The Carnival of Belham: A Sherlock Holmes short story
By Dnightlord
As is the course of my daily routine before marriage, I was compelled to visit Holmes today, but unlike the many times that is was none but curiosity for the man this time it was for a sole need. The annual carnival, famous for featuring a new-age moving picture, had come to Balham, rather than London, because the newer city needed advertisement for an increase in population. Because of it’s out of the way location ticket sales were lower and as usual a lack of cases had most incidentally put Holmes into a drug induced stupor. But as I arrived at our lodgings in Baker Street I found the lights on and a heavy drift of tobacco smoke exiting the window, carrying with the sound of conversation. In order to avoid interruption I stepped quietly through the door, only to find an amused voice call out to me “Now Watson, why the devil have you come at such a time?” As commonplace as this sentence would seem to the casual observer, I had not yet stepped into Holmes’ line of sight!
“Also before you pester me with questions Watson, I identified you by several details: the fact that you skipped the 3rd step of the doorsteps, the jangle and turn of keys in the lock by using these familiar tells I inferred it was you. In fact from the quietness of your footfall I deduced that you required some call, in order for you to make yourself known, but not interrupting, to my client here, kind Ringmaster Daleson, which explains why I called to you now” answered Holmes. “Sherlock you surely must jest with me, as to allow yet another man to know of me, in such a harsh time?” responded what appeared to be Daleson, as I calmly entered the room.” I assure you Ringmaster Daleson that I am almost every bit as capable as Sherlock with the knowledge of whatever problem you have” I retorted to this man, who ever frankly disregarded me. “Hum! While that comment may be debated, I can also trust Watson here to, mind the grammar, hear you out Daleson” Holmes said. Before more can be said of the matter I can tell you dear reader that this Daleson was in fact the ringmaster of the very carnival which I had come to inform Holmes of! “From the surprise on your face Watson, you are most likely aware that you have only recently seen this man, unfortunately you did not observe that he saw you, and what with your popularity he remembered me, with that chain of events he has come to me in aid for the problem that impedes on his uh soul, but I rather prefer his mind.” “Yes, yes Sherlock, but I came for secrecy, not for display!” replied a vexed Daleson. “Don’t be such a fool ringmaster, in such a rather strange case you will need yet another on the case with me, in fact why don’t you explain it to Watson here?”requited Holmes, who much to his own displeasure had to continue coaxing Daleson to tell me, when finally the man turned to me and began his story.
” The stories began during the construction of the booths, before our main events began rehearsal, whispers of ghosts haunting the grounds, of taboo rituals being performed at midnight, devilish scorches near the best booths, which I dismissed as none other than billycock and drunken rumor. But then they began to escalate.” “How so?” I asked. “Well those more trusted booth owners, regulars we call them, began taking up the stories also. Then our man David, who collects the carnival ground fees, told us that many of the booth owners were closing down, due to a lack of funds, something about missing valuables, and-“.“Wait, what are the details of these ‘missing’ valuables?” questioned Holmes, who from the hungry light in his eyes had become engrossed with the case.” I don’t have everything, mainly because those stolen from were in shock over the crimes had the tightest lips I’ve ever seen, but it was something about odd lights outside the grounds, that distracted them while their money was stolen, ask David he will know who you need to talk to.” Hum, odd lights you say? Well continue on.” commented Holmes.
“Yes then,” replied Daleson, “Well after the minor booths closed down, the main events began experiencing accidents. The strong man dropped a weight on his foot, and our new trapeze performers Jan and Jillian, began falling over and over again complaining of the sun, they must have been fakes, we sent them out; well then last night I awoke around midnight in my quarters at the grounds, to discover a green glow appearing from the ‘kitchen’ and scuffles in the big top arena. I checked the kitchen and to my own horror found a glowing orb of light near to my left and some kind of monstrosity to my right, in fear I fled back to my rooms where I settled eventually in to a troubled sleep. Once I had awoken I found none but a scorch mark in our kitchen where the orb was and not until earlier today did I check my money stored beneath my bed, only there was none! I had been stolen from, in none but the few seconds I had gone to the kitchen!
“With this experience behind me, I preceded to tell this to my friend Filmmaker Levo, a former acrobat and the man in charge of our moving pictures, who in turn rather than comfort me, and laughed and said such a deed must be impossible, as did many others, until I finally came to you Detective Sherlock.”
“From what I can gather I can quite closely ascertain our criminal, but I will need you to gather me the papers and whatever other information on several suspects in this case: David the booth man, the trapeze performer Jan and Jillian, and the chest which you store your money in Daleson, all this by tomorrow.” answered Holmes. “Tomorrow!?, but that would take me mor-“ cried a flustered Daleson. “ Before you continue whining ringmaster I can tell you Holmes has every need for this information at the time he has specified!” I replied. “Fine I’ll see what I can do,” grumbled an irritated Daleson.
The following morning the documents arrived and Holmes proceeded to ask me to leave him for several hours. Once I had returned he had already, to my displeasure, interviewed each man without my help. “Well Watson it seems David is none more than a muscleman who terrorizes the booths for money, illegal, but not the matter at hand. Jan and Jill however were hiding something, each twin has a tell above their left ear where the skin tenses as the ear moves,” commented Holmes, “The chest was neither forced open nor was its lock picked, which suggests a key was supplied. The nature of this crime would also suggest it was an original key, not a copy, and several satin scales were stuck to the inside of the chest. I have called both Jan, Jillian, and the Filmmaker Levo, to our quarters here at Baker street. Ahh! That should be the clop of carriage Watson, it seems our criminals have arrived.”I responded quickly and at a low tone.”Criminals Holmes? But how-“.”Quiet Watson! Not until the reveal my good man!” an excited Holmes replied.
Once our so called criminals had got their bearings about and quieted their complaints, Holmes began questioning them. Unfortunately the nature of said questioning was rather blunt. “I hope the three of you rot in jail!” cried Homes. “But what?!?-“ replied both a confused Levo and a guilty looking pair of twins. “ I am quite frankly aware of your thefts,” continued Holmes,” and I can tell you how they have been taken out. Levo began using his light skills to create apparitions with the use of an old picture lantern, that uses high enough power and heat to a scorch the ground around it, in order to distract his victims and steal there valuables. Seeking to increase his money he sought to steal the Ringmaster’s chest of money, but lacked the lithe skill to do so, Levo got the two of you (Jan and Jilian) fired by directing magnified light into your eyes during practice. In your bitterness you immediately took his job, after which he handed you the key he had filched off of Daleson, most likely during a hug of sorts, and had you both steal the money while Daleson was distracted by yet another picture lantern, one in the shape of an orb that gave off a picture of a ghoul. In your pride however you wore your satin trapeze suits leaving behind several in the chest, whereas Levo left a signature scorch mark on the kitchen counter. Sloppy work, but nonetheless hard to find for the average investigator. Unfortunately for you I have already called the constable and his friends to the house where they reside in the room over”. Before a minute passed our criminals had been taken into custody. “ How did you do it so quickly Holmes?” I asked, to which he responded rather curtly, “ It was elementary Watson, unlike the previous case of the Sutherlands it had no depth of thought put to it other than the stupidity of men, which I can assure you I have not any.” And thus ended the short and rather trivial case of The Carnival of Belham.