach and explained (while sitting back down) as I would have to Sherlock “these are the clues.”

  Taking what had just transpired in stride... Mycroft looked at me for a moment then first picking up the piece of paper in front of him (and unfolding it) he examined John’s medical certificate of death. Giving it what I felt was at best only a cursory glance from top to bottom the elder Holmes then offhandedly commented to me “with what I see here it seems to be complete and in order.”

  Noting my dismayed reaction to his apparently casual observation he quickly scanned the document again then stopped... while still holding it he looked at me again and remarked “ah I think I begin to understand the reason for your coming to see me.”

  “But you must appreciate that with what I have just read I may be of little help to you in this matter because clinical pathology is an area I have limited if any real expertise in.”

  Finishing with the document he put it back down then continuing he took up the small clear cylindrical glass medical vial.

  Placing it in the fingers of his left and right hand he slowly rotated it horizontally in a clock wise direction while closely studying the small pellet within as it slowly revolved in the same direction.

  After a minute or so of concentrating on what he was examining Mycroft returned the vial to its resting place then quietly observed me for a moment.

  Obviously seeking clarification of what he had just examined he asked me “and this pellet was surgically removed from your husband?” I silently nodded yes. Showing a sudden awareness in what had just been revealed he commented “this is interesting because this is the second time I have had knowledge of a device similar to this.”

  Gabriela Paraskeva 1873 - 1922 originally worked as a novelist and playwright in her native east European country then governed by a repressive regime until her defection from that nation in 1920.

  After relocating to London, she worked as a journalist for the Times. Miss Paraskeva used this editorial forum to conduct a campaign of sarcastic criticism against the incumbent regime. As a result of this, it had been speculated that the particular countries government may have decided to silence her, and may have asked the Cheka for help.

  ***

  The Cheka was the first of what would become a succession of Soviet state security organizations. It was created on December 20, 1917, after a decree issued by Vladimir Lenin, and was subsequently led by Felix Dzerzhinsky, an aristocrat turned communist. From its founding, the Cheka has proven to be an important military and security arm of the present Bolshevik communist government.

  ***

  Gabriela Sergeyevna Paraskeva aged 49 died as a result of an incident on a London street when a small pellet (coated with a poison that would later be identified as ricin) was injected into her leg with what appeared to be an umbrella wielded by someone associated with that countries secret police.

  Returning both the document and the vial to me to put back in my hand bag the elder Holmes to my considerable relief gave me a firm starting point to begin the investigation.

  “I am going to suggest you contact a doctor who has a practice in Gravesend. He has seen a pellet similar to yours before so he is most likely to be an expert on this sort of thing and may be able to shed some light as to the cause of your husband’s death.”

  Getting up from behind his desk and then escorting me back to the outer office Mycroft commented “I must admit Mrs Watson this is a curious affair you have brought to my attention. The last time I saw something similar to what you have brought with you today was used to carry out what appeared to be a possible political assassination.

  “Although it was never conclusively proven I believe the Cheka”
noting my puzzled look at that moment he clarified with “an important military and security arm of the present Bolshevik communist government may have had a hand in it.”

  “Unless Doctor Watson, your husband had made some dangerous enemies while he was associated with my brother... you and I are at a loss as to why this has taken place.”

  Before I left Mycroft wrote on an index card the contact information for the doctor he had recommended... that by certain circumstances I had previously met in 1920 on the moving deck of a barge.

  Chapter 6

  Making sure that while Winifred still a little shaky was making her way back to her home I confidently stepped through the large crowd (in Gravesend) that by this time was gathered at the dock.

  Continuing onto the moving deck of the barge I walked up to the corpse and without any thought asked if I could examine the deceased. The doctor still bent over and concentrating on his task of examination looked up in my direction and sounding a little irritated asked “and you are?”

  “I am Mary Watson, the widow of Dr. John Watson, I used this opening response hoping that the doctor might make some type of quick connection between myself, John and Sherlock and therefore establish a credible reason for my unusual request.

  “I assure you that I am a trained nurse. I have seen corpses much worse than this before and only wish to conduct a quick examination of the deceased because I believe there may be a connection between this man and my friend who I have just sent home. “

  Hearing my assured answer he rose to his feet and immediately extended his right hand in greeting and in a very apologetic voice replied “Mrs. Watson I sincerely apologize... although I did not know your husband personally or as a medical doctor I knew of him and admired him as an excellent chronicler of Mr. Holmes detective cases.”