The Man with the Twisted Lip - Part Three

Audio books, every early access adventures, mailbag episodes, case file episodes, AMAs, behind the scenes, micro adventures, authored by Watson himself, a discord channel was nearly 2000 chat to little members, merchandise discounts, exclusive events, and yes, done. Yeah, it's the most important bit, mate. Oh. Patreon.com, forward slash Sherlock and Co. Thanks. Previously on Sherlock and Co. Basically six months or so before he disappeared, he'd been awful. Decks of despair, anger, misery, he got to work every day, just almost gray. Everything was piled up and just crushing him. But I say he got out to work. He wasn't? He wasn't. They found his coat, didn't they? When was that? Much 2021, dredged from the Thames. Really battered up, wasn't it? But his wallet was in there. Yeah, that was... Rath, that was heartbreaking. But then I saw him, didn't I? He did. She did. Where? When? In that horrible place. Clinic, is it? Clinic with a K? Indeed. Something inside me told me to look up. Just this once, total off chance, and I did. And there he was. And what was this? About six months after his disappearance, I'd say. And that's when I got Sherlock involved. Upon entering clinic for the first time, all those years ago, I observed the actions of a man by the name of Hugh Boone. Mr. Boone was questioned by police when the coat was found. He was nearby with stains up to his knees of dark, temps, silt and sludge. He refused to cooperate. I brought to their attention sometime later that he seemed to be now wearing Neville's watch. Well, no corpse. But also you said there's... There's gifts each year. They say from Daddy on them. Speaking of gifts, I have something for you, Sherlock. You do? I do. What exactly? No, I was speaking to Mrs. Wallace yesterday. And she said that there was a friend at the window. You saw a man? I saw a man. Did you know him, Noah? Yes. Oh, man. With the twisted lip. Mr. Boone, you are under arrest. You do not have to say anything. Get up! But it may harm your defense. If you do not mention it, I'll inquire you. I'll decide. Something. It's you. I'll decide. I'll decide. I'll decide. I'll decide. I'll decide. I'll decide. I'll decide. I think that you may rely on... Oh, what's it? No! No! No! No! No! Hello, and welcome to the final part of the man with the twisted lip. This episode contains snow. That's right, snow in London. I know that doesn't affect you as a listener, but yeah, I like to flag important things and a white Christmas is important, I feel. The warnings and such will be in the episode description. I'll see you at the end. Um... oh, and Merry Christmas. Oh, the weather outside. What? It's snowing. Meg, can this Christmas get any better? I'm on the phone. It's Christmas Eve. Yeah, the phone still works. Remarkable. Bradstreet says it ain't a goa. Bradstreet. D.I. Bradstreet. Good and safe. Yeah. This has nothing to do with him. Boone has to be charged now. Yeah, it's everything to do with him. Bradstreet is at John's audio, but it's always Boone's lawyer. It's not... Look, it doesn't look like this is going to go through anytime soon. You have to free him tomorrow if you haven't charged, Gregson. I'm aware of how the process works, Sherlock. Did, um... Did you just hang up on Tom? Yes, I did. Can this Christmas get any worse? Bring me my advent calendar. I wish to console myself with a large chocolate found behind its 24th door. Why are you looking at me like... You bastard. Sorry. There's so much on. Then just pick something to watch. I can't. Too much choice, mate. Christmas, telly. Well, we could watch the Christmas parade going through London. I can tell by that frown that that's a no from you. I don't agree with the traffic and commuting complications it causes. No problem. Ebenezer Holmes? Er, what else? Er, some adverts with Santa in the Miss Agent that we pleased this time here. It's Father Christmas. Santa Father Christmas. Same bloke. Yes, but you always say Santa. I have international listeners, mate. I'm just providing clarity. Please turn the TV off. Er, stop talking. More ideally both. Wait, it's distracting. Distracting you from what? Drinking baleys? It's distracting me from deep thought. Watson. Why do we require deep thought? We are in our comfy's big fluffy socks. Please, stop saying comfy's. We've got the telly on. Yes, I see that. We've got an enormous, delicious meal coming our way tomorrow for the big day. Tree is twinkling, snow is falling. It's the most wonderful time of the year, mate. He's going to be freed. Watson. Well, that is out of our hands. But it shouldn't be. It should have. It should have. I should have done more. Once again, I have made the same mistake with the same man. Every Christmas, the same. Every time Hugh Boone has a new resolution of freedom and I drift onto another case with no resolution at all for Paul Ruby and Noah St. Claire. Sherlock, look, what more can you do, mate? I mean, that was a perfectly executed sting operation. Not perfect. Alright, near perfect. Yeah, look at it this way. Right, Ruby? And Noah, at least they're safe. At least this isn't going to be another Christmas where that utter weirdo slips into their house to leave presents under the tree. Right, at least as that. Sherlock. Sherlock. Free him, Gregson. What? Free Hugh Boone. Right now, let him out without charge. Are you out of your fucking mind? You made me a restless block. Do it. And this case it solves once and for all. Sherlock, what the hell is going on? We must go, Watson. Yeah, we must go home and change out of our pajamas and fluffy slippers you idiot. We must go and board the trains and leave to the home of Ruby and Claire. It is snowing. We are in Britain. You honestly believe the trains will be running. You honestly believe that? It wouldn't have canceled a train on Christmas Eve. Where's the crudely delayed vacations? A whole lot of bloody hell. Can we please, yes, hi, hello? Yeah, I'm in my pajamas. No, no, I'm not raising money. Hey, this is my coffee. It's not a cup of change. You got sake. You need to get to Ruby and Noah's house. Yeah, well, I'm not jumping in a cab. Roads look awful. Outside. Outside. On to the Strand. Great, thousands of shoppers who get to see me in my gym jams. Nice. God bless you. Yeah, thank you. Let it like fork with you. I've lost the coffee. It's worth fork with. So, you know, the Lord give us and the Lord, what are you doing? Thinking. Okay, thinking about how we get home. Now see the roads. Jammed. Not bus lanes. Look, there's hardly any running. Right. They've diverted their routes because of the Christmas parade. Yep, and now all the night bus is a screw because of the snow anyway. So, yeah, thanks again for bringing me out on my nice warm flat. Really appreciate it, Sherlock. We need. We need to find the floats for the parade. Nope, we don't. Yes, we do. This way. Don't be part of it, you thousand swear. We're about to show up. Just get, can you wait a minute? Where is he? Are you there? You know, my god, he's going to car jack father. Chris? Oh, slay jack. I said, Sherlock, please, just stop. Where do you live? You're absent. I heard it the other day during a rehearsal. Me? Lapland. Oh, oh, oh, oh. No, no, no. You, the real, you, the parade is over and you must need to get home. The traffic. To where? Mr. Claus. Where is home? Sorry, he's with. We're having a difficult Christmas. I'm going, Sheriff East. Barbados, I knew it. So are we. Watson, on the slay. Sorry, what? You, you, what? On this gentleman's slay. You, you are aware that this won't actually fly. Those opponents, not reindeer. Can you bloody keep your voice down? There's still kids about him. Sorry. Bus lanes are empty and the parade vehicles have access to them until this evening. So, climb aboard. Look, you honestly think I'm going to drive you on my slay with my ponies all the way to Sheriff East London. Name your price. Oh, oh, oh. Now we're picking up some speed, Watson. What, then? Why aren't you looking? I'm hiding my face. I'm hiding my face. But what? The snowfall? The shame. The shame. The shame. Yes, how I hello. Merry Christmas. Oh, ready now. Ready. I think I'm going high, the ceramic. We're here now. See? Ruby and Doe are at the window. Hello. Merry Christmas. Merry Christmas. What the bloody hell are you two doing, you daft kids? We've come to spend the big day with you. If you'll have us. Oh, this fire is just perfect. Oh. Now it is. There you go. What's that? Chestnuts. Go roast them on that open fire. Yes, now you're talking. Well, you reckon, no. I think I can manage this without burning myself. No. Yeah. Yeah, I'm pretty doubtful myself. Oh, that's hot. Now you're complaining about being too hot. I nearly froze to death on that slate in my pajamas. I'm just like a heads up on stuff. Can we not have a lover's tiff on Christmas, please? The best thing about this house, say no, er. No arguing. There's no husband and my son can't speak, so that helps. Mummy smells. You cheeky little bugger. Oh, you got a good day, no. Can you get your top up, John? No, no, just sit down. Sure, like? What John said? Good tree, by the way. Oh, thanks. It's plastic, I mean. But it's got the smell and all that luck. It's good. It's good missing a little something at the top there. I couldn't decide between a star and an angel. That's why I put a swindon town cap on mine. Ah, yeah. Well, that was a never would do that. Ruby, sorry. That was... No, it's okay. Sorry. Stop it. The bloody thing is nine feet tall. I could stand on two chairs and still not be able to do it. Yeah. Well, I would offer, but, you know, you're short. Yeah. It was meant to be unsaid, mate. Ah, off he goes. Did... Oh, is he run upstairs because of what I said? No, no, no. I mentioned the tree angel. He likes the song it plays, so. We have a... It's a little boy angel thing that we used to put up there. When Noah got his angel man syndrome diagnosis, we used to call him our little angel man. And then, never got one at one of those Christmas markets. I just put it on the side upstairs these days. But yeah, as I've always said, one day... Oh, here he is. There's the angel. It's okay, it's a good one. Good song. It'll go into your brain eventually. You listen to it a lot? Oh, god, yes. Somebody is tired and needs to have all the energy for presents in the morning, don't they? Come on, you. Can I help at all? No, you'll kick you in the ball, X- if you try, John. Stop dancing it. Oh, no, not really. Yeah, good decision. Come on, lovely boy. Let me go for a bath. Yep, up we go. It was the night before Christmas when girls threw the house. Not a creature was staring, not even a mouse. The stockings were hung by the chimney with care. It's hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there. The children were nestled all snug in their beds, while visions of sugarplums danced in their heads. And Mama and Hookah Chief and I in my cap had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap. When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter. I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter. Away to the window I flew like a flash, tore open the shutters and threw up the sash. Watson. Hmm. Watson. What? I heard something. Something were out on the street below. It's only 11 o'clock. May you think that is too risky for Boone? Yeah, way too risky. Do you actually see anything out there? No. Well then, just relax. How can I relax? It's my shift. Wait, we're doing shift. Yes. Yes, of course we're doing shifts. Why wouldn't we do shifts? Because you always stay awake at night. That's rather selfish of you to sleep through this forthcoming trial, Watson. Well, obviously wake me when he shows up and I can... Yeah, help with the appra-ending. Otherwise, do I need to be awake? Exactly. Sleep now. Then when your shift starts... Oh, you stop with the shifts. Great. Now I'm properly awake. Great. There is no quieter night. Is there? No quieter night than that of a frosty 24th of December. How many times have I gazed out at these stars, John, on the cusp of Christmas Day? So close to it. But the hours on this fabled evening... they stretch and lengthen. How many times have I counted each of those bright dots in the sky? And imagined each one a gift. And all these years they have watched me back. Watched me grow an age behind changing windowpains. All the while we... He's here. What? Oh no, I'm so late. Oh my god, you're so sick. I can't hear you. Forgive me? Just so I know, are you excited or nervous? It can be a bit of both. It may well be that, yes. Right. Oh, just... You know, try to relax. Treat it like any other case. Not a simple task. No, I know. We are in our house. Our child is here. And I feel like we're luring a dangerous man into it. Like you said, he does this every Christmas. This is part of his ploy. This is how he walks the streets. This stunt where everyone thinks that Neville is still alive. This was going to happen every Christmas. You didn't bring this down on them. He's going to come down the street. We're going to go down to the lounge. We're going to reach his to put that gift under the tree. We get him. Wack! We get him. No more hubo. I don't mean to murder him under their tree, Watson. Oh, no. I'm saying we apprehend him. They're called a police for breaking and entering. Let Ruby see the truth. Then... They can't, you know, it's impossible for him to wriggle out of this then. Right? The night is full of anxious bellies, Watson. Not for the arrival of a killer. But for that of Father Christmas. Yeah, well, get our task out of the way and maybe Santa will pop in. Father Christmas. Yes, I know. I just like to say Santa for the International listeners. Well, the International listeners aren't in this room, are they? Well, actually, I like to talk to the listeners as if they're alongside us in every adventure. You have not referenced them once. Yes, I have. No, you haven't. You haven't spoken to them this whole time. I have. You weren't there. We had a chat in Regent's Park. Quite a while ago now. Hello listeners, Merry Christmas. That's a better, better. I hope Santa brings you lots of gifts. Listeners, Father Christmas. It's the same person. Okay, just relax and nick. Santa Claus, Father Christmas, same person. You okay? Charlotte. What? What is it? Is he there? Is he? Charlotte. Same person. Same person. Same person. How much bailiist did you drink? Same person. Same. Good lord. Same person. Same person. Same person. Same person. He's the same person, Watson. No. And he... He approaches. In position. Downstairs by the tree. Yeah? Yes. Um... Yes. You've got it. All right, you've got it. Indeed, present. I as you can't afford to get wrong. Like warehouse operations manager. Uh, where are the fort lifts? I sold them. They were too expensive. I got a great deal on these scooters though. You expect us to move a two-term pallet on a scooter. It'll be fun. Just think of the core strength you'll build. This is the job for Santa Claus. I'm going to buy a new one. I'm going to buy a new one. I'm going to buy a new one. I'm going to buy a new one. I'm going to buy a new one. I'm going to buy a new one. I'm going to buy a new one. This is a job for sponsor jobs! This is what happens when you don't sponsor your job on Indeed. So the next time you need someone to get the job done right, get matched with quality candidates with an Indeed sponsor job. Visit Indeed.com slash next hire and sponsor your job today. Shhh, nice and steady. I can see your foot. Move it back a little. Oh, how about now? Perfect. She's at the front door. Very grispers. And Merry Christmas to you, Neville. No, Santa Claus. No! Nope, not this time! Welcome home, Neville. I said, welcome home. Where the police hide this time, innit? Behind the couch? Under this day's? There were no police here. Sure. I'm being truthful. And now I'm asking the same of you, Neville. Don't fucking call me that! And don't touch me! It all mounted up, didn't it? The pressure of such a job, the fear and worry for your child with extensive support. What was it, Neville? Hmm. A bad trade. You lost somebody some money, didn't you? Yes. That's what happened. They came for your job and then they came for you. You took quite the beating, didn't you? Five Christmas Eve's ago. Don't! Who was it? I... I can't ever say. I can't say! I can't say! I can't say! What did his men do to you? It...it's time for the truth, Neville. Please, please don't call me that. You give her the truth. You give her Neville St. Clair. Please! Don't do this to me! Please! If you give her you boo and then it's imprisonment for a long time, Neville. I asked you. Did you kill Neville St. Clair and you nodded? But how can you kill a man and leave no remains? You simply delete him. You stopped being Neville St. Clair. I started being shoe-boom. Oh God! Oh God! Oh God! Okay, is everything...oh my God! Oh my God, that man! What's he doing in my house? Is Noah...oh right, where is Noah? Is all right, and you're all right, Ruby. Okay, we caught him. We knew he was gonna come. What do you want from us? I know who you are. I know who you are. You don't. You're that boon. You fucking boon. Yeah, you, I know who you are. You don't. I know who you are. You don't! I...I need to... I feel like I'm gonna pass out. I...just... Why? Breathe. Just breathe with me. Hey, hey, all right. No, no, no, no, no, no. We're staying here. We're gonna resolve it. We're gonna resolve it, yeah? Resolve what? Ruby. I...uh. Ruby. It... Holy fucking hell. No. Ruby. No, no. No, no. No, it... Neville... Is... It is. It is. It is. You were him. You were him, is that? Yeah, yeah, I was. I was him. Boom. Boom. Boom. Yes, I was. Yeah. You... Okay, you... So you... You left. And then... Something's happened. I was... I knew you'd come up. I knew you'd come up. I told him you'd be here again. You did. I told him every day you were gonna be here, every day after my birthday, didn't it? You did that. For me. I did that for us. I did that for us. I'd wrap him in his towel and I'd tell him over and over. He's coming back. He loves you. I'm... I'm... I'm... I'm... He loves you. Oh, God, I need to... I need to sit down. No, no, no, I need to stand, I need to stand. Yep. Yeah. You're gonna tear him to pieces, aren't you? Me? Yes. You? I... I think so, yes. Who did you owe money to, never? Never. I-I can't say. I-I can't ever say. Why? Because my face. My lips, my eyes. That will be the least of it. To a man of organized crime. I can't say, Sherlock. A man of finance. I see. Why didn't you come back? I can't. I couldn't be- Be what? Be a father? Because you weren't. At all. I-I know. I know. You don't know, Neville. You don't know. Everyone thinks they know, but they don't for crying out loud. Oh, aren't kids appearing? Aren't kids tricking sometimes? You have no fucking idea! I have given everything to that boy. Everything. Never as a-as a parent. As a mum. I am a-I'm a carer. Do you understand that? I am a 24-7 carer. And I will be to the day I die. For every possible want and need. I will never hear him say thank you. I will never hear him say I love you. I-I'll never hear him say mummy. And you think that the-the burden of your financial mishaps would scratch the fucking surface of how I fucking feel? No. No. No, I needed you. Yeah. I needed you. Look, and we're gonna- No, you stay. You need privacy, I think. Stay and watch me give this man a proper ball-a-king. Isn't that what we've just watched? Ch-sit. Okay. I needed you. I don't- I don't know how you could do that, how you could walk away from the woman you love, from your son. Did I do something wrong? No. Did he? Of course not. Then fucking, am I completely-why-why never? If-if I can't provide. Do me a favour, seriously. Do me a favour. Prov-providing for my family. I don't want what's in your wallet. I want what's in your fucking chest, man. I want you to tell me I'm doing a great job. I want you to take our kid to the park. I want you to help me with form after form after form from every bloody teacher and therapist and council worker and educational psychologists and I- My whole world. By- Everything was just- collapsing. Everything and- I could. I could. I could see a way out. When I came around in hospital after what had happened, I-I could see that I could just, you know, just-just-just rot in the underworld. Knowing that you and him would be safe. And it-I was just- It was supposed to be for life insurance. It would have been millions. Millions. Oh, whoop-do-do, I could get an even bigger house. Great thank god for that. She is an heaven. But they wouldn't pay out. Because no remains were found. Exactly. I-I don't-right at this point I had sort of fled from the medical system. Self-medication. Keeping the wounds under control. Building up the good person of you boon. I thought, you know, I-I-I-I'll give you a few months and then I am- I saw you. Yeah. And I saw you. Through that window. In 2021. And you looked so. Lackage? A life. What? I hadn't seen you like that in- Since- Before Noah, you were just in mission mode. Yeah, that'll happen when your husband goes missing. That was exactly it. Reality of our-of our life, of our son, was kept at arms, length, and the urgency of this hunt for me. Just-drove you on. I remember seeing you on news channels and the interviews and you were just as full flow of facts and details and hope. There was hope. God am in. He-he is a horrible, horrible track. It literally blinds you at times. Takes over your whole body. You can feel your mind sort of shrink being rung out like a wet sponge but the pain. It-it goes away. Reality goes away and this awful, awful thing becomes the new search. I did-I-I saw it in you. The invigoration. And not just-it piled more onto me. The shame, the burden, the guilt, the fear. And now this, with the return of me, with the return of nibbles and clasps. Comes reality. I would take Neville, Sinclair, and our reality over every possible fantasy I could imagine. But I can never forgive you. Oh no, no, laugh it out. Let me get you back upstairs. Trees. Angel. Trees. Daddy. Daddy. Daddy can do that, yeah. I-I can. Let me just... Thank you Noah. Going to look great, isn't it? I'm just standing on the- There we go. Oh, clapping. Good idea Noah. Very good. Lovely. Well then, lovely boy. Shall we come home? I will smile tonight all evening. All is time all is time. Oh, I cannot eat anything else, anything at all. What about you? Me? Well, I was asking Sherlock, but fine. I can't breathe little long eat. Too much food and bills and chocolate. This is substance abuse man. Never mind, clinic Jesus. How you doing, Charles? Thinking of passing out before you tell more Christmas cracker jokes. Yeah, not a bad idea, Langdale. What about you? Well, just regaining my strength before Christmas karaoke. We're not doing karaoke. Yes, we are. We are not doing karaoke. Wait, can I do Springsteen? Absolutely not. Springsteen is a good thing. I do a great Springsteen. Thank you very much. Hey, Archie Boy. You're looking pretty full there mate. John Mann. How long have you heard that shirt? Oh, this is a Swindon town away shirt. Got it today. You like it? It's too small man. What? You're really? It's Polk and Widow. Oh, lovely. Thank you. Thanks for that. That would be this delightful Christmas dinner. That would be multiple Advent calendars, including my Advent calendar. Wait, nine days of it? Nine. Has anyone gotten these cigarettes? What do you mean? I got your boxes of cars like four days ago. Thank you very much. I have a phone call. Excuse me. How did you wait? Out of the way. What? Hello. Hello. Don't you mean Merry Christmas? Merry Christmas Ruby. I hope you're having a lovely day. Yes. That. Merry Christmas. This is not an apology, right? So don't fucking go thinking it is. Of course. But I appreciate I may have let everything out in front of you, even after your hard work. And, yeah, that's not cool. Or maybe it is cool, I don't know. Um, but yeah, he's... Neville is still here. He stayed in this bedroom. And Noah has adapted really, really well to him being back, actually. Yeah. How are you? I am happy. We all are. And usually happy. Jesus, Lord, at my rule. Thank you for listening to The Man With The Twisted Lip. I can tell you, bit of gossip this. Neville is still under the roof at the St. Clair residence. Hey, I'm not saying forgiveness. I will wait for Ruby to tell me that, but they are at least working on things. Um, right, you lot. That is your lot for 2025. I hope you've had a great year and I will see you in 2026. Um, if you still got any Christmas money, get yourself to the shop and the Patreon. If you fancy. That's in the episode description. I hope you have slash had a wonderful Christmas. And I will see you next year. Okay, bye now. Gonna join a gym. See ya.